Instead of choosing America, Australia, or Europe, some Vietnamese students are turning to Africa for their study abroad journey.
Nguyen Thi Quynh experiences camel riding at the pyramids - Photo: Provided by subject
Receiving a study abroad scholarship to Egypt to study from 2023 to the end of 2024, Nguyen Thi Quynh (Bac Ninh) - a former student of the Faculty of Arabic Language and Culture, University of Languages and International Studies (Vietnam National University, Hanoi) - said she chose this destination because she wanted to learn Arabic in a native environment.
More opportunities for cultural exchange
Upon arriving in the land of the Nile, besides being taught directly by native lecturers, Quynh also practiced using Arabic to communicate with local people.
In her class, there are many international students from the US, Turkey, Somalia, etc. Thanks to this, Quynh has more opportunities to interact and learn more about the cultures of many different countries.
Quynh said that during a class presentation, she brought an Ao Dai and a conical hat (nón lá) to introduce to her lecturer and international friends. That image attracted the attention of the whole class. The lecturer highly appreciated the presentation and expressed surprise when learning that the Vietnamese conical hat has many similarities with the headscarves that local women often wear.
Also in Egypt, the student from Bac Ninh had the opportunity to explore many famous places such as the pyramids, Siwa oasis, and the cities of Luxor or Aswan…
"When visiting the pyramids, I was surprised when I was constantly recognized by locals as a tourist and they proactively asked to take photos with me. Some people even hugged and kissed my cheeks to greet me, then posted those photos online," she recalled.
Nhat Linh (far left) and her friends at Saint Catherine Mountain - the highest in Egypt - Photo: Provided by subject
Meanwhile, Tran Thi Nhat Linh (Hanoi), a freshman at the University of Languages and International Studies (Vietnam National University, Hanoi), is one of eight students selected by the faculty to participate in the study program in Egypt. She was impressed by the openness of the Egyptian people.
Once, when Linh and her friends were renting scooters to go around the city, the group was confused because they did not know the registration procedure. Two locals proactively stepped in to help, rented the scooters for them, and patiently waited for nearly two hours for the group to finish returning the scooters.
Nhat Linh also chose to come to Egypt because she wanted to improve her language skills and understand more about the culture in this country. "I chose to come here to witness with my own eyes the symbols that I had previously only seen in movies or books," Linh shared.
From strange land to familiar land
In the first few days of arriving in a strange country, most international students face many surprises.
For Vu Thi Ngoc Diem (Nam Dinh), currently studying at Mohammed V University in Rabat (Morocco), the biggest barrier is the language.
Ngoc Diem (top row, fourth from the right) with the Vietnamese community in the Sahara Desert - Photo: Provided by subject
"When going to the market, people use the local dialect, while I am only proficient in standard Arabic. Therefore, I still cannot understand what the sellers are responding. Every time I buy things, I have to use body language to make them understand," Diem shared.
In Morocco, Diem says the cuisine has a unique flavor thanks to the intersection of Arabic, Mediterranean, and African cultures.
Among the dishes she has enjoyed, couscous is the one she remembers the most. This is a famous traditional Moroccan dish, prepared from soft steamed couscous, served with beef, lamb, or chicken along with many kinds of vegetables.
"Many people still think that African countries are underdeveloped. However, Morocco impresses with its modern high-speed rail system and interwoven architecture. Only when I directly set foot here did I realize that Africa has many things far different from what I imagined," Diem expressed.
What should you keep in mind when studying abroad in North Africa?
MA. Phan Thanh Huyen - Director of the Department of Arabic Studies, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Viet Nam National University Ho Chi Minh City - said that Egypt has long-standing strengths in Arabic language training, Middle Eastern studies, and Islamic history and culture. Every year, this country maintains several scholarships for Vietnamese students to learn Arabic.
Opportunities for educational cooperation are also expanding into the halal industry, agriculture, international relations, cultural preservation, and tourism.
Meanwhile, Morocco has an educational environment influenced by both Arabic and French. Vietnamese students can access scholarships at the undergraduate, master's, and doctoral levels, with many majors such as economics, management, law, architecture, pharmacy, engineering, and agriculture.
MA. Phan Thanh Huyen notes that students need to carefully check the actual language of instruction, the training program, dormitory conditions, living expenses, and the recognition of diplomas in Vietnam. The Arabic language used in daily life in Egypt and Morocco also differs significantly from the standard Arabic learned in schools.
According to her, learners also need to prepare to adapt to Islamic culture, laws, climate, cuisine, and local lifestyle. Choosing a major should be linked to a clear career orientation, especially in fields where there is a demand for human resources in the market.
Dang Linh – Trong Nhan
Source from Tuoitre.vn
