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I came to AUP to study art history, and it had to have been
about the best place in the world to see and learn about
European art. All the faculty were top notch. We went on
great art history study tours, with the bonus of being able to
sample many regional cuisines. Those of us who studied art
history at AUP probably have a superiority complex. We know
that we got the real experience. I do try to impress upon my
own students that plates, slides, and digital images (yuck!)
are pale shadows of the work of art.
For my internship while at AUP, I worked on a beautiful
illustrated mediaeval manuscript at the Musée de Cluny and
did some research at the Ecole des Ponts et Chaussées for
Dr. Charlotte Lacaze. I went on to get a doctorate in Indian
Art History at UC Berkeley. Since then I’ve taught at
various places, including Abu Dhabi and Manama. I’ve
published a book and a few articles. I’m still looking for
the perfect job, though.
I’ve travelled quite a bit in Europe, but in recent years I
keep returning to South Asia and the Gulf countries. I lived
for a year in Bangladesh and for several years in India.
Pakistan is a fascinating place full of friendly,
hard-working people. Too bad it gets such bad press these
days! I’m a US citizen, speak French (probably rusty by
now), Hindi/Urdu, and a smattering of Bengali.
The AUP Classroom Experience? Small class size, lots of
interaction with faculty who had high expectations of us. We
students were competitive, too, which helped in the learning
experience.
How has my experience at AUP changed how I see the world? It
might be painful sometimes to live outside your comfort
zone, but it’s the only way you grow. AUP is an experiment
in international learning, very different from the
proliferating semester abroad programs offered by American
universities these days. It’s a chance for students to learn
about a foreign culture in the most meaningful way—by
joining it. When they first arrive, they cling to each other
but slowly they grow (linguistically, cognitively, and
emotionally) into their new environment, making it their
own. I’m sure that AUP alumni retain that broader vision of
the world for the rest of their lives.
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