Global Journal Vol 3 Issue 1 Spring 2018

GLOBAL JOURNAL INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS PUBLICATION

VOL 3 ISSUE 1 SPRING 2018

1

Staff Writers

Photographers

Melissa Brij-Raj

Daphne Apostolides

Mikaela Cole

Mariya Lupandina

Paige Welch

Gabriela Bentham-Garcia

Sophie Horn-Mellish

Kristin Terry

Gabriela Beatham-Garcia

Lydia Ioannidou

Rachael Phillips

Karina Masri

Devin Windelspecht

Tuesday Nolen

Geerija Aggarwal

Malayah Redmond

Malayah Redmond

Anthony Zunino

Anthony Zunino

Bhargavi Ram

Elizabeth Zona

Kathleen Brody

Fernanda Hurtado Ortiz

Francesca Batault

Lindsey Bressler Kathleen Brody Kristin Terry Kelsey Lawler Tuesday Nolen Jakob Leichtman

About Global Journal

Insight to 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 international 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 Gianmarco Vella

Copyright Š 2018 All rights reserved

Photo by Tuesday Nolen

Letter from the Editor I have never been more convinced about the importance of global storytelling. While it is true that the current political environment is divisive and disorienting, we’re also incredibly fortunate to be living in a globalized day and age in which traveling is one of the must-do’s as a Northeastern student.

Global Journal provides a platform for students to reflect and share their moments of personal growth through traveling. From climate research in Cambodia to discovering one’s dual cultural heritage in Spain, Mexico and Argentina, our writers have been through it all. It is in these moments of cultural encounters that we begin to view the world outside of our shell.

On a personal note, I view writing as my form of activism, and traveling as my way of reconciling with the world. Growing up in China, I never realized that journalism had the power to change people’s opinions, let alone shake up the status quo. That all changed when I started writing as a student at Northeastern.

I believe traveling goes far beyond visiting tourist attractions. We all have a voice, and the power is in your hands to go out in the world and to bring home your own interpretations of it. As you read the stories in this issue, I invite you to reflect on how the writer’s experience resonates or contradicts with your own, and where that difference might come from.

Last but not least, I would like to express my sincerest gratitude for the support from all of our past and present e-board members, particularly Francesca, Devin, and Maddie. This issue wouldn’t have been possible without this dedicated team!

Graciously,

Connie E VP and Managing Editor of Global Journal

Meet the team Members of the board

Francesca Batault President Politics, Philosophy & Economics major, minor in International Affairs, Law and Public Policy From: Johannesburg, South Africa

Connie E Vice President and Managing Editor Politics, Philosophy & Economics major, minor in Social Entrepreneurship From: Beijing, China

Karina Masri Art Director Design major, concentration in Graphic & Information design, minor in Chinese & International Affairs From: Southborough, Massachusetts

Devin Windelspecht Editor in Chief International Affairs major, concentration in Middle East studies From: Boone, North Carolina

Kathryn Platt Junior Designer Architecture major From: Princeton, New Jersey

Lydia Ioannidou Senior Art Director Design major, concentration in Graphic & Information design From: Athens, Greece

Gabriela Beatham-Garcia Social Media Chair International Affairs major, minor in International Security From: Madrid, Spain

Mikaela Cole Recruitment Chair International Affairs major, concentration in Latin American studies From: Huntington Beach, California

Rachel Abastillas Fundraising Chair International Affairs & Law and Public Policy major, minor in Political Science & Social Entrepreneurship From: Huntington Beach, California,

Sadie Zuch Finance Chair International Affairs major, minor in Sociology From: Winchester, Massachusetts

26

33

51

46

17

Contents

66

38

32

Africa Living in Water Shortage Gaining Perspective Through Moroccan Village Life Answering Systemic Issues with Entrepreneurship A Milestone of Personal Growth in Morocco

10

Americas

48

Middle East

El Ascenso: Adventure & Discovery in South America

Coffee is the Bedouin Way of Life

Mexico: Discovering Abuelita and Vovo

Entrepreneurial Leadership and Family Business in Dubai

The Caribbean Conundrum of Cuba

Insight into Israel

Rethinking Spring Break in Mexico

20

Europe

56

Asia

Traveling Through a Divided Kingdom

Discovering the Russian Enigma

Two Sides of the Same Story

Grappling with Climate Injustice in Cambodia

The Benefits of Returning

China Through the Eyes of a Photographer

Finding a Home in Geneva

34

10

11 Photo by Lydia Ioannidou

Photo by Melissa Brij-Raj

El Ascenso: Adventure & Discovery in South America Story by Melissa Brij-Raj, Dialogue of Civilizations

When people hear the word “Patagonia,” they will often immediately think of the winter outerwear clothing brand. The beautiful scenic region between Argentina and Chile that I had the chance to experience may not immediately come to mind, and certainly didn’t for me until I traveled to South America for the first time.

Two summers ago, I had the opportunity to travel to Argentina and Uruguay as part of the “Spanish Language & Argentinean and Uruguayan Culture,” dialogue. The dialogue gave me the

12

chance to be immersed in a completely different language and culture. I have taken Spanish language classes since preschool, but I never considered myself fluent, especially before the Dialogue program. In part because of the language barrier, I was extremely nervous about living in another country for the first time and being out of my usual comfort zone. The main reason I chose to attend Northeastern was to push myself and to take advantage of all the opportunities presented to me, and this was one of them.

My parents immigrated to the United States around 30 years ago from Guyana, a small former British colony in South America. Unsurprisingly, I always had a longing to visit the continent, even though I was born and raised in New York. Guyana is the only English-speaking country in South America, and is culturally distinct from many Latin American nations. However, as I love meeting new people and enjoy learning all about their heritage and cultural backgrounds, I lept at the opportunity to experience other South American countries.

The trip ended up being an unforgettable fiveweek experience of a lifetime. I spent the first three weeks of the program living with host a family in Buenos Aires, Argentina, with an elderly woman, and two other girls from Northeastern. Each morning, we’d attend Spanish classes at a language school in the city, named Bridge Argentina. Then we filled our afternoons with cultural activities such as visiting historical sites and exploring the beautiful and interesting city of Buenos Aires. The first few days were definitely rough living in a cold, foreign city. Argentina was freezing, none of us had packed appropriately, and we all had somehow forgotten that July is the middle of winter in the Southern Hemisphere. Communicating with the locals also proved to be harder than anticipated. Argentinians have a very distinct accent that is much harder to decipher than other Spanish speakers and very few speak English. This made it challenging to navigate Buenos Aires. Eventually, however, we got used to the weather, became more familiar with the Argentine accent, and Buenos Aires turned into a city as familiar as Boston.

After three weeks, we packed our bags and climbed aboard the ferry to Montevideo, Uruguay.

The difference between Montevideo and Buenos Aires was vast. Buenos Aires is a lively, densely populated urban area, whereas Montevideo is a sparse small town filled with history and an unhurried people. The people of Buenos Aires never slept and were always moving, and Uruguayans were more laid-back and took their time. While both groups

were welcoming to foreigners, Argentinians took great pride in their culture, yet Uruguayans seemed more eager to both share and learn from foreigners.

However, the people of the two countries were both proud to be Latin Americans. They both took great pride in their music, dances, sports, as well as their red meat and wines, all of which Latin America is renown for. After only a brief weekend in Uruguay, we boarded a plane and headed to Patagonia, my favorite portion of the Dialogue.

I had never realized that Patagonia was a place that existed beyond the clothing brand, and I was immediately amazed at the beauty of the region.

Patagonia, a region shared by both Argentina and Chile, is comprised of the southern section of the Andes Mountains in South America, and includes deserts, pampas, and grasslands. Patagonia is also a tourist destination for nature lovers, offering beautiful lakes, scenic hikes, and surreal glaciers.

Our Dialogue group was lucky enough to have the opportunity to climb the most famous glacier in Patagonia, Perito Moreno Glacier, located in Los Glaciares National Park in Argentina. Although I am not an athletic person at all, I was determined to take the climb.

After a bus ride, ferry, and 40 minute hike, our tour guide finally lead us across the glacier for the most unbelievable and unreal hike of my life. I can still distinctly remember standing on top of the ice, looking around, and thinking, “This looks like a scene from “Frozen.”

Overall, my trip to Latin America was truly memorable. I met incredibly interesting people, learned about the cultures of Latin American cities, sharpened my Spanish skills, and got to check off quite a few items on my bucket list. By pushing my personal comfort zone and completing my first international experience, I decided to continue traveling, and immediately signed up for another Dialogue in Geneva, Switzerland the following summer. I can’t wait to see where my next adventure will take me.

13

Photo by Daphne Apostolides

Mexico: Discovering Abuelita and Vovo Story by Mikaela Cole, Personal Reflection

When I was ten years old, I decided that I wanted to visit all fifty states of the U.S. before I turn thirty. There’s been a map on my wall tracking my progress in achieving that goal, and every time I see it, I’m reminded of who I am and what I want to be. Ever since then, my mom made it a point to travel with me so that I could experience new things. Now that I’m older, my goals of seeing the whole country has expanded into a goal of seeing as much of the world as possible during my lifetime; traveling has become a fundamental part of my life and has shaped who I am.

There are trips that I remember more than others, places that made an immense impact on me, and cultures that changed how I see myself and my worldview. When I think about these places, I always come back to my travels around Latin America. My trip to Mexico City with my grandmother, “Abuelita,” and to Rio de Janeiro with my grandfather, “Vovo,” made me realize that where you come from is a crucial part of

14

discovering who you are and who you want to be.

Traveling to two of the countries where my family comes from completely changed how I viewed my own family, particularly Abuelita and Vovo. I no longer saw them as only people in my own reality; I saw them in their own home countries, speaking their native language, and being a part of their own culture.

My Abuelita moved from Mexico City to northern California when she was fifteen. She is one of the warmest people I know, exuding love and sincerity to everyone she meets. During my visit to Mexico with Abuelita, I realized that the qualities that I admire about her are a product of where she grew up. During our visit, we were greeted with an unbelievable degree of hospitality and friendliness by distant relatives and strangers alike. Everywhere we went, Abuelita was able to connect with people in a way that I hadn’t witnessed or experienced before. The people and culture of Mexico

City were incredibly welcoming and I felt like I belonged there more than I ever expected.

My Vovo moved from Rio de Janeiro to northern California when he was eighteen. When I visited Rio with him about fifty years later, Vovo, usually a stoic, quiet man, was overjoyed to show me the social club where he spent his time as a child, the national park that is at the center of the city where he grew up, and the Christ the Redeemer statue that overlooks all of Rio. For as long as I can remember, Vovo had always been very outspoken about his infinite love for Brazil.

As he explained the Brazilian culture that he grew up in, the excitement in his voice and the look on his face made me realize that, even though he was a proud American, he would always be an even prouder Brazilian and wanted me to be one too.

I realized that the Mexican and Brazilian cultures that I experienced weren’t things that I could encounter during travel and then leave behind.

These cultures played a part in making Abuelita and Vovo who they were, and in turn, they had a part in making me who I am. I couldn’t be more

“

I saw them in their own home countries, speaking the language, being a part of their own culture.

”

honored to be a Mexican-Brazilian-American, and seeing my grandparents’ home countries through their eyes helped me realize that.

15

The Caribbean Conundrum of Cuba Story by Paige Welch, Co-op

Being a Spanish major with an interest in history, I have always dreamed of going to Cuba.

The island is a fountain of culture and has played an important role in geopolitics since Columbus landed there in 1492. In addition, it is a forbidden land for most Americans. On January 9, 2018, I landed in Havana and started my work at the Fundación Antonio Núñez Jiménez (Antonio Núñez Jiménez Foundation). At the moment of my arrival, I reached the apex of my studies as a Northeastern student. I could now make a claim that many Americans cannot and live in a way many Americans have never lived.

Within a week of being at work, I had the chance to meet a leading Cuban economist who has taught at Harvard and Princeton. Before he gave a talk at our workplace, we had the chance to chat. My first question: how do we find eggs in Cuba? He smiled.

A few weeks later I walked to a large farmer’s market and bought the produce I would be using for the week. As I was about to leave, I was confronted by a figure of questionable repute.

In the hushed tone of a drug dealer, he said: “I have eggs.”

“No, no thank you,” I replied. “No? I have potatoes,” he insisted. “I can live without potatoes,” I said.

When the Soviet bloc fell in the early 90s, Cuba lost its main trading partner, which made up roughly 85% of the country’s income, as well as the subsidies that the USSR had provided to the Cuban government. Cuba descended into the “Special Period”, the worst years being from 1993 to 1994. During this time, malnutrition was endemic—something that had not happened

16

since before the Revolution—and shortages abounded for basic items like soap.

Exacerbating the damage to Cuba’s situation is the embargo. Now within its 60th year, the embargo not only applies to American companies trading with the island nation, it also applies to companies from other countries that trade with Cuba. Even if a country decides to break the embargo, they can still be deterred from trading with Cuba if pressured by the State Department.

Though grossly oversimplifying, these two main factors forced Cuba to revolutionize its economy and base it upon risk diversification, which means that Cuba will import and export with a variety of companies, not necessarily based upon lowest prices, but rather upon whether or not the company will continue to trade with Cuba. As a result, grocery stores in Cuba never have the same items year-round. This applies not only to foodstuffs, but to most processed goods as well.

Of limited supply also is connectivity, with Wi-Fi being a commodity that is only accessible in certain public parks, and in fewer private institutions. Even when at these venues, the connection is often poor, and webpages stall in loading or do not load at all. While the Cuban government does have a plan in place to extend internet access to its citizens, but in its current state it remains limited.

Having constant access to information and everything else I may so desire in America has led me to be complacent at times. If a web page takes longer than a few seconds to load, I start to become impatient. Even if the internet is slow, I still have the luxury of accessing content

Photo by Lydia Ioannidou

in the comfort of my own home. If I am cooking and in need of an ingredient, I can simply buy it at a nearby grocery and there will be shelves of produce, bread, meat, cheese, milk, cereals and every other type of foodstuff imaginable. This is not the case in Cuba.

Living in Havana for the past two months, I have not only learned how to navigate the city, but also the unique situation which Cuba has been in for an extended period of time. By being in a situation where there is a perpetual shortage of food supplies and physical infrastructure, I have had to become more resourceful at work

and at home. I know where and how to find things and shop where the locals shops—places where tourists rarely enter and a foreign accent is greeted with surprise.

Through a lack of internet connectivity, I have learned how to multitask and manage my time better. I am less distracted at home and at work by having limited access to the internet; however, my work becomes difficult when I do research and the internet is not functioning. My patience has increased greatly from this experience. Cuba has given me a greater appreciation for what I have at home and at work.

17

del Carmen and Cancun are located, and its biggest problem is the sheer volume of people pouring into these cities all year round. As a newly recognized state within a developing country, Quintana Roo simply does not have the infrastructure to handle the amount of people pouring in.

Additionally, upon discovering the appeal of gorgeous Mexican beaches, friendly citizens, and year-round lovely weather, western corporations quickly began building huge resorts and sending cruise ships. Because these resorts bring in money and the government has problems with corruption, these resorts have not been held responsible for upholding law the way that they should. Waste is often dumped onto land or directly into the ocean. Many of the beaches smell awful, people frequently emerge from the ocean with rashes, and the coral in the region is almost entirely dead.

Photo by Daphne Apostolides

Rethinking Spring Break in Mexico Story by Sophie Horn-Melish, Co-op

What could be more attractive than an allinclusive resort in Mexico for spring break?

Beautiful ocean views, warm sun to interrupt freezing Boston, and all-you-can-drink margaritas.

The flights there aren’t too expensive either, and the whole country is generally affordable; more so than Florida, which is another popular spring break destination.

18

What most people do not know is how destructive mass tourism is to the Mexican economy, environment, and culture. During the research I conducted at my last co-op, I discovered that in Quintana Roo, the newest state in Mexico, the enormous amount of tourism is damaging. Quintana Roo is the state where popular tourism destinations like Playa

“

Traveling sustainably does take more work, but it is essential to ensure the protection of the environment not only in Mexico, but globally.

�

Another contributing factor to the ocean pollution is chemicals that tourists bring in.

Chemicals in sunscreen, hairsprays, and other

common western products have been shown in controlled research scenarios to damage water and cause cancer in ocean mammals. While they are not damaging on a small scale, the huge number of tourist depositing these damaging chemicals into the water is not only killing coral, but causing the mass death of sea turtles.

This environmental degradation is also destroying non-tourism economies in Quintana Roo. Inland villages that previously depended on agriculture for personal and commercial production are struggling to grow anything due to the damaged water and soil. This forces younger generations to leave their villages and go to the coast to make a living. Without the young workforce, the economies of inland villages fall apart. Additionally, the popularity of tourism in Mexico is at risk once people begin to discover how dirty the water has become. New destinations will develop as tourists abandon Quintana Roo, and if non-tourism economies have been destroyed, the Mexican people will struggle to find a new way of life.

Conversely, another argument is that now that the Mexican economy in Quintana Roo has become dependent on tourism, ceasing tourism is no longer an option. In this case, there are ways to reduce the negative impact, the biggest being to avoid American-owned resorts. Instead, tourists should opt for smaller, locally-owned bungalows, which require more research and planning but provide a more authentic experience. The other is to also make sure that you patronize places with proper sanitation processing rather than restaurants and stores that are illegally dumping. Traveling as a tourist sustainably does take more work, but it is essential to ensure the protection of the environment not only in Mexico, but globally.

19

20

21 Photo by Lydia Ioannidou

Photo by Devin Windelspecht

at a bar or coffee shop, or become excited upon learning of one’s American identity. Absent was the cautious, if polite, guardedness I had come to expect in Northern Ireland, the subtle guessing as to your religion or politics as people tried to place your stance on the conflict.

Yet despite this genuine warmth, there too were cracks in Scotland that I saw showing beneath the surface. In Glasgow, I witnessed a man on the street corner preaching about the dangers of immigrants while Somali women hurried past with their heads down. In Edinburgh, a city in which the Scottish flag flew from nearly every building, anti-Brexit demonstrators were faced pro-Union counter-protesters in the city’s parks. Even present was a form of systemic discrimination against the Irish themselves, who often lived in the most impoverished of Scottish neighborhoods and represented the only Catholics in a Protestant-dominated country.

Traveling Through a Divided Kingdom Story by Devin Windelspecht, Co-op

The streets that wind their way through Belfast used to be battle lines. Twenty years ago, Northern Ireland existed in a state of conflict known as the “Troubles”: a thirty year period of conflict between Catholics and Protestant paramilitaries, in which frequent assassinations, bombings, and civil unrest became a defining feature of daily life. By the time my cab reached Belfast City Airport, only fifteen minutes had passed since I left the city center, but my driver says the same trip used to take two hours, and four separate police checkpoints, barely twenty years ago.

My trip away from Belfast was meant to escape this for a time. While the months I had spent on international co-op working at a Northern Irish

22

peace center had proven to be an incredible and life-defining experience, the province is also very insular, to the point in which the outside world can feel far removed. In taking a week off to travel through the United Kingdom, I wanted to not only see a part of Europe I had never traveled to before, but also to take the time breathe and to step away from post-conflict reality of Northern Ireland.

My plane landed in Scotland in the rain, and it did not stop raining for nearly an entire week.

But even amongst the rain and cold, I quickly found something in the Scottish people that felt different from the Northern Irish. It wasn’t just the distinctive accent, or the Scottish music playing out from the city pubs. Rather, there was a warmth to the people here: a willingness to chat

Immigration, Brexit, Scottish Independence— even without a war to divide people along sectarian lines, there remained the same question I had first seen in Northern Ireland: the question of “Britishness.” Are the people of Scotland British first, or Scottish? Do immigrants belong to this identity? And what of the people from Northern Ireland who live here—are they British, Scottish, or something else, something “Irish?”

Does it even matter?

There is no border or customs on the train from Edinburgh to London, and as the hours passed, the rugged Scottish countryside gave way to quaint English forests and fields. As the scenery changed, the people on board shifted from something distinctly Scottish to a more multicultural mix: English, French, German, even Pakistani and Arab. Stepping out from King’s Cross Station, it became clear just how much this mix reflected London itself. While walking to my hostel through the city’s streets, I witnessed an incredibly vast tapestry of people unlike anywhere I had seen in the world: Chinese floated by in tandem with Arabic, French beside Swahili and Yoruba, Hindi in step with English. The capital of

England seemed to me the least English city in the country, and perhaps the most global in the world. And therein lies the conflict.

Even as I toured such British icons as the British Museum, Buckingham Palace, and Big Ben, the centuries-long union between Scotland, England, Wales, and Northern Ireland was already beginning to fray at the seams. As London and the United Kingdom have become more global, more multicultural, there is a sense that the “British” identity of the country is disappearing, a feeling that is reflected the U.K’s exit from the European Union, or “Brexit.”

Just as Northern Ireland has struggled between the competing identities of Catholics and Protestants, and Scotland grapples with its own identity and independence, England itself also seems to be questioning what being “British” means. Is it merely a nationality, born from centuries of history between the different cultures of the British Isles? Or is it something else, something that is bound to a set of ideals, principles, and laws over ethnicity and heritage?

I can’t answer that question, nor is it my place as an American to do so. But the answer to this question, whatever it may be, will define the United Kingdom’s future. Either the idea of Britishness will have to change, becoming as global and multicultural as its capital, or it will continue to remain a chiefly national construct, one that may not be able to survive the increasingly independent identities of the people of Northern Ireland and Scotland.

Returning to Belfast, I realized that the deep divisions I had worked in during my co-op were by no means unique to Northern Ireland. Yet just as the people of Northern Ireland have learned to live in peace despite their differences, the people of the United Kingdom can too live together even as they wrestle with their future as a nation. It is the decisions that are yet to come—Brexit among them—that will decide whether the U.K. will fall apart under the weight of its differences, or if it can come together and become once more a truly United Kingdom.

23

Photo by Gabriela Bentham-Garcia

Photo by Gabriela Bentham-Garcia

Two Sides of the Same Story

Story by Gabriela Bentham-Garcia, Co-op

I’ve always been taught that there are at least two sides to the same story. This is true both in everyday arguments over who ate the last piece of cake to long-standing conflicts like the one between Catalonia and the rest of Spain. But this conflict can also happen within a person.

Especially as part of the younger generation, we come from a multitude of backgrounds, each boasting a unique and colorful culture.

I was born in Madrid, Spain, but moved to the United States with my family soon after I

24

was born. I grew up in a small town in upstate New York and visited my family in Spain once or twice a year. I’ve always felt most Spanish when I’m in the U.S. and most American when I’m in Spain, but to strangers I seem like a local in both places. Sometimes, I feel like I live in these two places simultaneously.

Globalization plays a continuous role in my life. I struggle with a very modern dilemma: how do I maintain my identity and beliefs while also accepting the intermixing of cultures and peoples

as a result of globalization? Often, this feels like being torn between two realities. My competing backgrounds come out at different times, depending on who I’m interacting with or what kind of environment I’m in. Being completely bilingual plays into this, as I have no foreign accent when I speak Spanish or English. Before entering college, I always felt as if my life was a constant game of choosing which face to put on from day to day.

At Northeastern, I chose to pursue my first co-op position in Madrid, Spain. Before then, I had never lived in Spain for an extended period of time, so I thought it would be a chance to explore my Spanish heritage. Working for the U.S. Commercial Service at the U.S. Embassy in Madrid has turned out to be the perfect position, representing an engaging and ever-changing education with the social and cultural aspects that I love about Spain. At the U.S. Commercial Service, I work to bridge gaps between Spanish

25

Photo by Gabriela Bentham-Garcia

and American companies. Spain is a country that attracts tourists because of its history and longstanding traditions whereas the United States is known for its skyscrapers in New York City and technological innovations in Silicon Valley. It is between these two contrasting worlds that I am tasked with creating a connection.

To me, that’s what co-op is about: choosing a time and place that will not only help you grow professionally, but personally. I discovered which parts of the Spanish me I like the most and the least, and the same goes for my American

26

side. For instance, peanut butter is a part of my American side that I am just not willing to throw away, while regaettón music will never fail to make me dance.

Before my co-op started, one of my friends from Northeastern came to visit me. I showed him around the city, and at night we visited Plaza Mayor with my boyfriend, a Madrid native, so that he could try a “bocadillo de calamares.”

The situation was bizarre, but in this day and age more and more normal: a Spanish-American girl spending time with both her Nigerian

friend that she met in France on a trip with an American university and her Spanish boyfriend.

These are the kind of moments that I treasure.

My multiculturalism not only makes me who I am, but allows me to connect with a single culture on a deeper level.

It can be an enriching experience to spend a significant amount of time in a country you think you already know, whether it is because you have family abroad or a lineage that stretches back to a county you’ve never been to. Travel and cultural interaction are my classrooms on-the-go. We all

are such unique individuals, and exploring that uniqueness is the best part of any educational experiences. The difficult balance is finding the perfect space between tradition and individuality.

Our globalized world advances at breakneck speeds and is expecting us to change with it.

Yet diversity is a beautiful and delicate thing that makes each one of us unique. For me, it’s not a question of picking one side over another, but of finding that “just so” blend. That can only happen when you explore all of your sides, not when you focus on just one.

27

The Benefits of Returning Story by Rachael Phillips, Co-op

As part of the study abroad community in high school and now a student at Northeastern, I have noticed a clear trend of “country-hopping” among young, curious, and internationallyminded students. Every Dialogue, study abroad semester, and international co-op is somewhere new for a month or six, filling your passport and never getting the same stamp twice. I am not here to argue against this trend, however, I do want to offer a story from another perspective: the benefits of returning to live in a place you lived before.

When applying for a co-op for Spring 2018, I had to make a decision: do I go somewhere entirely new for the thrill, the surprise, and learn about a country or a region I know little about? There are tons of reasons I could have chosen this path: to get out of my comfort zone, to explore beyond Europe, to visit a city I have heard amazing things about. However, anyone who knows me knows that I have had one foot in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), where I studied for a year in high school and stayed connected with even throughout my time at Northeastern.

After several week-long visits and many research papers related to the country and my experience, I was missing Sarajevo and longing to return.

I was hesitant about going back to BiH because it felt like I was “playing it safe” by returning somewhere I already knew. I realized that the main reason I was hesitating was because of other people’s views: don’t you want to see somewhere else? You have so many opportunities at Northeastern, why stick to the same country?

Why do you like Bosnia so much, anyway?

28

I asked one trusted advisor in Sarajevo if she knew of any NGOs looking for interns, and she put me in touch with the director of Žene za Žene (Women for Women) almost immediately.

I started working for them in January, and it has been a great fit so far. The organization works with women on a number of empowerment projects, with a major focus on economic empowerment and teaching women skills so they can start small businesses and participate in economic life.

I have benefitted from returning to Sarajevo in ways that I wouldn’t have if had I gone somewhere else. I now speak Bosnian at an advanced level and am able to build up these skills rather than starting from learning “my name is” in a new language. Most importantly, I have a network of people to reach out to for help or company. At the end of the day, every country is only made up of its people. Having a network makes you feel more comfortable and connected to the community, and no matter how many tourist sites you visit, you will never know the country without knowing the people. I think this is a major aspect of living abroad that can be lost when each new location is so temporary.

My network of people centers around my host family, who I lived with for my senior year of high school. I have always been grateful for them letting me into their home and helping me understand the culture, customs, religion, and language that I was thrown into. However, at the time I didn’t anticipate how they could continue to be a supportive rock for me three plus years into the future. This semester, my host mom has consistently invited me to drink coffee with her

at her office where she introduces me to her coworkers and brags about my achievements like I’m her own daughter. When I need to unwind, I hop on the bus to their apartment with my host brother and sister as if I never moved out.

That’s what makes me feel less like spending a semester abroad and more like coming back to my hometown.

Through this co-op, I have realized that my commitment to the Bosnian language and my desire to return to Bosnia is meaningful to the people I work with. It shows that their culture is important in the world and that Bosnia has things to offer outside their borders. It shows that some people outside of the region care about their country and want to learn about their lives.

Sarajevo has a large international presence.

However, unlike Paris and Berlin, Sarajevo is

“

not full of foreigners delighting in the culture and trying to learn the language. While Bosnians are endlessly friendly to visitors and genuinely interested in their stories, it is not often that foreigners attempt to get a deeper understanding of the culture. So when someone from outside of Bosnia takes an interest in the language, culture, and people in a genuine and personal way, it has an impact.

In conclusion, I don’t know what my plan is for my next co-op, or anything else in the future.

Maybe I’ll go somewhere completely new and have a great experience. However, I am certainly seeing the benefits of staying connected to Bosnia and getting an even deeper appreciation of everything the country offers me. I intend to keep this connection throughout my life, in one way or another.

Having a network makes you feel more comfortable and connected to the community, and no matter how many tourist sites you visit, you will never know the country without knowing the people.

” 29

Finding a Home in Geneva Story by Geerija Aggarwal, Study Abroad

Laying on the sand, tanning by the lake, with a view of the Alps and ice cream in one hand; this was by far one of my best summers.

Over the last 19 years, I have lived in four countries in four different continents. Although difficult at times, it has been very rewarding and cultivating to move across the world. I identify any place that puts a roof above my head as home, but the opportunity of living in different places and immersing myself in different cultures has surely been nothing short of extraordinary. One experience that has been extremely enriching and has provided me with new world perspectives was moving to Geneva, Switzerland.

I was still in freshman year at Northeastern when my parents moved from South Africa to Switzerland.

This wasn’t the first time we moved, but relocating to a new country and starting over again is always a challenge. Flying back to my new “home” in the summer of 2017, I was worried about not having friends. With no school, the chances of meeting people diminished even further. But Geneva’s prime location also had me excited about traveling to its neighboring countries.

As summer approached, I spent many days traveling around the country with friends and family that came to visit, and Switzerland lived up to every standard of beauty and culture for which it is known for. Yet while traveling around Switzerland, what I didn’t realize were the treasures that Geneva has stored in its own backyard.

The perfect temperature, incredible ambiance of festivities, and lots of good food and amazing people is what Geneva is all about in the summer.

But along with the fun and the relaxed lifestyle, Geneva brings together different cultures in a way that no other city can.

30

Being such an international city, Geneva offers a much more diverse and international experience than most other European cities. The people here share an attitude to excel both professionally and personally. Additionally, the city has a long history of hosting various international organizations such as the United Nations (UN) and International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), making Geneva the hub of international peace and policymaking.

“

The city teaches you to be humble and down to earth as it brings together people of different race, ethnicities, and religions to a central yet small community.

Photo by Francesca Batault

”

During the summer of 2017, I had the opportunity to attend and work at a conference with the International Labour Organization (ILO).

The ILO is a UN organization that brings together 187 member states and deals with labor issues worldwide by establishing labor standards, social protection and work opportunities for all. There, I had the chance to meet and converse with delegates from several countries and to watch resolutions being debated.

The atmosphere I experienced over the summer inspired me to go back to Geneva— this time as a study abroad student at Webster

University. As any study abroad student can vouch for, there is nothing like living in a place and truly experiencing the ins and outs of a city, and what’s a better place to do that than being in Geneva as an International Affairs student?

The beauty of Europe, as we already know, lies in its history, culture and languages. After toiling French for two years at high school, Geneva has offered me the perfect environment to work on my language skills simply by allowing me to immerse in the culture.

Students here also have the opportunity to exchange words with expats from over 120 countries. Attending UN conferences and getting involved with local and international NGOs are extremely easy. Not only does this allow one to develop their resume and gain a worldly perspective, it also becomes an everyday affair to be surrounded by people constantly working to achieve international goals.

With people from over 190 countries living in Geneva, the cultural aspect of the city is irreplaceable. Although the upscale expat lifestyle can be costly, the city teaches you to be humble and down to earth, as it brings together people of different race, ethnicities, and religions to a central yet small community of about 500,000 people.

This has allowed Geneva to form a culture of its own that is truly unique and hard to find anywhere else in the world.

Having studied internationally for so long, I was always worried that I would never be able to find a place to truly call home, but Geneva’s cultural beauty, pace of life, and the inspiration it offers to the residents have truly been remarkable. As a Swiss resident, I can definitely say that Geneva has become my favorite place in the world over the past two months. It has allowed me to grow and continues to push me every single day, to appreciate the smaller things in life—and that is what makes Geneva the perfect home.

31

Photo by Tuesday Nolen

32

33

The Global Journal | Europe

Photo by Tuesday Nolen

Living in Water Shortage Story by Fernanda Hurtado Ortiz, Co-op

I have always taken water for granted. Only when I return home to Mexico do I ever think twice about water’s cleanliness and safety, but otherwise, I have never imagined what life would be like with water restrictions, or even no water at all.

For my second co-op, I decided to take the opportunity to travel to Cape Town to work for a non-profit organization. I traveled to South Africa seven years ago, but since then had learned

34

more about Cape Town being both the most Western-style city in Africa as well as being full of economic disparities. Not once in my research did I ever hear about the water shortage that was plaguing this beautiful city.

Over the past year, Cape Town has been grappling with a severe water crisis, due to unseasonably dry winters resulting in dangerously low dam levels. According to the Office of the Mayor of Cape Town, as of mid-

December of 2017, Cape Town’s dams were at around 33 percent full capacity. “Day Zero,” the dystopian term for the date by which the city is expected to run out of water, will result in taps being turned off and residents having to line up at some 200 checkpoints across the city to collect daily water allotments, with police and military deployed to monitor the situation.

This will occur when the dams drop below 13.5 percent, a projection that has been repeatedly

pushed back from its original date of April 16 to July 9.

From the day that I arrived at the apartment I was living in, run by an environmentally conscious non-profit organization, rules surrounding water usage were strict: First, compost; second, don’t flush the toilet unless absolutely necessary; and third, always recycle your water. The second rule in particular became an inside joke within our apartment, with the office even putting up

35

Photo by Tuesday Nolen

signs that would remind us of the necessity of not flushing with every use.

Working in an office with other non-profits, especially one dedicated to planting trees, ecological consciousness was the first priority of the office culture. Even when I was in my apartement, it was no different. Water was of the utmost importance. Every week, new regulations were placed by the city to remind us of the scarcity of water, and over time the language changed from severe to critical. Any rain on given days would be celebrated, even if it would get in the way of pre-set plans.

36

I soon found myself washing my dishes in what was called “gray water,” which was later used to flush toilets and water plants. Showers were restricted to two minutes, including a timer in the bathroom and a bucket to catch water in to be recycled. All around the city the shortage was felt, with pools closed for the season and water no longer served at restaurants for free.

As “Day Zero” continues to threaten South Africa’s second-largest city, radical conservation efforts have been placed, even to the point of urging tourists not to travel to the city until the drought ends. This is a reality of global warming

“

What remains a mystery for most of the world is the aftermath of those who successfully made their way out of the country.

that is not exclusive to Cape Town. Cities like Sao Paulo, Jakarta and Mexico City are each at risk of similar water scarcity in the upcoming years.

There are easy ways all of us can cut down on water usage to take care of the environment, like closing the tap when brushing your teeth or recycling dishwater. Living in Cape Town has been a clear reminder to me that water is sacred, no matter how secure we think it may be in our specific city.

” 37

Photo by Kathleen Brody

Photo by Kathleen Brody

Gaining Perspective Through Moroccan Village Life Story by Kelsey Lawler, Dialogue of Civilizations

In the High Atlas Mountains, a two-hour bus

to explore the small village. As the sun was setting

and followed him up the hill. He led us inside a

through the bustling souks selling various crafts:

ride outside Marrakech, a group of Northeastern

over the mountains, I ventured back to the house

beautifully tiled and much cooler home, which I

from textiles and wood carvings to antique jewels.

students prepared to hike six hours to the village

for dinner. Over tagine, our guide explained that

assume was him own. There, he took out a stack

Through guest speakers, we learned that Morocco

of Tidli. We were on the “Economic and Cultural

we would be working with the villagers the next

of keys and unlocked the door to reveal a secret

has also been capitalized on the country’s close

Dynamics of Muslim Immigration” Dialogue

day to get a small feel of their working reality.

of the small village. Inside the room, walls and

proximity to Europe, which was cemented with

traversing Morocco, the Netherlands, and France

The next morning, I woke up to the most

tables were lined with products found in bustling

the income of family remittances. But it wasn’t

for four weeks in 2017. We took a three-day pause

beautiful sunrise over the mountains and prepared

Marrakech. Notebooks, chewing gum, cleaning

until we ventured into Tidli that we were able to

from living with host families in Marrakech to

for the day ahead. We were split into four groups,

products, food—it was Tidli’s general store. It was

understand the trickling effects of globalization.

immerse ourselves in the local village life of Tidli.

each group was to help a local with their day’s work.

clear from this minor experience that much more was going on in Tidli than my initial impressions.

In Tidli, it became clear that Morocco was

The scenic display through the High Atlas

I and two others were led by an old man to a small

Mountains to Tidli was truly incredible. However,

patch of garden. Through his demonstrations,

The visit opened our eyes to the diverse and

the region - not only in the bustling cities, but in

the warm welcome we received from the families

we realized we were to peel some type of root

complex economic environment within Tidli

the mountainous villages as well. The opportunity

in the village is what I remember the most. We

vegetable with dull knifes. After only a few hours,

as well. In Marrakech, we had witnessed the

to experience life in Tidli allowed us to gain a new

were put up in an empty house that was available

my hands were caked with brown dirt and bits of

increased investment into industrial infrastructure

perspective on Morocco in addition to gaining a

for trekkers. Greeted with many smiling faces,

root lodged under my nails.

which had propelled the city into an economic

fuller understanding of the economics of village life.

young men leading mules, and children intrigued

As the sun continues to beat down, we

center in Africa. We had also been exposed to

with my poor Moroccan Arabic, I quickly took off

helped the old man pack up all the vegetables

Morocco’s market-oriented economy by walking

38

quickly becoming a growing economic force in

39

Answering Systemic Issues with Entrepreneurship Story by Tuesday Nolen, Dialogue of Civilizations

If you listen to the media these days, it seems like the whole world is going up in flames. There is constant yelling from every direction whenever a big topic comes up in conversation. There has been no little amount of arguing in the limelight about systemic problems, which unfortunately leaves little room for an actual conclusion of the issue.

A systemic problem is defined as a problem due to issues inherent in the overall system, rather than due to a specific, individual, isolated factor. These sort of problems and discussions exist everywhere in the world, but it can be hard to see them when you, personally, exist within the system. One way to significantly change your perspective is to step outside your own system, or consider a system you are not inherently biased in.

One bus ride, about a week and a half into Northeastern’s social enterprise dialogue in South Africa this summer, I had a conversation with a very quiet consulting colleague of mine named Athi. We were on our way to the job site of the entrepreneur we were consulting for. This was the first and only time I saw him speak at length or in depth with anyone. We talked about many things, including the cultures of where we grew up, the excitement of travel, school struggles, political difficulties in both of our countries, the history of African Americans in the U.S., and the biggest takeaways from the trip.

Athi attends a school named the Tertiary School in Business Administration (TSiBA). Its mission is to help people who cannot access opportunities to jump ahead in life through entrepreneurship.

One of South Africa’s systemic problems is that, much like the United States, the government and a good deal of social institutions were developed around the premise that certain people were inherently unequal. In South Africa, this system of racism

40

that was epitomized by Apartheid — the policy of institutional segregation and discrimination against non-white people from 1948 to 1994 — although discrimination goes back a long before that. After much struggle, in 1994 South Africa was handed over to the people to become a true democracy and the current constitution was adopted, making all people equal before the law.

However, the last 24 years has been unable to entirely undo the harm of hundreds of years of injustice.

Though South Africa is leaps and bounds of where it was, there is still significant economic inequality between whites and non-whites, as well as under-access to employment opportunities, education, food and housing, particularly for black citizens.

“

Every single person I met was dedicated to their education, to business, and to improving the lives of others around them.

Photo by Tuesday Nolen

”

It is TSiBA’s mission to change that. Their answer is entrepreneurship, and it is making a difference.

TSiBA not only teaches students entrepreneurship in its curriculum, but also in practice. Through accelerators, networking, each other and their own ingenuity, its students are proving themselves not only capable, but leaders in their own right.

I met an architect, a jeweler, a wedding planner, a social media master, a musician, and many others. Most also had other responsibilities - like being a mother, keeping up a family business or farm, playing for the national rugby team, or working two other jobs. Many had tried their hand at several businesses, with varying success. But every single person I met was dedicated to their education, to business, and to improving the lives of others around them.

These amazing young leaders and entrepreneurs would never have had the access to the tools to support their incredible ideas 24 years ago,

when the idea of their getting this kind of education would have seemed impossible. For most, the only reason they are able to attain these opportunities is because of TSiBA’s unique mission to make such an education accessible. But many others are not as fortunate. The students know this, and in true spirit of ubuntu, they are looking to give back.

With entrepreneurship, they know they can spark opportunities for experience, knowledge sharing and job creation for those who have been locked out of the system, improving the lives of many more South Africans impacted by Apartheid.

41

A Milestone of Personal Growth in Morocco Photo series by Kathleen Brody, Dialogue of Civilizations

It was the smiling ṣbah lkḥīr from my Arabic teacher in the morning and the captivating conversations with our lecturers in the afternoon. It was the way that strangers greet each other with warmth and trust rather than with skepticism. But most of all, it was the hospitality of my host family that made me feel at home.

Morocco is the place that is the most unlike home that I have ever visited and, for that reason, perhaps the most valuable travel experience I have had to date. Although astoundingly beautiful, it wasn’t just the vibrant colors or fragrant scents of Marrakech’s medina, mosaics, or mint tea that entranced me—it was the people I met along the way.

42

43

It wasn’t until a bit later in my trip, however, that I felt comfortable enough to fully discuss topics on which we were likely to disagree—and sure enough, we did not see eye to eye on many of them, including ones that involved some of my deepest philosophical and socio-political convictions.

The uncertainty that often accompanies initial interactions practically dissipated overnight with Jihane and Yasser; within mere days, I found myself eating tajine with my hands alongside their whole extended family, conversing for hours about our different ways of life. Invigorated by the excitement that comes with new friendship, I didn’t mind staying up until 1:00 a.m. to eat dinner (the fifth meal of the day) or braving the 110-degree weather under the desert sun.

44

45

Yet somehow, despite our vastly different opinions, our respect for one another and our relationship never faltered; even after our most passionate debates, we ended them with the acknowledgement that our respective views are at least a partial product of our different backgrounds, cultures, and upbringings, and that one is no less valid than the other. These conversations culminated in one of my biggest and most important milestones of personal growth, as this was the first time in my life that I genuinely felt I could be intimately close to people with views fundamentally different from my own.

“

This was the first time in my life that I genuinely felt I could be intimately close to people with views fundamentally different from my own.

�

On top of every other joy I experienced during my time with Jihane and Yasser, this was undoubtedly the biggest gift that they, and my trip to Morocco, could have given me—and it would not have been possible without their unwavering openness and acceptance of me as an outsider in their own home. They exemplify a true benevolence that I strive to embody through my own thoughts, words, and actions every day.

46

47

48

Photo by Karina Masri

49

Coffee is the Bedouin Way of Life Story by Lindsey Bressler, Co-op

Bedouins are traditionally nomadic Arab Muslim tribes who have lived in the Sinai Peninsula for about 7,000 years. They are also the poorest demographic group of Israeli society, suffering from unemployment, high rates of crime, and a lack of access to education. For the tens of thousands who live in unrecognized villages, Bedouins are often subject to threats of home demolition.

The Bedouin village of Qasr al-Sir is dusty and bleak. Most of the homes there are made of scrap metal. In the fall of 2017, I spent my global co-op researching, living in, and learning about the southern, desert region of Israel known as the Negev Desert, and took a memorable trip to learn about the people who inhabit it.

In Qasr al-Sir, I asked my guide Anwar what he meant when he said that being a Bedouin was a way of life, rather than a religion or nationality.

In response, he picked up a tiny white coffee cup and held it in the air: “When a guest comes in, we fill their cup of coffee only a third of the way through,” explained Anwar, as his friend translated his Arabic to English.

“This is a Bedouin coffee cup. You will find ones that look like this in every village. If we filled the cup up all the way, it would be extremely rude, because it would imply that we want you to finish the cup and then leave immediately. So, we serve three cups, which each have different meanings. The first cup of coffee is for the guest. It represents hospitality.

The second cup is for fun, for laughter and enjoyment. The third cup is for protection, for now and in the future.”

I was his guest, drinking coffee in dramatically smaller doses than I’m used to in America.

50

Anwar’s division of three meanings—guest, fun and protection—embodies the people I met in the Negev.

As I guest, I stayed at a house in the development town of Mitzpei Ramon, where I ate authentic Indian food on tin metal plates. I was served by Rosie, an Orthodox Jewish woman who grew up in Mumbai.

Her walls were adorned with wedding photos and paintings of rabbis. She had seven grandchildren, and I found myself wondering what Shabbat would be like in her home. On the first night, we sat in Salaman Al Azazme’s tent. As he spoke, Salaman kneaded a pile of dough and told us that a life in the desert makes one’s spirit light. He threw the dough into a bed of hot coals, turning it over. As the bread cooked, it glittered red and black.

Later, I met Maryam Abu-Rakayek, a female businesswoman who inspired me with her story of being the first Bedouin woman ever to go to university abroad. She took her grandmother’s wisdom of plants and herbs in the area, and became the owner of the cosmetics company Desert Daughter. In a workshop she led, we crushed rosemary leaves with a mortar and pestle and strained them into cream, then walked around her store and smelled soap made from camel’s milk.

Finally, at Midreshet Sde Boker, a nature reserve and the resting place of the first Prime Minister of Israel, David Ben Gurion, I spoke to Assaf, the park ranger. As Ibex grazed behind us, Assaf spoke about the necessity of environmental protection in the vast Negev Desert.

At the end of my trip, with the wind howling and whipping my face and hair, I listened to one last, complicated story: of the Israeli government’s relocation of 1,000 Bedouin residents in the town of

Photo by Mariya Lupandina

Umm al-Hiran to make room for a new Jewish town, Hiran. As I staring at the rubble of the demolished Bedouin village and the infrastructure for the new town that was emerging in its place, I heard about the Bedouin protests against the relocation, and the ensuring demolishment raid by Israeli police which ended in the deaths of a Bedouin man and an Israeli police officer.

Like a good afternoon cup of coffee, you can drink and feel refreshed but you are not satisfied.

Your mind is awake but your belly is not full. In those three meaningful, sandy days of my trip in the Negev

Desert, I heard so many different perspectives that I could not simply wipe the dust away and see a clear truth lying underneath.

I found Anwar’s talk and other moments of my time in Israel difficult to distill. As I learned more about the problems, conflicts and big questions surrounding Bedouin society, I could not help but feel the burden of not knowing enough. However, I settled on the importance and truth of being a guest in the complicated, barren, endlessly interesting Negev, staying for just a bit longer than the time it takes to drink one cup of coffee.

51

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) focuses on

require the executives’ children to seek work

huge salary differentials and emphasizes status

experience outside of the company, and even the

symbols, signifying an emerging class system

country, before they can join the family business.

throughout the region. But in Dubai, things may

entrepreneurial spirit is also emerging. A trend worth

be changing.

The city’s newfound entrepreneurial interests

noting is the ambitious development projects on

have the potential to pull the rest of the country,

the Gulf. Though uncharacteristic of the traditional

and the region, into the modern business world.

deal-making model in the region, the emphasis

This doesn’t mean that change will be immediate,

of many Middle Eastern countries in promoting

but as this new city matures and its reputation

tourism as a major revenue generating stream has

advances, it possible that people will begin to see

meant that leaders must put risk-aversion aside

firsthand the possibility for change in the Middle

and build up attractions as quickly as possible.

East. Since family businesses control such a large

Similarly, there is a sudden uptick in startups, which

portion of generated wealth in the region, growth in

has in turn facilitated interest in endeavors outside

Dubai and elsewhere will depend on their adoption

of family businesses. This trend may be a strong

of competitive, modern business practices. These

indicator of real change in the region, but it is not

advancements hinge on the new generation of

without issues. For instance, many startups face

leaders coming into power, changing the way the

funding problems due to the investment hesitations

Middle East views itself and the rest of the world.

of family offices. The more family offices can start

There are many religious and societal rules that leaders must follow in professional settings, but the Photo by Bhargavi Ram

Photo by Elizabeth Zona

Entrepreneurial Leadership and Family Business in Dubai Story by Elizabeth Zona, Personal Reflection

I was fortunate enough to have taken the

and traditional, with little room for outliers or

Global Family Business Leadership course, an

new ways of thinking. It is true that the systems

entrepreneurship elective offered through the

of governance that dominated Arab life for

D’Amore-McKim School of Business. Over spring

several centuries have left a permanent mark on

break, Northeastern sends the class to Dubai to

many Arab societies, and it is also true that with

experience family businesses, and the region

authority still concentrated in the chief executive,

they dominate, first hand. All the businesses we

the importance of family relations resonates

visited were run either by parents of alumni or

throughout all aspects of business. The family-

by alumni themselves.

owned businesses that dominate the region

Before the trip, I would have assumed that

conduct themselves with such risk-aversion

business culture in the Middle East was rigid

that signs of suppressed progress are evident.

52

Aside from family businesses, an unprecedented

opening themselves up to change, the more the economic landscape can diversify and flourish.

younger generation has already begun to bring

Finally, one of the most important emerging

innovation to the table. Many traditional family

movements I observed is the beginning of better

businesses are beginning to adopt new business

opportunities for women in the workforce. Even

practices to both maintain family relationships

family businesses are beginning to give female

while staying competitive in a changing economy.

children prominent roles within their companies,

A growing number of prominent businesses now

some even taking leadership roles in fields that

“

not many women work in globally, let alone in the Middle East.

As this new city matures and its reputation advances, people may begin to see firsthand that change is possible in the Middle East.

I am excited for a new age of change being made in business to comply with entrepreneurial spirit and a younger, more informed generation entering the workforce. Though tradition, characterized by the respect for Islamic traditions and a resistance to sudden change, remains strong, the acceptance of new ideas is slowly making its way to the mainstream -something that was improbable not too long ago.

Even family businesses are realizing it may be time for them to emerge onto the modern business

”

stage. I look forward to seeing where the region will go from here, and what Dubai has to offer next.

53

Photo by Lydia Ioannidou

Insight into Israel Story by Jakob Leichtman, Global Co-op

Warm weather, beautiful beaches, and counter-terrorism are quite the combination.

That’s what my family and friends told me when announced that I’d be working in Israel at the International Institute for Counter-Terrorism (ICT) for my third and final co-op at Northeastern.

That said, traveling and taking risks are nothing new for me. I started my Northeastern career in London as part of the N.U.in program, and since then have participated in two dialogue of civilization programs as well as two previous international co-ops.

I arrived here in Herzliya, Israel on January 12th, 2018, and within the first two months, I had the opportunity to not only attend graduate lectures presented by one of executive directors at the ICT, Dr. Eitan Azani, but also join faculty lunched with other members of the team including the founder of the institute, Dr. Boaz Ganor. In addition to these faculty lunches, I had the opportunity to attend other lectures presented by our supervisors in their respective fields.

While my co-op keeps kept me busy during the day, I didn’t let that keep me from exploring what was around me. Although I lived in Herzliya, Tel-Aviv was only a 20-minute bus ride away, where the nightlife is bustling and the culture more international. That being said, still I loved the little town I was living in, where I lived in an apartment with other students my age, who either worked at the ICT or studied at the Interdisciplinary Center, Herzliya’s private, research college.

While I pride myself at adjusting and integrating with local culture, one aspect of Israeli life that I never got used to is Shabbat, the day of rest in Judaism, when people refrain from work and partake in

54

more familial activities. Between sunset on Friday evenings and Saturday night, shops and restaurants shut down early, and do not reopen until about an hour after Shabbat ends.

This also includes most forms of transportation, including public buses. I found myself planning a stay at home weekend accordingly, or making the best out of the location and traveling somewhere new. For example, I once spent an extended weekend with my roommates on a group trip to Cyprus, a beautiful, relaxing getaway that none of us had been before, and fit well within our budget.

“

My time in Israel was filled with great memories, amazing learning experiences, valuable lessons, adventures to neighboring countries, and learning to be in tune with Israeli culture.

”

While I enjoyed my job and all the side travels that I took advantage of, my favorite experience from my Israel had to be seeing some long-lost family. As I’m adopted from Guatemala, whoever is part of my father’s

Photo by Mariya Lupandina

family is also part of mine. Just before flying out to Israel, I was told that I have distant relatives living in Jerusalem who had been waiting to meet me since I first came to America. After a short hour bus to ride from Herzilya to meet them, I had the chance to explore Jerusalem, the holy city of Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. We got lunch and toured in the old city, walked around the new city, and everything inbetween. What I enjoyed most was listening to old, unheard stories about my dad in his high-

school and college days from relatives I had only recently met.

In total, my time in Israel was filled with great memories, amazing learning experiences, valuable lessons, adventures to neighboring countries, and learning to be in tune with Israeli culture. While it was tough deciding where I wanted to complete my final co-op, my time in Israel showed me that I made the right decision.

I’m already planning my next adventures to knock off my bucket-list.

55

56

57

Photo by Kristin Terry

Photo by Mia Aldrich Photo by Malaya Redmond

Discovering the Russian Enigma Story by Malaya Redmond, Dialogue of Civilizations

When I was searching for dialogues to apply for in the summer of 2017, I knew that I wanted to join a program that would complement my studies and also take me somewhere I had never been before. And given that I had never traveled outside the U.S. before, I figured that I had a lot of options. However, when my first choice of going to Japan fell through, I was stressed and anxious to find a program that was still open instead of feeling the excitement of spending a month in Japan—until I discovered the emerging markets dialogue to Russia.

I couldn’t say that I was particularly happy about not going to Japan, but I was extremely curious to see what hidden treasures awaited me in the largest country in the world.The

58

whole focus of the dialogue was to learn firsthand about Russian culture and its status as an emerging market economy. But what I got out of my time there was so much more than I could have ever imagined.

As soon as our plane landed in Pulkovo International Airport, I felt as if I was in a different world. I was instantly drawn into a bubble that the dialogue created. One in which we had a 360 degree view of everything that lived around us. The language, the architecture, and the people completely surrounded us. It almost felt as if I was planted directly inside a world history textbook, one in which the present was written to blend seamlessly into the past.

It was in St. Petersburg that these feelings began to take shape. The juxtaposition of the 21st century dynamic and of historical architecture in the city presented a visual passage of time. High-end malls built out of old Soviet food distribution centers, designer clothing stores like Chanel and Fendi residing in 18th century style buildings, and whole blocks built around World Heritage Site cathedrals.

Each day we visited a new museum, church, or palace that added to our growing knowledge of Russian history and culture. At the Peterhof Palace, we marveled over the pure gold statues that adored its cascading fountains that emptied into the Gulf of Finland. At the Hermitage, we meandered through seemingly endless halls displaying priceless artwork from countries all across the European continent.

There was never a day where we didn’t come together in class discussion to talk about how our initial impressions have changed as our trip went on. Contrary to the truth, I originally believed that Russia was not hospitable to foreigners given the relative small size of its tourism industry. There are in fact numerous resources for tourists especially in such a major city like St. Petersburg. There are tour guides who speak multiple languages that are eager to share the stories of Russia’s history in every city.

It was during that first week that I came to the understanding that all of the cities tell stories. Some are directly connected to each other while others stand alone, but they all contribute to the larger story of Russia’s history.

Murals of revolution are painted proudly on the side of brick buildings, reminding us of the country’s past and present.

In Moscow, the story continued. We traveled to the capital city by speed train with the vast countryside painted outside of the windows, blurring past us until the only thing that you could see was the color green. Once settled,

our daily excursions resumed. From navigating the massive train system to strolling along the winding streets, we were always on the move.

Our days were spent visiting more museums, taking morning Russian classes, and meeting with business officials from all over the city. And after a while, the bubble that separated us from our environment began to dissolve. We could identify our favorite restaurants, recognize main streets, and understand key phrases and greetings which allowed us to become more integrated into the culture.

During our last week of the dialogue, we spent our final days touring several cities in the Golden Ring: the ancient towns that form the foundation of Russian culture and preserve Photo by Mia Aldrich the memory of significant events in Russian history. Each day, we visited a different city, the key features of which were proudly displayed by their populations. It was during these last days that I felt the most comfortable, not only because the atmosphere reminded me so much of home, but because I felt that I had truly immersed myself in the language and culture.

I found myself wanting to learn more about the country that has been labeled as an enigma, and the people that endured the pain and destruction that have ravaged their homeland time and time again.

The foundation of Russian culture itself is founded in these cities, built from the most basic of materials, and restructured to accommodate new life. Overtime the infrastructure will lose its resilient nature, but the culture that it has helped shape and the narrative that it has built will not fade from memory. To be able to live and study in such a rich environment has encouraged me to continue to take advantage of the numerous opportunities that Northeastern provides.

There are an abundance of stories that await; it only takes a leap of faith to discover them.

59

Grappling with Climate Injustice in Cambodia Story by Anthony Zunino, Co-op

What words and images come to mind when we hear the term “climate change”?

Sea level rise, smog-choked skies, a polar bear stranded at sea. When discussing climate change, the narrative tends to focus on its geophysical effects, but across the world people are facing this phenomenon’s consequences head on. Most of these people are not even responsible for it.

In May of 2017, I travelled with a group of grade 9 and 10 students from Hong Kong’s Independent Schools Foundations (ISF) Academy to a small village in Baray District, Cambodia. As a teaching co-op, my role was to instruct and direct student research in the community and to assist with their service learning projects. According to the Global Climate Risk Index, Cambodia is consistently ranked as one of the world’s most vulnerable nations to climate change, and I was eager to dig into why this was the case.

With rural populations dependent on agriculture for their income, frequent flooding and droughts caused by a changing climate have dismantled village economies in Cambodia.

Farmers plant rice according to the rainy and dry seasons in southeast Asia, seasons which are affected by global temperature changes.

What were once reliable patterns of rainfall have become unpredictable, and farmers can no longer look to their calendars for guidance.

In general, Cambodian small holders no longer make a living through rice planting due to frequent crop failure. Of the 22 village households we surveyed during our time in Baray, 15 reported being food insecure.

When crops fail, farmers are left in debt from the seeds they purchased and are forced to sell their land to pay it back. Many villagers now have

60

left their fields behind to find work in Thailand or Cambodia. Of the households we surveyed, fifty percent reported the need to migrate for income, creating an unsustainable village economy and a fragmented community. When independent farmers in Cambodia have to sell their land due to crop failure, oftentimes it is bought up and consolidated by foreign companies for use in growing cash crops like rubber and palm oil.

Where there were once rice paddies and trees, heavy machinery is now reshaping the landscape.

Investors from major greenhouse gas-producing nations are profiting off of the fact that climate change, a phenomenon to which they have contributed, has pushed out independent Cambodian farmers. These farmers bear little responsibility for a changing climate, yet they have to face the greatest consequences.

This theme of climate injustice is not exclusive to Cambodia, but watching backhoes roll across what were once lush and productive paddies Photorice

by Mia Aldrich brought home for me the human aspect of this global issue. After completing our household surveys, I spoke with some students about the shortcomings of quantitative data. I was happy to hear them reflect on the realization that reducing this village to a dataset does not tell the full story.

Statistics could not convey the human experiences which made up Cambodian rural life, good or bad. They could not replace the sense of empathy felt from speaking to people in their own homes, and running around the schoolyard with second graders. Perhaps it is this sense of empathy that is missing from the world’s discussion of climate justice in Paris and Marrakech, where the United Nations Climate Change Conference took place in 2015 and 2016.

Photo by Anthony Zunino

Cambodia is a nation that has faced great historical challenges and atrocities which visitors like myself can only begin to understand.

Less than forty years after the fall of Pol Pot’s brutally destructive Khmer Rouge, Cambodia has bounced back to become one of the fastest growing economies in Asia. Due to issues like climate injustice, not everyone enjoys the benefits of this development.

I look forward to seeing what Cambodia’s next Angkor Wat will be. For now, In Baray’s villages, it takes the shape of safe and welcoming elementary schools. Next year, it may be a community medical center. Initiatives like this

cannot stop climate change, but they give people a reason to come back and try to make a living in their original homes. By strengthening rural communities in this way, their voices can become stronger as well. It will take a loud voice to achieve global climate justice, but by bringing human lives into the conversation, the fight against climate change becomes even more urgent. With so many discussions about the future effects of rising sea levels in Boston and Miami, we ought to also be paying attention to the current realities affecting places like Cambodia, whose realities are brought on by polluters like the United States.

61

China Through the Eyes of a Photographer Photo series by Kristin Terry, Dialogue of Civilizations

I started learning Mandarin Chinese in high school, and once again felt the desire to visit China, to immerse myself in the culture, and to learn more about the world around me.

I wanted to visit China ever since I was little, to see the Great Wall and the pandas and experience the culture that so many of my friends were apart of.

62

63

This past summer, one of my good friends invited me to travel with her to China to visit her grandparents in Guangzhou, as well as several other cities around China including Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, and Xi’An.

China is a vast and diverse country: from the Great Wall in Beijing, the pandas in Chengdu, the lit-up night city markets in Xi’An to the towering skyscrapers in Shanghai.

64

65

I will forever be grateful to be a part of such an enriching experience and to have the opportunity to immerse myself within the culture in ways I wouldn’t have been able to do on any other trip.

Each one of these cities we visited held something special, and showed us a new part of the culture and history that we hadn’t seen before.

66

67

   Join Us @ GlobalJournalNU

Special Thanks The N.U.in Program Global Experience Office The School of Journalism Student Government Association The International Affairs Program College of Social Sciences and Humanities

Read More Stories www.globaljournalnu.com