Life in Post-Revolutionary Tunisia

By Emily Parker (’09 Alexandria, Egypt and ’11 Tunis, Tunisia)

Emily Parker

A year ago, the idea that I might live and work in post-revolutionary Tunisia never would have crossed my mind, yet it has been my reality for the past five months, beginning with my experience in the CLS Program this past summer.

I first arrived in Tunisia knowing very little about the country and with no knowledge of the Tunisian dialect except what I learned from the basic tutorial from my CLS academic director. 

After two months of intensive language training in both the classical and Tunisian dialects of Arabic and living in a homestay with a Tunisian host mother, I was amazed at how far my language skills had progressed. I jumped from knowing no Tunisian Arabic to the Advanced Low level, and from an Advanced Low level of Classical Arabic, I jumped to a level of Superior.

In addition to intensive language study, CLS provided opportunities to learn about the culture and explore the country. I learned a tremendous amount about Tunisian culture and its variance from region to region.  Travelling throughout the country and witnessing its various natural resources, products, and ways of life, provided me with invaluable insights that no textbook could ever offer. 

Moreover, being in Tunisia during such a pivotal moment in the country’s history also taught me much about Tunisia’s political process and how it is changing.  It also sparked my interest to become involved in election monitoring and other democratic processes.

Emily and fellow CLS participants

But most of all, my CLS experience allowed me to develop an intense appreciation for the Tunisian people.  Never in my life have I met a more inspiring and welcoming culture, which was a main factor fueling my decision to remain in the country after the CLS program ended. I could not bear to leave such a fascinating place, especially one in which I felt so welcomed and at home.

Shortly after the CLS program concluded, I found a job with an independent Tunisian news agency called Tunisia Live, where I worked as a journalist and an editor.  From the very first day with Tunisia Live, my CLS experience proved extremely beneficial.  I came in to the position with a solid knowledge of Tunisian politics and culture from the various articles that I had read in my Tunisian politics and revolution classes, as well as from the discussions that they had raised throughout my CLS experience.

Moreover, the interviewing skills that I cultivated in Arabic from the weekly language activities required during my CLS experience ended up proving invaluable to me as I worked with Tunisian co-workers at Tunisia Live to interview both local Tunisians and famous political figures in the investigative reporting pieces that I worked on.

Finally, while working at Tunisia Live, the high level of Arabic comprehension that CLS allowed me to reach proved invaluable whenever I needed to translate news articles or to understand news reports or press conferences conducted entirely in Arabic.  I received journalist accreditation in order to cover the events of the October elections, and I will never forget when, after carrying out a conversation with me in Arabic, the Tunisian passing out accreditation badges handed me a “Tunisian journalist” badge – but handed “foreign journalist” badges to my Tunisia Live co-workers who do not speak Arabic.  The idea that she thought that I was Tunisian thrilled me to no end.

Tunis Graffiti

Throughout my experience working as a journalist in Tunisia, I was constantly impressed with how much Tunisian and Classical Arabic I was able to understand and produce, which is testament both to the training that I received from CLS, as well as the motivation that the program inspired in me to further develop these linguistic skills through independent study.

Moreover, from my work with Tunisia Live and from my day-to-day experiences with local Tunisians, I have learned the power that speaking the local language can afford, the doors that it can open, and the respect that it demonstrates to locals.  The delighted responses from Tunisians whenever I addressed them in their own language is motivation in itself for me to continue my Arabic study on my own, and I know that it will be a lifelong project.  Similarly, I know that my passion for all things Tunisian – ignited by CLS this summer – will also not die away; only a few weeks have passed since I returned to the U.S. for the holiday break, however, I already have my mind made up that I will be returning to Tunisia in January.