"University of Tulsa to Al Akhawayn University" by Naomi Curtis

I always like to establish some goals for myself before I start any big project or journey. The hardest part is picking out the key goals I want to accomplish and clearing any distractions. After careful deliberation during my first semester of college, I set three goals for myself to complete before I graduate:

1. Visit 7 National Parks (4/7 done)

2. Get an internship (I’ve had 3)

3. Study Abroad (in progress)

As a junior at the University of Tulsa, I am excited to finally tackle my third goal this semester at Al Akhawayn University in Morocco. I am incredibly grateful for this experience to be a part of a new culture and to learn from the Kingdom of Morocco. 

If you google Tulsa, Oklahoma, three things will pop up: oil, Route 66, and tornadoes. Luckily, I have direct experience with all three and can briefly tell you about them. 

Gas is cheap here compared to the rest of the United States, and oil companies like to recruit on TU. I learned the other day that TU is actually on Route 66! If you ever want to drive the historic, transcontinental road, feel free to stop by and say hi, and I’ll take you to a landmark diner called Tally’s Good Food Café on Route 66. Tornadoes in Oklahoma are either not scary at all or downright terrifying. Every Wednesday, the city of Tulsa tests its tornado sirens at noon. At this point, I have blocked them out and never hear them. They are a very normal part of my week. Fun fact about myself is that I can tell when the weather is about to get worse, or if a tornado will come because my hand will start to hurt. 

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Photo Credit: Curtis, 2020

That is a brief, blurry snapshot of my hometown, and I am excited to get some glimpses of Morocco to accompany them. The only reason I have a chance to even go to Morocco is because of the amazing study abroad team at TU. On the recommendation of my study abroad advisor, Morgan Hopson, I looked into the AMIDEAST program — specifically their direct enrollment program at Al Akhawayn University (AUI). I have never studied Arabic, my public education does not include the MENA region, and TU has only a few classes covering this area of the world. I realized then, and especially now, I know very little about Morocco. This program will be an opportunity to study first-hand the Moroccan culture, language, and history. Morgan spoke so highly of AUI and Morocco, so… I applied.

I am most excited to take back to Tulsa what I learn from Morocco and to encourage other students to study abroad in the MENA region. Students need to branch out and push themselves as far out of their comfort zone as possible to fully grow. Putting myself out there will be a challenge for me, and I am excited to experience the growing pains and the thrill of watching myself turn into a new, better-educated person. I am especially thrilled to learn some Arabic (I’ve already started learning), to learn about the history of Morocco, and to learn how to cook a Moroccan dish. In keeping with the trend, here are ten of my goals for my time at AUI:

1. Learn how to cook 3 Moroccan dishes

2. Learn how to introduce myself in Arabic (preferably more, but I’ll start here for now)

3. Visit as many of Morocco’s cities as possible (I’ll put five here, so I have a number to attain)

4. Pass my classes at AUI

5. Find a place to volunteer at consistently (preferably every week)

6. Join a club at AUI

7. Be able to tell my friends at home a brief, yet comprehensive, history of Morocco

8. Cross the Strait of Gibraltar 

9. Make my blog one that I am proud of, and that accurately reflects my experience and who I am.

10. Make friends!