How Learning Arabic Led Me to Study Abroad in Morocco

This reflection was written by current International Studies student, Elias Barbour. 

As I begin to pack for a semester abroad in Morocco, the reality that I’ll be living in a different country for the rest of the year has begun to dawn on me. As part of this, I have been thinking about the journey to get to this point and the gratitude I have for the resources Korbel and the University of Denver have given me to support me through this process.  

Prior to coming to DU, study abroad was never something that I had seriously considered. I quickly realized that, thanks in large part to the Cherrington Global Scholars program, studying abroad either your Junior or Senior year was considered more of a given rather than something a student could decide to do if they uncovered the opportunity themselves. The Cherrington Global Scholars (CGS) program guarantees that if a student has a GPA above a 3.0, it will cost the same for that student to study abroad with a partner university or program as it would to simply be on DU campus that quarter. Furthermore, the program covers flights and any other costs associated with obtaining a visa for their host country. With this program in place, the question moves from “Why should I study abroad” to “Why shouldn’t I study abroad?”  

I began learning Arabic at the start of my freshman year and fell in love with it fast enough that I knew early on I wanted to study abroad in an Arabic-speaking country. I spoke with my Arabic professor, who pointed me in the direction of the School for International Training (SIT) programs, emphasizing their experiential nature. SIT had opportunities available in two Arabic-speaking countries, Jordan and Morocco. I initially opted for Jordan because the Jordan program was directly in line with my desire for a future career in diplomacy, and the Jordanian dialect is closer to the Modern Standard Arabic I had been learning when compared to Moroccan Arabic. I applied early to the program and was quickly accepted and confirmed. However, not long after, war broke out between Israel, the United States, and Iran. Concerned for my safety, the university informed me that I would no longer be allowed to study abroad in Jordan.  

Despite this unfortunate turn of events, I was able to quickly switch to the SIT: Morocco, thanks in large part to the Office of International Education. They made the transition seamless and were very responsive in addressing all of my requests and concerns. Thanks to their quick work, I felt supported in my preparation for study abroad and now, I am ready to dive headfirst into my Morocco experience. I have no doubt that this opportunity will play a major role in both my personal and professional development. I have an incredible amount of gratitude for DU for providing the resources and environment that paved the way for me to have this experience.