Ambassadors program helps international students fit-in

By Amy Bourji---

The birth of the Ambassador Program (AP) emerged last spring when Michael Lyons, coordinator of International Student Services, asked himself shortly after getting settled into AUB, ÒHow can I help the needs of both AUB students and the new international students?" With his help, students from different parts of the world have had the opportunity to come and study at AUB. The AP met the needs of these newcomers, along with the current students. The AP aims to "foster greater understanding and appreciation of different cultures through the establishment of personal relationships between AUB international students and AUB current students," stated the Ambassadors Program sheet. After last year's final orientation with the international students, Lyons acquired positive feedback about Lebanon but was surprised by the feeling of loneliness that many said they had experienced. The difficulty of adjusting to a new country and university was clearly evident. The AP as its name implies, would provide foreign students with representatives in AUB, with whom they may turn to for help, problems or simply friendship. "The goal," said Lyons, "is to develop a shared learning from different cultures." Upon preparation for the program, Lyons placed posters on campus, inviting students to participate. Interested AUB students were interviewed through group discussions, answering questions that allowed them to work together with other students and discover various answers to a problem. The chosen Ambassadors then attended an orientation session last Spring, to become acquainted with the basics of the project. The next step will be a workshop, to be held soon by Nayla Aramoun, so that students can practice working with others through any situation they may encounter during their experience as an Ambassador. The AP had matched by the beginning of the fall semester about 20 of the 35 AUB "ambassadors" with international students. All will be attending a joint reception by the end of October. But, "this is not a dating service," said Lyons after receiving complaints from guys, preferring to be matched with girls. Some may have had the wrong idea upon entering the program, but this is strictly for students to meet, assist and learn from each other. After the unfortunate occurrences in New York City, students who were coming to AUB expressed expected concern. Lyons was suddenly flooded with emails by both the students and their parents. The media severely influenced people's reactions and planted more fear in them, consequently changing the minds of about 10 students from coming to study at AUB. A lot of students were even debating the issue of whether to come to Lebanon or not and many last minute decisions were made. AUB shuttles greeted the international students at the airport upon their arrival to Beirut. The tremendous hospitality of the ambassadors has lead Lyons to believe that this could be a student-run-program in the future. "My Ambassador is awesome," said Hussein Hirji, a Canadian Economics student who is in Lebanon because of his interest in Middle Eastern studies. "I needed a phone, he took me to get it. He gave me the real Beirut-city tour. He even told me what are the 'good' places to eat at. The results seem really good so far," he concluded. Although many students were unaware of the AP, it has intertwined cultures from all over the world into one community: AUB.