Author: Ian Gilbert Major: Animal Science, Biology, and Spanish, Country: Morocco
After a 30-minute bus ride outside of the city of Marrakech, Morocco, we arrived at a small village in the Ourika Valley. We attracted a lot of attention, the 30 or so loud Americans spilling out on to the street from a fancy charter bus into the quiet village. Soon, however, we were surrounded by men trying to sell us an assortment of bracelets and hats; children ran up to us begging for money. We were led to a house in the village where we were taken inside and shown around. The first floor had four rooms coming off the foyer: a room for showering, a room for the family’s rabbits, a room for their donkey, and a room for their cow.
I’d always heard that studying abroad would be a life changing experience. I’d never understood the severity of that statement until I spent two and a half weeks travelling Morocco, Spain, and France. I now have plenty of invaluable memories and new lifelong friends, but even more importantly I have a new worldview and respect for those around me.
The Institute for American Universities (IAU) offers a wide variety of January intersession programs, but the class “Classical Islam and the European Renaissance” caught my eye. Not only did it allow me to travel to 12 different cities across 4 countries, but by taking an art history course I was able to enrich my education in a unique way. The class was a refreshing break from the science courses I’m used to. And unlike any art history class offered at the University of Arkansas, I got the experience of actually seeing in person the art and architecture discussed in class.
On any voyage to a foreign country, you’re bound to experience culture shock, but on a trip such as this, culture shock is the defining experience. Being constantly on the move, never staying more than a few nights in the same city, was both exhausting and rewarding. Every time, just as I began to get a grasp of the culture of a city or country, it was on to the next place until, before I knew it, I found myself heading home. I learned that culture shock doesn’t have to be a negative or scary thing. It’s actually beautiful. It highlights the differences between the ways people live.
I frequently found myself surprised at all the little ways the countries I went to were different from the US. For example, the Spanish don’t eat dinner until really late, like 9 or 10 o’clock late. Without realizing, I had in my mind a lot of stereotypes about other cultures. Sometimes these preconceived notions were actually proven true. French food really is the best. However, usually this was not the case.
I changed so much in that small village outside Marrakech. It was a traditional Berber village; the Berber people, or the Amazigh, as they call themselves, are the indigenous people of Northern Africa. It is customary for them to keep their livestock on the first floor of their homes because the heat from the animals rises and warms the rest of the home. We were then taken upstairs. The house didn’t have many walls other than what was necessary to be structurally stable, but it had gorgeous views of the Atlas Mountains. We were fed bread and shown the traditional way to make Moroccan mint tea. Over all the glamour, it is little moments like this that stand out as highlights of my study abroad experience: moments where I felt connected to the people and culture around me. 
As I studied the interplay of Muslim and European culture, it was prerequisite that I know at least a little about Islam. Though it wasn’t the focus of my education, what I learned about Islam was one of the most important things I learned on the trip. I learned appreciation for the religion. I’ve always said that the most important thing is people. I’m so grateful as this trip has taught me new respect and understanding of those who are different from me and who I had almost no knowledge of before.
As cliché as it sounds, studying abroad really was a life changing experience. It’s something every student should do at least once; as expensive as it may be, you won’t regret it. Furthermore, I recommend going to places that you’ve never considered visiting. Although I can’t wait to return to Paris on vacation someday, it was Morocco that had the biggest impact on me. No matter where you go, you’re bound to learn as much outside of class as in lecture, and you’ll create invaluable experiences as you bridge the gap between cultures.