Police coups and terror threats have comprised my international newsfeed this past week.

Last week, Ecuador underwent a violent police rebellion, which was ultimately suppressed by the incumbent government. Looting was rampant and American students—like my girlfriend—were confined to their homes for safety reasons. I worried about her safety, naturally, and I monitored the news carefully.

A few days later, the tables have turned slightly; the American government has issued a travel alert to all American citizens in Europe. According to intelligence, al-Qaeda has threatened to carry out “commando-style” attacks in several European cities, primarily in the UK, France, and Germany.

But somewhere between reading headlines about police coups, and worrying for the safety of my girlfriend, I found myself a bit jealous of my girlfriend’s plight. How could I wish to be in a country under siege of a police rebellion?

It probably has to do with the adolescent dream I once had of being an embedded journalist in a war-torn country. It’s not so much the danger and the resulting adrenaline that excites me, but instead the idealistic notion of witnessing the drama of human history as it unfolds right before my eyes.

To be clear, I would never wish for a crisis or catastrophe to occur just to feed my picaresque tendencies. But when history happens in the world, I want be there to record it and maybe one day take part.

British airmen laying a wreath of tribute at the Cambridge American Cemetary.