15 April 2016
My dream came true—I am studying at Oxford Brookes University in the UK! I have repeated this to myself so many times since I arrived and I still don't believe it sometimes. The road to realising that dream has been a challenge, but I'd like to send a big thank you to MAP and the Asfari Foundation for this huge opportunity.
What I love most about the UK is the freedom of movement. In Palestine, when we plan to travel from one place to another we have to think about checkpoints and the security situation, which is very stressful. In the UK, I still feel stressed whenever I travel, but this manifests itself in odd ways. In the nights leading up to traveling, I cannot sleep and I have to assure myself that everything will be fine. This stress is clearly in my subconscious, and I can't let it go.
The day I left Palestine I was filled with confusion and mixed feelings. I had a lot of questions about how my life might change, and felt anxious. I kept asking myself “Am I really leaving Palestine to live in Oxford? Will I be the same person when I come back?”
By studying for my Masters I hoped to update my knowledge in paediatric physiotherapy and rehabilitation, and benefit from sharing experiences with other students. I have gained so much more than that. The course has given me a whole new way to seek knowledge, teaching me critical skills and the importance of evidence-based practice. This was initially quite difficult to grasp, as I used to take the information I learned without questioning its validity. When dealing with patient needs I would often apply information based on my own impressions, rather than critically analysing the evidence-base.
I now have a lot of ideas that I want to implement when I go back to my work in Palestine
We have an assignment for every module for which we have to choose the topic. I also found this challenging at first but as I have learned more about myself, I have discovered so many new subjects which interest me which I'd never really considered before. I now have a lot of ideas that I want to implement when I go back to my work in Palestine. This will take time, so I will need a good strategy to help people to come around to my new way of thinking and understanding.
The course keeps me really busy, but when I have free time I enjoy participating in the International English Club at the university. I have had the chance to meet many different people from varied backgrounds, which has enriched my understanding of the different cultures and beliefs of the many people from around the world attending Oxford Brookes with me. I've learned about traditions from different countries like Thanksgiving, Chinese New Year, and Guy Fawkes Night. I'm also glad to have had the opportunity to meet people from other Arab countries and to have discovered more about their perspectives on the world. I appreciate the similarities and differences between our peoples which I have learned about through our interactions.
Featured image: Manar visiting London