Ezaldeen's Semester Abroad: Challenges and Silver Linings

COVID-19 has been extremely disruptive for study abroad students. Computer engineering major Ezaldeen Arafat knows this all too well - he departed to Louisiana State University this semester and has been unable to return to the UAE because the university shut down relatively late. The pandemic has been challenging for Ezaldeen in many ways, but it hasn't been all bad - due to the situation, he was able to grow closer to his extended family in the USA.

Ezaldeen and a friend at the New Orleans ferry

Ezaldeen's experience with the pandemic in Louisiana sounds very similar to the experiences of our study abroad students here at AUS: "When the university shut down, I was spending time with my friends before they left. Since they all live in countries where they hold citizenship, they were able to travel home (most of them were exchange students). Restaurants are still open for takeout, so you can get food but you can’t eat there. So we would get food and eat at somebody’s place, but around 95% of my friends have left to their home countries, so I was running out of things to do."

Despite this, he says he's coping pretty well with the situation. "I try to focus on my online courses and I know that I would be in quarantine even if I did make it back to the UAE, so for now, the only option for me is to wait things out anyway, no matter where I stay."

Staying in the USA during this pandemic was not Ezaldeen's choice to make: "My university shut down pretty late in response to COVID-19, and as I was making plans to go back to the UAE, the country closed its borders to everyone who wants to enter the country except their citizens.

"I stayed for a couple of weeks in Louisiana when the university shut down, but my uncle, whom I’ve met only once before, offered to let me move in with him and his family in North Carolina as I wait to be able to return to the UAE. Even though I still had some people that I could see in Louisiana, things were getting pretty dull, so I booked a one-way ticket to North Carolina and am currently living with my uncle."

Ezaldeen has observed how the pandemic has transformed Louisiana and North Carolina - which hasn't been all too different from how it has affected the UAE: "Louisiana was absolutely empty in terms of pedestrians. The number of cars you would see on the street didn’t really change, except for drive-throughs, which were always packed. The situation is the same in North Carolina."

Needless to say, the COVID-19 outbreak has heavily affected Ezaldeen's study abroad experience. "I realized that even if I decided to stay at the university, my study abroad experience had ended anyway since the university had shut down and I would have to quarantine myself for the remainder of my stay in the USA," he said. "At this point, it really didn’t matter where I stayed; I just wanted to stay with people whom I could rely on while I go through this pandemic. That's why I chose to move in with my uncle."

The transition to online courses has been pretty rough on Ezaldeen, but the fact that study abroad grades (that are passing) don't affect AUS students' GPA is a safety net. "I basically have no motivation to work when I stay at home 24/7 - kind of ironic since I basically have all the time in the world - but my courses are pretty easy. I’m also only taking four courses and a lab, because I planned this trip to have a very low amount of work compared to a regular semester at AUS. The easy courses mean that I have to work minimally to pass since I only need a C, but my grades have definitely dropped. I used to average A/A- on my exams, whereas I am now averaging C/D on the online exams I am taking. Since I did well in the beginning of the semester, I’m hoping that these grades average out to a passing grade."

Unsurprisingly, Ezaldeen's experience with the pandemic has been mostly negative, but he sees a bright side to the situation: "I got to form a relationship with a side of my family that I never thought I would see before. I also got to explore North Carolina’s capital, Raleigh, by car, which is indeed a very beautiful city."

Finally, he would like to leave everyone with this message: "I hope that everyone really is safe and that everyone spends their time in quarantine where they belong - with their close family. Unfortunately, I don’t get that privilege. Even though this is a really tough time, we do learn to appreciate even the smallest things that we have in our regular everyday lives. And even if somebody’s pandemic experience is extremely negative, just know that we become better people through our struggles and that the outcome will be a new and stronger you!"


Suzana Saoud
IXO Publicity Specialist

Studying Abroad in the Era of COVID-19

Noah Franco

'Era' might be a bit dramatic, but it has certainly felt that way. The COVID-19 pandemic has thrown a wrench into many of our plans. This is especially true for students, many of whom are scrambling to figure out arrangements regarding online courses, internships, and graduation ceremonies. International and study abroad students have the added stress of deciding whether to stay put or return home and arrange to travel, which has become increasingly difficult. Noah Franco is an AUS design management student abroad at Arkansas State University who decided to remain in the United States. He shared with us how this pandemic has affected him as a study abroad student.

Much like most of us, Noah has been staying indoors lately. "I've been spending most of my time in my room working on assignments or watching lectures, watching Netflix, gaming with my friends back in Dubai, and scrolling endlessly through social media," he said. "Since I'm more of an introvert, I don't mind spending all this time indoors. However, I miss routine university life: walking to class, going to the gym and playing football, and so on."

At the time of my interview with Noah, Arkansas had 1,498 confirmed cases of COVID-19. The state is around 7,800 miles away from the UAE, but the effects the virus is having in both places are very similar: "I live on campus and the atmosphere here has drastically changed in the last month. Most of the students and staff have moved back into their homes and only a few people are left on campus. Off-campus, the streets are not as lively as they used to be as all restaurants are now takeaway only, and many other businesses are closed."

(Don't worry, this photo was taken before social distancing was imposed.)

Despite the shared experience we are all having living through this pandemic, it is undeniable that some of us are harder-hit due to a variety of reasons. For one, study abroad students have been put in unique situations due to COVID-19, such as "travel restrictions on going back home and having to take online classes at odd hours of the day (for the students that returned home early)," according to Noah.

Much like AUS, Arkansas State University decided to conduct classes remotely for the remainder of the spring semester. "Since I was already taking a few online classes this semester, adjusting to all online classes wasn't too hard," Noah said. "Except for when I procrastinate and have to end up watching multiple recorded lectures at the end of the week," he added.

At the Centennial Bank Stadium at Arkansas State University

As difficult as this situation is, most struggles do have a silver lining. "I think the world now understands the gravity of the situation and I think global crisis management and healthcare will improve for the better," Noah said.

Noah also has a message for everyone during these times, which IXO fully endorses: "I hope you and your family are doing well. Stay indoors and stay safe. Hang in there everyone!"

Suzana Saoud

IXO Publicity Specialist

Sawi's Superb Spanish Internship

Ahmed "Sawi" Eladl in Spain

We often share stories about study abroad on this blog, but there's another type of international experience that is equally valuable and exciting, if in a different way: international internships! Ahmed "Sawi" Eladl, an AUS chemical engineering alum and our former Peer Advisor, is one student who took advantage of this opportunity. He was a Global Intern at a startup at the Polytechnic University of Valencia, Spain, in 2018, and the experience honed his professional and personal skills and helped him learn a new language.

At the startup, Sawi assisted in trying to develop an innovative, sustainable concrete tile that can be heated with microwaves. "This is intended to replace the current heating system of using electric heaters in Spain's households and reduce CO2 emissions by 70%," he said.

Sawi's internship abroad allowed him to make connections and do work relevant to his major. "Being exposed to the startup scene in Valencia introduced me to pure multidisciplinary engineering for the first time, pushed me to think critically and outside the box, and helped me expand my professional network. I also developed my fabrication and product development skills as I was mainly involved in the development and testing phase of the tiles."

"Additionally, my interpersonal and communication skills were sharpened through working abroad in a multicultural team for almost two months," he said. "I also got to take Spanish classes and fell in love with the language."

The cherry on top was the place in which he got to do the internship. "Spain was an amazing country to live in, with beautiful beaches, great music, and bubbly people who appreciate life and live it to the fullest. I honestly think of it as the perfect retirement destination. I am definitely going back someday as the country has so much to offer."

Sawi had numerous international experiences prior to this. His study abroad at the University of Texas at Austin, Texas, USA, in 2017, was especially important in preparing him for this internship abroad: "That was the first step I took outside my comfort zone. Before studying abroad, I could never have imagined taking such a step of interning abroad without the safety net of a university community of students. My study abroad is also what developed the travel bug that pushed me to look for an internship abroad in the first place."

If you are an AUS student interested in doing an internship abroad, check out our website to see some options and for more information.

Suzana Saoud
IXO Publicity Specialist

The Bali Effect

Fatme Faour is an AUS marketing student who went on the one-week AICHE Study Tour to Indonesia in January 2020. She shares her experience in this blog post.

Fatme Faour in Indonesia

Bali, my dream getaway that turned into a reality. Not only was it my first time traveling alone but it was also the most amazing experience of my life. One of the few things that made it so memorable were the people that were there and how well we all got along together. Even though the only person I knew on the trip was my sister, all the students on the trip made me forget that. Every day was a day that I’ll never forget.

The study tour group

During the tour, we made academic outings to Unilever, the University of Indonesia, and a chocolate factory. All of these spots were highly insightful. The people at Unilever shed light on their supply chain, how they treat their employees and customers, and so on. Then, at the university, we got to see the beautiful campus, its facilities, and the exchange programs offered there. We also got to know the kindest students and their faculty. Moreover, the chocolate factory was both educational as well as entertaining, since they had us make and decorate our very own bars of chocolate.

Now, even though the trip and its locations were quite educational, we also had the chance to partake in various thrilling and adrenaline-pumping activities - which, in my opinion, are the best kinds of activities to have, particularly when going out with a group of people. Most of these activities were on my bucket list, such as holding a snake, going rafting, doing an ATV bike ride, visiting a monkey forest, going on the Bali swing, riding elephants and so on. My personal favorites were definitely rafting and the ATV bike rides because I got to enjoy them with such a fun group of people.

I would most definitely recommend study tours to anyone who is able to travel abroad. It is unquestionably the experience of a lifetime; at least it was for me. When I look back at my time in Indonesia and Bali, the idea that I was a part of that still seems so crazy to me - especially since my decision to end up going was not only last minute, but also pure coincidence!

Yara Al-Jitan's Unique Semester Abroad at Colchester, England

Yara Al-Jitan

When Yara Al-Jitan landed in Colchester, England, for her Fall 2019 study abroad at the University of Essex, it wasn't quite what she expected. Colchester was extremely different from the UAE; it's a small, quaint town populated with tiny houses and no buildings. But Yara soon began to realize that she didn't need to be in a bustling city to have a great study abroad experience.

Yara, an international relations major, had her concerns before she left for her study abroad: "I was so scared, because I knew I’d have to leave my family and my friends and be on my own. It was [also] kind of exciting, but honestly, the thought of being away from my little brother for so long - super scary! So I just tried to block that thought out, and it worked! I think I’d give that piece of advice: don’t think about it too much."

She also had some expectations for her semester abroad. Yara says she had an image of study abroad from movies, websites and pictures - that it would be fast-paced and chock-full of experiencing new things and going to glamorous places.

However, Colchester was a different type of study abroad destination. "I feel like it was good because I slowly started to realize that I don’t have to do that to have a good study abroad experience. There's so much more I could do. So I used that time to just sit down and reflect on my own, and as surprising as it sounds, I reconnected with my religion, my people, and myself. I think I’ve also become a lot more independent. I grew a lot, I’ve learned so much, and I’m just able to handle myself no matter what's thrown at me."

The University of Essex also has a lot of historic and cultural importance, which made it fascinating to the international relations major. "The university was a space for minorities to speak up. Nelson Mandela once visited there. It was really nice to be there, because you can feel how politically active everyone is," she said. "I was able to open dialogues and talk openly and constructively about issues that are very important to me as an international relations major. It helped me understand what I want to do and where I want to go in the future."

Yara concludes that the best part of her experience was the personal growth she experienced. To any prospective study abroad students, she says, "Just go on your own terms, have no expectations, and make of it everything you can. It doesn't have to be what other people say it has to be."


Suzana Saoud
IXO Publicity Specialist

Shahid Shamshu, Graduate Student at Texas A&M University and Former IXO Peer Advisor

Shahid Shamshu

Shahid Shamshu is our former Peer Advisor who graduated from AUS in Spring 2014 with a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering. Since then, he has become a graduate student at Texas A&M University, TX, USA. According to Shahid, his Fall 2012 study abroad has helped him in his graduate school application, in professional settings, and in his personal life.

Shahid studied abroad at North Carolina State University, NC, USA, and this experience helped him develop mentally and personally: “Having grown up in the Middle East and not really travelled much earlier, my study abroad experience left a huge impact on my personal life. It was a major step outside my comfort zone and exposed me to people from different cultures. This really helped me explore my independence, develop a broader mindset and increase my confidence."

His study abroad has also helped him in interviews. "Having a study abroad experience on my LinkedIn/résumé has always been a great conversation starter in a lot of professional settings like interviews or networking events," he said. "People are always interested in learning more about your study abroad experience."

Additionally, Shahid gained professional skills from his study abroad. "I think some of the skills that my employer values that I’ve gained from my study abroad experience would be the ability to work well in a team setting with different people from different backgrounds."

Another pro of his study abroad was having it on his résumé when he applied for graduate school: "I do believe it gave my graduate school application a push towards the right direction and it definitely took up a good chunk of my statement of purpose in the application."

"I think the biggest and most significant gain [from my study abroad] would be the exposure to different people and cultures, which in turn makes a person more open-minded," he said. "Additionally, it is a huge step out of one's comfort zone, which is very essential for the growth of a person on all fronts."


Suzana Saoud
IXO Publicity Specialist

Leontia D'Silva, AUS Alumna and Digital Marketing Executive at Wasl Group

Leontia D'Silva

Leontia D'Silva is an AUS management information systems alumna who studied abroad at Montana State University, MT, USA, in Spring 2017. She worked at our office as a Peer Advisor until her graduation in 2018, and today, she is the Digital Executive of Marketing and Corporate Communications at Wasl Asset Management Group, Dubai. Leontia's study abroad allowed her to leave her comfort zone, learn about herself, and develop useful skills that continue to benefit her years after graduation.

Leontia says her study abroad experience broadened her horizons. "It taught me how to be independent and how to take responsibility. It taught me how to deal with a lot of internal emotions that I’d never experienced before. I'd always lived with my parents before that, so the exchange program was an overall great experience for me."

"There are a lot of things you can gain from a study abroad experience, but I think the most significant gain would be just getting to know yourself better," she said. "In [the UAE], you're in your comfort zone, and you’re doing everything according to that. When you go abroad to study, everything is different and you adapt yourself to all of these new situations. You get to learn a lot about yourself while handling these situations."

Since studying abroad, Leontia feels more confident to travel by herself. "I think I can confidently take up going anywhere and just live on my own. Since I could go to Montana, I could probably go anywhere," she said.

She says the biggest skill she developed while she was abroad was networking: "I obviously had no friends [in Montana]. I didn't know anyone so I had to talk to people, get to know them, and figure out who I wanted to hang out with."

The courses Leontia took abroad also helped her develop herself more. "I took a World Cultures course there, and that taught me a lot about world history and how that has affected our modern lives," she said. "I think that was one of the things that has really helped me after I graduated."


Suzana Saoud
IXO Publicity Specialist

Mohamed Hegazi, AUS Alumnus and Key Accounts Supervisor at Philip Morris International

Mohamed Hegazi

Mohamed Hegazi studied abroad at Louisiana State University, LA, USA, back in Fall 2013, and the experience impacts his life until today. He is an AUS civil engineering alumnus and a former IXO Peer Advisor, and he currently works as a Key Accounts Supervisor at Philip Morris International in Ukraine. His study abroad played a large role in helping him secure his current job, which takes him all over the world.

Mohamed says his study abroad shaped the person he is today, professionally and personally. "It gave me the opportunity to see the world from a different perspective. [Previously,] I did not have much travel experience. Since my graduation [in Fall 2015], I’ve worked in three different countries and now travel regularly to at least 10 countries a year. I cannot narrow down the most significant gain from the experience because there are too many."

Study abroad didn't help Mohamed find a job, but it helped him get a job. "During the internship challenge at AUS, I spoke about the experiences I had abroad, and I was one of six students offered an internship out of 500," he said. "The internship was at [Philip Morris International,] a multinational company, so studying abroad was a plus. It proved that I was able to interact with a diverse population and it made me stand out."

"I completed the internship one month before I graduated from AUS, and I was offered a full-time job and still work for the same company today," Mohamed said.

"I thank IXO from the bottom of my heart for the opportunities I’ve had, my time [abroad] and the impact it has made on my life."


Suzana Saoud
IXO Publicity Specialist

Summer at the University of Oxford

Salma Elgerby at our office

English major Salma Elgerby had a genuinely special semester abroad at the University of Oxford's Exeter College, Oxford, England, in Summer 2019. From Harry Potter-esque house sorting to one-on-one tutorials with faculty, Salma got to enjoy the uniquely British character of the college - and she wishes the experience had never ended. She told us a bit about her time there, and on Nov. 17, she will deliver the bulk of our information session about this program to encourage other AUS students to take the opportunity.

Salma absolutely loved the experience and said the "worst thing about it is that it ended." She said the Exeter College Summer Program provides 'Program Ambassadors,' who are like parents. The 83 students who attended last summer were divided into houses, like in Harry Potter and as is typical of the British system. Each house had a 'parent' (who was actually another Oxford student) to provide guidance and organize a wide range of daily activities for the students. The students got to do 3-4 activities per day, including punting on the river, boutique shopping, trips to London to visit The Shakespeare Globe Theatre, and more. Salma added that the housing itself was like a hotel - it was extremely nice and even better than she expected.

Salma took two courses during the summer: Literatures of Modernism, which transferred back to AUS as a 3-credit course, and Moral Philosophy. The credits for the latter didn't transfer, but she loved the course and was really glad to have taken it. She said there was a heavy reading load, but it was manageable, and she got an A- in both courses. The structure for Oxford courses is quite different from AUS; for each course, they have six lectures (of 1.5 hours each, and with little student participation), then six seminars (with lots of discussion and participation), and then four tutorials. According to Salma, the tutorials were the best part, as they had two-on-one or even one-on-one discussions with faculty, which resulted in very intellectual conversations.

We asked her about why she was okay taking courses when she knew the credits wouldn't transfer, and she said there was a lot of value and knowledge in that course. She added that this whole opportunity led to recommendation letters from Oxford faculty and contacts all over the world, and you never really know where all that could lead to.


Suzana Saoud
IXO Publicity Specialist

Embracing the Unexpected: Ali Srour's Semester in the Netherlands

Ali Srour at a carnival in the Netherlands

Some of the best things that happen to you are things that you didn't plan for. Ali Srour knows this firsthand. Before Ali headed to the Netherlands for his semester abroad at Tilburg University, he wrote a letter to himself detailing the goals he wanted to achieve during his time abroad. Things didn't go exactly as he mapped them out, but Ali had an exciting, unique, colorful experience regardless - and he plans to return to the Netherlands for his graduate studies.

Ali is a finance major and psychology minor. His fields of study were the main reasons he chose to go to Tilburg University in Spring 2019: "Tilburg is one of the top 50 universities worldwide in business, economics, law and psychology, so I chose it for that," he said. The first unplanned aspect of his journey was that the Netherlands and Tilburg University were his fourth option, preceded by three universities in New Zealand.

Ali reads from the letter he wrote to himself: "I wrote, 'I'm probably not going to read this letter because I will stay [in the Netherlands], but if I don't then that means I came back for graduation and that I will be going back there afterwards.' Which is true, I came back for graduation," he said. "My goals there were to get a scholarship, an internship, a job offer, [and] to have a plan for me to migrate there. See, I didn't get a scholarship because they only give them to Dutch students there. As for the internship, they prefer native Dutch speakers. I couldn't get the job offer because I couldn't get an internship, but I definitely have a plan now."

Ali with his letter to himself and IXO Publicity Specialist Bayan Al-Masri

Laughing, he adds, "I also [wrote] a small note for myself, which is 'Keep It Simple, Stupid.' Because I was really anxious about it, and I was planning a lot and going crazy."

During his time abroad, Ali took up cycling, which is very popular in the Netherlands. "I went on bicycle trips from one town to another, which was a distance of around 150 km. It’s like going to Abu Dhabi, but by bicycle. Traveling is really easy over there because if you have a residence permit, you can go to any European country [in the EU] without a visa. For example, if you wanted to go from Tilburg to Paris, it’s only 50 euros, which is about 200 dirhams. I also once travelled across all the towns and cities of the Netherlands on a train."

Ali was the only Arab and Muslim there during his semester abroad, but he managed to befriend many people from different backgrounds. "My closest friend [there] was a Norwegian guy. He was in the room next to mine. I was also friends with a Turkish guy. And I made a lot of friends through playing sports, namely powerlifting and football," he said.

Ali and friends at the carnival

Once Ali graduates from AUS, he plans to return to the Netherlands. "I'm going to do my master's degree in Leiden University, which is one of the top universities in the country. I [now] have a very good idea of how the system works there; I know the fees, how much you would earn in a part-time job, the living costs. So the experience readied me for the real deal, and it was a great experience; I would recommend it for sure."

Watch a video Ali made about his semester abroad:

Suzana Saoud
IXO Publicity Specialist

Snapshots and Memories: Madiha Taha's Winter Photography Tour in Bulgaria

Madiha Taha is an AUS multimedia design alum who went on a New Year Photography Tour in Bulgaria two years ago. She shares her experience in this blog post.

Madiha in Bulgaria

"Eight days of photography in Bulgaria." The poster showed a sunrise washing over endless mountains. Another had a waterfall captured like a still time-lapse, seemingly mid-flow. A hot air balloon hovered over rolling hills and valleys. I thought about it on my way to a studio in CAAD, the College of Architecture, Art and Design.

The field of multimedia design is what it sounds like: a salad bowl of mediums. From interactive installations and apps to film editing and animation, there’s a spectrum of expression to explore. At AUS, design students have the opportunity to expand their knowledge in multiple directions. One opportunity I became aware of was a photography tour offered by an AUS professor in collaboration with a National Geographic photographer. Professor Phil Sheil [at the Department of Art and Design in CAAD] and his wife Karin came together with Evo Danchev to offer this Bulgaria Photography Tour. Every time I passed one of their posters in CAAD, I would stop and read about the trip. A photograph of the gorgeous landscape spoke for itself.

It was around 20 degrees Celsius below zero in Bulgaria that winter. Although freezing, those weather conditions really transformed the environment in stunning ways. We captured photos of suspended icicles, walked across frozen waterfalls and rose above mountain mist on a chair lift at a ski resort. Every area we drove to looked incredibly distinct.

One of Madiha's photographs in Bulgaria

The schedule of the trip was flexible. We would find ourselves waking up early to catch the sunrise in a hot air balloon and staying up late to photograph the stars. Horse riding or skiing? A sunken church or another cave? We were driving and trekking to the best lookout points and hidden locations of each area. Our guides knew Bulgaria like the backs of their hands. It made a world of difference to have Evo, a local Bulgarian photographer, to speak to townspeople and introduce us to local delicacies.

This trip had layers of teaching. Professor Sheil and Evo constantly gave on-the-go instruction about photography techniques and how to use our gear. They would check details like aperture and shutter speed, and advise you on how to approach taking your photograph depending on the lighting, composition, point of interest, etc. The second layer of instruction was one-on-one reviews. Every couple of days, Professor Sheil would sit down with each individual and go through their photos with them, while discussing editing techniques like bracketing. This was beneficial because we were able to get individual feedback and implement it during the trip, instead of just afterwards. My favorite part of the trip was gathering for group reviews. We had three group critiques to present our best work and hear what everyone thought of it. This was a lot of fun because people were very supportive and insightful. We had different levels of experience, but we all produced beautiful photographs.

Landscape photography was an area I never touched upon until this point, so it was outside my comfort zone. Some areas of art and design can be difficult to dive into. Sometimes there’s an ‘in’ crowd of designers who share expertise and it can be intimidating to a student who simply enjoys photography and has one old camera lens. However, there really was something in this trip for everyone. I was taking photographs with a medical student and a writer! The mentors were very accommodating towards participants with different skill levels, as professors tend to be, so the trip really was for beginners and professionals who have a shared passion. One-on-one feedback was always available, as we were not a very large group. It felt like a specialized hands-on course at AUS because it was educational and the mentors were very receptive to our questions and enthusiasm.

University is the best platform to try new things, from community service to sightseeing to developing new skills and making new friends. I’m grateful I had this opportunity to take my landscape photography skills further in a fun, educational trip with mentors I trust and friends who shared the same interest.

Summer at Stanford University, as Told By Hajar El Mouttaqui

Hajar at the Stanford University campus

It's not every day that you get the opportunity to study at Stanford University. We're thrilled to bring to you the story of Hajar El Mouttaqui, a finance major who had a very fulfilling study abroad under the International Honors Program at Stanford University, California, USA last summer. Although the credits she earned during her time abroad will not be transferred due to lower contact hours than required at AUS, Hajar found the program to be completely worthwhile and says it is one of the best things she's ever done.

The Stanford summer program came as an unexpected, golden opportunity for Hajar. "In the beginning, all I knew is that I made a decision to take summer courses abroad. I did my research and chose a couple of programs in Europe. Then one day, I received an email from Dr. Linda announcing Stanford's International Honors Program. I literally forgot about all the other programs and started applying to this one," she said.

Entrance to Stanford

The Summer Session office at Stanford had a lot of activities planned for the incoming IHP students. "There were some fun activities such as trips to UC Berkeley, Santa Cruz, California's Great America theme park, and many more. We also did some residential hall activities such as resumé-writing workshops, study sessions, talks with expert guest speakers, and so on. These activities really helped us explore the Bay Area and our campus. We also had the chance to meet innovative leaders and experts, whether they were faculty members or guest speakers."

Hajar with fellow AUS students at Stanford

Bird's-eye view of the Stanford campus

California was even better than Hajar expected. "[California] is a magical land where dreams do come true," she said. "It provides an open environment that encourages people to be more creative, innovative and most importantly, to be themselves. My favorite parts were Stanford University's campus, Santa Cruz Boardwalk and San Francisco."

Stanford campus at night

During her summer abroad, Hajar took three courses: "I took Introduction to Operations Management with Professor Richard Kim, Introduction to Decision Making with Professor Burke Robinson, and Intermediate Hip Hop with Professor Ronnie Reddick. The best course was Introduction to Decision Making because it was an unusual course that is not available here at AUS. This course basically walks you through the steps of making a decision using multiple analytical tools such as decision trees, tables and diagrams, risk tolerance, and net present values."

Hajar genuinely cherishes her time at Stanford. "I can confidently say that my summer at Stanford was the best experience I've ever had," she said. "Even though the credits don't transfer, the knowledge is definitely worth it. Do not think about this experience as a bunch of courses that you'll take for two months. Instead, think about the friendships you'll make, the knowledge you'll acquire, the unique and innovative courses you'll take, the fun you'll have, and the multicultural environment that you'll live in. I really wish that many more students would take advantage of this opportunity and I really hope that AUS encourages them to go on such adventures, either by providing more incentives or by recognizing such experiences."


Suzana Saoud
IXO Publicity Specialist

Working Across Continents: Islam Al-Qaisi's Story

Islam Al-Qaisi

We always love to catch up with our former team members about everything they've done since we last saw them. Islam Al-Qaisi is our former Peer Advisor and an AUS chemical engineering alum who graduated in 2015, and he dropped by the office for a chat a couple of weeks ago. He is a commercial manager at Kpler and a former employee at an international oil company called Total, and these jobs have taken him around the world from France to India to South Africa. Islam says he's become a better person for it, and he traces these opportunities all the way back to the skills he learned during his study abroad in 2013-14 and his time at IXO.

During his study abroad at Montana State University, MT, USA, Islam developed communication skills that have come in handy no matter where he goes. "I've traveled to Turkey, India, France, and many other countries to do business. My job requires me to meet government officials, CEOs, and senior managers. Communicating with these people requires good interpersonal skills, and I have been blessed enough to acquire those skills from my study abroad experience, as I can comfortably speak with others from different countries and whatever their seniority level," he said.

In Paris, France

Emotional intelligence has been one of the most important skills Islam acquired during his study abroad. "Understanding someone else's point of view, especially coming from a different culture, is a useful skill to have in the real world," he said. "I have traveled and lived abroad for professional work in South Africa. My time there was an opportunity to immerse myself in the culture and the people. South Africa is known for the diverse ethnic backgrounds of its people, and I was able to be friends with everyone."

At a safari in South Africa

It is important to Islam to be a good representation of his culture when he travels. "I always remain an ambassador of my principles, my culture and my religion whenever I travel abroad. I value letting people understand where I come from and clearing their preconceptions about being someone from the Middle East," he said.

Working at IXO helped Islam develop several professional and personal skills. "From the professional side, I've gained better communication and interpersonal skills, I've learned to work smart instead of work hard, and I developed time management, risk management, and good planning skills. As for the personal aspect: life became more positive. Public speaking became easier. And I became more family oriented since I felt the difference when I was living independently abroad."

Islam looks back at his time at IXO very fondly. "I always brag about being a Peer Advisor at IXO - I always say that this is where teamwork happens. It was an unforgettable experience; it's always been fun times working at IXO. I worked with an amazing team, and we still go out together for reunions. I remember the good reviews I got from the study abroad students at the end of the semester, which still helps me until now. It gives me the motivation to keep getting better."


Suzana Saoud
IXO Publicity Specialist

Volunteering, Interning, and Seeing the World: Suhair Remzi's Study Abroad

Suhair at an internship event

We have recently welcomed back Suhair Remzi, who is an Ethiopian international relations major who studied at George Washington University, WA, DC, USA, for the academic year 2018-19. She is joining our ranks at IXO this semester as a volunteer Peer Advisor. Suhair now says she divides her life into "before GWU" and "after GWU"; she had truly dynamic, diverse experiences during her time abroad that changed her as a person. Suhair's study abroad gave her the opportunity to do fulfilling work at Action for Hope, the Eurasia Center, and AIESEC, all of which gave her skills, confidence and experience closely related to her degree in international relations.

During Suhair's first semester at GWU, she participated in a leadership training program that, coupled with the study abroad experience itself, inspired her to take full advantage of all opportunities that opened to her during her time abroad. "The leadership program allowed me to come out of my comfort zone and put myself out there," she said. "It taught me the essential skills and techniques I need in order to handle challenges from different perspectives. Through the program, I got the opportunity to get to know myself more by exploring my qualities and testing my self-confidence and emotional intelligence."

With leadership program coordinators and classmates

That summer, Suhair did a two-month internship at Action for Hope, a USA-based non-profit organization that supports children and women in Africa. "My experience at the non-profit was beyond amazing. The organization aligned with my interest in international development, specifically youth and women's empowerment in Africa. The internship offered me a hands-on experience on non-profit management, proposal writing, and strategic planning and research."

She then went on to intern at the Eurasia Center for six months, during which she worked as a research assistant in their new Africa program, "Uplifting Africa," with a focus on their women’s program in Sub-Saharan Africa. She says that this was a truly enriching and interesting experience: "I not only gained skill sets that would allow me to pursue my interests and advance in my career, but I also learned so much about myself. I was able to see my potential in the work sector and reflect on my strengths and weaknesses. Working at the organization allowed me to know what I actually want to do and the cause I want to work for. Thus I believe my internship at the Eurasia Center was a valuable experience that has influenced the course of my life."

Throughout her time in Washington, DC, Suhair also gained the invaluable experiences of volunteering at the World Bank and IMF Headquarters. "I [met] officials from all over the world," she said. "I attended international events and conventions and networked with high-ranking professionals from my field. In addition, I was able to have an amazing experience with the wonderful people I  met and the exciting trips I made to places like New York, California and Georgia."

And just this last summer, Suhair was an AIESEC volunteer in Italy, where she taught English to Italian children and worked on a social farm, among other things. She got to travel around Italy quite a lot, spending time in several different cities and towns. She speaks very passionately about her time volunteering: "My AIESEC volunteer experience in Italy truly transformed me as a person," she said. "The journey has touched my heart and granted me wonderful experiences with the new knowledge I have gained, the captivating places I have traveled to, and the amazing people I have met. Moreover, it led me to test my physical and professional abilities and allowed me to learn a lot more about my career and my personal life. Traveling to Italy for the volunteering made me more confident, optimistic, and fearless and gave me a global mindset and a different vision and perspective towards my life."

Volunteering in Italy

All of these various experiences have informed Suhair's major in international relations. "As an international relations student, I definitely believe that studying abroad has allowed me to have a better understanding of my major. First of all, it was fascinating taking international relations courses in a different university and attending classes with people with a different understanding of the world. Having those discussions gives you the opportunity to see things from a new perspective and it allows you to have a more well-rounded and global mindset. Furthermore, one of the main skills necessary in international relations is the ability to adapt to new cultures, peoples and environments. Studying abroad definitely allows you to gain the adaptability skills needed to work in a dynamic and ever-changing environment."

Suhair says that studying abroad is what opened these opportunities to her and encouraged her to take them: "After realizing my capabilities in the program, I started putting myself out there and I began truly being open to trying the things I am interested in. Since I became confident in my skills and my ability to contribute in new environments, I had no fear of going for the things I wanted to pursue."

Reflecting on her time abroad overall, Suhair says that it fundamentally changed who she is as a person. "My study abroad program was one of the best experiences I've had and it has hugely impacted the course of my life. Before my study abroad, I was not the most sociable person and I did not always try the things I was interested in. However, I can now truly say that I have become a person that enjoys meeting new people and is willing to try all the things I am interested in. I became more independent, optimistic and open-minded. Moreover, the experience has given me the confidence and the strong belief that I am able to achieve anything that I set my mind to."


Suzana Saoud
IXO Publicity Specialist

Himo Owais, Water Design Engineer at Jacobs and Former IXO Peer Advisor

Himo during his time abroad in the USA

Many graduating students worry about securing employment once they're out of university. Competition is high in today's crowded job market, and employers favor candidates with useful skills and experience. Ibrahim "Himo" Owais is a former IXO Peer Advisor and AUS civil engineering graduate who recently landed a job as a water design engineer at Jacobs in Dubai. Himo's study abroad at Virginia Tech, VA, USA in Spring 2018 and his subsequent work at IXO helped him gain job skills and international experience that helped him find work fresh out of graduation.

Himo said his semester abroad at Virginia Tech helped him develop intercultural skills: "Studying abroad made me get out of my comfort zone and helped me realize my strengths and weaknesses that I never realized I had, and this made me learn more about myself and get to work on the weaknesses I saw in myself," he said. "Moreover, Jacobs is an international company so being able to adapt to different cultures and getting to tag along with others are essential skills for them and studying abroad helped me learn these skills easily."

Beyond gaining skills, Himo also racked up work experience during his time abroad: "I worked part-time at the dining hall in Virginia Tech. This was a great experience as I got to meet different types of people from different backgrounds. It was a huge learning experience and a plus on my resume which I believe helped me a lot in getting the job."

Working at IXO after returning from his study abroad gave Himo professional skills and a second family: "More than just an experience [listed] on my resume, [working at IXO] taught me a lot. Being a Peer Advisor and an Event Coordinator taught me a lot of stuff that I know I will use in the professional world. One of those things is that my colleague Sawi and I took full responsibility for the events for incoming students, which I believed is a lot of pressure because the incoming students' experiences counted on us. And I'm proud to say that all the events went smoothly and all the students, including us, the Peer Advisors, enjoyed them. Other than that, I had the opportunity to take full responsibility for projects given by Dr. Linda, such as the orientation [for incoming students] which was a long project and was successful. This made me way more confident to explain to the interviewers that I can handle responsibility with ease and without hesitation. Another skill which is important, especially as an engineer, is being a team player, and working with a team such as the IXO team helped me and taught me a lot. I never thought I would get to call a team from my job as a family but I'm more than proud to call my IXO team my second family."

Himo has global goals for his work at Jacobs: "Working at Jacobs will help me prosper as an engineer and I know that I'll learn a lot from it as it is well-known globally in the field I'm going to be working in, which is water design," he said. "Other than that, one of my short-term goals is to go the other offices of Jacobs around the world and get to learn the applications of water design in different countries and regions, because that will make me stand out from other engineers."

Finally, Himo is very grateful for all the experiences that have gotten him to where he is today: "My experiences during my study abroad and as an IXO Peer Advisor are the reason I got this exciting job offer from Jacobs which will give me a great push in my career. I couldn't be more happy and proud of myself that I got out of my comfort zone and actually took the brave step to go abroad. Overall, this was a one-of-a-kind experience and the best experience I've had so far and I would never trade it for anything!" Thank you for all your contributions to IXO, Himo, and we hope good things always come your way!


Suzana Saoud
IXO Publicity Specialist

How Study Abroad Brings Graduate School Opportunities: Dinete and Vishnu's Stories

Dinete Kollanur and Vishnu Narayanan are two of our former Peer Advisors who have recently been admitted to graduate school in the USA and Australia, respectively. They have both spent a semester abroad and started working at IXO after returning to AUS. Dinete and Vishnu told us about how their experiences abroad have given them the skills and opportunity to attend their graduate schools of choice and how their work at IXO has helped them prepare for graduate school and the professional world.

Dinete at a football game in South Carolina

Dinete is an accounting and business/management alum who studied abroad at the University of South Carolina, SC, USA, in Spring 2016. He will now be pursuing a Master of Tourism Administration with a concentration in sustainable tourism development at George Washington University, DC, USA. Dinete said his semester at the University of South Carolina gave him the motivation and skills to pursue graduate school abroad: "Studying abroad at USC instilled in me the desire to go abroad and study further in another country as I had a wonderful study abroad experience and it made me learn to be more independent, responsible and most importantly, to adapt outside my comfort zone. Some skills that I would say I picked up were being organized, sticking with a routine every day, cooking skills which I thought I had none of, and the ability to talk to a stranger and have a conversation, as I was often an introvert."

For Dinete, the perks of study abroad when it comes to graduate school started as early as the application process: "While I was applying for my study abroad application, I developed the skills to do research on the university that I was interested in," he said. "[These skills] helped me shortlist some good universities [for graduate school] like GWU. After I got accepted into GWU, the process that I had to do of filling in forms and documents to the university was similar to what I had to do once I got accepted into USC [for study abroad], such as [filling in] immunization forms and forms for a student visa, payment types, course registration, orientation about studying in the USA, and so on. I had previously completed such forms while studying abroad and it came in handy when submitting my forms to GWU for graduate school as I knew the process beforehand."

Moreover, his study abroad directly helped him in getting graduate school opportunities: "To begin with, I did get admitted into USC's graduate school program, but I thought it would be nice to try out a new university where I hadn't been before," he said. "But yes, studying abroad in the USA [allowed] my character to develop in a new country and this was highlighted when I did an interview call with GWU's representative. Also, by now, it's [well-known] that the more international background you have, the more likely it is for people in schools or even at companies to accept you, as we are all moving towards a diverse and globalized world. For me, showing that I had studied abroad in the USA helped me get into graduate schools in the country, but I'm sure even if you had studied abroad in Europe or Asia and applied to the USA or vice versa, your chances of getting accepted would be better than if you hadn't studied abroad."

When Dinete returned to AUS from his study abroad, he started working as a Peer Advisor at our office, and he said this experience gave him an advantage in the professional world: "[At IXO], I was able to demonstrate great team work and communication skills," he said. "As a tour guide for visiting delegates, I was able to present myself and converse with higher level managements with more confidence and courage. Time management was another skill that I picked up working as a Peer Advisor at IXO and I was also able to improve my Microsoft Office skills by doing certain projects at the office. In terms of whether it helps in graduate school, I'm sure that working in IXO will definitely help me settle down in a new city and new university. This is because the experience we Peer Advisors had in settling other incoming study abroad students at AUS will come in handy, such as some of the tips we gave them regarding being responsible, adjusting to a new country and so on. Being around a diverse faculty and students will also help me have no barriers when it comes to making friends at GWU. I have also been in contact with some former GWU students who had studied abroad at AUS, and they have been quite friendly and welcoming to their university."

Dinete has long-term goals that he would like to achieve through obtaining a Master of Tourism Administration at GWU: "After working for two years in an e-commerce tourism company called Tajawal in Dubai, I preferred to stick in the same industry and I have certain goals that I would like to achieve in the next 10 years. As I have a passion for travelling and exploring new countries, I would like to help others also achieve my same passion in developing countries in South Asia, South America, Eastern Europe and other areas of the globe where tourism is still not fully developed. I would also like to encourage people from these countries to explore more from outside their boundaries by making travel cheap, safe and convenient for everyone so that the people from these countries can bring different ideas from outside their countries and help develop their economy."

Vishnu in the Netherlands

Vishnu studied abroad at Maastricht University in the Netherlands in Fall 2017. He worked as a Peer Advisor at IXO ever since returning to AUS until he graduated in Spring 2019 with a major in finance. Vishnu will now be pursuing a Juris Doctor (J.D), a postgraduate law degree, at Sydney Law School at the University of Sydney, Australia. He said studying abroad at Maastricht University was one of the most enriching experiences he's ever had: "I can always go on about the number of things I got to learn and the different perspectives it's given me on various things. However, what I would cherish the most from my study abroad experience, and what I think would help me the most as I leave for graduate school, is the self-belief I gained with respect to taking care of myself. Growing up as an only child, especially in a city such as Dubai, I always doubted my capabilities to live the independent life. During my semester abroad I was able to gain the skills and capabilities necessary for taking care of myself. These skills are what I believe have made the aspect of doing graduate school in a place I've never been to, such as Australia, less daunting," he said.

Like Dinete, Vishnu's experience with filling out an application for study abroad helped when the time came to apply to graduate school: "The application process for graduate school was a bit more sophisticated than the study abroad application," he said. "However, having done the study abroad application, I was able to understand the importance of being patient with applications, as it's important to take your time and complete the required forms without any mistakes. This made my graduate school application a lot easier."

Vishnu's time abroad had a significant effect on his decision to go to graduate school in Australia: "My study abroad experience led me to meeting students from across the world, and a handful of the friends I made happened to be from Australia," he said. "Before meeting them, I was quite unaware of what life was like down there, but thereafter, they changed my perspective on what it's like in Australia. It was through them that I got to know how inclusive, diverse and exciting life is in Australia and I do believe this had a huge impact on my decision to choose my destination for graduate school."

Through his time working at IXO, Vishnu got a glimpse of the professional world: "Working at IXO was a great experience, one that I'll always be grateful for. I joined the office so that I can urge others to have the same experience as I did. But working in this office let me do so much more than just that. It gave me a chance to meet and interact with people from different parts of the world, every semester. The people I met through working in this office helped me understand things from a different perspective. Moreover, I was able to build wonderful relationships with my colleagues, to the extent that this office had become my home away from home. Hence, after working at IXO, I was able to gain great insight into what working at a professional environment may be like and the importance of keeping the relations with your colleagues."

Vishnu is thinking internationally for where he wants to go from graduate school: "Sydney Law School is considered as one of the most prestigious law schools, not just in Australia, but across the world. The course is meant to last three years, and during these three years, I look forward to learning, entering the field of law and hopefully working full time in Australia by the end of it. I would also be keeping an eye on international opportunities that would allow me to travel around the world."

With the skills and experience they gained from their study abroad and their time working at IXO, Dinete and Vishnu were able to earn their spots at graduate schools which will help them immensely in furthering their academic and professional careers. Thank you for your contributions to IXO, Dinete and Vishnu, and warmest congratulations for your success! Here's wishing you good luck for a bright and prosperous future!


Suzana Saoud
IXO Publicity Specialist