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during the following Fellowship Year( in this case, 2015).
“ They really take their knowledge to the next level,” explains Hilbrand, who went on the trip to Doha.“ They go to the country, meet a lot of people in different walks of life in civil society. They break down a lot of stereotypes they might have had, and then come home to talk about it. It’ s priceless.”
A Springboard
Gabriella Chamberland, who just graduated from Converse College in Spartanburg, South Carolina, is typical in saying the study visit was“ an amazing experience and opportunity to see another culture, and go to places [ like ]… the National Human Rights Committee, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. That’ s a lot of access a 21-year-old would never get otherwise!”
“ I found the people to be warm and hospitable and willing to engage in discussion about complex issues”
Syed Bilal Ali, Sophomore at McDaniel College
Chamberland is interested in women’ s issues and was fascinated by the variety in dress she saw in the ultra-modern city— some women were walking around in abayas, traditional long cloaks; others were jogging in shorts by the sea. And she was impressed with the number and proportion of female students working towards university degrees in Education City [ see page 21 ].
“ It was absolutely incredible, intellectually, culturally, travel-wise. It was one of the most amazing experiences of my life— and definitely a springboard for a whole bunch of career opportunities.”
Surprised by the Openness
All the students were overwhelmed by the hospitality they encountered— and surprised by the openness.
“ There’ s a lot of negativity about the Middle East in the U. S.,” says Syed Bilal Ali, a sophomore at McDaniel College in Wellington, Maryland.“ It’ s really not the way it is portrayed in the news … I found the people to be warm and hospitable and willing to engage in discussion about complex issues, even on topics where we may disagree.”
“ Qatar has a unique intellectual atmosphere,” says Hilbrand.“ The Doha Debates, the Doha Forum [ see box Page 31 ]: it’ s the one place in the Arab world where a lot of discussions are always taking place, conversations are occurring, intellectuals are gathering. There’ s more openness, not just in social behaviors but also in the atmosphere of the intellectual community: it’ s very open, down to earth, it has its own special, unique charm.”
Emily Bless, an international affairs major at Mercer University in Macon, Georgia, says that even the government officials they met were open about discussing U. S.– Qatar relations.“ They told us what Americans didn’ t understand about Qatar, and the Arab world in general,” she says.“ They were very open about things like Israeli- Palestinian relations, and our need to put that into focus, so that we understand where the Arab world is coming from.
“ They were very frank and direct, not like politicians at all!” she says with a laugh.
Souks and Sand Dunes
Two highlights of the trip were a visit to the old souk and a day in the desert.“ The souk is an old-style market,” Ali explains.“ People have all their goods placed outside their store, and you can bargain, get a good price.” It was a fun place to unwind, meet some local people, and buy souvenirs. Chamberland bought some traditional clothing, including scarves, a hijab and several traditional abayas, one decorated with gold and embroidery.
Both Shaefer and Ali enjoyed trying to speak Arabic at the souk.“ The locals loved it when I said Ana adros Arabi [ I am learning Arabic ],” he says.“ They always answered Masha’ Allah! [ God has willed it!] …
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