My first visit to AUB in 1990

It was 5:40 AM, and I am not sure if I did have any good sleep that night. The excitement of being in Beirut was strong enough, and I thought it could not get stronger. I have to go to AUB and sit for an exam; it was a two-hour task, not knowing that it was going to change all my plans and wishes. When the cab reached AUB, BIG GATE, I did not have any idea about the names of the gates at that time; it was simply Big. I approached the security guard and tried to peek inside the campus. In the 1990s, the effect of the civil war can be seen and felt in every area you visit, the expectations were set to specific prototypes, for people and cities; therefore, I had a particular view in mind about how this famous AUB, will be.

Then, I remembered crossing the gate, and coming down the huge stairs and looking to the enormous building in front of me, my mouth was wide open. Whatever picture I had in mind had vanished! Then it was like all my senses stopped functioning, WHERE AM I? AM I STILL IN BEIRUT? The buildings, the greenery, the smell, the type of people. I had never seen anything like it or even imagined it. I had around 30 minutes to spare before I go the exam, so I tried to move fast to see most of the campus; yet, when spotting the green field from the top, I spent most of my time left admiring it, and I almost missed my exam. At that time, my wish was to come back to this beautiful place; I did come back as a student, staff, graduate student, and I am still there for the last 20 years now. My only wish now for our beautiful university is to survive the current crisis, and it will.

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