During the summer following my freshman year, I travel with Loomis to Vietnam and Cambodia to explore the customs, culture, and history of both countries. Studying the Vietnam or American war in Vietnam, we met with an ex Viet-Cong captain and listened as he shared his story and perspective of the war. We also visited the American War Remnants museum and were able to learn of the effects that the war still has on Vietnamese people today. Then, in Cambodia, we studied the horrific genocide of the Khmer people orchestrated by Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge. Visiting S-21, one of the most brutal prisons during the genocide, and interviewing the sister of Kim Phuc, we were able to see first hand the attempted erasure of an entire culture.
Following this trip, I feel that I have become a more informed, global citizen. Having had a grandfather who fought in the Vietnam War, I grew up hearing stories from my grandmother about the atrocities that the Vietnamese soldiers committed, thus being able to learn first-hand the Vietnamese experience helped me gain a more holistic understanding of the war. Furthermore, I had never heard of the Cambodia Genocide before traveling to the country, so I was incredibly grateful for the opportunity to educate myself and learn about the culture and history of Cambodia. Studying both a major war and a major genocide encouraged me to always be informed about issues both in and outside the US.
Angkor Wat, the world's largest temple in Siem Reap, Cambodia!
Morocco March 2019
During my March break sophomore year, I traveled with Loomis to Morocco for a cultural and language immersion program. Due to French occupation in Morocco, many moroccans today speak French in addition to Arabic. Through authentic interactions with local residents, such as our host families or through the Berber Center, we gained a diverse understanding of the history and culture of Morocco. From visiting the Kasbas or speaking in French with my host family, I learned how language can intertwine with culture to create a country rich of history.
Having studied Arabic and French prior to my traveling to Morocco, I was able to immerse myself in the languages and expand my knowledge in each Arabic. There are many different dialects of Arabic, and although I was unable to speak the moroccan dialect, I was able to practice with my host mom, Aminta, and learn a few words of the language. Furthermore, I learned about Moroccan culture and food.
Here are some photos from my trip to Morocco. Included are two photos from the Masen Moroccan Agency for Sustainable Energy and one photo from a camel ride in the Sahara Desert in which I learned about camels and the desert environment.
JUNIOR YEAR ABROAD
King's Academy studied abroad in Madaba, Jordan for 2019-20 academic year
During my junior year, I studied abroad in Jordan to study Arabic and Middle Eastern Studies. I was enrolled at King's Academy, a boarding school modeled after Deerfield, and, although the teaching language was English, I took two Arabic courses in which I was fully immersed in the Arabic language. Throughout my time in Jordan, I learned about Middle Eastern culture and was able to speak Arabic with locals as well as my friends. I am incredibly grateful to have gotten the opportunity to study in Jordan and I feel that since my year abroad, I have developed a greater understanding of the Middle East as well as Arabic.