Anne

I was born in Washington D.C., raised in New York, and thanks to AUP, spent this last year in Beirut, Lebanon. I came to AUP because I wanted to study the Middle East outside of the US, in order to observe and learn from diverse discourses and approaches to the region, while also living within an international student body, where I’d have the chance to meet people from all over the world. I knew I’d be majoring in Middle East Pluralities, but I could have never guessed that this would lead to me spending a year in Lebanon, becoming an Arabic tutor, and being appointed president of Baytna à Vous, AUP’s organization that focuses on the Syrian refugee crisis.

I don’t think I could have found such amazing professors and such a unique student community at any other university. I remember one of my first French classes, where I met a girl from Libya, who would soon become my friend. I learned a great deal from her and it was fascinating to hear from someone my age who had lived through the Arab Spring and who had experienced a life that was so different from mine, even though we also had a lot in common.

AUP has deepened my awareness of the world and helped me broaden the scope of my historical understanding. Throughout my time here, I’ve been encouraged to travel to unfamiliar locations and make the most of Paris, an international city that is filled to the brim with an exciting mix of cultures and that has further enhanced my educational experience.