For example, to best practice the dialects of Arabic, we went to the local produce market and ordered vegetables, and to study migration in the region, we went on a tour of Amman to visit refugee camps. While I love my college experience as well, none of that would have been possible from my classrooms in Syracuse, New York.
When I first decided to study abroad in Jordan, I pictured celebrating Eid in Amman and a semester full of exploring the Jordanian desert. I never could have predicted that I would end up relocating halfway through my program, or that I would be completing a research project in Arabic on the Moroccan dialect. Despite all of the unplanned events, I have loved my time abroad, and I am grateful to have had the opportunity to explore Morocco, as well.
I was able to study abroad this semester through my university, which is an amazing opportunity that I hope all of you consider in the future. I also was able to get the financial support to make the semester possible from multiple scholarships, including the Gilman Scholarship. From my experience, studying abroad is possible, even if you might not think so at first. It is so beneficial to do so!
Finally, studying abroad showed me how much I was capable of doing. I figure if I can learn to navigate the public transportation of a foreign city on my first full day in a new country, I am prepared to take on anything that comes my way in the future! While studying abroad, it is sometimes necessary to step out of your comfort zone and try new things even if it scares you. My favorite experiences abroad came from something I wasn’t sure about at first, but I did it anyway.
