Tower-Summer 2019

4 TOWER | SUMMER 2019 Morocco by Way of Kutztown How exactly does a kid from Allentown, Pa., one day find himself living and volunteering across the ocean, in a foreign land, on a different continent? Ask De La Rosa, who holds a dual bachelor’s degree in political science and Spanish, and he will tell you that he made it to Morocco by way of Kutztown University, after a semester-long stop in our nation’s capital. “During my junior year, I found out about an internship opportunity with The Washington Center (TWC), based in Washington, D.C.,” said De La Rosa. “With the help and support of my academic advisor, Dr. Karen Rauch , and Spanish professor, Dr. Carolina Moctezuma , I applied.” D awn. Midday. Late afternoon. After sunset. And before midnight. The five daily calls to Muslim prayer were foreign to Peace Corps volunteer YormanDe La Rosa ’16 when he first arrived in Morocco. But now, he hardly seems to notice them. These days, the sounds that most readily come to his ears are the voices of some of the youngest members of the local community – middle and high school students who seek him at his post – the youth community center. There he teaches both English and Spanish, and periodically life skills, to the country’s Arabic speakers. De La Rosa, a never-before-world traveler, arrived in Morocco in September 2017. His home far away from home is the mountain village of Tameslouht, which is situated 30 minutes south of Marrakesh, the country’s fourth largest city and major economic center. Reflecting on his service, as part of the Peace Corps legacy, Yorman De La Rosa shares a small glimpse of the lasting difference that’s possible when volunteers go the distance. continued on top of next page… PEACE CORPS Yorman De La Rosa ‘16 with middle school children in Tameslouht, Morocco. BY MEGAN SCIARRINO