Youssef’s perspective on the GCC session based on the interview questions and my reflection on it: The most shocking thing I noticed about the way Youssef reflected on the GCC session is that he saw so much in common with the foreign students that I also find it very relatable. Having lived in Saudi Arabia, I’ve also been surrounded by people from many different nationalities and cultures, and it made me realize that, at the end of the day, we all share a lot in common. There are various individuals who might be of varying places or beliefs, yet share the same hobbies, emotions, and experiences. It was also really valuable to me that Youssef did not view Zoe, the foreign student, as a foreigner but as a classmate. It made me realize how much more connected we actually are as humans than we tend to think.I also found Youssef’s point about asking others about their hobbies really interesting. Personally, I am not really of a kind to initiate conversations with strangers since I usually fear that it may be awkward or that we may not have much in common. but since I heard of the way Youssef did it, I changed my mind. It is even possible that making a conversation more of a conversation about hobbies or common interests would feel much more natural and pleasant to both parties.

Mohamed’s perspective on the GCC session based on the interview questions and my reflection on it: This session, it appears(as stated by Youssef), was not entirely about stereotypes or cultural assumptions but about self-expression and the sharing of experiences in the ALTCV activity. I do like that, I think it was intended that everyone gain insight into themselves and how other people see them, not through labels or judgments, but more personally, and reflectively. I also found it particularly interesting how Mohamed thought that you should go and find out what is going to offend a person before you have a conversation with them of the opposing background. It is respectful and assists in making the conversation more natural and comfortable. The fact that he applied this when speaking with a trans person by learning and using their pronouns made me realize how important such awareness is. It reminded me that being respectful and curious about others’ values can make conversations more meaningful. Also, Youssef’s perspective about mentioning hobbies when talking to people from different backgrounds connects well with what Mohamed said about making conversations more comfortable and respectful. While Mohamed focused on understanding what might be offensive to the other person to avoid discomfort, Youssef emphasized making the conversation lighter by talking about things the other person enjoys, like their hobbies. Both perspectives complement each other, Mohamed’s approach helps create a respectful space, while Youssef’s approach helps make that space warm and engaging. Finally, I was truly inspired that Mohamed openly shared that he’s Muslim without any fear of judgment. His confidence made me think, why should we hide the things that define us? If someone can’t accept who we are, then maybe their opinion shouldn’t matter. It made me feel that I should be proud of my identity, beliefs, and everything that shaped who I am today.

Also another question I asked to Mohamed and Youssef was about Tourist Typology by Cohen, and they told me about the different types of tourists he discussed in his materials. It made me think about what type of traveler I am. I thought of myself as an Organized Mass Tourist because I normally travel with my family. But having heard from Mohamed and Youssef description of Organized Mass Tourist, that this kind of type is the one that seeks the familiar and is guided by a tour guide. I feel that this description does not really apply to me and my family. In the case when we visited Turkey and Greece, we did not really plan for it. We came in without having any idea of what to do and improvised things as they occurred. We wanted to experience the local culture, try authentic food, and interact with people, not just check off tourist spots. However, we still booked tour guides and spent most of our time in hotels, so this may technically classify as Organized Mass Tourist. 

To me, I believe that I am either an Individual Mass Tourist or an Explorer; yet, I would like to be more of an Explorer, a person who explores and wants to explore authenticity and discovery. I would love to have a trip to Vietnam and visit Ha Long bay and live as a local. I also always like to travel alone without guides since I believe that tours steal the true spirit of a given place. But I have no objection to sleeping in a hotel.

I also later presented my ALTCV to a Jordanian acquaintance of mine who I had known in a previous class and lived in the AUC dorms, and it became an unexpectedly worthwhile interaction. First, he was surprised that I had added my pad dispenser initiative at AUC to ALTCV since he assumed it was a weird thing to be mentioned there. However, after I told him how much effort, coordination, and emotional effort was devoted to making the project possible, he fully understood why I placed it there. He also saw that I had worked in Banque Misr for six months. His first response was, “That is a tough one”. I laughed, but when he explained how banks in Jordan are also difficult because of strict regulations and authoritative management, I realized how similar our work cultures actually are. He told me about his family members who are employed in Jordanian banks, how demanding the setting is, how many hours they have to work, and how employees should be pushed to the limit to achieve high goals. Hearing him made me understand how close our work-setting is in Egypt and Jordan.

He later said I was “lucky” to be Egyptian, explaining how hard it is for non-Egyptians to find internships here, since most companies prefer hiring locals. That comment made me feel grateful but also guilty, grateful for my opportunities, yet aware of how unfair things can be for others with the same qualifications. It was a real connection by the end. What began as me displaying to him my ALTCV turned into an honest discussion of work, privilege and mutual struggles, one that helped me remember how alike people can be, regardless of their background.

I want to give credit to two of my Colleagues, Mohamed and Youssef, for allowing me to interview them for this reflection. I also want to state that I used AI to fix my grammatical mistakes in this blog. https://tourismteacher.com/cohens-tourist-typology-types-of-tourists/#2-cohens-types-of-tourists