buenos aires
“I can see effects of the economic and social [circumstances]
in the Argentines themselves...there is definitely a level of preoccupation,
and the crisis is the most common topic of conversation. While this
saddens me, it has not affected the way I have been treated. Being
a witness to events here has made me evaluate and re-evaluate my
thoughts about politics, social problems, and the world in general. ”
+
seville
“Tareq ibn Zeyad, after whom I was named, landed in Spain
in 711. I came to see the legacy left by my people. I found that
removing myself from my safe comfort zone liberated me and opened
my eyes to the wonders of Sevilla...I was part of the Muslim community
here: praying together, eating at their homes, attending weddings
and births. ”
+
hanoi
“Vietnam is a country in transition from war to peace. In
recognizing what the Vietnamese have chosen to remember or forget
about the war, you come close to understanding historic continuity
and discontinuity...Buddhism, Confucianism, and Marxism...took turns
integrating with indigenous beliefs and becoming state and social
ideologies. If you can find a way to understand these different
layers...you have developed an analytical tool to think about politics,
government, freedom, human rights, and democracy throughout Asia. ”
+
bahia
“As an African-American, I was surprised to find so many
Brazilians in Bahia don’t consider themselves black...a dark-skinned
student didn’t self-identify his race as black or dark colored
but “nothing.” I learned so much about myself, the purpose
of my education, and my role as a citizen of the world. ”