As an undergraduate International Studies student at American University in Washington, DC, Catherine Litten decided to study abroad in order to gain more knowledge about different cultures. Understanding the global significance of the Middle East, Catherine chose to study there to explore the region's cultural complexities and to become a “citizen diplomat” upon her return. In her own words, “to understand and learn firsthand about a region of the world that is incredibly deep and multifaceted and to break down assumptions in both American and Middle Eastern/North African cultures really motivated me to study in the region.” After beginning her semester in Egypt during the spring of 2011, Catherine relocated to AMIDEAST’s Area & Arabic Language Studies program in Rabat, Morocco due to the Egyptian revolution.

Even though Catherine did not expect to spend her semester in Morocco, she approached her time in Rabat with a sense of wonder and open-mindedness. She particularly enjoyed her Moroccan host family experience and the program-organized excursions to Marrakesh, Fez, and Tangier. Her Area Studies courses encouraged her to dig deeper into Moroccan culture and her interest in the Middle East and North Africa continued to develop. After her return to the U.S., Catherine reflected that her participation in the AMIDEAST program helped her to develop into a more self-motivated and self-sufficient person. In addition, the experience solidified Catherine’s resolve to live and work in the Middle East and her interest in international education.

Catherine graduated in December of 2011 and remained in Washington, DC for the following spring, during which she interned with the AMIDEAST Education Abroad office and made plans to go back to the Middle East. Following her internship, Catherine returned to Egypt to complete a Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) tutor training program. Currently, she works as a grade 6 teacher in a school in Cairo that follows an American curriculum. She also works with a citizen journalism program on the side. Catherine plans to stay in the region indefinitely.