<p>[Please Note: Not sure if this is the right forum]
I'm about to graduate from undergrad, having double majored in Economics and Government and double minored in International Relations and German Studies. Over the course of undergraduate, I became really interested in the Middle East and ultimately ended up taking five courses that cross-listed in my school's Near Eastern Studies Department. Needless to say, if I could re-do undergrad, I'd probably replace the German with Arabic. That said, I can't do that, but I really do see myself pursuing a State Department or NGO career focusing on the Middle East. </p>
<p>My Government advisor who taught a few of my Middle East courses didn't start Arabic until grad school, but he said that it was different when he did it since now post-9/11 it's become much more popular to learn Arabic and said I'd be behind. He suggested pursuing an easier/more specialized language in the region such as Persian, Kurdish, or Urdu. I still have a preference for Arabic, but his point is well taken. </p>
<p>I'm taking a gap year (ie. working at a think tank completely unrelated to the Mid East), then hope to do Peace Corps, which I was already nominated for, but then deferred so I could take this research opportunity. I heard Peace Corps doesn't usually send people to the Middle East (ie. Jordan or Morocco where they have programs) without prior Arabic knowledge, but this could be false. Maybe if I did summer intensive Arabic before I was sent off, the Peace Corps would be into that? Do you think it'd be worth e-mailing them? </p>
<p>After Peace Corps I do want to get a Masters, probably in International Policy Studies, but I'm mainly concerned about language studies since I do. </p>
<p>Any suggestions as to what to do? Thanks in advance!!</p>