What inspired you to travel abroad?
Well, the first inspiration was to travel and learn more about the world outside of my own on a personal level. Honestly before I left the U.S. to study abroad I had never left my home country. I got a passport for this study abroad experience.
The push to actually study abroad was my realization that my field of study, Public Health, has significantly wider perspectives through a global lens. I believed (and still believe) that studying Public Health outside of the U.S. provided me the opportunity to focus on the issues that are not only unique to the Western world.
Why did you choose the American University of Beirut?
I chose the American University of Beirut (AUB) and the Master of Public Health (MPH) program for several reasons. A simple logistic reason is that the program is taught in English. A second reason is that the MPH program at AUB is accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH). A third reason is that I knew living and studying in Beirut would be a completely new, different, and challenging experience. I was not wrong, my experience was all of those things.
What was your favorite part about Lebanon?
This is a difficult question! I love so many things about Lebanon and Beirut. I love the warmth of the people, the beauty of the country, the food (Manouche!), the music, the character; I could not pick one favorite. I think if FORCED to pick a favorite, I would choose food.
Even though I met so many wonderful and amazing people, I did also struggle with the way women, and especially western women, are treated. We get stared at quite a bit. So let’s focus on food favorites, everyone will tell you to go to Barbar. You should go.
Get juice from random juice stands all over the city. The hummus is the best I have ever had. You will learn that you should dip french fries in hummus. It is amazing. I learned about halloumi (which is the most magical cheese) and labneh (which goes on everything).
What made your experience abroad extraordinary?
What made my experience extraordinary were both the students and faculty at AUB. The students were very welcoming to me and other international students. Another element that made my experience extraordinary was watching the ability of the people of Beirut, and Lebanon as a whole, to move forward with their lives amidst a significant amount of turmoil.
The Lebanese have experienced war, trauma, and still experience challenges I did not fully understand until I lived there. Witnessing the Lebanese get up and go to work, school, and take care of their families following experiences like a loss of government or a car bombing was shocking and inspiring.
AUB Building
How did the local program staff support you throughout your program?
I did feel supported while I was at AUB. The Office of International Programs provided mentors and resources to help international students navigate the transition. I distinctly remember the step-by-step instructions on getting my student visa in Lebanon.
I can easily say getting my visa would have been a particularly challenging experience without the help of the Office of International Programs(OIP). Even with all of the support from OIP, the process for getting a visa took several days, trips to various parts of the city, and waiting in long lines in Lebanese government buildings with men sitting around chain smoking and rubber stamping in giant books. But it can be done!
What's one thing you wish you would have done differently during your time abroad?
I do wish that I had spent more time traveling around Lebanon outside of Beirut. However, I do not regret how I spent my time while at AUB. I was there distinctly to gain knowledge in a new field and expand my perspective on life outside of the global north.
I am glad I was able to spend so much time with my fellow students while also engaging in school. My graduate program population had a majority of Lebanese students, so I did not feel like I was in a bubble of expats. One special thing for me, is that originally I was not planning to stay in Beirut for graduation.
I was packing and planning for my trip back to the U.S. When I mentioned this to several of my fellow students they were disappointed that I was not planning to stay. So I made some changes and ended up staying.
I am so very glad that I did. It was a wonderful day, the graduation platform overlooked the Mediterranean. Everyone was excited. They even live-streamed the event (which was not as common in 2014), and my parents were able to watch from back home.
Describe what a typical day in your life abroad looked like.
A typical day included leaving my apartment and heading to the AUB campus. I spent most days in class. I would head back to my apartment for lunch and then back to campus for more classes. I would spend the evenings studying either at home, at campus, or at a coffee shop with other students.
When I arrived in Beirut, I had already been living abroad for 8 months. I had been traveling and experiencing a variety of places. So I would say my transition to life in Beirut was in some ways easier because I had been living outside of what I would consider “known” for several months.
The international student community was really a great part of feeling at home in Beirut. As an international student you can rely on other international students to: first, understand how you feel, and second, generally want to share in exploring this place as well.
AUB Campus
What did you enjoy doing in your free time abroad?
Most of my free time would be spent walking around the city and eating delicious Lebanese food. I also enjoyed a fabulous trip to Egypt with friends I made through AUB. So in any county or city I visit, hands down my favorite thing to do is wander. Beirut was a great place to wander.
The city is both beautiful and sad. There are amazing examples of red-roofed old Beirut buildings with gorgeous three arched windows. At the same time there are numerous buildings that are crumbling with bullet holes and evidence of war. I wandered mostly in Hamra, Ras Beirut, and Achrafieh.
What type of accommodation did you have? What did you like best about it?
I lived in three different apartments while in Beirut. Two were within walking distance of the Hamra neighborhood. The third apartment was in Hamra and very close to AUB’s campus. Living off campus was great and I think it helped me better understand what it was like to actually live in Beirut.
The best example I can give regarding how I better understood life in Beirut is rolling blackouts. Everyday for three hours a day the power grid shuts down and there is no electricity during that time. This works on a rolling schedule so everyday the three hours are at a different time. Some places have generators, like the University, but if you live off campus then you have to plan accordingly.
This means you do not go grocery shopping when the elevator is out in your building and you live on the 6th floor. It also means you don’t want to be trying to send important emails for a deadline at that time.
What is one thing every future participant should know about AUB before their program begins?
As an American who studied as a graduate student at AUB, I think it is important for others to know that this experience has the potential to push you out of your comfort zone. You should feel ready to not always know the right answer or why something is happening.
Beirut works differently than any city I had lived in before and that is why I chose it. Additionally a student considering studying in Beirut should be prepared to take extra precautions. There can be real conflicts within the city and you should be thoughtful about where you go, when you go, and whether you are alone. This is a reality.
Would you recommend the American University of Beirut to others? Why?
I would recommend AUB and especially the Faculty of Health Sciences (FHS). The faculty were truly amazing, knowledgeable, and supportive. The FHS faculty also pushed me to learn and understand Public Health and potential approaches from a new perspective and that is why I was there.
Sawsan Abdulrahim was a standout professor and advisor during my studies along with many others. The faculty were wonderful as educators, but they were also wonderful resources for adapting to living in Beirut. They gave advice, shared recommendations on places to visit, shared food, and their experiences with Lebanon as whole.
Many if not all professors had lived away from Lebanon and completed parts of their studies in other countries. So they were very candid about how their experiences influenced their perspective on contemporary Lebanon.
Hamra sunset
What do you feel the biggest benefit of traveling abroad is?
The biggest benefit in traveling abroad in my experience is learning about all the different ways people live. There is no one right way to be and there are so many beautiful and different ways people live.
Traveling also taught me that I will always continue to want to travel and experience new places. I also found that after having lived for more than two years outside of my native country, that I knew I wanted to go back to the U.S. I wanted to take what I had learned and apply it back home.
Now that you're home, how has your time abroad impacted your life?
My time abroad notably impacted my life in that I obtained a master’s degree and that has led to a career. More personally, I also made friends who shared that time in Beirut with me and are still in my life.
I would also say truly that my perspective has absolutely been altered. I have an understanding and appreciation for people and experiences that are different from me and my experiences in a way that did not exist before I went abroad. During my time studying at AUB I was able to travel to Turkey, Jordan, and Egypt.
I think of how prior to my time in Lebanon, I most certainly did not understand the expanse of the differences between countries labeled within “The Middle East”. However they are all vastly different and unique.
What does meaningful travel mean to you?
Meaningful travel means to me that you go somewhere and actually experience life in that place. You talk with the people, you eat the food, smell the smells, and welcome the unique elements of that place. A lot of the moments I find most meaningful are the surprises, both pleasant and challenging.
Those moments are why Beirut was a perfect place to study abroad for me. Though there are plenty of “must see” places in Lebanon, there are so many places that you would never be told about, but that you should experience. An experience as simple as a sunrise walk on the Corniche.
Did your program provide specific pre-departure Covid support? If yes, tell us what kind of support you received.
Covid had not occured while I was traveling. However, the University had the following in place for Fall 2021. The target has been set to over 95% of the community vaccinated before October 1st. As of October 12, over 97% of the community has been vaccinated. Students, faculty, and staff have been sending their vaccination certificates to the Vaccination Working Group.
Those who have medical conditions that prevent them from getting the vaccines will have to submit a request for a medical exemption to the Vaccination Working Group, which will be reviewed by physicians from the University Health Services for approval. Students who refuse to be vaccinated will be denied access to campus, which will have implications on their ability to continue with their studies at AUB.
For more details, check the students’ FAQs. Faculty and staff who refuse to be vaccinated will be denied access to campus, which will have implications on their ability to maintain their employment at AUB. The mask mandate will remain in effect in classrooms at all times to keep everyone safe.
