Land as Opportunity

Special Contributor(s): Razaan Abnowf

Death and taxes. There has to be another exception to uncertainty. Another certainty to rely on in the face of opposition. While planning for my semester abroad, I took into account all that could go wrong. Going through each and every obstacle to throw me off course, I searched for a constant to lean on for comfort. The biggest obstacle being the coronavirus pandemic. Reaching every inch of the world, it has affected every aspect of our lives and taken so much away from us. In my case, two of my opportunities to study abroad were canceled due to the pandemic prior to this current semester.

Understanding the volatile state of the pandemic, I had to accept that I could lose my opportunity to study abroad up until a month before my departure. In mid-December 2021, it was announced that Morocco’s borders would remain closed until at least February 2022, interfering with my program’s start date. Face to face with this obstacle, my only option was to remain flexible. As a result, a new opportunity emerged from my loss.

In order to wait for the borders to open, my affiliate program with ISA changed its starting location to Seville, Spain. For two weeks, I stayed in Spain visiting cultural sites, meeting locals and eating Spanish cuisine. In visiting the Alcázar Palace, the Cathedral of Seville, and the Roman Ruins at Las Setas, I came to understand the deep historical tie between Spain and Morocco. I viewed the cultural influence of the centuries long Moorish rule of Spain in architecture, art, and language. I was also able to utilize Spanish in my day to day dialogue and while I conversed with my host family.

In an otherwise unintended situation, I gained so much from my connection to Spain. My experience has helped to broaden my overall worldview, and for that I am immensely grateful. With that, I discovered a third exception to uncertainty: opportunity. Regardless of what I thought my semester would look like, I now know that I will always have an opportunity. An opportunity to learn and grow through my experiences, even if it was not intended.