Blogging Middle East Studies in Egypt
Sarah Leslie, a student of Bethel University in Minnesota, has joined peers with ambitions in leadership, conflict resolution and international diplomacy through the Middle East Studies Program (MESP), one of several programs offered by the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU).
This is not Sarah's first experience engaging in study and discussion with people of different worldviews, nor will it be her first Middle Eastern encounter. As a delegate of the MIUSA 2007-2008 U.S./Bahrain: Youth Citizenship for Disability Inclusion Exchange Program, Sarah participated in workshops and service projects alongside American and Bahraini youth with and without disabilities, first in the U.S., and then in Manama, Bahrain.
Sarah, who is hard of hearing and uses an FM system for listening access in the classroom, expressed that her biggest concern was studying Arabic. "I have never studied an oral language before beside English which I still struggle with sometimes. The concerns MESP has for me is with the traffic in Cairo which I will need to make sure I am aware of. Above all, studying abroad in Egypt is an experience that I will learn a lot from including about myself and my disability. It will be an experience that will lead me to a better understanding of my desire to work in the international fields as well."
In addition to immersing students in the study of Arabic, Islamic culture, and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict over the landscape of multiple Middle Eastern countries, the program includes a service learning component to engage students with their host communities. Sarah's assignment was to help students at the Deaf Unit in Cairo with English.
"I’m basically just doing the American Sign Language alphabet and writing words in English. At the same time I’m picking up Arabic sign and generally can understand what the teachers are saying to their class."
Due to civil unrest and protests escalating in Cairo, Sarah's group left Egypt earlier than scheduled and departed for Turkey. Sarah blogs that she is eager to visit friends when the group moves on to Israel and the Palestinian Territories.
Learn more about the Middle East Studies Program and CCCU online, then follow Sarah to Egypt and beyond through her blog posts.
