Though we have little demographic data about the number of students who identify as Arab or Arab American going abroad or studying in the U.S., it’s exceedingly important that we—as international educators—support all students, provide resources and encourage more Arab and Arab American students to travel abroad, and do all that we can to make studying in the U.S. more accessible for international students. This Arab traveler guide is part of GoAbroad’s push for more inclusivity in travel and international education.
Get your copy: Meaningful Travel Tips & Tales: Arab Traveler Perspectives
Accessibility is an issue for most students who want to study, intern, teach, or volunteer abroad, but don’t have the resources to do so. Beyond just financial resources, if Arab and Arab American students can’t see themselves in the stories, articles, and blog posts, written by alumni, going abroad won’t seem like a viable option. In a field centered around diversity and cultural exchange, this is a shame.
Our contributors are sharing their personal stories and travel expertise in order to change that. More and more, studying, interning, working, and teaching abroad is becoming somewhat of a standard endeavor of college students and recent graduates; this ebook was created to help ensure that Arab American students and travelers have all the resources they need to participate in these experiences safely, happily, and successfully.
Whether you take the opportunity for heritage travel, or decide to experience a totally new place and culture, this ebook has tips for you.
From Arab American travel tips about traveling in the Middle East and North Africa: Keep in mind that not all MENA countries speak the same language. Some may speak Arabic, Farsi, or Hebrew. And not all Arabic-speaking countries will speak the same dialect, which is CRAZY! For instance, Egypt, Lebanon, and Tunisia share the Arabic language, but the dialects spoken in each country vary widely.
— Souad Kadi, 6 things to know before Volunteering in North Africa/the Middle East
To more personal tales like: My journey as a Palestinian-American woman has no end. I’ve never believed myself to be a finished being; I am forever changing, growing and learning. There is still so much to discover about myself and how I fit in this world. Though I can tell you this, my own self-love and appreciation grew when given the opportunity to seek new experiences through travel and cross-cultural exchange.
— Renda Nazzal, Learning More About My Palestinian Heritage Through Travel
See yourself abroad.
For any Arab traveler and Arab American student planning to go abroad: this ebook is for you. Everyone deserves the opportunity to travel, and GoAbroad is dedicated to providing every student with the tools, knowledge, and confidence they need to do so.
Note: This is an open book (pun intended). It will continue to grow as we share more stories and add more voices. If you’re an African American traveler interested in contributing to this ebook, you can fill out this form.
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