Title: Bridging Capitals: Connecting Georgetown’s DC and Doha Campuses on My Spring Break Class Trip

Josh Ford (SFS’25) is a Georgetown Storyteller and a senior in the School of Foreign Service studying regional studies with a concentration in Asia. He is also pursuing minors in Chinese and art history. Originally from the United Kingdom, Georgetown’s emphasis on global perspectives both inside and outside the classroom made the Hilltop feel like a home away from home.

Spending my spring break in Doha was an experience unlike any other. As part of the Bridging Capitals experiential learning course, I had the incredible opportunity to visit Georgetown University in Qatar (GU-Q) for an immersive exchange, connecting with students through conversations about culture, politics, religion and history. Alongside a group of Hilltop Campus students, I traveled to Qatar with SFS Professor Emerita Elizabeth Hervey Stephen, eager to explore Doha’s dynamic academic and cultural landscape. Over the course of the week, we engaged in thought-provoking discussions, visited key institutions and built meaningful connections with our peers at GU-Q. 

From the moment we arrived at Hamad International Airport, the week unfolded as a whirlwind of cultural immersion, academic exchange and unexpected moments of connection. We began our trip at Georgetown University in Qatar (GU-Q), where we were welcomed with a tour of the campus and Education City, a hub of international universities in the heart of Doha.

Over lunch, we spoke with faculty and students, discovering the similarities between Georgetown’s two campuses. Later, at the Msheireb Museums, we traced Qatar’s transformation from a pearling village to a global metropolis, setting the stage for our understanding of the country’s history and identity.

Experiencing Doha during Ramadan added another layer of meaning to our time in the city. The days were marked by a quiet sense of reflection, while the evenings came alive with communal gatherings and a shared breaking of the fast. Restaurants remained closed during the day, and the pace of life felt slow and reflective. As the call to prayer echoed through the city at sunset, we joined our hosts in the tradition of iftar, where dates and water marked the end of the fast before meals were shared.

Our first evening, we had our first taste of a traditional Qatari iftar at Souq Al-Wakrah, a coastal market south of Doha. Seated on the floor, we passed around dishes of dates, soup and lamb, learning about Ramadan customs and the central role of hospitality in Qatari culture. 

The following days took us deeper into Doha’s intersections of politics, media and heritage. A visit to Al Jazeera’s headquarters gave us a behind-the-scenes look at one of the most influential news networks in the region, sparking discussions on media narratives and journalistic responsibility. At the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, we gained insight into Qatar’s diplomatic strategies and its role on the global stage. Wandering through Souq Waqif later that evening, we bartered for souvenirs, sipped Karak tea and watched the market come alive with the energy of vendors.

We also explored Qatar’s cultural landmarks, from the desert-rose-inspired National Museum to the Museum of Islamic Art, where intricate manuscripts and ceramics offer insight into the region’s artistic heritage. On our last night, we boarded a dhow, the traditional wooden boats that once dominated Gulf trade routes, and sailed along Doha’s illuminated skyline, reflecting on the conversations and perspectives that had shaped our trip.

Of course, no trip to Qatar would be complete without experiencing its desert landscape. A free morning gave us the chance to ride camels, sandboard down dunes and take in the vastness of the Inland Sea, where the desert meets the Gulf. 

By the end of the week, Doha felt less like an unfamiliar city and more like a place of connection — a space where culture, education and diplomacy converge. The friendships formed and conversations shared will stay with me long after my return to DC, a testament to the bridges we built between campuses.