Adventures Abroad: Students Share Their Stories

When Sophie Termaat first stepped onto the AUC campus in the Spring of 2024, she had no idea that the place where she was studying abroad would soon become her home. An undergraduate at Boston College, Sophie’s semester at AUC was transformative for her international relations studies. In fact, it was so impactful that she returned to AUC in Fall 2025 to pursue a master’s in comparative Middle East politics and society (CMEPS).“Within the first couple weeks of being at AUC, I knew that I wanted to come back. So when I was looking at different master's programs, this one was clearly the best fit,” Termaat shared. The CMEPS program is a partnership between AUC and the Institute of Political Science at Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen in Germany. The first year of the program is entirely at AUC, followed by a third semester in Germany, and a fourth back in Egypt. Termaat appreciates the comparative lens, and also the opportunity to be back in the region she fell in love with while living in Dubai as a kid and then again during her study abroad at AUC. “I always wanted to come back to the region because of the people and culture,” she stated. “AUC was the perfect fit, and my study abroad confirmed that it was the ideal place to continue my academic journey.”“I always wanted to come back to the region because of the people and culture. AUC was the perfect fit, and my study abroad confirmed that it was the ideal place to continue my academic journey.”Like many study-abroad students, Termaat found her place at AUC, making close friends within the international student community and traveling extensively throughout Egypt. She explained how excited she was when she first got to Egypt in 2024: “I didn’t sleep! There was so much to do.” Some of the highlights of her AUC experience included joining Student Union trips throughout Egypt, attending on-campus lectures from visiting professors, and enjoying the campus atmosphere (especially the pool!), which together made her study-abroad semester unforgettable.After she settled into life in Cairo, she realized that living in Egypt not only enriched her understanding of Islamic culture, but also her academic scope. “I got to meet people from so many backgrounds and through AUC, I genuinely grew in my intellect.” “My study abroad showed me that I get a very different education here than in the U.S., not just because of the topics that are covered, but also the diversity of the student body,” Termaat expressed. “I don't only learn from the professors, but also from the students and their experiences. We touched on a lot of things that just weren't really discussed in my undergrad, but are super important for the field. Learning Middle Eastern studies in the Middle East by Middle Eastern professors has definitely made me grow as a student and as a person.”Life as a master’s student is definitely different from that of an undergraduate. For one, the community of learners around Termaat is incredibly dedicated, which continues to deepen her experience. “Everyone in my classes is getting their master’s because they genuinely want to learn,” she explained. “Also, everyone has their own niche at this point. So whether it's authoritarianism or sectarianism, we all have the things that we're good at, which is nice because we can share with and learn from each other.”Termaat has developed her own niche, which is American interventionism, imperial power structures and their unintended effects on sectarian dynamics and regional security in the Middle East. These areas blend her background and perspectives while contributing needed research to the field of Middle East studies. Her passion for her work shines through, as she discussed state formation and the economic lens of security studies. “It's really important to decolonize our thinking when we talk about the Middle East. As an American, I think the content that I learned in undergrad was as accurate as it might have been, but it wasn't portraying the region holistically,” Termaat elaborated. “Studying the region with faculty whose scholarship is grounded in lived, regional and linguistic expertise offers a very different kind of depth is very different  from learning it from a professor who just studied it. It's much more well-rounded and has given me a more holistic and critically grounded education.”“Studying the region with faculty whose scholarship is grounded in lived, regional and linguistic expertise offers a very different kind of depth is very different  from learning it from a professor who just studied it. It's much more well-rounded and has given me a more holistic and critically grounded education.”Termaat’s initial study-abroad experience helped her understand these gaps in her education  and gave her the resources to patch those gaps. Through both formal lessons and informal conversations with colleagues, she was able to add depth to her understanding of the Arab world, and is now continuing to do so everyday. “There are so many opportunities in Egypt and through AUC,” she affirmed. “For all students who come to study here, not just those interested in Middle East politics, take those opportunities, go on as many adventures as possible and continue to let yourself be challenged.”

For students like Perihan Elsheikh, a political science major who came to AUC with an end-goal in mind, the journey is where the magic happens. As an undergraduate, Elsheikh has been involved in 10 student organizations, landed three internships and explored 12 countries on exchange — and she’s not done yet.“My long-term goal is to open my own NGO dedicated to helping women and children in Egypt, especially those escaping domestic violence,” says Elsheikh, who has dreamed of having a positive impact on others and contributing to society since she was a child.At the same time, Elsheikh is interested in international law and the global frameworks used to deal with human rights issues. After she graduates in Fall 2025, Elsheikh will begin her master’s in international human rights law, a program she has been interested in pursuing since she was first accepted to AUC.Since Elsheikh already knows her career aspirations and master’s plan, what makes her time at AUC so special? The answer lies in her journey, from cocurricular experiences to global travel to high-caliber internships."My favorite personality will always be the Pery I met abroad because I realized I was capable of more than I thought."Clubs, Clubs, Clubs Elsheikh has been involved in student clubs since the start of her freshman year, when she signed up to join seven organizations. Between the Political Science Students’ Association, Volunteers in Action (VIA), Mashroo3 Kheir, Theater and Film Club (TFC) and Student Union Explore, Elsheikh has gained diverse experiences that she credits for making her the person she is today.With Mashroo3 Kheir’s Make-A-Wish committee, Elsheikh visited cancer institutes and talked to child cancer patients. “I left every single visit with a different approach to life,” she says.“TFC also helped me develop communications skills and perform in front of huge audiences,” adds Elsheikh, who prides herself on her public speaking skills.Perihan in ParisIn her junior year, the young humanitarian had the adventure of a lifetime on an exchange semester in Paris, where she learned European theories and perspectives from the second best political science school in the world — a welcome complement to the Middle Eastern perspective she had gained at AUC.“My favorite personality will always be the Pery I met abroad because I realized I was capable of more than I thought,” Elsheikh says.“My favorite personality will always be the Pery I met abroad because I realized I was capable of more than I thought."Defying her own expectations, Elsheikh experienced self-reliance and even came to enjoy her alone time, which she spent walking along the Seine and exploring museums. She also planned her own travels, visiting 11 other countries while abroad. Meanwhile, Elsheikh studied and practiced French in its country of origin, fulfilling a dream that dates back to her self-study of French back in 2020.Studying the Global South from a European stance also revealed Elsheikh’s desire to remain local in her work. Now, she seeks to contribute to her country and help underrepresented Egyptians speak up about their struggles. “I want to learn more about how Egyptians in cities beyond Cairo live on a daily basis and what they suffer from,” she says.Nine-to-Five DiscoveriesHer adventurous trajectory doesn’t end there. In addition to working as a political science teaching assistant at AUC, Elsheikh has completed three internships that have taken her across sectors to explore different areas of human rights and international law — from working at a public policy and business lobbying firm, N Gage Consulting, to the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development’s Human Rights Unit. “At the ministry, I learned about how Egypt is planning to promote human development, provide education and alleviate poverty under Vision 2030,” she says.To those seeking a liberal arts education at AUC, the journey beats the destination — and for ambitious students like Elsheikh, the path can shape the course of a career, even when the destination is already figured out.

When junior Marwan Shawwara moved to the south of France to study at Sciences Po last fall, he was prepared to step outside of his comfort zone and experience the trials and tribulations of a semester abroad. Most of the time, Shawwara lived as a typical exchange student — he found community, made lifelong friends, played college soccer with weekend tournaments around France, and backpacked through seven countries and 24 cities. “It’s me and my backpack against the world,” he said.However, what the political science major didn’t expect was that he would reach a new understanding of his own country by meeting Egyptian refugees scattered along European frontiers. Egyptian EncountersLong interested in equality and justice, Shawwara began volunteering with the AUC student organization 3alraseef in his freshman year, educating and spending time with impoverished children in Manshiyat Nasser twice a week. At Sciences Po, Shawwara kept up his commitment to volunteer work, documenting refugees at the Franco-Italian border crossing with Sciences Po Refugee Help, a student club. It was through this role that he discovered a new side of Egypt: the country’s politically marginalized. Throughout the semester, Shawwara learned lessons about Egyptian politics from his fellow countrymen that further shaped his identity and future plans. “Most of the refugees are unfortunately from our region, North Africa. It was a different experience seeing them firsthand, communicating with them, listening to them,” he said. “These people are not just numbers crossing the Mediterranean; they are humans.”“I’m looking at life differently now. These people risked their lives to seek asylum just to live like anybody else: to get married and educate their kids. These are basic human rights.”Traveling in Milan, Shawwara found himself surrounded by his native tongue, the streets filled with Egyptian refugees from areas like Upper Egypt, Fayoum and Beni Suef. Many had come to support their families, working in manual labor jobs. One boy in particular left a lasting impression on Shawwara. When they first crossed paths, the now 17-year-old was excited to buy Shawwara lunch and share his story. Mohamed fled to Italy two years ago as a 15 year old, coming alone to provide for his parents. “He did the unimaginable. He crossed the Mediterranean without his family,” said Shawwara. As a minor, Mohamed became a registered refugee, eligible for housing and documented part-time labor. “When he becomes an adult, I think he will be given the right to come back to Egypt and return to work in Italy.” The potential visit to Egypt would be Mohamed’s first in three years.The touching story — one of many that Shawwara encountered — had a profound impact. “I’m looking at life differently now. These people risked their lives to seek asylum just to live like anybody else: to get married and educate their kids. These are basic human rights,” he said.A New Political VisionShawwara’s interest in history and politics was initially sparked by his post-Revolution Cairene upbringing, leading him to pursue his semester abroad at the second-ranked university in the world for political science. However, it was not university courses but interactions with Egyptian refugees that most shaped his vision for his future, and the future of Egypt.“I want to specialize in political theory now,” Shawwara said. “I want to produce a theory that fits all these people in it rather than excludes them because the current policies of the region are turning a blind eye." “At Sciences Po, I found my interest in journalism and speaking up. When I came back, I thought, let’s initiate something here.”Commenting on the difficult financial circumstances that led many Egyptians astray, Shawwara said, “If you can pay, you can live. These people don’t have the chance to earn money in the first place.” Shawwara is particularly interested in post-colonial and decolonization theories. “Until now, I see that countries in the region are still under Western domination while they are supposed to be independent states. I want to understand this,” he said.Bringing It HomeHis exploration of Egypt from this external lens did not stop at his volunteer work: Shawwara wrote for two campus publications, contributing meaningful stories about the Middle East, from stories about Morocco’s football team to Lebanon’s ceasefire to Cairo’s environmental problems.Upon his return to AUC, Shawwara was inspired to jumpstart a new political science publication, the PSS-Journal, through the Political Science Students’ Association, of which he is now the incoming co-president. “At Sciences Po, I found my interest in journalism and speaking up — we need to be vocal about some topics. When I came back, I thought, let’s initiate something here,” he said. Within two weeks, Shawwara had assembled a team, and the journal published its first issue in one month’s time, with big plans for the year ahead.Though Shawwara wants to remain in Egypt in the long term, he is considering a master’s degree at Sciences Po in Paris after graduating — just one more way in which his study-abroad experience has shaped his outlook on life and his future career.