1) Tell us a little bit about your story growing up and how living
abroad has influenced you.
I have been a little bit around the world. I am Lebanese, but I have
lived in Dubai most of my life, except for a year and half in New York
and a year and a half in Istanbul. To me, Dubai is one of the most
beautiful cities in the world, and I have come to consider it as much
my home as Lebanon. Although it is not a very historic city, it
literally has anything anyone could ask for: beautiful beaches, huge
malls, so much to do and so much to see, and you are always surrounded
by people from all over the world because most people living in Dubai
are expats.
Because Dubai it’s such a modern city and it’s so hot outside, I never
used to walk to go wherever I was going. There was nothing to see
outside except concrete buildings, highways, or identical residential
areas. When I got to NU, I just loved the fact of being able to walk
around and to enjoy the beauty of the campus. There are so many trees
and beautiful areas, I still haven’t gotten used to it! However, I
still don’t really feel at home, there are so many students and so
many things going on that it is still hard for me to feel comfortable.
Add the workload and the quarter system, and it makes it even harder! 3) In the future, do you see yourself living in the US, or
returning back home?
Ultimately, I do see myself returning back home. But not for a while.
For now, I do think that I would want to work in cities like Chicago
or New York, if I get the chance to. I also want to study for my
masters in the US. At the end of the day, I do want to live and raise
my children in Dubai, I hope. 4) What is something you are particularly looking forward to in
spring quarter?
I am really looking forward to finishing my winter quarter classes. I
also can’t wait to be able to walk in nice weather, enjoy Chicago and
Evanston, and being so much closer to summer! I already miss home, my
family and friends, and I just want to go back! 5) Are you interested in football, and what do you think about SuperBowl?
I was never really interested in football, especially when I lived in
New York and everyone was talking about it, I never understood what
all the fuss was about. Back home, it’s all about “soccer”, football
is just very American. But I guess when you go to college and you have
a team, the games are so much fun and it gets really exciting! 6) What do you miss about home the most?
I actually miss every single bit of home, including my shower and my
bed !! It makes it really hard, to be so far away, especially that a
big majority of my closest friends go to school in Beirut and are
always together. My brother will be a freshman at Northwestern next
year, so I really hope it will be easier for me ! And certainly for
him.