Audrey Rattay

International Experience Country:
Morocco
Cohort Year:
2011
Home Institution:

Thiel College

Heinz Programming Area:
Arts and Culture
International Experience Summary:

During the summer of 2011, Audrey Rattay resided in Meknes, Morocco while she attended classes in Making Sense of the Middle East and Beginning Standard Arabic. During the week, she gained knowledge in MIddle East history and issues and in addition, learned how to read, write and speak the Arabic language while in the classroom at Moulay Ismail University Meknes. On a daily basis, she had the opportunity to interact with locals while drinking mint tea at the corner cafe and having in depth conversations about Moroccan traditions and how they differ from American traditions. Audrey was able to experience Moroccan folklore stretching from music festivals to crafts to yearly rituals such as the running of the women which was a race in Menkes where participants compete while wearing customary dresses. During her free time she took the necessary steps towards reaching her personal goal of meeting a Moroccan wedding planner and accomplished it with the perk of also attending Moroccan wedding. On the weekends, Audrey travelled to various cities that enabled her to experience desert, mountain, and costal living. She was also able to spend one weekend in Merzouga, a desert town in the Sahara desert. She took advantage of this opportunity by riding camels, sleeping in sand dunes, and dining Berber families in the desert Oasis by the large sand dune of Erg Chebi.

Community Engagement Experience Summary:

CEE Title: Domestic Violence Awareness

For her CEE, Audrey and her teammates, created a Domestic Violence Awareness event for there university community. Leading up to the event, they distributed information on local, national and global domestic violence. They also developed an informational poster that is now on permanent display in their schools guidance office. To conclude their program, they screened a movie about domestic violence that was followed by a discussion with the students present.