“I learned that I am able to thrive in completely new and challenging situations. Being in countries where I couldn't speak the language forced me to be adaptable and try to assimilate with each country's respective languages and cultures. It showed me how much I enjoy connecting with people from various backgrounds, always striving to find common ground with each other,” reflected biology and history major Farhan Haque, who studied abroad this past summer on the Between France and Morocco program.
During the program, Haque explored major cities like Paris and Marrakesh, visited museums and historical sites, and engaged with local communities all while studying how culture, religion and history shape their daily lives, and how they compare to America.
“Going abroad was important to me because I've always wanted to travel ever since I was young. I would watch The Amazing Race with my family and want to run it with my dad, traveling to as many countries as possible and really seeing how amazing and expansive our world is with my own eyes,” said Haque.
Haque will take the valuable skills he’s developed abroad to aid him as he navigates the dentistry and healthcare fields, which he hopes to enter after graduation.
“This experience strengthened my communication skills, cultural awareness and gave me the ability to work with people from all backgrounds, from the amazing friends I made on the trip to the awesome faculty,” he noted. “It also taught me empathy and how to build trust across language or cultural barriers. These lessons will help me provide more compassionate and inclusive care as a future dentist.”
Although there were many experiences on the program that Haque describes as life changing, some of his favorites included playing soccer and making tajine with locals in a remote village of Marrakesh, learning firsthand about Moroccan culture in markets, taking a group trip to the beautiful Palace of Versailles, sharing meals with local families and connecting with other students in the program.
“It's so difficult to name just a few memorable moments, as this trip was, by definition, life-changing,” he said. “The small moments like navigating the metro, speaking to strangers in French or trying all the amazing foods ended up being just as meaningful as the big moments.