In the seventh grade, I created a “game plan” for becoming a diplomat. I knew the requirements (even the physical exam) and the studies I would have to go through to travel the world and create connections internationally.
Fast forward almost seven years later, and my career aspirations hold a subtle love for global studies. I’ve recently declared my Chicana/o Latina/o Studies major at 鶹Ӱ after taking classes in economics, international relations, and ethnic studies. Pomona’s inaugural faculty-led summer study abroad program named “Diplomacy and Human Rights in the Mediterranean” melded these aspirations beautifully.
My first time overseas, I was accompanied by 13 other students from the Claremont Colleges and Professor Mietek Boduszynski of the Pomona Politics department. Our group had the honor of meeting Professor Abubakr Jamaï, a formerly exiled Moroccan journalist and now professor. He accompanied us to various cities in Morocco as he is able to travel within the country because of his international recognition and therefore protection.
Before our exciting two weeks in Morocco, however, we spent one week in Brussels, Belgium. Our hotel was in the center of the action of La Grand Place. Its bustling evening life coexisted with bustling government officials of the European Union and NATO.
The group excitement of being in these major global institutions could be felt in the air. We eagerly awaited security checks and came ready with pencils and notebooks to ask hard-hitting questions.
After our visit to NATO headquarters in particular, the air was especially filled—this time, with tension. Many students expressed disillusionment after being met with curt answers to hard-hitting questions about colonial pasts and human security. I realized that I had come to terms with my disillusionment far before this visit to NATO or even this trip.
I held this doubt close to me, using it as a catalyst for curiosity, eagerly awaiting the change of pace and cultural immersion of Morocco.
Morocco was nothing short of an adventure.
At our first stop in Morocco, in Marrakech, we visited an Amazigh village in the mountains and got to prepare Moroccan tajine the traditional way. We also played (and lost) in a soccer game with some incredible kids. The community we visited lives a very different life than we do in Claremont. The mountain areas of Morocco are impoverished and were heavily impacted by an earthquake that happened last year.
The life I saw as a visitor does not exist that far away from me, as I was born in El Salvador and have also seen the widespread poverty in El Salvador. The Moroccan people are joyfully resilient, and we learned that those that have means and opportunities give back to their local community because they acknowledge the collective effort it takes to have these opportunities. My experience during this program reaffirmed my belief that Moroccan NGOs and community efforts are more effective for the local communities than the well-known European Union or United States initiatives.
My biggest take-aways from this immersive experience was a deep gratitude for existing in a life where I have the privilege to travel practically anywhere, anytime. In Morocco and around the world, lives continue to be in danger, and it is inspiring to see the collective community efforts of Amal Women's Center, IDMAJ Casablanca, and Fondation Orient-Occident Migration to rebuild the community time and time again. It was beautiful to be warmly welcomed and hosted by Moroccans and be reminded that it is such a gift to travel. At the same time, it was sobering and devastating at times to think about the injustice that not everyone is treated the same.
My aspirations to work in my Latinx community were reaffirmed as my measure of “success” during my time at Pomona and beyond. I learned that I was most excited about lectures and discussions centering migration and its intersecting factors of language reinforcement and gender studies.
Above all, the prevailing emotion upon returning to the United States and Pomona’s campus was deep gratitude for the opportunities that I have, the potential change I can inspire, and for Professor Mietek who worked for years to make this program happen!
Three weeks on two continents was accompanied by intensive work and early mornings. I wouldn’t trade this experience for the world, as I’ve learned the most about Diplomacy and Human Rights in those three weeks than my entire time at Pomona. The program was jam-packed with visits, guest speakers, discussions even over informal dinners, and constant learning.