We visited some villages and got to take a close look at the architecture of some old abandoned homes. We then made our way to a beautiful mosque before we hit the road again…
When we arrived in Djerba, we went to a fish market where we handpicked the fish from the market and took them to the restaurant next door to be cooked. The port next to the restaurant was constantly busy with fisherman bringing in their catch of the day.
Over our 10 day excursion, we traveled to cities and small villages throughout Tunisia. The views were incredible, and we met so many welcoming people along the way. It was an unforgettable trip for everyone, and such a great way to spend my birthday :)
It’s been a while since I’ve had time to sit down and blog, so here is an update with pictures from the excursion to the South. Our group rode camels through the desert, stayed at the Star Wars hotel and hiked through the Sahara. On my 24th birthday, we were road tripping through the Sahara Desert. What an experience! More pictures from the excursion to come!
Studying Abroad in “Unfolding of History”
Mideast Expert: SIT Students Witness “Unfolding of History”
Said Graiouid, the SIT dean for Africa and the Middle East, said that the presence of World Learning programs in the region can play a role in the creation of a vibrant civil society.
Vigilance is needed to ensure that the recent democratic movements in the Middle East initiated by youth leaders ultimately succeed, said Said Graiouid, SIT academic dean for Africa and the Middle East. A native of Morocco, Graiouid shares his views below on how the World Learning community can support these leaders and how current SIT students in the region are impacted by the political turmoil.
What are the major challenges facing the emerging democratic societies in Tunisia and Egypt? What are some next steps for the people of these countries?
The Revolutions in Tunisia and Egypt have generated high hopes and dreams. The first challenge is that people need to remember that the political change will not bring immediate solutions to enduring and structural problems such as unemployment, health and education. Rather, the economies of both Tunisia and Egypt depend heavily on revenues from the tourist industry and this is paradoxically the sector which was most hit by the events. Also, the process leading to elections will be long and arduous and it will be a while before the people can see the direct impact of the post-revolution democratic mode of governance. The most important challenge though is for people to understand and remember that democracy is a process rather than an end, and as such it is a long term investment. Vigilance will also have to be maintained as there will most likely remain “pockets of resistance” that would like to maintain the status quo or deviate the revolutions from their original goals.
Do you believe recent events in Tunisia and Egypt represent the start of positive systemic change, or are we overstating their significance?
The Jasmine Revolution in Tunisia has undoubtedly ushered in a new era for the peoples in the Middle East and North Africa, and the peaceful revolution which grew out of Tahrir Square in Cairo consolidated the revolt of the people against autocratic rule, political corruption and social injustice. One immediate and positive systemic change is the insistent claims for freedom, democracy and social justice that that the youth across the region are now making. The concessions made by the regimes will eventually lead to the birth of more democratic forms of governance. As a case in point, a positive and healthy change is under way in Morocco as the entire country is now engaged in the debate for an overhaul of the constitution. Though this project was initiated by the monarch, it came as a result of the pressure made by youth protest movements. Whether on public or social media, at university auditoriums, headquarters of political parties or NGOs, political players, civil society agents and youth are debating constitutional amendments and articulating alternative visions of democratic forms of governance and indigenous societal projects. This debate has significantly expanded the scope of the public sphere and created an unprecedented learning environment for SIT Study Abroad students who often find themselves engaged in political discussions, not only with their homestay siblings, but with their neighborhood storekeeper or the barber at the old medina.
Broadly speaking, civil society is a term used often to describe the presence of civic, volunteer, and social organizations in a country. How would you characterize civil society as a whole in the Middle East today? What should be the priorities of civil society in the Middle East and North Africa in the coming years?
When we speak of civil society in the Middle East and North Africa, we need to remember that civil society has developed unevenly in the region. In one-party regimes, such as in the case of Tunisia, Syria and to a large extent Egypt, civil society is very weak because over decades the regime has used repressive and creative tactics to prevent civic engagement and self-organization. In more tribal societies such as Libya, Yemen or Bahrain, civil society is almost inexistent. In countries such as Morocco, civil society is more fully fledged since NGOs and local associations have been active social, political and economic players since mid 1980s. Across the region, the priority remains for civic engagement for the schooling of girls, women’s health education, and microcredit projects for women and the poor to have revenue generating activities. As societies in the region move into a more democratic mode of governance, there will also be a pressing need for the support of civic channels of human rights education, women’s rights and journalism. The institutions in the region could also benefit from trainings in the promotion of free elections, transparent management and political organization.
How will the events in the Middle East and North Africa affect this year’s SIT Study Abroad programs?
The events in the Middle East and North Africa will have a mid- and long-term impact on SIT Study Abroad in the region. For this year, we have programs in Morocco, Tunisia, Jordan and Oman and the students are having an incredible learning experience as they witness first-hand the unfolding of history in the region. Because of the Jasmine Revolution, we had to start the Tunisia Spring program in Morocco, and we could barely keep the students in Rabat as they were all impatient to relocate to Tunis. In the mid and long term, I expect interest in the region to grow, especially that the events call for a rewrite of dominant theories in political science and international relations, social sciences and the arts. However, while the Tunisian and Egyptian revolutions were carried out in a peaceful way, the unfortunate events in Libya, Yemen, Bahrain or now Syria have veered to violence and have consequently cast a shadow of doubt on the entire region. We hope for the conflict in Libya to be resolved soon so that the region could regain peace and could thus start the long process of political and social reconstruction.
How can the presence of exchange programs from organizations like World Learning be useful in promoting civil society and the kind of changes espoused by the demonstrators?
I believe the new political context in the Middle East and North Africa region will generate increasing need for the construction of civil society, and World Learning can play an important role in bringing support to local institutions and communities. Exchange programs which bring social and civic agents for training in the US can contribute in a substantial way to the consolidation of democracy and social development in the region. Demonstrators across the region have unanimously called for the end of corruption and it would be most helpful if agents from civil society could train on institutional and legal mechanisms for the fight against corruption. One other area in which World Learning is well positioned to assist is conflict resolution and management.
What can concerned members of the World Learning community do to support those in the Middle East who want a more free and peaceful society?
I think through the programs we run, whether in SIT Study Abroad, The Experiment, or Exchange Programs, World Learning helps a lot in that it creates opportunities for American students to study and immerse in the local cultures in the Middle East and North Africa. These students become ambassadors of peace for the region and can explain to their compatriots that the people in the Middle East and North Africa region too have a longing for freedom, peace and social justice. After decades of stereotyping and denigration the region has been subjected to, this will be a most welcome message to share.
Source: www.worldlearning.org
After class on Friday we took a walk down the quiet streets of Sidi Boud Said, and then took a quick train ride into downtown Tunis. These pictures show how dramatic the contrast is of theses two locations that are only a half hour apart.
The moment we crossed the street after exiting the train, the military are immediately noticeable. Barbed wire with razors surround the French embassy, closing off almost half of the street that used to be open to walk through.
Walking along the sidewalk, it is impossible not to come dangerously close to the walls of barbed wire that separate us from the guards in front of the embassy.
As we make our way down towards the medina, we discover a protest moving in the same direction we are traveling. Before we realize what the protests are for, in a split second we are in the protest, surrounded by men and women waving their signs and shouting demands for the new government that will be enacted in July.
On our way back, the military allowed us to take a quick picture of their tanks. A day in the life of a student living in Tunisia. You never know what the day will bring…
Trip to the museum! Once I saw the views that overlook La Marsa and the beach, I decided that I will be making regular trips to this museum! Inside, intricate mosaics cover the walls. So gorgeous, I could stare at them all day! I’ll definitely be coming here for “study breaks”…
With spring just around the corner, it was a perfect day to take a tour of Carthage. The pictures don’t do justice to the massive size of the pillars and arches. Located right by the beach, Carthage is an impressive site that stands in memory of a defining time in Tunisian history.
Between intensive Arabic classes, lectures on the Jasmine Revolution, and attending monumental political meetings, it’s the quiet evenings on the beach that make my time in Tunisia feel like a vacation. There is nothing quite like living in a culture where you can walk by a protest downtown while window shopping, and then end the day with tea at a beach cafe. It is a very unique time to be here, and I am eager to see how the revolution progresses as political parties mobilize and strategize plans for the future of Tunisia.
