I vividly remember attending the Office for Study Abroad panel in the fall of my sophomore year, a requirement for the Global Bachelor’s Program. I sat anxiously listening to my peers describe their experiences studying abroad in Asia as I prepared for my semester at NTU in Singapore. A recurring topic of discussion was identity—many spoke about feeling visibly and culturally different from the people in their host cities.
Over the course of my two years in the Global Bachelor’s Program, I’ve heard countless students navigate these challenges, through pamphlets, websites, and advice from staff on how to manage being "unique" abroad— but seldom did I hear anyone speak about the experience of sharing an identity with your host country. One year later, I found myself landing at Mohamed V International Airport, unsure of what to expect from my second GBP experience.
I’m a proud Muslim and Algerian American. My identity has always been defined by the values and traditions my parents instilled in me. Though I was born in the U.S., I grew up speaking our language, practicing our faith, and embracing the culture. While I’ve never lived in my ancestral homeland, my long summers in the southern province of Laghouat ingrained in me an indescribable attachment to the land and people. I’ve always yearned to live in a place where the language, customs, and values resonate with my own. So when it came time to choose a second semester abroad, Rabat was my first choice.
Now, halfway through my semester in Morocco, I can only describe my experience as an overwhelming sense of belonging. Strangely, though this is my first time in Morocco, I’ve never felt so immediately at home in a country that isn’t my own. My host family welcomed me with the traditional kisses on the cheek and a steaming cup of atay (Moroccan green tea with fresh mint). We share couscous every Friday after noon prayers, just as I did growing up. My heart feels at peace when I hear the adhan (Islamic call to prayer) echo through the city at sunset. The food, the language, the customs—everything here feels familiar. I love practicing my Darija (North African Arabic dialect) with shop owners in the souk, and my heart swells when they recognize my accent as Algerian, greeting me with “Welcome to your country, we’re one people.”
That said, my time abroad has not been without its challenges. There are moments when I grow frustrated with my inability to fully articulate myself in Darija, or embarrassed when a stranger mistakes me for a local and asks for directions. Nevertheless, my experience has been nothing short of transformative. For the first time in my life, I’ve been able to discover my identity outside the lens of being a minority.
Living in Rabat has shown me that no matter the distance or the seas that separate us, our souls are always drawn to those we recognize as kin, and in Morocco, I’ve found not just a place, but a deep sense of home.
Sarah Naidjate
Fall 2024
IES Abroad - Rabat, Morocco
Elliott School of International Affairs
International Affairs Major