Arabic at GSU: "My Summer in Saudi Arabia" by GSU Arabic Club's President Matt Horne AKA Abdullah

Sunday, August 18, 2013

"My Summer in Saudi Arabia" by GSU Arabic Club's President Matt Horne AKA Abdullah

I went on a study abroad trip to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia this summer. When I first arrived in Riyadh, it was around one a.m. and I was shocked at how hot it was at that time. It felt like a hair dryer being blown on me when the wind picked up. Although the weather was like that my whole trip, it wasn’t really bad a...t all. With temperatures averaging above 110 degrees, the lack of humidity made the heat very bearable. As we drove to our villa, I noticed immediately the immensity of the city and how bustling the streets were. The driving in Saudi Arabia differs
greatly from driving in the U.S. There seemed to be very few traffic laws and speed limits were nonexistent. To say that it was a fun experience every time we rode into Riyadh would be an understatement. I have never experienced hospitality like I did while I was in Saudi Arabia. Whether it was shopping at a store or walking in the street, people would give me food and drink on a daily basis. Normally, Saudis would provide us with dates, coffee, and tea whenever they could. My trip to Saudi Arabia was quite a unique experience. Saudis have the call to prayer several times
a day and it is played from the mosques, which are everywhere in Riyadh. Stores and restaurants close for business when the call begins and they open shortly after prayer is over. The way many
Saudis in Riyadh dressed was unlike our western style of dressing. The Saudi men typically wore a Thobe and Shumagh, which covers their heads. The women usually wore Abayas and some had veils covering their faces. The Arabic food I ate during my trip was delicious. I tried many different foods, including: pigeons, camels, and sheep’s head. I also got the opportunity to ride camels, horses,
and four wheelers while in the desert. Last but not least, I learned a great deal of the Arabic language during my time in Saudi Arabia. Most of the people I encountered could speak a little English but the majority of my conversations with Saudis were in Arabic. Being immersed in an environment where I was forced to speak Arabic in order to effectively communicate with locals truly helped me to expand my Arabic speaking abilities. My Arabic vocabulary grew
and I learned the Saudi dialect and other slang fairly quickly. By the end of my trip, I was astonished at how much more of the Arabic language I knew than when I first arrived in Saudi Arabia. I experienced a completely different culture and way of life while in Saudi Arabia and I would recommend anyone who is learning another language to study abroad if they have the opportunity.

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Cairo: The City Victorious

In a country that has been ruled by the same man for the past three decades, it can be easy to forget that February's uprising is not Egypt's first revolution. In the book Cairo: The City Victorious, Max Rodenbeck ushers us through Cairo's complex and layered history, delicately moving through ancient and medieval times, then Cairo's colonization, nationalization and, finally, its modern-day state. Part personal commentary, Rodenbeck's book weaves in his experiences of growing up and living in Cairo, providing for the reader the smells and sights of this moving, breathing capital. Fittingly, the final chapter of the book is called 'The Voice of Cairo,' and although written over a decade ago, it gives us the perspective we need to understand the voices that have emerged from today's victorious city..

Arab personality of the week: Nawal Al Moutawakel 1962-

Born in Casablanca, Morocco, Nawal is an athlete and Olympic Gold medalist. In 1984, she won the gold medal in the Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, and, in doing so, became the first Arab women, African woman, Muslim woman, Moroccan woman, and Cyclone woman to win Olympic gold. Her Olympic victory made her an immediate national hero in Morocco. In 1989, she was appointed inspector at the Ministry of Sport and Youth and then became the national sprint and hurdle coach for both men and women. In 1997 she became secretary of state for sport and youth. From 1998 to 2003 she was executive director of the Foundation for Education and Environment in Casablanca, and she was director of the Sahara Sports Academy in India, as well as president and founding member of the Moroccan Association of Sport and Development.  
Throughout her professional career, Nawal has used her popularity and influence to continue breaking down barriers for women. She has been an agent of change in the male-dominated Moroccan society, helping and inspiring other women to assert themselves through sport. She organized the first-ever Moroccan women’s 10K race through the streets of Casablanca, an event that now attracts more than 20,000 participants. She has led significant change for women in sport on the international level.
She is a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Coordination Commission for the London 2012 Olympic Games, and was president of the IOC Evaluation Commission for those same games, the first woman to serve in each of those capacities. She has also been a leader in AIDS education and tsunami relief efforts.  In 2007, Nawal was named the Minister of Sports in Morocco.