Abbadi Sawsan


“What’s up?” Arabic @ CIEE Amman

“What’s up?” Arabic @ CIEE Amman

September 14th, 2018

Thanks to the generous Liebentritt Faculty Development Award, I was able to visit prominent Arabic programs in well-established study abroad centers and universities in Jordan and Istanbul. This blog shares a few insights about CIEE- Amman/Jordan; a study abroad program for Arabic language and cultural studies with immersion experience and travel around fascinating personal exposure.  […]


Arabic: Your Ticket to the Middle East

Arabic: Your Ticket to the Middle East

June 6th, 2018

MarHaba! My name is Theresa Smiley, and I’m incredibly excited to share a bit of my experience with Arabic outside of the Loyola community. I just finished my junior year, and I’m currently majoring in Global and International Studies and Political Science, with minors in Arabic Language and Culture, Islamic World Studies, and German Studies. […]


“Oman, The Hidden, Sea-Side Wonder”

“Oman, The Hidden, Sea-Side Wonder”

October 23rd, 2017

My name is Kyle Scheuring and I am a junior here at Loyola University Chicago. I study English Literature with a minor in both Arabic Language and Studio Art. While studying in Amman, Jordan at the University of Jordan, two friends and I had the opportunity to spend a weekend in Muscat, Oman. Although the […]


Palestine: Empowerment and Community Building

Palestine: Empowerment and Community Building

September 10th, 2017

My name is Catalina. I am a Loyola alumna. I majored in International Studies and minored in Arabic Language and Culture, and Islamic World Studies. I lived in Palestine for a mere three months, but my life will forever be impacted by the warmth of spirit, inherent kindness, and wholesomeness I experienced there. I traveled […]


Palestine: “Make Hummus Not Walls”

Palestine: “Make Hummus Not Walls”

August 22nd, 2017

My name is Catalina. I grew up hearing Biblical stories and imagining from a young age what my life would or could be if I lived in Palestine. I wished to be able to share life with individuals there and hear their own stories. Fast forward about 15 years, I am studying Arabic Language and […]


Tunisia: In Love With A New Magical Life

Tunisia: In Love With A New Magical Life

November 22nd, 2016

My name is Amy. My Arabic adventure began under the guidance of Professor Abbadi in 2013, my sophomore year of college, as I declared my minor that same year. Initially I took Arabic because I thought it would be a good challenge for me, it definitely was, but I was also interested in the culture […]


Taste of UAE: Food for Thought

Taste of UAE: Food for Thought

October 31st, 2016

  My name is Rabiya Eshete and I am a senior majoring in Entrepreneurship with a minor in Marketing. I’ve always wanted to study abroad since my freshman year because I love to travel and learn about different places and cultures. I began taking Arabic my Sophmore year and I loved it. Recently, I was […]


Friends, Family, and Frisbee in Morocco

Friends, Family, and Frisbee in Morocco

September 20th, 2016

My name is Rebecca Sawatzki. I’m a senior International Studies major with minors in French and Arabic graduating December 2016. Participating in the Arabic program was one of the most worthwhile things I did at Loyola. During my time at Loyola I studied abroad in the south of France and in Rabat, Morocco. “Abeta!!!!” screams […]


Palestine: Nexus of Faiths, Cultures,and Languages

Palestine: Nexus of Faiths, Cultures,and Languages

February 18th, 2014

  My name is Caroline Tooker, I’m a Sophomore at Loyola majoring in International Business with a minor in Arabic Language and Culture. This summer, I spent two months in the West Bank. I hadn’t really planned out my trip and only knew I was going ten days before I got on the plane, so […]


New Rhythms

New Rhythms

January 14th, 2014

I can recall from my first few days of staying in Morocco as being characterized by a challenging new rhythm—rhythm regarding the schedule of my day (there’s a clear shift in Tangier, causing the city to come alive more so in the ladder half of the day, especially after sunset), rhythm in the way that […]