Yacout Info: Why did you decide to write about Moroccan-American cultural relations?
Yasmine Hasnaoui: Everything started when I was awarded the Fulbright scholarship in 2004 to teach Arabic and Arabic culture at Austin College, Texas. I spent one year in the United States and I represented my country as much as possible by taking part in cultural events, giving talks about Moroccan-American relations which have lasted for more than 200 years and how the two respective countries can work together to bring peace and understanding through education and community work.

This experience made a great impact on my life and I decided, back in Morocco, to work on promoting this dialogue of understanding between Morocco and the United States and counteract the negative stereotypes of Arabic–speaking people in much of the West’s news media. I undertook many initiatives by co-founding a Chapter of the American international organization “People to People International” whose goal is to reach out to Arab countries and the rest of the world. I also became a board member of the Moroccan-American Friendship Foundation located in Rabat whose goal is to promote friendship between Morocco and the United States through cultural, economic, and political events. Throughout my professional life as a teacher, I always encouraged my students to engage in intercultural activities through Pen-Pal exchange programs, trips overseas and presentations on the history and the people of other nations. This is of paramount importance to work on building bridges between the East and the West and correcting the many misconceptions that people have about the United States and its citizens. The safest and easiest way to do this is through cultural and educational events. Being part of all these activities and wonderful experiences inspired me to go on promoting and writing about Moroccan-American Cultural Relations.

Q: You give lectures about Arab culture in an American college. Are American students interested in the Arab world?
A: The Arabic language and culture has an important place in the American Academic system especially after 9/11. Many students want to learn the Arabic language because it is the language of Islam and most of them want to know about Islam and reach out to the Muslim world. At the beginning of this academic year I gave a questionnaire to my students asking them about their reasons for studying culture in the Middle East and North Africa and the Arabic language. Half of the students answered that they would like to be able to read the Koran and understand Arabs and their culture which would lead to an improved understanding of Arab Americans and other Muslims.

Q: As a Moroccan expatriate in the US, how do you find America and Americans?
A: It is and will always be a boost to be here in the United States. My experience here is very enriching and satisfying. I am in an Academic environment and my interaction with the American people is very special. Most of the people I know, friends and colleagues, want to know about the Arab world. I personally do not see America as one country, I prefer to think of it as many countries bound together with people learning from each other especially after the tragic events of 9/11.
It is my fifth month in America and it's an unprecedented experience to be in such rewarding academic field surrounded by wonderful people, teaching one of the oldest languages and spreading knowledge about the Middle East and its history and culture and explaining how Arabs contributed to the advancement of science, medicine, and philosophy.

Q: You are an active member of the Moroccan-American Friendship Foundation, what role does the organisation play in developing and maintaining this friendship?
A: The Moroccan-American Friendship Foundation is a new association which was created in March 2009. The members are a very dedicated group of Moroccan professionals and experts in different domains who have benefited from a State Department-funded exchange program in the U.S. (the Fulbright Program, or the International Visitor Leadership Program). Our goal is to promote friendship between Morocco and the United States through programs, be they cultural, political or economic. We hosted our first event with the Moroccan Diplomatic Club on Obama's first 100 days at office. This event gave a chance to Moroccan and American people to interact and discuss ways of fostering dialogue and enhancing this long standing relationship. It also gave young leaders who were present a chance to see world-class leaders working towards the achievement of an intellectual and cultural bridge between Morocco and the United States.
Our second event was mainly educational, we organized a trip to the Tangier American Legation Museum for the benefit of ACCESS students. I personally think that the Moroccan American Foundation, though it is a new association, has members who are very active working on promoting mutual understanding and believing in constant and regular dialogue between Morocco and the United States.

Q: In your opinion what can be done to further strengthen the Moroccan-American relations?
A: There are more than 20 Moroccan-American organizations in the United States and many American institutions in Morocco, all are working on strengthening the Moroccan-American relations through educational and cultural programs. These institutions and organizations should be assisted by the government in implementing programs that encourage mutual understanding and respect towards each other and the benefits of cultural diversity. In other words, an increased budget in the future must ensure sufficient funding for essential coordination and must guarantee regular financing for projects of these institutions and NGO's. In addition, the media should cover and encourage the initiatives taken by different actors which is unfortunately not the case at the moment. Moroccan American cultural relations need to be linked to communication and communication strategies. Exchange of information and international communication is necessary in order to sustain a dialogue between our two respective countries. More than that, both governments need to bring different partners to conclude agreements that focus on pilot projects in the cultural field.

Q: In 2007 you co-founded a chapter of the NGO “People to People International”, what are your past, present, and future projects with this organisation?
A: The PTPI Peace Makers Chapter was established in 2007. Its goal is to advance international understanding and friendship, tolerance and world peace through leadership community programs. Our major target is education. The members of the Chapter lead a variety of programs that focus on the neediest students living in rural areas by offering tutoring to students with difficulties at school, teaching the English language, organizing cultural events for the benefit of 500 students and most of all, doing our best for the students so that they do not drop out of school. We also hosted many seminars and workshops on the role of leadership and how to be a good community leader.
Last year, besides working with the same elementary school, we organized an orientation session in high schools informing the students about academic opportunities, scholarships, and grants. The co-founders of this organization Younes Tihm, Zouhair El Aouni, and myself are very blessed to co-found this chapter and very proud to take part in the National Initiative for Human Development (INDH) launched by the King Mohammed VI. The INDH has been mentioned in many of his speeches regarding a better future of our country. All Moroccans are encouraged to participate in its development through social work and that's what we are doing.

Q: What has been the most satisfying achievement during your career?
A: I would say my academic career has been a great achievement in my life because thanks to it, I am achieving my goals and I have travelled and met many people from different walks of life. Thanks to my academic career, I became aware of certain things that would lead to a better future.

Q: What are your future plans?
A: Inshallah, my goal is to return to Morocco when my contract comes to an end here at Amherst College and to complete a PhD in Intercultural Dialogue. Last but not least, I want to work hard for the betterment of my country be it in the political, cultural or educational field.