Greetings from AMIDEAST Education Abroad Programs in the Arab World!

Thank you for being a part of AMIDEAST’s larger mission to help develop mutual understanding between Americans and the peoples of the Middle East and North Africa! This issue of the Alumni newsletter includes the following sections:

• EducationAbroad Updates

• FeaturedAlumni• AlumniResources• AlumniContribution• BookReview• Fall2014andSpring

2015PhotoContest• Mosaic:ACollaborative

StudentBlog

As always, we hope our newsletters help you stay connected to AMIDEAST and provide creative ideas for ways to stay involved the Middle East/North Africa region.

Summer 2014 students take in the scenery at Wadi Rum in Jordan. Submitted by participant Keren Saidac.

AMIDEAST Alumni Newsletter2

As AMIDEAST Education Abroad continues to grow and change, we want to keep you updated with the most recent developments in our programs.

ABROAD101RANKINGSEach year Abroad101 (www.studyabroad101.com), the oldest and largest study abroad review website, ranks study abroad programs around the world. We are excited to announce that for 2013 AMIDEAST ranked seventh among providers of education abroad programs for Americans worldwide and our Area & Arabic Language Studies Program in Rabat, Morocco, was rated fifth among individual programs. The rankings were based on reviews of study abroad programs by more than 16,000 students from more than 200 American universities who attended credit-bearing study abroad programs during 2013. Abroad101’s rankings are an important resource for the increasing number of American students interested in study abroad. If you have not already, we encourage you to leave a review on Abroad101 and share your experience with prospective students!

U.S.DEPARTMENTOFSTATEPROGRAMSHigh-School ProgramsWe recently completed our third year of involvement with the NSLI-Y Summer Program in Morocco and Oman. In the summer of 2014, AMIDEAST hosted 22 students in Morocco and seven students in Oman for these 6-week intensive Arabic language programs.

This fall, we have been busy preparing for our two academic year high school programs: the Youth Exchange and Study (YES) Abroad Program and the National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y) Academic Year Program. This is our fifth year working to bring YES Abroad students to the Middle East and North Africa for a year of study and our second year working with NSLI-Y Academic Year students. We currently are serving seven YES Abroad high school

students in Morocco and six in Oman. In addition, we have five NSLI-Y Academic Year students who just departed for Morocco to participate in an eight-month intensive Arabic program.

CLSPrograms2014 was AMIDEAST’s second summer operating the Critical Language Scholarships Program (CLS) sites in three locations – Amman, Jordan; Nizwa, Oman; and Rabat, Morocco. Like YES Abroad and NSLI-Y, CLS programs are funded by the U.S. Department of State and AMIDEAST is a subcontractor to American Councils for International Education. We served a total of 75 students in these programs.

UPDATESEDUCATIONABROADPROGRAMSINTHEARABWORLD

FIRSTSUMMERINTENSIVEARABICPROGRAMINOMANThis summer marked the first Intensive Arabic Program offered by AMIDEAST in Oman, truly one of the most remarkable destinations in the Middle East.

The Sultanate of Oman is located at the tip of the Arabian Peninsula and shares borders with Saudi Arabia, Yemen, and the United Arab Emirates. Oman’s ethnically diverse population, culturally vibrant atmosphere, and exquisite natural beauty provide the ideal setting for Arabic learners of all levels.

Our talented faculty members were excited to introduce AMIDEAST’s established Intensive Arabic curriculum, used in Jordan and Morocco, to Oman. In four

weeks, our Intensive Arabic programs cover the same material that would typically be taught throughout an entire semester in the US. Our professors in Muscat provided instruction in not only Modern Standard Arabic, but also the local Omani dialect, which is rarely offered at US institutions.

Students learn to make traditional Omani pottery in Bahla, Oman.

AMIDEASTEDUCATIONABROADHEADQUARTERSINTERNSThe AMIDEAST Education Abroad department in Washington, DC is pleased to welcome a new intern to our team for the fall term. Elizabeth Baxter is an alumna of the AMIDEAST Education Abroad program in Muscat, Oman (Summer 2014). She is currently a senior at The George Washington University where she is majoring in International Affairs with a concentration in Security Policy and a Minor in Arabic

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While studying as a sophomore at Rutgers University, New Brunswick, Andrew (Drew) Gonzales became interested in the prospect of studying in the Arab World. Though he had no previous experience or education in the Arabic language or with the Arab World, he applied and was accepted in the AMIDEAST Education Abroad program in Cairo for the spring semester in 2011. His plans changed quickly when his program in Egypt was cut short by the turmoil surrounding the “Arab Spring,” and Drew relocated to the AMIDEAST Education Abroad program in Rabat to continue the rest of his semester. Though Morocco is a world away from Egypt, Drew enjoyed living near the ocean and building lasting friendships with his host family and Moroccan friends.

Drew continues to have fond memories of the program excursions in both Egypt and Morocco. He had the opportunity to climb inside a pyramid at Giza and, only months later, to explore the blue-washed city of Chefchaouen in Morocco’s Rif Mountains. He also speaks highly of the program professors and staff, especially those who kept students safe and informed during the revolution in Cairo. He attributes his experiences abroad as the reason behind his decision to study Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies as a minor.

After returning from his program in Morocco, Drew transferred to New York University and was pleased to find that all the AMIDEAST credits counted toward his graduation requirements. This allowed him to graduate on schedule two years later. Currently, Drew lives in New York and works at a law firm as a paralegal in the Islamic Finance practice group. He assists on Sharia-compliant transactions that allow Middle Eastern clients to invest in American companies and real estate. He continues to maintain contact with friends made through the programs and still closely follows Middle Eastern affairs.

Drew Gonzales

FEATUREDALUMNIDREWGONZALES

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ALUMNIRESOURCESFEATUREDJOBSEARCHRESOURCES

LINKEDIN:THEPOWEROFSTAYINGCONNECTED

EDUCATIONABROADINTERNSHIPINWASHINGTON,DC

We encourage alumni to consider creating a detailed LinkedIn profile at some point during their college career. Not only does this profile showcase your professional experience, it can also highlight your time abroad. LinkedIn is not just another social media tool; it has the power to propel your career. A profile on LinkedIn can help alumni connect with prospective and former employers, as well as study abroad colleagues, which can expand the number of professionals viewing your profile. At AMIDEAST we often search for a LinkedIn profile when considering a new-hire in order to get a holistic picture of someone’s background and skills. Other employers certainly do the same, so get yourself out there!

Joining groups on LinkedIn is a great way to network with like-minded individuals and potential employers. In addition to the AMIDEAST Education Abroad Programs Alumni group (which you should definitely join!), there is now another opportunity to highlight your study abroad experience on your LinkedIn Profile through Abroad 101.

Abroad101, discussed briefly above, is developing an exciting new initiative to connect employers to returned study abroad

students. While this project is just beginning, it allows students to link to their Abroad101 program review on LinkedIn. In effect, this will share each student’s acquired knowledge and skills from their experience abroad with partnered universities and employers also in the LinkedIn group. Since its inauguration in August of 2014, the Abroad 101 LinkedIn group has over 1,200 members and one partnered university. View and join the Study Abroad Advantage LinkedIn group here.

According to Mark Shay, CEO of Abroad 101: “The LinkedIn group is just the beginning …. We are looking forward to working with university career centers and placement offices as well as large employers to find innovative ways to help these creative, ambitious and now mature students turn their real-world experiences to leap forward in their career development. The core philosophy of The Study Abroad Advantage is to provide a platform to channel the energy and idealism fostered by international education into organizations in need of talent.”

Check out the full press release on The Study Abroad Advantage initiative here. We hope you will get involved!

The Education Abroad Department of AMIDEAST‘s Washington D.C. office has an internship opportunity available in winter/spring 2015. AMIDEAST’s Education Abroad Department is responsible for the design and implementation of study abroad programs in the Middle East and North Africa. Our programs include summer, semester, and academic year programs in Jordan, Morocco, and Oman.

InternRequirements:

The ideal Education Abroad Intern is a creative, motivated, organized individual who is able to work on diverse assignments and complete tasks within an articulated deadline. The Intern should possess the following:

• Solidoralandwrittenskills,preferablyincluding website or social media development experience

• Keenattentiontodetail• DemonstratedinterestintheMiddleEast

and North Africa, Islamic studies, international affairs, social sciences, and/or public diplomacy

• StrongMicrosoftOfficeskills;graphicdesign, marketing, and web design skills are also desirable

• Self-starterwiththeabilitytoworkindependently as well as with other staff members

Special consideration is given to those who have previously studied abroad in the Middle East and North Africa.

InternResponsibilities:

Interns report to the Education Abroad Program Assistants and Director of Education Abroad. In collaboration with the department staff, interns will engage in the following tasks:

• AssistwithimplementingandsupportingEducation Abroad Program marketing and outreach activities (which may include distributing materials, drafting text, and web research)

• AssistwithEducationAbroadProgramswebsite development and maintenance

• Provideadministrativesupportfor application and student document management

• Assistwithmanagementofthe AMIDEAST alumni network, website, and newsletters

• Manageandupdatecontactdatabases• Assiststaffintheirorganizationof

promotional visits and institutional relations • Providesupportforadditionalprojects

as necessary

InternshipDatesandSchedule:

This unpaid internship will begin in January 2015 and end in May 2015 (start and end dates are flexible). Additionally, there is a possibility of renewal of the internship for the summer 2015 term. Interns generally work 15-20 hours per week, but preference will be given to those with full-time availability. Business hours are Monday through Friday: 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.

Please submit a cover letter explaining your availability and interests in the Middle East and North Africa. Please also include a resume outlining study and work experience to DocsEdAbroad@amideast.org by December 20, 2014. Top candidates will be interviewed by telephone or Skype during the early part of January.

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TEACHINGENGLISHWITHAMIDEASTINTUNISSubmitted by Adam Lucente, Intensive Arabic in Jordan Summer 2011 participant

I recently finished a one year contract teaching English with AMIDEAST in Tunisia. I first became familiar with AMIDEAST while participating in their intensive Arabic program in Jordan during summer 2011.

My move abroad was a relatively straightforward process, as I took the job and moved there just a few months after graduating from The George Washington University. My Arabic had improved in Jordan and at GW, but I wanted to further my proficiency by living and working in the region for an extended period of time. To this end I pursued a Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) certificate with SIT after graduation and subsequently began applying to teaching jobs throughout the MENA region. I came across AMIDEAST Tunisia on their website. After sending my resume plus a few other pieces of paperwork and interviewing, I was given an offer and accepted. A few days later I was off to North Africa. I taught in their office in Tunis, Tunisia’s capital and largest city.

Throughout my time in Tunis, I taught adult and child learners from beginner to advanced levels. I also taught some English for Special Purposes classes (focused on the automobile industry, for example) and Business English. Opportunities to teach private lessons arose as well. In addition, I completed a few translation and interpretation jobs. Even if you’re not fluent in Arabic, being a native English speaker with Arabic proficiency can lead to many opportunities in Tunisia. I interpreted many times for an English-speaking journalist and also translated some stories from Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) to English. Language classes in Arabic (Tunisian and MSA) and French are also widely available.

Living in Tunisia was an amazing experience. I fell in love with Jordan and expected Tunisia to be similar. It wasn’t, but in a good way. Tunisia is at a crossroads between Africa, the Middle East and Europe and this blend manifests itself in daily life. Within the same day, you can hear several varieties of Arabic and French spoken, in addition to other languages. You can have a croissant for breakfast and couscous for lunch. You can converse with a Libyan refugee, and then run into a group of European tourists or sub-Saharan migrants.

Tunisian Arabic itself contains significant French, Italian, and indigenous Berber (Amazigh) influences, with French still being a major language in the country. This poses significant difficulties for students of Arabic, especially those unfamiliar with French, as I was. Tunisian Arabic is quite different from Modern Standard (MSA) and Middle Eastern variants. While most

Tunisians understand MSA, many are not able to converse in it. In my opinion, MSA is not as used or valued in Tunisia as it is in other locations in the Middle East, outside of politics and media. French is the primary language used when dealing with foreigners, and many Tunisians will address you in it whether you speak it or not. I found myself constantly saying “Ihki arabi ma’ya” to people.

Tunisia is still a great place for improving your Arabic, however. The lack of English proficiency in the country forces you and locals alike to speak Arabic to one another. And while Tunisian Arabic differs from other dialects, it can certainly be learned. In terms of pronunciation, it is actually similar to MSA.

Moreover, Tunisia is a friendly place, which makes experiencing local culture easy. You’ll find people happy to help you, talk to you, teach you Tunisian words and socialize. It has its plethora of cafes and hammams of course, but also bars and clubs. Like anywhere, you need to be aware of people taking advantage of foreigners. That being said, crime and security are not big problems in most of the country, even in off-the-beaten-path neighborhoods.

Geographically, Tunisia is small, and thus easy to explore. Public transportation to most regions exists. From Tunis, it is possible to get to the Mediterranean in under an hour, Africa’s most northern point in an hour, and the mountains near the Algerian border in just a few hours. The Sahara, with its dunes, camels and Star Wars sets, is a bit further, but also easily reachable.

All in all, I had a great experience there. I highly recommend Tunisia to those seeking adventure, Arabic, and fun.

CONTRIBUTIONALUMNI

A monument to Mohamed Bouazizi in Sidi Bouzid.

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BOOKREVIEW

TheArabianNightsEntertainments(alsoknownasAThousandandOneNights)Submitted by Cara Lane-Toomey, Assistant Director of AMIDEAST Education Abroad Programs

As someone who has lived and worked in the Middle East and North Africa for a number of years and who specialized in Middle East Studies, I am fairly embarrassed to admit that I had never read the Arabian Nights’ Entertainments. This fall, I decided it was about time to round out my education and finally read a translation of the Arabian Nights, also known as A Thousand and One Nights.

The stories take place in Persia, India, China, Egypt, and Africa and are all told by Scheherazade. Scheherazade is the most recent bride of Shahriar, a king who reacts to his first wife’s adultery by deciding to take a new wife each night and then killing them the next morning. Scheherazade chooses to marry Shahriar in order to put a stop to his unjust executions. Her plan is to tell the king a fantastical story each night, but leave each unfinished. This compels the king to let her live another day in order to hear the story’s conclusion the following night. This story telling goes on for 1,001 nights; after which the king decides to spare Scheherazade’s life and keep her permanently as his queen.

The Arabian Nights collection includes stories with both familiar and unfamiliar characters. The best stories are filled with well-known names such as Sinbad the Sailor, Ali Baba, and, of course, Aladdin. In some ways, the book reminded me of a collection of the Grimm Brothers’ fairy tales, although these entertainments are a bit more violent and have fewer instances of magic. The well-known stories happen differently than I remember hearing as a child, but in many ways these original versions are much richer than current adaptations (e.g. Disney’s version of Aladdin).

Perhaps the most intriguing aspect of this book is the story within a story (often, within another story), which makes the book engaging, although sometimes hard to follow. Scheherazade gives the reader tales centered on love, fortune, and adventure. Perhaps my favorite stories were those in which women take on the role of cunning heroines (see Ali Baba and the 40 Thieves). For those of us who have not yet picked up the Arabian Nights Entertainments, I recommend you put this classic on your list. Entertainment awaits.

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As of this newsletter’s publishing, the Fall 2014 Photo Contest is still underway! We encourage you to visit our Facebook page Study Abroad in the Arab World to vote on your favorite semi-finalist photo by clicking the “Like” button.

The first and second place photos will be awarded an Amazon gift card, be framed in our Washington D.C. office, and used in the AMIDEAST Education

Abroad promotional materials for 2015 and our Facebook page.

After a winning photo is voted on in mid-November of 2014, the Spring 2015 Photo Contest will be open for submissions. Be sure to check the Guidelines and Submission Details and start sending photos to DocsEdAbroad@amideast.org.

PHOTOCONTESTANNOUNCEMENTSWINNERSFALL2014ANDSPRING2015

PASTWINNERSSince we showcased the Spring 2014 winners in the Issue 8 newsletter, below are the winning submissions since the AMIDEAST Photo Contests began in the Spring 2012 term. Congratulations to Allegra Skurka, Abigail Ewart, Sam Hobert, Sarah Bertin, and Eli Philip!

CONTACTUS

AMIDEAST Education Abroad1730MSt.,NWSuite1100EdAbroad@amideast.orgWashington,DC20036

STAYCONNECTED

MOSAIC:ACOLLABORATIVESTUDENTBLOG

We are always excited to receive student and alumni submissions for Mosaic, our ongoing collaborative student blog. Feel free to submit an article, blog entry, photos, or creative writing about your program abroad to DocsEdAbroad@amideast.org.

Below is an excerpt from Summer 2014 Intensive Arabic student in Oman, Emmett Potts. We encourage you to visit Mosaic to read through the rest of his entry!

On the night of June 12th, I was about to land at Muscat International Airport on Gulf Air Flight 566 from Bahrain. Although the past day of travel was not much more than a blur, a blend of unsettled thoughts and diffuse excitement enveloped my mind as I looked down from my window at the scarcely outlined coast of the Persian Gulf. Did I bring everything the packing list recommended? Would I adjust to life in this new environment smoothly? Would I be able to communicate efficiently? Trying to maintain a façade of composure, I discreetly tried to review my Arabic vocabulary words, although in reality my behavior was probably more frantic than I realized.

The man sitting next to me on my flight, an Omani citizen apparently noticed my internal tension and offered me a drink of his water. Without thought, I immediately responded (in Arabic) with “No, no thank you,” just as I was taught by my Arabic language professor in the United States; it was the proper, culturally sensitive response. I was, however, offered the water again by the man next to me: “My friend, please have a drink. I insist. It is good for you.” I relented, and with quivering hands graciously drank the water he had poured into my flimsy plastic cup. “Welcome to Oman, my friend,” he said, as the orange lights from coastal Muscat came into view below…

From all of us at AMIDEAST Education Abroad Programs, we hope you have an exciting fall and warm holiday season! Please feel free to contact us if you have any suggestions for the Alumni Association, or just to update us on your current successes. We always enjoy hearing where life has taken AMIDEAST alumni. If you are in the Washington, DC area, we encourage you to stop by AMIDEAST Headquarters and say hello!

Best regards,

JerryBookin-Weiner,CaraLane-Toomey,ShinoYoshen,LaurenKardos,KyleAxberg,KateeFloyd,andElizabeth Baxter

The AMIDEAST Education Abroad Team