My US Memoir-Life in Georgetown- Fifth Part

by Mahdi Mala Abdullah

MEPI Georgetowners gather together
for a group picture at the Georgetown
University

Sunday June 26, 2011, was the day that I had already assigned as one of the luckiest day in my life for it was the day when I walked into the Georgetown University, one of the most beautiful and prestigious learning institution ever. From the moment I was nominated for the MEPI and was assigned to be a MEPI Georgetwoner, I googled the Georgetwon campus uncountable times almost every day. I tasted my life as a college student within the Georgetown. The Georgetown University proved how nice being a college student was. I was convinced that I got enough about what leadership skills were and how one could apply them to his or her society. Then, I bit my fare well to the Georgetown University and my friends there. The Georgetown University taught me what role I should play to change my community for a better one. The various academic activities and lectures that I attended at the Georgetown University helped me to realize how valuable being a youth and a college student was.

My U.S. Memoir: The Best Time of My Trip- Fourth Part

by Mahdi Mala Abdullah

My host family, Khalifa, and I in Wausua

Once I went through the MEPI schedule and observed almost all the activities that we were about to perform very enthusiastically. Nothing made me as much energetic as the date that was assigned to go and live with the American families. I was gasped when I read it. I was so positive for I knew it was going to be an amazing experience. At the same time, I was under the pressure of several cultural shocks that I expected to experience. I thought to do several things to keep the wonderful time that I spent in Wausua for the great memories that I recorded there. I also thought an open and thanks letter for my lovely host family would be the best source to keep that memoir recorded. Thus, I would love to thank Dwight and Sarah, my lovely parents, and Mac, Nic, Toney, and small Joe, my wonderful brothers, for the great hospitality they provided me.

My U.S. Memoir: I tasted the United States and its Society-Third Part

by Mahdi Mala Abdulla

MEPIs and their host families gather to gether
for a group picture on the farewell day in Wausua

It was February 17^th, 2011 when I was nominated for the MEPI. I was in Barcelona on that day attending the GSMA Conference, The World Wide Mobile Conference, based on the Department of the State. I was so excited about that and couldn’t be happier. From that time until I arrived to the United States on June 22nd, 2011, I asked hundreds of questions from several people, read several articles and watched several movies to gain some knowledge about the American society before I got there. I had several questions that I didn’t have answer for at that time. So, I threw several questions such as, how should I act, where should I go, where should I never go in the United States to several people whom I expected that had answers for my questions. I derived all these questions from the eyes of media and the movies like the American Pie. The answers that I got for these questions were almost exactly the same as what the media and these types of movies said. The words, “Americans are cold and unfriendly,” and “America is a dangerous society,” were the words that always completed the answers for my questions. However, what was the outcome of these answers? How much those people were right about the American society?

The Second Part of My U.S. Memoir: MEPI Georgetowners as a Unique Family

MEPI Georgetwoners attending a lecture

by Mahdi Mala Abdullah
 By being a participant in the Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) in 2011, I feel like to be the luckiest man in the world for it was the most experienced program ever. From June 22 to July 26^th, 2011, only about a month and half, MEPI provides me a chance to get my own homes from the United States and several countries in the Middle East and North Africa. It helps me and all its participants  to understand what is going on in each of these countries. It offers me a chance to recognize the customs and cultures of several countries where the participants come from. Regardless of the academic and leadership skills that I learn from MEPI, I feel like to have my real family in several countries from now on.

My U.S. Memoir-First Part

MEPI Georetowners in Washington DC

 by Mahdi Mala Abdullah
On June 26^th, 2011, a group of eighty students from almost all the countries in both the Middle East and North Africa met in Washington DC. We were the participants of the Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI), a program that was sponsored by the Department of the State. After we spent two days together in Washington DC, we were divided into several groups and were sent to different universities in the different States of the United States.

MEPI Georgetwoners, was one of these groups that I was a member of. We were eighteen different students from various countries. We were people from Iraq, Tunisia, Israel, Palestine, Yemen, Jordon, Egypt, Saudi Al-Arabia, and Algeria. Despite of the different cultures and backgrounds we had, we felt like being together in a family since we were children.

The Students are Strongly Disagree with the Decision about the New Dorm Prices



The Third Eye reveals its recent poll results

by The Third Eye

The result of the last The Third Eye poll reveals that most of the voters are against the new dorm prices that have been announced by the AUI-S Rector’s Office for the next academic year. The Question of the poll was, “What will you do about the new dorm prices announced by the Rector’s Office?” The question based on the last decision that was announced about the AUI-S new dorm payment policy.

What Did the Last Demonstration Teach You?

Mahdi Mala Abdullah

by Mahdi Mala Abdullah

It is obvious that only a few weeks ago, AUI-S faced an unexpected situation, a demonstration welcomed by neither the AUI-S Administration nor by a large number of the students. The last demonstration highlighted and raised several hidden issues that had been taboo among the students. Nationality and ethnicity problems were among those hidden topics. It was obvious that the lack of planning and failure to consider the students’ voices caused such a dramatic event within AUI-S.

Anyway, I am not too concerned about that issue because it will never happen again, I hope. I have another consideration that I really want to address here and that will help AUI-S avoid such events as happened weeks ago. The issue is what that demonstration should teach AUI-S members generally, especially the Administration.