With the ban of US Flights and other international flights arriving and departing Israel, Penn State and the other schools associated with the Tel Akko Total Archaeology Field School have decided to evacuate students from the country. Most of us were originally scheduled to fly out of the Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv. However, with the landing of the missile a mile away from the airport, we will now be escorted to Jordan instead to catch a flight to New York. Our entire excavation was wrapped up Wednesday afternoon and we will be leaving early tomorrow morning to cross the Jordan-Israel border. Once we arrive we will stay in a hotel until our flight is scheduled to depart. I am saddened by our earlier departure especially since we were so close to finishing the dig but this is for the best. I would also like to mention once again that we have been relatively safe from any rocket fire since the conflict begin.

While this is a very unfortunate event, I am happy to travel to Jordan. Since I share the same name with country and river I am somewhat excited to say that I have actually been there, however I do wish it were under much better circumstances. The decision to send us to Jordan seems to have been an all-day affair as we were not informed until later in the day that we were being evacuated. While some embraced the change, others were uncomfortable and unhappy with the decision. However the decision has been made and tomorrow morning we will be taking an unexpected trip to another Middle Eastern country. To my friends and family I assure you that I am very safe at the moment and I cannot wait to tell you of my adventure. I will see you soon.