Welcome back on The Real Razan Blog!!!

Today I will share with you my Soliya program experience.

Participating in the Soliya program was an eye-opening experience for me. This experience has enabled me to interact with students from different cultures and countries. I think it was an excellent opportunity to see the world from a different angle and to get to know about diverse perspectives, not necessarily similar to mine. 

Through the Soliya program, I was able to share information about Egyptian culture and gain insights from others’ experiences. The program had colleagues who come from various cultures and countries. During this experience, we exchanged our experiences and perspectives. It was truly exciting to hear individuals engage in discussions about their backgrounds and beliefs. This has allowed me to recognize our differences and our potential for connection. One activity that I truly liked was when we had to share two truths and one lie about ourselves. It made the discussion enjoyable and easygoing, allowing us to share laughter and learn personal details about one another. In fact, this activity has given me the chance to understand myself better. 

We also engaged in more profound discussions regarding issues such as ethics, faith, culture, and personal beliefs. At the beginning, I felt somewhat anxious about certain topics, particularly political themes. For example, what is happening in Palestine, which could be a sensitive matter, was one of the topics that I was initially reluctant to talk about . However, my group surprised me. All individuals were polite and considerate, and I felt secure in expressing my ideas. This helped me feel at ease, and by the end of the course, we all became more open to one another. One of my favorite aspects was the breakout rooms. There were only three individuals present at once, making the discussions more authentic and offered more opportunities to get to know colleagues better. We engaged in deeper conversations and delved into topics that are not usually discussed in larger groups. I felt that my thoughts were truly heard, and I equally ensured that I listened and focused on others when they talked. In these closer discussions, it has become clear that we are similar regardless of our race, religion, gener, or culture. We share similar dreams and human values. We might look different and we might come with relatively different experiences, but this does not prevent us from caring about the same things. 

This experience has also helped me connect with people on a much deeper level. I have always been surrounded by people from diverse cultures. I am originally  from Upper Egypt, was born in the U.S., lived in the UAE, and now living  in Cairo. However, Soliya has provided me with a genuine opportunity to engage with people  who are of similar  age and  from various countries.  That made it simpler to communicate genuinely and to also have more tolerance when people talk about issues that are not compatible with my beliefs. In conclusion, we felt comfortable  with one another and even exchanged our social media profiles. It was an enriching experience, and I gained a lot from it.

When we were asked to create questions for the activities during sessions, I made sure that  they were appropriate. I preferred not to make any assumptions about individuals or put them in an uncomfortable position. My goal was to allow everyone to answer in a way that they found comfortable. Several colleagues and myself were shy at first, but after a few sessions, everyone began to express themselves more freely. We laughed , shared stories , and learned more about one another. The breakout rooms were very beneficial as they allowed us to discuss in smaller groups and explore the topics more useful. 

I conducted interviews with three colleagues: two female students and one male. The three of them are in their twenties. Those students come from different majors: Finance, engineering, and computer science. The selection was mainly based on availability and  also on the willingness of those colleagues to participate in the interviews. 

In preparation for the interviews, I came up with a list of questions in collaboration with my colleagues. We were interested in understanding the nature of communication and how people are engaged in conversations. That is why the interview questions focused on the difference between dialogues and debates. In addition, We were interested in understanding the roles played by different speakers in making the dialogue more productive. 

In their responses to the question about the nature of dialogues, It was interesting to see the way colleagues look at dialogues. They think of dialogues as a way to understand each other in a civilized manner. For example, student # 1 indicated that “ dialogue is an open and respectful exchange of ideas”. Another student indicated that dialogues could be described as exploratory since speakers involved in the conversation are interested in establishing connections and understanding each other. They also indicated that dialogues are not competitive and the main objective here is not to win an argument, but to reach mutual understanding. A third area that was stated by one of the students is the fact that dialogues “encourage curiosity, empathy, and shared learning.” These qualities are important for establishing connections between those involved in dialogues. 

Another issue in the interview focused on the role in dialogues. A number of roles  mentioned by my colleagues including: 

• Active listening 
• Speaking honestly 
• Creating space where other people feel safe and comfortable
• Asking thoughtful questions
• Being open-minded
• Building respectful and inclusive environment 
• Providing evidence for ideas discussed
• Showing empathy 
• Encouraging others to express themselves

These are very important skills for productive communications that could be relevant in any context. These skills are also important in cross-cultural communication since they can help people feel comfortable and safe. They can also encourage people to speak freely without any fear of criticism or attack. 

Overall, I think this was a great experience since it has given me the chance to engage in conversations with people who have different views about life and who come from different backgrounds. In spite of our differences, it has become clear to me that it is all about understanding, respect, and empathy. I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who made this experience possible  for me and for my colleagues. 

See you next time and always be real