Political Science Student News|Political Science| Millikin University

Senior Alexandra Breske spent the Fall 2007 term in Washington, DC and, through American University’s Washington Semester program, interned with the Industrial College of the Armed Forces at the National Defense University at Fort McNair. For her supervisor, retired Army colonel Paul Severance, she researched legal references and associated official documents to determine national and homeland security responsibilities of US government agencies.

She also participated in ICAF classes and its Distinguished Lecturer program. In that program, she heard talks from journalist Bob Schieffer, Supreme Court Justice David Souter, and General James Conway, commandant of the Marine Corps.

Bandar Alnahdi, a Millikin University student from Saudi Arabia, is doing an internship in the county clerk's office this semester.

DECATUR - Bander Alnahdi yearns for one day at home with his in Al Khubar, Saudi Arabia, on the Persian Gulf of the Arabian Sea.

"But only one day," the 22-year-old Millikin University senior says emphatically. "I miss the sea. I lived next to it for 18 years."

He also said he misses his parents after a four-year separation that took a teenager from a hot, arid nation and plunked him down first in Wahpeton, N.D., and then in Decatur in search of a bachelor's degree in political science.

Alnahdi is serving a 200-hour internship this semester in Macon County Clerk Steve Bean's office. He is experiencing the nuts and bolts planning required for the April 5 general elections.

Bean said his staff is learning as much about Saudi Arabia as Alnahdi is learning about the United States.

"All he knew was five English words when he came to the United States," Bean said. "Now, he's writing a paper on why America is the greatest country in the world."

Alnahdi is printing mailing labels and ballots and generally helping prepare for the elections, said Betsy Barker, elections coordinator for the county clerk.

"He still has some problems alphabetizing things because in his country they read from right to left," Barker said. "But he's a great kid. We've enjoyed having him around."

The contrast between absolute monarchy in Saudi Arabia and U.S. democracy is never far from Alnahdi's mind.

"To get into political science in Saudi Arabia, I'd have to be from the royal family or the upper class, and I am neither," Alnahdi said during a recent interview in Bean's office. "I'm taking a big risk taking a political science major. My dad is on my side He has always supported me. But he told me it is not good. What can I do with it?"

His father, a physician, has reminded him he is getting an American view of politics, Alnahdi said.

"It's everything my government disagrees with," he said. "I want to get a master's degree in international relations. I may go to law school. I wish Saudi Arabia had more liberty and freedoms."

Alnahdi started his college training in banking and finance in his homeland before a friend who was attending North Dakota State College of Science in Wahpeton e-mailed him, urging him to come to the United States. He said his friend told him Wahpeton "looked exactly like New York City."

"When I go off the plane I said, 'Send me home. It's too cold,' " Alnahdi said. "I didn't talk to my friend for two weeks. I was mad at him."

After finishing an associate degree in pre-law at the college, Alnahdi said he got on the Internet looking for universities to complete his bachelor's degree.

"I could have gone to Miami or to Millikin," he said. "I thought Decatur was a big city, so I picked it. When I got into town and saw the factories, I said, 'Ayeee.' "

His ignorance of U.S. geography has worked to his advantage in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks that have caused many people to look with suspicion on visitors from the Middle East, Alnahdi said.

"I've always wanted a smaller town," he said. "People are so much friendlier, especially after 9/11."

Alnahdi said he hopes to do another internship in Washington, D.C., next fall and has received encouragement from the Saudi Arabian Embassy that it will try to find a placement for him in its operations. He said embassy personnel have told him he is one of fewer than 10 Saudi students studying political science in this country.

"It's because it was very difficult after 9/11. Most students came back to Saudi Arabia. They were afraid to stay here," he said.

People in his country recently got a taste of democracy when an election was held for local offices, Alnahdi said.

"It was not a fair election, but at least it was an election," Alnahdi said. "I'm like a lot of Saudi kids who want changes; we've had a glimpse of democracy."

Alnahdi said it is easier to talk about the few similarities between the United States and his country than to focus on the differences.

"We are human and have to eat food to survive and we go to the bathroom," he said. "Other than that, we are extremely different cultures. I had culture shock when I got here. Now, I've had to react with Americans 24/7, all the time. I feel proud I could do it. I never thought I could be two weeks away from my family. When I left, my dad told me my perspective on things will change. But I never got it until I'd spent a couple years in the United States."

Other similarities are places like McDonald's, Burger King and Sam's Club, which have outlets in Saudi Arabia. Alnahdi said. But the food served there, while it carries the same entree names, tastes different, he said.

"The last four years I've been surrounded by very nice people, very outgoing, true Americans," Alnahdi said. "They are not the kind of people Saudis see on TV shows. Now, going to Saudi Arabia will be a culture shock to me."

"My generation is Saudi Arabia's last hope. We will be the working class. I wish Saudi Arabians could come to other countries and see the bad and good things. They could leave the bad things and take the good things home with them."

Bandar Alnahdi, a Millikin University student from Saudi Arabia, sorts mail at the county clerk's office.