Alexander Jusdanis just returned from a six-week stay in Morocco, where he studied Arabic, a language he recently picked up.
Jusdanis, 16, of Clintonville, participated in a program offered by the American Councils for International Education.
Jusdanis, who studies Latin and French at Wellington School, left June 18 for Morocco and returned to the U.S. July 27 in an all-expenses paid trip.
“I loved it. It was great,” he said.
“I felt really lucky that I was accepted. It was amazing.”
He studied Arabic during the day and stayed with a host family in Marrakesh.
He was one of 20 students selected from the U.S. for the program, and the only student from Ohio.
Participation in the program required an application, which involved a few essays, he said.
The students studied Mondays through Saturdays, he said, and in the classroom, the teachers only spoke Arabic.
He learned there are different variations of Arabic, which proved to be somewhat of a challenge.
“I learned so much. It’s amazing how much I learned,” he said, noting he probably learned a school year’s worth of material during those six weeks.
When they got some spare time, the students traveled the area.
“I didn’t know anything about Morocco. I learned so much about Morocco, the Arabic culture and the religion of Islam,” Jusdanis said.
“It’s just a whole new way of understanding the world, and to get a whole different cultural outlook on things.”
He said the food was excellent, although he had to get used to eating food with mostly his hands.
Jusdanis started to study Arabic last summer when he attended a camp in Vermont.
He continued to study the language when he returned as he was tutored by an Ohio State University student.
This isn’t the first time Jusdanis has traveled.
Earlier this year, he traveled to Toulouse, France, for a two-week home stay program.
“You gain perspective, it makes you feel more open-minded, and really you can look at issues from multiple sides,” he said.
“I would definitely like to do something like this again. I’ll probably do something next summer to keep up with my Arabic.”
“It’s just a whole new way of understanding the world, and to get a whole different cultural outlook on things.”
