Ever since our first day in DC, I felt the sympathy and understanding increase throughout the 14 of us day by day. This journey has certainly made me discover a profound piece of my identity that I had not know existed.
The experience I had in GW, whether in the residence halls or around the campus, was full of friendly faces; other pre-college students, staff and even strangers were always smiling. Their hospitality created a heartfelt atmosphere which made me realize how crucial it is to have a happy face. Having connections and networking is an important skill to possess, as Professor Levy emphasized, thus a way forward to that for me would not be solely communication but happy communication. When talking to people, the pivotal thing that actually made the conversation intriguing for them was my facial expression. I believe adopting “happy communication” which I encountered throughout the program will be helpful for me to grow as a person all of my life.
Last but not least, I have become conscious of the irrationality and absurdity of borders, not just in my native land but everywhere in the world. Our visit to Peace Players International really affected me; to see the similarities between Palestine and Cyprus, and to explore how Peace Players dedicate years to deteriorate the perceived racial stereotypes in different countries was mind-blowing. Additionally, the extent of which our cultures in Cyprus resembled each other as two communities that had no integration for almost half-a-century was incredible. Despite the stigma attached to discussing politics with the ‘other’ community, we realized we shared the common thoughts and feelings regarding the unification of our island.
It was overall an exceptional experience I had in GW, I made a lot of good friends and would definitely recommend it to everyone!
Ozzy xx
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