Global Journal Vol I Issue 2 Fall 2016

GLOBAL JOURNAL INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS PUBLICATION

VOL 1 ISSUE 2 FALL 2016

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About Global Journal Insight into our vision

Global Journal is a Northeastern University International

Affairs student-run publication, covering international news, events on campus, study abroad, as well as domestic and

international co-ops. Founded in 2014 by Madlen Gubernick, Elizabeth Zona, and Yasmeen Alhaj, the student group aims

to bring the international community together through experiential narratives.

Because being a Northeastern student inevitably implies international interest and awareness, Global Journal

encourages students of all disciplines to participate in the student group. Global Journal is comprised not only of in-

ternational affairs students, but journalism, political science, business, health education and art students as well.

We believe that as Northeastern students, we are all global citizens with vast international experience: Global Journal

gives students the platform to share those experiences with

the rest of the community. We hope to inspire students of all

disciplines to partake in building international bridges to help promote our global experiences.

Cover photo taken by Ryan Maia

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Table of Contents

AMERICAS

Student Spotlight: Caitlin Morelli Paraguay: The Little Country That Changed my Life

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Food Security: A Global Issue

ASIA

CSSH Spotlight: Rose Internet Censorship

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Coming to Terms with My Privilege in India CSSH Spotlight: Camille

AFRICA

CSSH Spotlight: Timothy CSSH Spotlight: Maya

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CSSH Spotlight: Ali CSSH Spotlight: Katie

EUROPE

Traveler or a Tourist?

Return to Sarajevo

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Ten Countries Entrepreneurship in Spain

MIDDLE EAST

Thoughts From the Jabal

Politics of Space in Turkey

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Meet the Team Members of the board

Madlen Gubernick Founder, President, & Editor in Chief. International Affairs Major, Journalism & Global Social Entrepreneurship Minors

Elizabeth Zona Co-Founder, President of Marketing.

Business Administration Major, dual concentration in Marketing & MIS From: Maplewood, New Jersey

Yasmeen Alhaj Co-Founder & Managing Editor International Affairs Major with a Middle East Concentration, Sociology Minor From: Dhahran, Saudi Arabia

Jeremy Love-Epp Editor Environmental Studies & International Affairs Majors, International Security Studies Minor From: Raytown, Missouri

Olivia Arnold Editor Journalism Major, Political Science Minor From: Marlboro, New Jersey

From: Brooklyn, New York

Caroline Boschetto Editor International Affairs Major, Journalism & Global Social Entrepreneurship Minors From: Doylestown, Pennsylvania

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Olivia Pickard Social Media Chair International Business Major, International Affairs & Human Services Minors From: Boston, Massachusetts

Lydia Ioannidou Print Design Chair Design Major with Concentration in Graphic and Information Design From: Athens, Greece

Mary Cehn Promotional Chair International Affairs & Political Science Major From: San Diego, California

Kathleen Brody Recruitment Chair International Affairs & Human Services Major, Spanish Minors From: Summit, New Jersey

Sarah Zaatar Vice President of Marketing & Treasurer. Business Administration Major, dual concentration in Entrepreneurship & Marketing From: Dubai, UAE

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Staff Writers

Contributing Writers

Mary Chen

Alyssa Bilotta

Devin Windelspecht

Samir A. Habib

Daniella Emami

Lindsay Marum

Helen Wang

Kuei-Feng Tung

Alex Jones

Felicia Deconarine

Rachel Abastillas

Pavit Arora

Alexandra Kuenning Sydne Mass Julie Renner Hridayam Agarwal Amy Hood

College of Social Sciences and Humanities Spotlight Rose Leopold Maya Bur Timothy Maurer Camille Carlton Alison Campbell Katherine Powers

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Letter from the Founders

Global Journal is proud to present our second

we’ve included in this edition, as well as those on

students have traveled the globe for co-op,

Northeastern

edition! As they do every semester, Northeastern Dialogue of Civilization programs, NU.in, and various study abroad opportunities. For the second semester in a row we are excited to share

the stories of these experiences with the rest of the Northeastern community.

Global Journal offers a platform for students to showcase their vast international experiences

with students, faculty and alumni of the university.

We are proud of each and every one of the stories

our website, because they highlight what makes University

special.

Our

global

community is built on the foundation of diversity, inclusion and experience, and through Global

Journal, students are given the chance to reflect on the university’s global opportunities.

We are honored to be that platform for Northeastern students on campus and abroad, and look forward to continuing our commitment to

global storytelling. We hope you enjoy this edition as much as you did the last!

Sincerely,

Madlen, Yasmeen, & Elizabeth

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Photo by Lydia Ioannidou

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The Global Journal | Americas

Student Spotlight: Caitlin Morelli Interview conducted by Madlen Gubernick, On Campus

After four and half years at Northeastern,

isn’t easy. You expect it to go according to plan,

international affairs and political science, with

face,” she said. Caitlin admits that although it

Caitlin Morelli graduated with a dual degree in

minors in global social entrepreneurship and business administration.

While at Northeastern, Caitlin was heavily

involved both in class and across the world.

She completed three co-ops, one dialogue,

one summer semester at the London School of Economics, and was Editor in Chief of the Northeastern Social Enterprise Review.

Her

first

co-op

was

at

the

Canadian

Consulate of Boston, where she worked in

the trade department to facilitate Canadian entrepreneurship in Boston. “I learned a lot about

how government functions,” she said, looking back on her time at the Consulate.

After declaring a minor in Global Social

Entrepreneurship, Caitlin moved to Cape Town,

South Africa to begin her second co-op. She

worked as a project manager for Heart Capital, a boutique impact-investing firm. There, she helped

build a new site for a social enterprise called Food Pods, an initiative that helps women grow and sell vegetables in townships around Cape

Town. The site is one of the many visits students make during the global social entrepreneurship dialogue to Cape Town.

It was at Heart Capital that Caitlin realized what a challenge social entrepreneurship can be.

“Working on-the-ground for a small organization

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but there are so many unknown factors that you

wasn’t glamorous, her co-op was undoubtedly rewarding.

With both a political science co-op, and a social

entrepreneurship co-op under her belt, Caitlin

planned for her third and final co-op in the fall of 2014. At the time, President Aoun announced that he was looking for his own co-op student, which

came to be known as a Global Officer. “The job

description was vague. All we knew at the time was that he wanted to send a student around the

world to develop global initiatives for the school,” Caitlin said of Aoun’s announcement. Caitlin was one of many students to submit a cover letter for

the position, but, she was one of few invited to create a one-minute pitch video, and ultimately interview with Aoun himself.

Although the position was designed for one student, Aoun chose two students — Caitlin

and Matt Bilotti — to be Northeastern’s first Global Ambassadors. While Caitlin’s journey focused on telling student stories and identifying potential co-ops in the social enterprise space,

Matt worked within the international startup scene.

“Entrepreneurship — both social and

technological — are two of Northeastern’s strongest areas,” Caitlin said, explaining why

Aoun decided to move forward with both students.

The Global Journal | Americas

Photo by Lydia Ioannidou

Ultimately, Caitlin’s co-op focused on building

Northeastern.

more international co-ops. “I didn’t feel that there

participating students, to learn what it meant

an international network in the hopes of creating

were many options that fit my background when I

was looking for an international co-op,” she said of her motivation for the project.

While goal

to

traveling, meet

Caitlin

with

also

made

Northeastern

it

a

students

already overseas, interviewing them on their experiences: both positive and negative. “There

was no platform for these students to share their experiences. Many of them come back to campus

and want to share and reflect, but often they don’t know where to go,” she said.

Although Caitlin looks back on all of her co-ops

fondly, she names her dialogue in Bali, Indonesia

as one of the best experiences she had at

The social entrepreneurship

dialogue was a chance for Caitlin, and all other

to design a social enterprise in response to

community issues. “It was a great atmosphere with even greater people,” she said reflecting on her summer in Asia.

Now a graduate, Caitlin will be joining Venture

for America and packing her bags once again to

join emocha in Baltimore, a company that builds mobile health applications.

From her home in Westchester, to Boston, across the globe and back, Caitlin is on to her

next adventure as a Northeastern alum: a title that will only supplement her already outstanding achievements.

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The Global Journal | Americas

Paraguay: The Little Country That Changed My Life Story by Daniella Emami, Study Abroad

In the summer of 2011, when I was 16 years old, I

had the privilege to live and work in the small town of Itapevy, Paraguay. When I first found out that I would

be living in Paraguay, I honestly had no idea where

the country was, let alone what Paraguayan culture entailed. I made the mistake of setting expectations

for what my summer would look like: what the country of Paraguay was like and what its people were like. Every expectation I set was proven to be completely wrong, in the absolute best way possible.

Paraguay is a small country with a population of about 6 million, landlocked between three Latino

supergiants: Argentina, Brazil and Chile. Although small and often unnoticed, Paraguay was, and still

is, the most interesting, confusing and enigmatic

country that I have ever been to. It is a Latino country heavily influenced by its indigenous Guaraní

roots; to this day, a large part of the country speaks Guaraní, not Spanish. When Spanish is spoken, it is often reserved for business, while Guaraní is for everyday life. Additionally, unlike many of the people

from the neighboring Latino countries, Paraguayans

are often soft-spoken, timid and calmer by nature– and actually don’t dance very often.

I can vividly remember the day I first arrived at

my host family’s farm. We traveled on a cachapé, the Guaraní word for a horse-drawn sugar crate,

on top of that day’s sugar cane harvest. It was a

bumpy ride for the last hour of the trip on a small, winding dirt road– the only way in and out of the small community of Itapevy. When we finally arrived

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at my new home, its beauty struck me: it was lush,

green and gorgeous. My home was similar to that

of many Paraguayan campo homes: the main home was built of brick on the outside and cement floors on the inside, and the bathroom and kitchen were

separate spaces outside of the home. There were

also animals everywhere– dogs, cats, cows, horses, goats, pigs, you name it.

That day, I met my two loving host parents and

three endearing younger host brothers, all of whom had lived in this small town of 200 people for their entire lives. They took me in as their own hija within

days.With no phone, Internet, or electricity, my host

family and fellow community members showed me how to have fun in the most pure ways. We would

cry from laughing while playing cards, adventure to the river and mountains and spend quality family time together every single night.

My daily routine was completely opposite to what

I had become accustomed to in the States. I was home for every meal, as well as for afternoon and

evening mate, a traditional South American tea. In

“ Every expectation I

set was proven to be completely wrong. ”

The Global Journal | Americas

Photo by Lydia Ioannidou

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my community, mate was a staple of social life, and

I had in my entire life?

adopted family. When drinking mate, one person

that make Paraguay the beautiful, fascinating, and

it was one of the ways I got to know my friends and holds the guampa, the cup that is used to drink out of, and is responsible for filling the guampa each

round with hot water over the tea leaves, then

passing it along. As I found out the hard way, you

must finish the mate when it is your turn or it can’t be passed along to the next person– a societal rule

based on superstition. Little rules like this were what I found to be the most intriguing part of Paraguayan campo life.

My host parents taught me many more of their superstitions: don’t mix hot and cold, because you

I could go on for days about the small things sometimes just strange place that it is, but looking back I will always remember Paraguay as the place I learned what pure, simple happiness looks

like. Every person I met, especially my host family, seemed to be completely at peace– maybe because

of the emphasis on close, personal relationships, or because of a naturally calmer state of mind. Although it has been five years now, I will never forget the ways of genuinely living and loving that I learned from my time in the Paraguayan campo.

will blow up; don’t sweep at night, because witches

will come to get you; always eat an animal’s head

last; and don’t ever leave your machete anywhere

other than the roof. Did I mention that I saw more machetes in one 200-person Paraguayan town than

remember Paraguay “ Iaswillthealways place I learned what pure, simple happiness looks like. ”

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Photo by Taylor Tomasso

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The Global Journal | Americas

Food Security: A Global Issue Story by Kuei-Feng Tung, On Campus

Here in Boston, food is readily available where

of the global market when other countries else were

and cuisine exist to suit the consumer’s needs.

Eventually, the concept of food security evolved

many combinations of price range, convenience,

It’s often more difficult to decide what to eat than it is to find a place to eat. Perhaps one third of the world’s population engaging in agriculture

has got something to do with it. However, at the

same time, the latest State of Commodities Report indicates some levels of chronic undernourishment in most countries worldwide, meaning that people

periodically don’t consume enough nutritional value to cover their annual needs. Of the one

third engaged in agriculture, 70% of the world’s

poor work the lands. It’s ironic that many of the people growing food are the ones prone to hunger.

How can this duality of abundance and scarcity simultaneously exist?

Food

security

researcher

Jennifer

Clapp

discussed her findings and the academic dialogue

on our current food system at Northeastern University’s guest speaker series on February

23rd. According to Clapp, food security originated

as a military concern. It was a high priority threat to the state if people couldn’t be fed and we can

see evidence of the United States’ agricultural

industry’s exceptional treatment to both our tax code and our foreign trade policy. Agriculture is in a separate tax code from other business industries

allowing for more government subsidies just for that industry, and up until 1947, the United States

had upheld protectionist trade policies to shelter

domestic productions of food from the whims

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advised to lower tariffs and other barriers to trade. beyond self sufficiency and food was weaponized into

diplomatic bargaining chips; e.g. threatening to stop

shipments of staple foods to control states dependent on these imports. There are currently two highly polarized narratives on trade and food security – both championed by powerful international institutions:

On one hand, the World Trade Organization (WTO) adamantly encourages globalization, more

transnational trade relations, and less tariffs or other

‘barriers’ that inhibit trade deals. The WTO’s narrative, rooted in David Recardo’s theory of Comparative

Advantage, claims that each country is predisposed to growing certain produce due to their conditions

(geography, etc). As such, many WTO experts argue that an interdependent and connected world system

of countries utilizing their resources to develop and produce what they’re most suited to grow and trading

with each other is inherently more efficient, trade is now a moral imperative because many countries require

these “transmission belts” of goods and services to

generate income and access products they’re not

suited to grow themselves, and that protectionism is a peril to stability. Clapp used Cambodia as a case

study to illustrate the WTO’s structural adjustment recommendations. Because of Cambodia’s monsoon seasons and access to flatlands, they were encouraged to focus most of their agricultural sector on growing

rice. Today, Cambodia and 4 other countries supply 85% of the world’s demand for rice.

The Global Journal | Americas

On the other hand, the Food and Agriculture

assumptions do not reflect reality. For example,

serves many roles besides trading commodities and

move between borders is outrageous because labor

Organization of the UN (FAO) argues that food recommends countries diversify their crop yield to

ensure self-sufficiency, buffer their vulnerability to the world market’s price volatility (in a similar way

to hedging bets and risks by diversifying a stock market portfolio), and protect their autonomy and sovereignty. Countries are more stable socially and farmers are protected against loss of land rights and

fluctuating prices compared to those countries that

depend on one or two cash crops. Unlike trading stocks, in the event of devaluation, ‘cutting your losses’ and changing produce to something else

more profitable is often not an option. Considering

that plants may need years to mature to the point they start producing actual valuable fruits, berries, nuts, etc, the transition phase between crops is long

and a farmer from that 70% would be without income

possibly for years until the new crops mature with no Photo by X

insurance until then.

At the same time, neither narrative is perfect.

The Comparative advantage theory only plausible

within the confines of its assumptions, and these

the basis that commodities are the only things that and cash can flow from one country to another.

Equally, the diversity narrative may not be a viable

option anymore since as many as 66 states (⅓ of all countries) are beyond able to reverse their

interdependency on other countries for their access to food.

Because there are problems and merits with both narratives, deadlocks often happen at the

institutional level; “WTO rules matters for food

security, but it’s not a food security organization.”, said Clapp, and at the same time, FAO considers

there be no place for discussions of free trade in their

forums. Consequently, the two major institutions making structural recommendations for food security do not communicate with each other.

What that indicates to Clapp is that perhaps the

binary yes/no nature of the question being asked by scholars in the food systems field needs change.

Instead of “Is trade is beneficial for food security?”, the question “under what situations can trade be

beneficial for food security?” might better answer our

questions of food systems, abundance, and scarcity.

“ The concept of food security evolved beyond self sufficiency. ” 17

The Global Journal | Europe

18 Photo by Lydia Ioannidou

The Global Journal | Europe

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Photo by Madeline Seibert

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The Global Journal | Asia

CSSH Spotlight: India Story by Rose Leopold, Dialogue of Civilizations

This picture comes from a potter’s village in the

I took this picture during a Dialogue of Civilizations

the world’s largest slums, containing almost a million

policy. Witnessing the impact of climate change

Dharavi slum of Mumbai, India. Dharavi is one of people in 3/4 of a square mile. The density of people

and businesses in the slum is extraordinary and yet, people are still happy. In this picture, the women are smiling and laughing even though their life conditions are less than ideal. I think that’s what I want people

to take away most from this image - that happiness can be found even in the most difficult situations.

People in Dharavi are proud of where they come

from due to the innovation found there. We are can all learn something from these potters.

Photo by Rose Leopold

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trip to India to study climate change science and firsthand on the developing world changed my life

and the focus of my studies at Northeastern. Climate

change is the world’s most pressing issue and I want to have a role in addressing it. After the Dialogue,

I decided to pursue a Master’s degree in Security and Resilience Studies here in CSSH, and I hope

that I can focus on urban resiliency in the developing world in the face of climate change.

The Global Journal | Asia

Photo courtesy of CSSH

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The Global Journal | Asia

Internet Censorship in China through the Lens of a Third- Culture Kid Story by Helen Wang, On Campus

“Where are you from?”

(gyoza) or macaroni and cheese (often with a look

So went the dreaded question of my childhood,

parents’ best efforts, I never acquired a taste for red

known each other as long as they could remember,

Chinese relatives’ dismay, I would smother anything

I’m what you might call a third-culture kid; I was

terms of table manners, my parents were determined

Cultural Revolution, but my parents immigrated (or

less sophisticated “mini-trident”. I could go on, but

protesters in Tiananmen square) to Canada when I

differences in ideology.

90s/early 2000s due to lenient immigration policy, we

inner demons, trying to empathize with a culture

suburbs, before moving to Seattle in 2006, when my

while living among one that promoted self-

at Microsoft. Even though I’ve lived most of my life

how could I embrace a heritage rooted in dynastic

States – a yellow face on a green card, granted all

that the suppression of democracy was inherently

right to vote. So when I came to Northeastern in the

growing up in different countries and different eras

but neither did I feel Chinese or Canadian.

believing ethnocentric propaganda from opposite

we’d left behind, my parents were adamant about

I shouldn’t have been that surprised in the first place.

language and culture, and to preserve traditions

crucial for the Communist Party of China, using

Lunar New Year, May Day, and the Mid-Autumn

and Nazi totalitarian regimes to maintain power by

Independence Day. When I was hungry, my mood

politics. With the arrival of the internet in China in

of revulsion from my grandmother). Despite my

asked by a room full of wide-eyed children who had

bean paste or matcha-flavored anything, and to my

as I switched schools every year up until sixth grade.

I could get my hands on in chocolate or cheese. In

born in China to parents who grew up during the

that I master the art of wielding chopsticks over the

escaped, considering my mother was one of the

differences in customs were trivial compared to

was a year old. As part of the mass exodus of the

For much of my adolescence, I wrestled with

bounced around Toronto, Ottawa, and some of their

that emphasized filial piety, modesty, and conformity

mother finally received an offer for her dream job

achievement, free thinking, and individualism. But

in the Seattle area, I am still an alien to the United

power and totalitariansm when I grew up learning

the equivalent privileges of citizenship except for the

wrong? As I grew older, I came to realize that

fall of 2014, I certainly couldn’t say I was American,

had somewhat brainwashed my parents and I into

Although I had no memory of the hemisphere

sides of the spectrum.

teaching my younger sister and me about Chinese

Propaganda and censorship have always been

they’d grown up practicing. We celebrated the

methods and messages influenced by the Soviet

Festival alongside Christmas, Thanksgiving, and

influencing public perception of government and

determined whether I would turn to either jiaozi

1994, the Communist Party moved quickly to squash

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The Global Journal | Asia

the China Democracy Party should they attempt to

Chinese citizen engages almost exclusively with

led to a wave of imprisonment and the launch of

government.

leverage the internet to overthrow party elites. This the “Golden Shield Project”; so began the “Great Firewall of China”. In today’s information age, the Chinese propaganda machine employs an internet

police force of over two million to analyze metadata,

block website content, and monitor individual

browsing patterns. Internet censorship in China has led to stark differences among the opinions of young first- and second-generation immigrants growing up in Western civilizations and those who never left.

Ask any international Chinese freshman here at

Northeastern to look something up on the internet, and they might pull up Baidu instead of Google.

That’s because the most popular search engine in

China is Baidu, and Google is currently one of over 18,000 websites that are blocked in China (Google

had set up a version of its services to conform to

Chinese regulations for four years before shutting down operations in 2010). Also on the list are Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, The New York Times,

Wikileaks, Reporters without Borders, Bloomberg,

Amnesty International, Flickr, TIME, and the Economist, to name a few. Other targeted content includes websites promoting democracy, freedom of

speech, the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests, the Tibetan independence movement, police brutality,

and many foreign current events. A good portion

of American visitors are familiar with VPNs (virtual private networks), which can sometimes be used

to circumvent internet regulations, but the average

online content within the bubble created by the As expected, journalistic integrity doesn’t truly exist in China. Any news deviating from governmentapproved material can result in blacklisting the news

media organization responsible for the crime, hefty fines, arrest, or even imprisonment. According to Amnesty International, China has imprisoned the

largest number of journalists and cyber-dissidents in the world, which leads to an incredibly insulated

media landscape. Take the 2008 Beijing Olympics,

for example. Portrayed to represent China’s status

as a rising star in the global economy, the Olympics were essential to maintaining domestic support for

the Chinese government. In the months and years before, the Communist Party specifically instructed local media to avoid reporting on controversial topics

such as Tibetan independence, East Turkestan

movements, pollution and air quality, and food safety

issues. Many journalists speculate that the timing of the September 2008 Chinese milk scandal was a result of waiting until after the “perfect” Olympics to recall the infant formula, leading many to wonder if the government’s policies went too far.

When I visited China during the summer of 2010, our first family trip back since emigration, I personally experienced the Great Chinese Firewall for the first time. During the day, I enjoyed touring classic sites

like the Forbidden City, the Great Wall of China, Shanghai’s financial district, and the silk markets

of Guangzhou, in addition to seeing the villages my

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The Global Journal | Asia

parents grew up in. It was an incredible opportunity

One can only estimate China’s true power once if

about what my life would have been like had we

allowing information to flow more freely outweighs

to connect with my family’s heritage and learn more not immigrated. During the evenings, I tried in vain

to connect with my friends at home through social media and listened to the adults speak in hushed

tones about the latest allegations of corruption to

surface despite the internet police. I also met many

the government ever decides that the benefits of the potential death of the Communist Party in the case of complete democratic revolution. I’d imagine President Trump would have a difficult time finding leverage to negotiate.

distant relatives, many of whom had much narrower worldview than I did, not only because of growing

up in different cultures, but also because of a lack

of access to more objective information. On more

recent visits, in 2012 and 2014, my VPN connections were often interrupted or unreliable, a result of increased vigilance on part of the internet police.

The modern Chinese propaganda machine is

constantly evolving and adapting, tightening its chokehold as information becomes increasingly

accessible. Growing up as a third-culture kid in North

America, I have truly been blessed with perspective

on freedom of information. Despite my frustration as a child, I understand now that my parents were influenced not only by the traditional Chinese

values they grew up with, but also by propaganda and censorship, the effects of which drove many an argument back in the day. I sympathize with the Chinese, especially the young. While my parents

left before internet censorship became an issue, it certainly has affected an entire generation of ablebodied, intelligent individuals. To live in a country in which the government is so paranoid about losing

its power that it actively curbs the ability of its citizens to access objective and reliable information

to learn about the rest of the world is an enormous disadvantage

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in

today’s

globalized

economy.

“

Growing up as a third-culture kid in North America, I have truly been blessed with perspective on freedom of information.

”

The Global Journal | Asia

Photo by Claire Mancuso

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The Global Journal | Asia

Coming to Terms with My Privilege in India Story by Rachel Abastillas, Dialogue of Civilizations

When thinking about India, one might imagine vibrant colors, delicious spicy food, crowded streets and the Taj Mahal. My preconceived notions of India before my Social Entrepreneurship in India Dialogue of Civilizations program definitely did not include the complexity of social issues that have been neglected for decades, prior to the evolution of the social entrepreneurial space.

In our pre-departure meetings, we were told by past students to pack lightly and to bring medications. We were told to reflect daily in a journal or with a peer on sites we visit and people we meet. We were told this trip will not be easy and is not meant for those who want to just glide along. However, we were not told that we would face one of the most rewarding, yet challenging experiences of our lives with regards to coming to terms with our privilege as we had yet to learn that for ourselves.

On our first site visit in Delhi, we met with Madhureeta Anand, a Bollywood documentary filmmaker, who showcases the underworld of sexual preference through female infanticide in her film titled “Kajarya.”

This film is an illustration of rural communities employing this practice, while a non-traditional city journalist attempts to break through the inclusive culture by reporting on it. The viewing was followed by questions directed toward Madhureeta regarding her inspiration behind writing the screenplay. She explained how her drive came from village women

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she interviewed and her desire to bring light to the conversation of female infanticide in India. I remember sitting in the first row, in awe of this woman who is challenging what has sadly become a deeply rooted cultural norm in certain rural villages in India. I began to question why I as an American woman deserve a life, while a baby girl in Delhi is sentenced to her death? Why is this privilege afforded to me and not all women and children in the world?

Our team also traveled to Pune, where we met with Chetna Gala Sinha, an Ashoka Fellow who founded a women’s microfinance institution called Mann Deshi Bank. Within the organization, they train women using financial literacy programs in order to help ensure the sustainability of their blossoming businesses. While in Pune, we visited some of the various businesses to interview women on their successes repaying their loans. One of the stores we went to was a beaded jewelry store, and all of the women spoke of how they enjoy working with Mann Deshi Bank because they are one of the only non-discriminatory microfinance institutions in the region. The institution is found to be more supportive of these women, which results in them working extremely hard to repay their loans.

For example, I interviewed Rubina, a woman who borrowed money from the banks. Due to this instillment of fear, Rubina and many other women trust Mann Deshi because she said to them, “it’s the obvious choice” because the bank is always encouraging the

The Global Journal | Asia

development of these women’s organizations.

After Pune, we took a bus to Aurangabad, a region in India known for its prehistoric Ajanta and Ellora Buddhist caves. Aurangabad, a leading city in the waste reduction, is home to a social entrepreneurial organization called the Civic Response Team (CRT).

CRT influences its citizens to properly segregate their waste by simplifying the issue in a comprehensive way. An example is their use of a Charlie Chaplin impersonator conducting street performances to teach kids and their families the process of segregating waste and recycling. He goes around encouraging kids to pick up rubbish from the ground and tossing it out into its designated waste bins. Another example of their work is employing men and women to sort dry waste, which they can then take and sell for money. During the site visit, we met with one of the coordinators who described herself as a revolutionary. When we asked her what exactly fueled her to become a revolutionary, she responded, “The fact that I don’t deserve the rights that other women can’t have.” Meanwhile, behind her stood a family of four segregating dry waste. In this moment, I could not believe I was looking at a child helping his parents sort through waste rather than being in school studying. This image really pushed me further into my reflection regarding my undeserved privileges.

One of our most academically challenging projects of the trip was yet to come. Flying out to Mumbai was

highly anticipated as we were all thrilled to be engulfed by historic culture in its purest form by working in our consulting groups throughout the city. As we were landing, I could see the slums surrounding the airport and expanding for miles. This hit close to home for many of the students assigned to read Behind the Beautiful Forevers, a novel painting a picture of the disturbing operation of slums throughout Mumbai.

Additionally, we went on a tour of Dharavi, the largest slum in the world. Here, we witnessed the realities of the slum and how it operates. Surprising to many, the movie Slumdog Millionaire’s portrayal of a desperate and poor environment is not at all what the slum is like.

Dharavi is actually a highly functioning, well structured slum with various markets. Most people we met with were migrants to Dharavi from cities we visited previously. Unfortunately, one of the more negative aspects of the slum was that throughout our tour, the only time I saw women was while walking through an alley narrow enough for me to see them crouched inside, cooking food with their children.

Fortunately, my group was focused on researching possible strategies to gain government support for families that are involved in waste picking, as well as researching global market trends that had the potential to implement waste management plans that needed government sponsorship. This was an exciting experience because we were able meet leaders in this industry, such as Mobin, President of the Recyclers Association, and Vinod Anand, founder

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The Global Journal | Asia

Photo by Nicole Hicks

of the Dharavi Project. With their guidance, we became

sharp wheel blades, making it easier to get hurt. This

aware of specific areas of the slum we should visit and

forced me to realize that a large part of the population

the certain people we should interview. Thus began

does not have access to air-conditioned offices,

the beginning of our research and field work for our

cushioned seats and a proper building. It became

consulting project. During this process I witnessed the

apparent to me that privilege is not warranted and is

unsanitary and unsafe conditions of the workplaces.

definitely not granted. It is randomly selected.

Men were grinding plastic into shrapnel using long

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The Global Journal | Asia

One of my major takeaways from this Dialogue

Indian culture and gender rights, and coming to terms

of

social

with our privilege. Going on this dialogue you must be

entrepreneurship is applied in India, but how India

prepared for that protective layer to dissolve, as well

is a center for this field that includes various issues

as accept that you might not understand or agree with

that are relevant universally. In our last three days, we

everything, and that is okay.

Civilizations

program

was

not

how

travelled to Goa for a reflection period with our peers.

During this time, we were encouraged to present a creative personal reflection, drawing upon our feelings toward what we witnessed in the last month. Some people presented beautiful poems, videos and even choreographed dance. These presentations were meant for the class to understand everyone’s ebb and flow of triumph and struggle in regards to understanding

witnessed the “ We realities of the slum

and how it operates.

”

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The Global Journal | Asia

CSSH Spotlight: India Story by Camille Carlton, Co-op

When I was working in India, one of my fondest moments was when I was able to take the women’s compartment in the local train to work each day. It was a foreign, yet welcomed feeling as I watched each of them in their beautiful colored saris with strands of jasmines in their hair. We would share smiles, snacks, and stories—despite the language barrier. It was a simple, daily occurrence and even though I usually never saw them again, it was the warmest way to start and end my day.

I always had this feeling that, somehow, by riding the train together, the women and I were an unconventional family sharing some of the same hopes and wants and maybe even struggles. While I don’t think I can ever fully explain the feeling

Photo by Camile Carlton

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(especially since I myself don’t fully understand it), I hope that I can convey even a small percentage of this strange, yet wonderful bond I felt with the women in India. They showed me great kindness by sharing food, assisting me with directions, and even offering support when the train was so crowded that my ribs felt like they might break in response to all of the elbows nudged into them. In return, I would simply ask them about their families or work and their faces would light up with joy. I admired each of these women and hope that, one day, my work in India will have as great of a positive impact on them as they have had on me.

The Global Journal | Asia

Photo courtesy of CSSH

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Photo by Daniella Emami

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The Global Journal | Asia

CSSH Spotlight: South Africa Story by Timothy Maurer, Dialogue of Civilizations

South Africa is a country of contradictions,

reality, I saw women working their hardest to

poverty, natural beauty abuts urban sprawl, and

students diligently pursuing their studies so that

where extreme wealth intersects with extreme the best traits of humanity can be witnessed in the worst environments. There are many parallels

between the issues facing South African society, and those facing American society. Western audiences are regularly inundated with photos of

slums and shantytowns in the developing world and so it is easy for one to write off these images

as almost natural features of the developing

world. However it is important to remember that

there is nothing natural about poverty, that it is a manmade abomination like slavery, and that it is all of our responsibility to work to eradicate it.

Many of the people in the townships used

to tell us ‘poverty either makes you or breaks you’ and I witnessed that every day in places like Enkanini. For every man that had given

up hope and taken to the bottle to escape this

provide better lives for their children. I saw young

they could one day address the problems that plague their community. In an environment like a township it is easy for one to feel discouraged,

to focus only on the horrors of this environment and feel as if the scale of these problems are too

overwhelming. But for the people living in these townships these weren’t just places of hardship,

but their neighborhood, their community, and their home. The resilient people I met in these

communities weren’t working hard to ‘escape’ their neighborhoods, they were working hard to

improve them. Their perseverance inspires me

and reminds me of what President Roosevelt once said: ‘The test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those

who have much, it is whether we provide enough for those who have too little.

Photo by Timothy Maurer

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The Global Journal | Asia

Photo courtesy of CSSH

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The Global Journal | Asia

CSSH Spotlight: Zambia Story by Maya Bur, Dialogue of Civilizations

My experience in Zambia was eye-opening in a number of ways. I went in expecting to learn a

lot about the region and international non-profit work, which I certainly did, but I also spent a lot of

time learning about myself. I like that this photograph captures a seemingly introspective moment

for the young boy in the foreground, because it’s a representation of my experience on the trip. It

suggests that it’s okay to take some time alone to relax, process, or just enjoy the view.

Photo by Maya Bur

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“

This photograph captures a seemingly introspective moment.

”

The Global Journal | Asia

Photo courtesy of CSSH

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The Global Journal | Asia

CSSH Spotlight: Rwanda Story by Ali Campbell, Co-op

Living in Rwanda for the duration of my co-op

was an exceptional experience: it was an exercise in resiliency but also an amazing opportunity to live and work within a politically and culturally

complex environment. Combining my co-op work

with research and photography allowed me to

view and understand the country from multiple different perspectives, and deeply underscored my passions for travel and international politics.

Photo by Ali Campbell

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“

An amazing opportunity to live and work within a politically and culturally complex environment.

”

The Global Journal | Asia

Photo courtesy of CSSH

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The Global Journal | Asia

CSSH Spotlight: South Africa Story by Katie Powers, Dialogue of Civilizations

 My experience in South Africa completely

hardships faced by someone living in an informal

entrepreneurship experience, which I now know I

water, healthcare, or employment opportunities.

changed my life. I gained hands on social

want to pursue in some form as a career. It was the

most challenging yet the most rewarding four weeks

of my time at Northeastern. I went through a series of highs and lows, which one can expect when traveling to a developing country where poverty

and unemployment are rampant. Since I returned to the states, I have not stopped thinking about the

incredible, kind, intelligent people that I met or the

unforgettable experiences that I had. It is too easy to get bogged down as a student balancing a million

things like school, jobs, friends, family, and life in general but my problems will never compare to the

Photo by Katie Powers

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settlement in South Africa with no electricity, running We are all so unbelievably blessed to live in Boston

and go to such a prestigious university, which is

important to be mindful of. I am forever grateful for the opportunities I have been presented with and it is my goal in the future to reciprocate those opportunities in order to empower those living in poverty to be able

to live a more proud, happy, dignified life. A million

thanks to Professor Shaughnessy, Nina Angeles, the Social Enterprise Institute, and Northeastern.

The Global Journal | Asia

Photo courtesy of CSSH

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Photo by Lydia Ioannidou

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The Global Journal | Europe

Traveler or a Tourist?

Reflections on a Dialogue Story by Alex Jones, N.U.in

I’m riding on the back of a moped through the Old

syllabus? Our professor encouraged us to “be

I have class in an hour and I remember a quote

new things. Meet new people. Experience a new

Town of Rhodes, and my mind is on the syllabus. from it: “Be a traveler, not a tourist.” That was the

guiding philosophy of our Dialogue to Greece and it’s one I tried my best to live by. At that moment, I felt like I was doing a pretty good job.

Rhodes has a bit of a split identity. The New Town looks like a street in Tampa.

It’s full of

beachfront hotels souvenir shops all selling the

same thing, and tourists. The Old Town, on the other hand, is a maze of narrow market streets surrounding an old crusader fortress. Rhodes has

been the prize of empires from Ancient Greece to the Crusaders; from the Ottomans to the Italians.

Each of these empires left their distinct mark on the island and you can see traces of them all in the Old Town.

Our local guide, Charlie, spoke with near-

resignation about how many visitors don’t know that that an Old City even exists. Apparently,

thousands of visitors can visit the city annually and

not even notice the giant castle. In one sense, it’s easy to see how one could get pulled into the New Town. The city of Rhodes has beautiful beaches where the Aegean meets the Mediterranean.

There’s a massive casino that was built by Italian fascists and a string of great restaurants in the

New Town. And it’s not as though the Old City is deserted; plenty of visitors see it every day. Still, some don’t even know it’s there.

But what does any of this have to do with a

46

Greek” for a month and put down our phones to try

culture. It’s the second oldest Dialogue program

at Northeastern, and I believe it’s the best of what

the program can be. At each place we visited, we had the opportunity to try something new, whether

that’s a new dish or experiencing what it’s like to climb 999 stairs.

At the same time, we did a number of touristy

things, too- including taking selfies at the Parthenon. It’s easy to understand how someone

could be happy to just relax by the beach in Rhodes-

however, what I was confused by, I suppose, was a lack of attention to the surroundings. I couldn’t

help but look around at all the empty stares into the ocean and wonder, you came all the way to

Rhodes, and you don’t notice the giant castle in the near distance? I met plenty of people who

never left the area around their hotels- people who had no idea what these locations have to offer.

Going to Greece on a Dialogue put me in a

position of privilege. Not every visitor to Greece gets access to such amazing guides or gets such

a comprehensive view of the history and culture.

The reason I was on that moped was because I

had lost my debit card a day before, and the owner of the hotel offered me a ride to a Western Union to

pick up money that was wired to me. He went out

of his way to do this, and I’m extremely grateful.

I’d stumbled into an experience by accident, and learned about the generosity of Greek hospitality

The Global Journal | Europe

in the process.

looking at you, Rick Steves), and you can spend

between being a traveler or a tourist is about the

what the locals have to say. Look at what’s around

don’t have to eat at restaurants off the beaten

Just pay attention.

In the end, I don’t think that the difference

all the time you want in the New Town. But listen to

sites you visit or the activities you choose. You

you. Want to be a traveler, not a tourist? Easy:

path, you can absolutely wear a fanny pack (here’s

Photo by Lydia Ioannidou

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The Global Journal | Europe

Return to Saravejo Story by Devon Windelspecht, Co-op

There’s a legend surrounding the Ottoman

one of the first times I had ever spent any real time

is the heart of Sarajevo: that if you drink from the

language or a culture, but to study and understand

fountain in Baščaršija, the Turkish old town that fountain’s fresh, mountain-fed waters, then one day

you will return. I always expected to come back to this city, but never this soon.

When I returned to Sarajevo this past July for a six-month journalism co-op, barely a year had

passed since I first set foot in Bosnia as part of Northeastern’s Balkans Dialogue of Civilizations.

Yet since that summer, our world had changed to be almost unrecognizable with terrorist attacks in Paris, Brussels, Orlando, Ankara and Beirut, the

Syrian Refugee Crisis, the summer coup attempt in Turkey and the rise of anti-refugee and anti-Muslim

sentiments in Europe and the United States. In just 12 months, our world had seemed to grow more dangerous, more cynical and more afraid, and as the world changed, I had changed as well.

By the time my plane landed in Sarajevo

abroad. The purpose of that trip was not to learn a a conflict — the Bosnian Civil War, one of the worst wars in Europe since World War II.

In the 1990s, Sarajevo served as the heart of this war, which pitted neighbor against neighbor, religion

against religion and ethnic group against ethnic

group. The city saw not only one of the longest and most brutal sieges in modern history, but also

systematic campaigns of ethnic cleansing and genocide.

I still keep several positive memories from that dialogue of playing cards in a cafe by the river, seeing the orange haze of sunset fall like a blanket onto the

city from the top of the Yellow Fortress, interacting with many people of another faith for the first time and hearing a language spoken around me that was radically dissimilar to any I had ever heard before.

But I have memories too of walking in the

International Airport, I found myself with another

footsteps of genocide. Memories of discussing the

that I had begun to learn and experiences traveling

crimes with people who had experienced those very

year of classes under my belt, two new languages in an entirely different part of the world, Jordan and the Middle East, still fresh in my mind. Although the

sights and sounds streets of the streets of Sarajevo were much like I had remembered, the city was in

many ways less familiar than it should have been now that I was looking at it with a slightly older, slightly wiser, slightly less wide-eyed gaze.

Just like many students’ first Dialogue of Civilizations,

my travels to the Balkans during summer 2015 was

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hard topics of conflict, ethnic cleansing and war

things personally, barely 20 years before. Memories of feeling a particular sadness lingering behind the surface of a city that I have never felt before or since.

Investigative Journalism, the focus of my co-op, is not international affairs, political science, or conflict

studies, and my return to Sarajevo was concerned more with the realities of government corruption and

organized crime that affect this part of Europe today

than the conflicts of the past. But, always, the war

The Global Journal | Europe

was still there.

In the little time I had off work, I often found myself taking long walks along the river, where on Sundays the road was closed to cars and children came out

in bicycles, lovers cuddled on park benches and old

ladies sat gossiping in cafes. With the fall leaves dusting the sidewalk, it was easy to believe that the country had finally moved on from the war and that things had fully healed. But, always, there were signs

to show otherwise: the collapsed buildings along

the riverside that had never been fully repaired, the nationalistic politics that seemed to grind any

progress toward true reconciliation to a standstill, the bullet holes that traced lines over the house that I returned to every night.

In the evenings, while sitting on my terrace and

watching dusk fall upon the city, I would find myself

thinking about the people who might have lived in the same house as I while bullets grazed its walls. I would think about my Bosnian friend from work, who still holds a newspaper clipping showing him as a

four-year-old child clutching a tiny penguin-shaped

backpack, full of emergency supplies his mother made him carry in case they were ever separated.

I would think of the war veterans cafe next door to my office, and the things the people there have seen and perhaps themselves had done.

And in those moments, I would think of Damascus, Aleppo, Mosul, Yemen and Libya. It’s hard to believe now, with the ubiquity of these wars on our

newsfeeds, but during my first summer in Bosnia, the realities of those very conflicts had yet to fully

come to light. Russia had yet to begin its bombing

campaign in Syria, ISIS-inspired terrorism had yet to strike Paris, Nice, Beirut or Istanbul. The Syrian Refugee crisis had yet the hit its fever pitch, and the

European Union had yet to close its borders against the waves of refugees from the Middle East.

To look at bullet scars on a building or walk between gravestones bearing the same four years of death over and over means one thing when studying

a conflict 20 years gone. It means something entirely different with the realization that what the people of Bosnia went through in the ‘90s, Syrians, Yemenis, Libyans and Iraqis are today themselves enduring.

Sarajevo has not healed from its own four-year

siege, and Bosnia has not yet healed from the war.

It takes more than 20 years for those scars to mend, for people to reconcile, for forgiveness and peace to

take root. And whenever the Syrian Civil War ends,

whenever Libya repairs itself, it will take more than

20 years, or 30 or even 50, for those nations to find their own resolution. Much changes in a year, and

what I have found upon returning to Sarajevo is how

eerily similar a conflict that we as an international community should have learned from resembles the wars of today.

But there is this as well: once a year, a film festival opens in Sarajevo, the largest of its kind in all of

southeastern Europe. The festival was born from the days of the war, when several young people, braving

sniper fire and staving off siege-induced hunger,

gathered together in a basement bunker to bring joy,

warmth and hope to thousands who for years had

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The Global Journal | Europe

found themselves trapped within the city center.

A quote from one of those founders still sticks with me: “During those nights, we were doing more than

just surviving. For the first time in years, we were living.”

Even in the darkest of places, people manage not just to survive, but to find small and beautiful

moments worth living for. That says something, and as the months passed by in Bosnia, the more I saw that despite the war’s lingering effects, people were

in their own ways moving on. People were healing, even if all the wounds hadn’t yet mended.

There is hope in that, and I try to keep that in mind

as yet another city, yet another country, suffers the same fate as Sarajevo once endured.

Photo by Devin Windelspecht

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The Global Journal | Europe

Ten Countries Story by Linsday Marum, Co-op

If someone had told me last year that I would be

of my mind, I never thought about moving to the

the opportunity to travel to ten different countries and

completed my last co-op at a law firm in Boston,

living in Europe for over six months, that I would get work in one of the most prestigious offices in the Netherlands, I would have thought they were crazy.

But here I am, working for the Dutch Rapporteur on Trafficking in Beings and Sexual Violence Against

Children, and the experience is beyond anything I could have ever imagined.

My journey abroad began in Italy this past June.,

where I completed a study program at the Lorenzo de

Medici Institute and finished up two of my remaining four classes. Studying abroad in Italy was something

I had thought about since I was a freshman, but was not serious about until last year when I realized I was

about to graduate and had never left the Boston area for more than two weeks at a time. I lived in Florence

for a month and was captivated by the city: the art,

the music, the culture, and especially the people. I

passed the Duomo every day on my way to class, and lived one street away from the Ponte Vecchio.

I got the chance to take two awesome psychology classes, Psychology of Crime and Love and Natural

Selection: Science and Myth, that I would not have

had the chance to take back home. I learned from professors that had a lot of global experience,

studied with other students that were from all over the U.S., and made friends with people I would not

have had the chance to even meet if I had not gone abroad. Italy was everything I could have imagined and so much more.

While going to Italy had always been in the back

52

Netherlands, especially for a six-month co-op. I

and was set on going to law school right after graduation. As I began applying for study abroad

programs, I also got more curious about getting work experience outside of the U.S., especially in the field of human trafficking. I ended up being

one of the first two international interns to work with the Dutch Rapporteur, and in the process I discovered a potential new career path. My research

on issues relating to human trafficking like health care and victim identification will be in the office’s

tenth report on the state of human trafficking in the Netherlands. I have also gone to conferences in Berlin and Utrecht to represent the Rapporteur and learn about other countries and agencies’ responses

to this phenomenon. Not only has the work been

fascinating, but I have worked with a great team of people and learned so much about working in a foreign office on global issues.

One of the best parts about this experience has

been the travel that goes along with it. I will have been to ten different countries and dozens of cities

by the time I go home in December. My perspective on the world have expanded greatly due to all the

amazing places I went to and all the interesting people I have met. This journey has made me a

better student, employee, and person, and I believe

that every Northeastern student should try to travel

outside of the U.S. at least once while they are in school.

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Photo by Lydia Ioannidou

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The Global Journal | Europe

Entrepreneurship in Spain Story by Pavit Arora, N.U.in

My passion for traveling brought me to the vibrant

such aspirations weren’t pursuing them, we realized

business that brought me to Universidad Francisco

entrepreneurs, these students were on paths leading

city of Madrid; however it was my passion for de Vitoria. This past summer, as part of a freshman study abroad program, I studied international business and entrepreneurship in Spain’s capital.

Learning about business in Europe, and Spain in

particular, was fascinating for us young business

students, on the search for potential co-ops or postgraduation jobs.

It was during our first entrepreneurship class

that the purpose for our time in Madrid became apparent. Our teacher prompted us to find a problem local students in Madrid face, and through

entrepreneurship models, determine a solution.

Teams choose a variety of issues, such as health, finances, and more.

After speaking with students attending the

university, my group and I were pleased to see that many of the Spanish students had aspirations

to start a company, leading us to our project topic: entrepreneurial spirit. Many of the students at our university had complex ideas, in hopes of developing

them into businesses, however they often neglected

these aspirations due to a lack of entrepreneurial support.

By speaking with these students, we

came to learn that Spanish students do have an entrepreneurial spirit, it was support they lacked.

However entrepreneurial these students were, we found that they were studying to be accountants,

lawyers, or doctors, due to a lack of institutional support. Although we found it odd that students with

54

that due to the social stigma in Spain against towards a more stable profession- perhaps as they were taught to do.

Coming from Northeastern, we are fortunate enough

to have a prevalent sense of entrepreneurship, which is consistently encouraged by members of the

community. However, in Madrid, entrepreneurship

is often looked down upon and considered an unstable profession. At first, we assumed that the lack of entrepreneurial spirit was primarily within the university, however, we soon realized, it stemmed much deeper than that- it is a national issue.

Entrepreneurs in Spain pay a considerable

business tax, and are further discouraged by significant international trade taxes. For example, entrepreneurs who decide to change their residency

to a different country and the value of stake in their country exceeds 4 million euros, or they own more than 25% of the company would have to pay an exit tax. These government regulations make it nearly

impossible for Spanish entrepreneurs to establish

themselves as a global brand. Without international recognition, startup companies are unable to acquire

sufficient capital, as both local and foreign investors are discouraged by the constrained market.

In

order to protect its legacy businesses, in hopes of insuring consistent national capital, Spain is holding

back aspiring entrepreneurs- leading to a lack of entrepreneurial spirit.

With this in mind, our team started a program

The Global Journal | Europe

Photo by X Photo by Madlen Gubernick

for college and high school students to help

only is Spain suffering from a lack of entrepreneurial

have at Northeastern. Our program teaches the

are to be at a school that celebrates, supports and

develop an entrepreneurial spirit, similar to what we

students basic business skills, such as: networking, interviewing,

resume

building,

and

ideation

development. This experience showed us that not

spirit, it made us further recognize how lucky we encourages entrepreneurs. Through this program, we were able to share the value of entrepreneurship with the students of Madrid.

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Photo by Ali Campbell

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The Global Journal | Middle East

Thoughts From the Jabal: A Jordanian Immersion Story by Samir A. Habib, Co-op

Jabal Amman is one of seven Jabals or hills that

right before indulging in ice cream from Gerard,

Jordan. I arrived here on August 1, 2016, unsure

Jordanian desert from Sufrah. And of course, with

comprises the vibrant and busy city of Amman, of what to expect. My apartment that I would call

home for the next four months blinded me with white lights as I ate fresh za’atar (Arabic thyme)

bread overlooking the city by night from my window.

I was about to embark on a four month journey that would change my life in more ways than I could have imagined.

This four month journey of mine has been my

international co-op experience in Amman, the capital of Jordan. Located in between Palestine,

Syria, Iraq, and Israel, Jordan is a melting pot of culture and history. From the ancient ruins of the

Ammonites from 1000 B.C., to ancient Petra, and Roman, Byzantine and Umayyad structures, this

part of the World has been home to thousands of years of history.

As time has passed, the city

of Amman as we see it today has grown and developed. What was a bustling center for trade for

the Romans, Amman in 2016 seems to have kept its ancient practices of global acceptance, cultural

exchange, and development. Throughout the city, the Muslim call to prayer echoes in the background while you walk by the walls of a catholic church.

Taking a stroll down the infamous Shara’a Al-

Rainbow, you pass by Jordanians, Westerners and Asians, with imported cars honking as means of communication as they slowly drive down. You can

eat the best falafel sandwich at Al-Quds, or grab a

quick burger from Firefly Burger down the street,

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fresh Syrian Knafe from up the street, or a fancier a cup of addicting local black tea with na’na’ (mint)

and a fresh shisha (hookah). Finally, if you’re keen, the bars are open and busy till quite late for an after

dinner drink. The city’s culture truly speaks for itself.

With this thriving pool of culture comes a wave

of development. I work at a company named Oasis500, a seed-stage start-up accelerator. The company invests in the technology and creative

industries (and soon, space-tech companies), and fosters the growth of both the Jordanian and

Arab entrepreneurship ecosystem. I work with the

investment team as an investment analyst. My job is to be the first screen between the company and

potential investments by reviewing pitch decks, conducting

due-diligence

and

research,

and

assisting the investment team in any way possible.

It has been incredible to witness the sheer amounts

of innovation that has emerged in just four months, and learn from some of the most skilled individuals

in the industry. Frustrations certainly exist in the daily lives for those who live here, and thus the determination to make life better with technology has

fostered

incredible

thought-leaders

and

businesses. From on-demand home maintenance, to disruptive online payment and financial tools, the

ecosystem in Amman is raw and full of expertise and potential. What an exciting time to be in such a unique place.

As my time here comes to an end, I leave the city

The Global Journal | Middle East

and the company learning tremendous amounts

highly encourage students seeking an international

parallel, I’ve learned a lot about Jordanian culture,

related co-op experience to consider applying for

of the emerging industry and those creating it. In and finally- I’ve learned a lot about myself and

future career prospects. I feel melancholy to leave my life here, and return to the life I have in Boston. I

business

or

venture

capital/entrepreneurship-

positions at Oasis500 or similar start-ups throughout Jordan and the Middle East. Ma’asalaam.

Photo by Samir A. Habib

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The Global Journal | Middle East

Politics of Space in Turkey Story by Hridayam Agarwal, On Campus

Syria has been a war torn zone for a six now and

for their arrivals. In regards to creating space for

countries have taken it upon themselves to greet

gates open to only Syrians, while providing limited

in the name of humanity and selflessness, several refugees into their nations. Turkey, recently in the

news, has been experiencing a massive influx of

refugees from Syria, a country it has had recent political tensions with. The refugee camps set up in

Turkey have been acting as agents of politics as the refugees, who are new to these unknown districts, brought with them their own physical space and

engaged with political conflict. Politics of space is defined as the government inputs and decisions,

these refugees, the Turkish government kept camp

access to humanitarian organizations and the press. Conveniently enough, all the camps have been set close to the border with a wide range

of services and facilities for the refugees to use.

Moreover, Syrian refugees have been reclaiming

their spaces in the camps and initiating their own self-help interventions to try and create a sense of comfort amongst themselves.

On the other hand, the lack of disclosure and

budgets and policy making that contribute toward

collaborative space in Turkey contributes to the

the reality of politics and the needs of the people

to provide the refugees with the best resources

space exploration, which in actuality reflects upon residing in that area.

Conflicts between Syria and Turkey were halted in 2009 when Visa requirements for citizenry in both the countries was lifted. Following that,

Turkey’s foreign policy transitioned from opposing Syrian leaders to supporting the government.

However, soon enough, Turkey’s involvement in the Syrian refugee crisis created chaos and

confusion between rebels and refugees in the

eyes of the Turkish citizens, many of whom viewed refugees as “trouble makers.”

Refugees have paved formal and informal

methods to travel since the Turkish borders opened

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politics of space in Turkey. Yet, with the motivation it can, they hope that the European Union would

help provide funds to build infrastructure and

schools for the young Syrian children and adults.

Furthermore, besides providing the refugees with housing and recreational services,, their continuous

attempt to help promote regime change in Syria by supporting the Free Syrian Army and seeking

help from the international community shows their political involvement and advancement.

During an interview with the Anadolu Agency, Karl Kulessa, Turkey’s country representative at the United Nations Population Fund, said it is possible for Turkey to face economic, social and

The Syrian refugee crisis created chaos and confusion.

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The Global Journal | Middle East

Photo by Lydia Ioannidou

cultural challenges by opening borders to a large

Turkey. Refugees have carried their subjectivity

also feels hopeful and positive about Turkey’s

physical space and have, intentionally or not,

amount of refugees. However, Kulessa said he success rate.

The Turkish government has done an incredible

job with its supply driven policies and in taking responsibility for the refugees. From the beginning,

politics has been an essential part of every step

that has gone into creating the refugee camps in

with them and while doing so, they have claimed

engaged in political conflict. Although Turkey knew that the integration would come with several

challenges, it has achieved a miracle in managing

and balancing out its policies between the refugee crisis and the nation’s own problems.

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The Global Journal | Middle East

62 Photo by Yasmeen Al-Haj

The Global Journal | Middle East

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