Ok, ok, so I know what a visa is, and that I am required to have one to travel to many countries in the world. But there are so many things to think about when traveling and a visa is just a small part.
The Backstory. In October of my first semester in graduate school I was wondering if I had made the right choice coming back to school. Though I am from Raleigh, I still felt like a stranger in this program. I wasn’t making the connections I thought I would and I certainly didn’t feel like I was advancing towards an exciting career. “Man, is this what life is going to be like after grad school?” So, instead of whining and waiting for things to change I started looking into different options that would get me re-excited (did I just make up this word? maybe) about Higher Education Administration. I started looking into what I could do for a summer internship, and I started applying. And man, did I apply! However, I had a list of requirements:
- It couldn’t be in NC
- It would be nice if I got paid…
- I couldn’t know anyone in the place I was going
- I had to fly to get there
Once I started looking at the internships that fit these qualifications, I started getting so excited. If I actually got the opportunity to do one, I was going to be ecstatic!
The Applications. I applied to NODA internships at about 12 schools. I applied to ones that were presented to us through our HEA email blasts. This included one at the American University of Kuwait, and one at Franklin University in Switzerland. I also inquired about one at the American University of the Caribbean. Now, after applying to all these, I really wasn’t expecting to hear back from any overseas. I thought those were too good to be true, and that the NODA internships would be more attainable.
The Response. Then one day in December, I received an e-mail from the coordinator of the American University of Kuwait internship saying I was chosen for the summer 2015 program! I couldn’t believe it. I kind of sat there for 10 minutes looking at my phone in disbelief. Then, of course, I called everyone I knew to tell them. And no one else could believe it either. I was going to spend 2 months in Kuwait! And then it sunk in. “Wait, I know nothing about Kuwait, or the Middle East.” I had some research to do if I was going to be living in this culture for 2 months.
The Research. I started like every good researcher, and went straight to Wikipedia. Kuwait is a very small, oil-rich country in the Arabian Gulf. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and the Persian Gulf. It is unbearably hot in the summer (and I thought NC weather was hot), and it is mostly desert. The official language is Arabic. The American University of Kuwait is in Kuwait City, the largest city and capital.
The culture of Kuwait is very different than the one I am used to here in the US and there are many things I will have to keep in mind during my stay. I have included an excerpt taken straight from the resource guide shared with me: “Additionally, it is an Islamic country with local laws, customs, and business practices heavily influenced by the Islamic faith and the Islamic calendar. For instance, many public holidays are based on the Islamic calendar, which is based on the phases of the moon, with holiday dates moving forward approximately 10 days on an annual basis from the Gregorian calendar. It is important to note that the Holy month of Ramadan may occur during your time in Kuwait. This month sees a significant shift in practices and work conditions as often work hours are reduced, and that it is illegal to eat or drink in public during daylight hours.” This custom is one that struck me the most, and though I knew about Ramadan, I never saw it as a holiday that would affect me. Already, I am learning to be more sensitive to other cultures. Here in the US, most of our holidays are based around Christian traditions. It had me wondering how different life would be if they were centered on a different faith. Now that I will be submerging myself into this culture, will I be able to abide by these customs? The answer is: I’ll have to. And I am completely ok with that! I never really feel challenged until I am taken completely out of my comfort zone.
After having learned this much, I kept digging. I wanted to make sure I abided by all the laws and customs that would be different, and I didn’t want to offend anyone upon my arrival. I have since learned that physical displays of affection between the same sexes are very common. This, I was used to, for in France we commonly practice this also with our greetings. However, some men will not shake the hand of a woman and some women will not shake the hand of a man. A man, when greeting a Kuwaiti woman, ought to refrain from extending his hand first. Something that we have been taught here in America to be a polite gesture as soon as you meet someone can be considered too forward and rude in Kuwait. Another custom I am going to have to be careful to abide by.
While many of these differences may scare some people, I am so excited about this opportunity and I am looking forward to all the experiences I will be able to partake in. On top of all that, I am going to be advancing my knowledge in the field I will be working in. Two of my favorite things, international travel and higher education, all in one package! While preparing is exciting, I await with impatience to see what this trip will bring me! Hopefully I will learn more than I could ever have hoped, meet new and interesting people, learn how to break down barriers between two very different cultures, and even get a wicked tan! Wish me luck on my adventure, and until then, Masalama!
Benoit D. Sabourin is a first year student in the Higher Education Administration master’s program. He serves as a Graduate Assistant for Preparing Future Leaders with The Graduate School at NC State University.