Examining the growth, incentives, and progress of overseas campuses of major American educational institutions is an important academic pursuit. To have a complete picture, one must also consider the impact these branch campuses are having on the lives of their students. The Northwestern University in Qatar's journalism program was invited to teach its curriculum, unalloyed, in a region that has had an alternative perception of the role of journalism in society. This essay offers personalized and informed reflection on these issues. Answers to the questions raised about overseas education become clearer when looking at the "classroom" and the associated symbolism.