Student Voices: Africa & The Middle East

The world is intersectional, you can experience privilege in one space and discrimination in another. Be okay with those complexities, give back when you can, respect the communities you enter, and stay confident in who you are.

The emergence of Amapiano dance and music, and my interest in its connection to Hip-Hop, House, and West African styles of dance, inspired my selection of South Africa as my study abroad destination.

Sabrina Kiamilev studied computer science by day and swetsana dance by night at the University of Botswana.

I learned how to manage my time and prioritize experiences that I found most beneficial. The shift towards less structure (moving from USC to UCT) more closely modeled post-grad life, so I left the program with a better conception of how I might spend/manage my time after graduation.

My advice would be to immerse yourself as much as possible. Moroccan people are truly the most welcoming people I have ever met, and if you seek out community, it will be there for you. Forming relationships with locals give you the opportunity to see Morocco in a truly different way.

“As my semester abroad comes to an end and finals are around the corner, I am sad to be saying farewell to Morocco, which has challenged me, comforted me, mesmerized me, and most importantly, helped me grow as an individual.”

“As my first month in Morocco comes to an end, I am starting to be accustomed to life here. I feel more comfortable with the food, am able to have an entire conversation in Darija with my host mom (albeit with many mistakes, I am sure!), and easily know my way around Rabat.”