Dorm Students Explore Nepal, Host Peers
Through ResLife Cross-Cultural Exchange Program
May 24, 2017
By Ioanna Moriatis
·
AUC students travel to
Nepal through ResLife Cross-Cultural Program
AUC
student dorm residents recently returned from a trip to Nepal as a part of the
Office of Residential Life’s third ResLife Cross-Cultural Program (RCCP). The
program had students from Southwestern State College in Kathmandu, Nepal visit
AUC and, in turn, a group AUC students visited their peers in
Nepal, immersing themselves in new country and learning firsthand about
cultural exchange, international exposure and networking.
“When
you visit a place, you usually use the word ‘traveling,’ but what you really
mean is that you’re visiting as a tourist or touring,” said Chadi Ben Ghanam,
an AUC student majoring in management of information and communication who
traveled to Nepal. “When we traveled, we felt that we really engaged in a
cultural experience, interacting with people, learning the language and
exploring places tourists don’t typically explore.”
Cross-Cultural Exchange
The
program created an opportunity for students to develop a new mindset while
traveling. “The notion of cross-culture has become an increasingly important
aspect of discussion.” said Lamish Hamdy, Living Learning Communities officer
at the Office of Residential Life. “Through the Living Learning Communities
program, dorm residents are exposed to different cultures and environments, stimulating
them both intellectually and socially.”
For
the students, meeting new people was an opportunity to form cherished
friendships. “The most amazing part of this program was meeting the students
from Nepal here in Cairo first,” said Iyed Hamadi, a sophomore majoring in
business administration and an international student from Tunisia. “We were
able to befriend them and get to know them very well. It was a beautiful moment
landing at the airport in Nepal because we all knew each other. As soon as we
arrived, we greeted each other, all hugging,”
Echoing
similar sentiments, Hanin Sonbol, construction engineering major, also
emphasized the value of tolerance and open-mindedness. “Everyone had a
different religious belief, but we all interacted well with one another. The
best part of the trip for me was the cultural exchange and being able to
develop new friendships.”
Enhancing the University Experience
All
dorm residents – who come from different countries, including Egypt, Tunisia
and Palestine – were invited to participate in the outings and tours planned
for Southwestern State students in Cairo. This not only enhanced their
cross-cultural perspective, but motivated them to socialize even more within
their own university and dorm community. “We didn’t know each other at the
beginning but now, we don’t end our days before going to the commons [area] to
see each other even for five minutes,” Sonbol said.
The
trip also offered students a chance to consider what they had learned in
classes in real-world situations and to see things from a different standpoint.
“As a political science student,” reflected Lilia Errahaiem, economics major,
“I’ve studied what might constitute an underdeveloped country. Going to Nepal
and seeing things was so different; it really changed my political perceptions.
In many of my classes, I’m now trying to focus my research on Nepal.”
Exposure to Networking
Students
didn’t expect that their participation in the program would also open the door
to beneficial networking opportunities. The students visited both the Nepali
ambassador in Egypt and the Egyptian ambassador in Nepal, and were invited to
meet the Saudi and Egyptian ambassadors at their residences in Nepal. In
addition, the students were invited to attend a reception where they were able
to meet the Qatari and Bahraini ambassadors in Nepal.
“The
trip offered students a diplomatic experience,” noted Hamdy, adding that
students were able to approach this experience through a variety of lenses:
academic, cultural and professional.
Sharing AUC with Others
Political
Science Professor at Tribhuvan University in Nepal, Dhan Prasad Pandit, was
central in pushing to establish a partnership between AUC and university
students in Nepal. “The idea of visiting one of the most reputable universities
in Egypt one day was very exciting,” said Professor Pandit.
AUC
students were also thrilled at the chance to share their campus and their lives
with students from another university and country. “The Nepalese students were
so impressed by AUC and loved the campus,” recalled Hamdy.
Growing the Program
The
first RCCP was held during the 2014-2015 academic year, during which AUC hosted
12 students from Kelantan University in Malaysia and later had the opportunity
to send 12 students to Malaysia over the summer. In the 2015-2016 academic
year, the Office of Residential Life launched its second RCCP with the
University of Ibn Tofail in Morocco. “The program has been a great success,
resulting in an unforgettable experience for Malaysian, Moroccan, Nepalese and
Egyptian students,” reflected Hamdy.
AUC recently signed an agreement with the
Office of Residential Life at Pretoria University in South Africa for the
2017-2018 academic year so that the program can continue to positively impact
students’ university experiences. “RCCP also allows dorm residents to enjoy an
intellectually fruitful study-abroad experience at a lower cost, making it
accessible to the wider dorm community,” said Hamdy, noting that this program
allows students who might not have been able to travel to benefit from travel
outside of their own country. “Our aim is to enhance the development of
students living on their own and away from their homes and families.”
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