Smashing Stereotypes Through Study Abroad

When I was an undergrad at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls I studied abroad in an amazing program that let me design and carry out my own semester long project in France. I picked immigration, particularly Muslims from North Africa, because a negative experience in Paris in high school made me want to better understand this group. 

In preparing for the trip, I stumbled across an organization that promoted athletics for young boys from mostly immigrant Maghrébin families (Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia) so they had something constructive to do after school. The director of the organization agreed to meet me. I planned on just having coffee, asking a few questions, and moving on, but then he realized I didn't have a place to stay arranged. A key part of the program design is the student arranges their own travel, lodging, food, etc once they arrive in Europe. My plan was to find a hostel or simply get back on the train if there wasn't room, no big deal. He insisted I stay with him and his family.

So he brought me back to his tiny apartment and introduced me to his wife. They were excited to have a guest for dinner so they invited his wife's brother, mother, cousin and other family members. They made a feast of North African specialties (including tripe, ugh!) and made room in their home. The next day they took me to their mosque where the imam (director) graciously answered my questions and offered me the beautiful prayer rug that hangs in my office at Rockford University. He said he wanted to give me something to remember him, the mosque, and my Muslim host family by.

Yes, this family was Muslim. Yes, they were probably Arab (I didn't learn about Berbers, Tuaregs, and other ethnic groups for another 10 years). No, they weren't terrorists. They were just generous people who opened their home and their lives to a total stranger. Just as there are good Christians and Christians who are assholes, the same applies to Muslims. Just as there are different interpretations of Christianity, there are different interpretations of Islam. Don't judge a whole group by the actions of a few.