I could have gone to Europe. I could have gone, and
traveled around the European countries and this would have been great. (Expensive,
and I would not have been able to afford a second semester abroad, but it would
have been great.) I’m glad I didn’t though.
I’m coming to realize more and more why I came here, why I chose to push myself
out of my comfort zone so much.
Choosing Morocco and India to go abroad, was based on a
gut feeling. The programs were A) interesting, B) the culture appealed to me
and C) a gut feeling. I didn’t really think about it beyond that, I just had a
feeling that these were places I had
to go.
Has it been difficult? Yes.
Do I stand out? Yes.
Will I ever be confused with a Moroccan? No.
Yes, I am alienated and yes I stand out every time I walk
outside. But that moment, when I mention to a waiter, “Ana taleba fee CCCL. Ana
adros Arabia. Shweeya Arabia.” (I am a student at the CCCl and I study Arabic.
I know little Arabic) they light up. They get so excited and immediately start
teaching me more Arabic. They ask me how I like it here, why I came, etc.
I may not be Moroccan, but they damn well appreciate me
as the American student coming their country to learn about them and
their language. Not a tourist, not a reporter, but someone who chose to leave
America (Which idealized and considered wealthy and cushy) and come to live
among them with Moroccan families. They may not fully understand why I am here,
(Which is okay, as I’m not entirely sure still.) but they appreciate it either
way.
There are challenges; yes, there are many. Even as I have
been sheltered in a lot of ways, there have still been a lot of things come up.
The main one being the harassment and adjusting to the
role of women here. I’m sure my
experience would be different, and easier if I was a guy. I could stay out
late, go to a bar; I wouldn’t receive cat calls in a variety of languages or
anything along those lines. But, I am a women, so I can’t stay out much later than
10:30 before I should be escorted home, going to a bar would insinuate I’m a
prostitute, and I do get called after. Most of the time, they’re harmless and
it’s little things like “Hello, you’re beautiful.” Or they’ll sing a line from
Katy Perry or Justin Beiber. (Clearly, they aren’t successful in wooing me.)
So, if you’re thinking about going abroad, to a place
that’s not London, be prepared to adjust. But let me tell you, every adjustment
is worth it. I have been pushed in ways,
I would never have been otherwise. I am learning a lot not only about the
culture, migration and other academic topics, but about myself. When you’re put in a situation where,
initially you don’t know anyone, in my case I didn’t speak French or Arabic, in
a country where you stand out, you learn a lot about yourself. There is no
greater learning experience, in my opinion, then pushing yourself.
I am also taking great pride in the fact I am able to
come to this country, and act as a source of first hand information to my
friends and family at home. When the
protests started in response to the movie mocking the prophet, people were immediately
worried about me because I was in a Muslim country. I was able to say, No, there aren’t
Anti-American feelings here, I am safe. People fear what they don’t understand.
This is where Islamophobia comes from. People say, “Oh, it’s so extreme!” Sure,
in some cases, but name one religion that doesn’t have extremists. The KKK? The
Crusades? Inquisition? The list can go on and on. You can’t use the extreme actions, or one
extremist sect, to judge an entire religion or group of people.
Although, I have always tried to live by this, being here
really confirmed this idea though. Besides the harmless cat-calls, (which are
annoying and frustrating, but in the grand scheme of things harmless) the
people here have been nothing but welcoming. I am stared at, but very rarely is
it in any other way than a “Why are you here?” kind of way. Very rarely
malicious. It is safe here. I am welcomed, taught Arabic, fed (A LOT), and
spoiled as a guest. Although, this automatically puts me as an outsider and not
“part of the family”, I have established myself in different ways; I help to
clean up after dinner, I clean my room and make my bed. They have me watch the
kids and they include me in every way they can.
So, as I first said. Yes, I could have gone to Europe. I
could have lived in an apartment and traveled more freely. It would have been
fabulous, I’m sure. But, I am glad I didn’t. This, is by far, the greatest
learning experience, and life experience, I could have at this point. I am telling you, that studying abroad will be
a fabulous choice right now. Going abroad stretches you in ways you wouldn’t
experience otherwise. It opens your eyes to many things. I wound encourage everyone, to push themselves,
leave their initial comfort zone, and go abroad.
I’m glad I listened to my gut feelings, because this is
exactly what I needed.
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