But very few of these students say life was
as easy and enjoyable as it used to be at home
LONDON – Rola Abdul-Latif
The Sustainable Arab Human Development report published by the
United Nations Development Program in 2002 showed that more
than 50 percent of all Arab youth prefer leaving their
countries heading to favorite destinations such as the US and
Europe.
Surveys show that there were many reasons behind this youth
mass exodus. Reasons include poverty, lack of freedom and
democracy and social pressure in the Middle East. These
factors and others have pushed young people to quit their
countries and live abroad.
Yet when interviewed by Alternative, many of them cherished
“life at home” saying that their life abroad was no match to
that in their homeland.
But after Sep. 11 attacks in the US, American authorities made
it hard for non-Americans to enter the country.
Arab students, however, continued to look for alternative
destinations to pursue their postgraduate studies instead of
the US with its consequent anti-Arabism.
For its part, the UK emerged as one of the most favored
options for those students wishing to earn their degrees -- in
half the needed period of studying -- and without much hassle
with the immigration authorities.
UK
universities offer condensed programs in various disciplines
that have been deemed appealing for international students
wishing to earn a high-quality Masters degree in a one-year’s
time.
Alternative ran a survey to learn about why Arab students
choose to study in the UK. Students were asked about the sort
of problems they face when they leave their home countries and
come to settle down in a city as urbanized as London.
Hisham El-Mais, a Lebanese student doing his Masters in
Quality Management, Statistical Methods and Reliability in
City University in London, said that he wanted to take
advantage of his British passport.
Hisham is willing to find a job in the UK once he graduates.
Hisham told Alternative that there were no job opportunities
in Lebanon and that he would rather work a bit far from home
than consider the option of working in Arab gulf countries.
The hard-working culture in London is one aspect that he
greatly admired. “People here earn their respect through the
effort they invest at work and not merely through family
connections and big fat bank accounts.”
About his stay in the UK, Hisham complained of the difficulty
of finding affordable transportation in London especially
after midnight.
The Lebanese people are used to travelling by “service” cars
anytime anywhere in Beirut paying just 1,000 Lebanese pounds
($0.6) compared to the single London bus fare of one sterling
pound (1.7 US dollars).
He
added that one of the main obstacles facing international
students in London was the tremendously high living expenses.
Other foreign students living in the UK said that it was
“small silly differences between home and here that affected
their mood most.”
In
most Arab countries, an average household receives around 70
cable channels on their television for only $10 a month while
in the UK one has to pay 116 sterling pounds ($197) to receive
a one-year license to just turn on a television and receive
five national British channels.
The discrepancy in the price of television services might go
unnoticed provided that reading requirements and coursework
would keep students preoccupied. Yet, international students
would have to bear with the “homesick” feeling along with
sometimes their onerous academic obligations.
Rana
Imam, a Palestinian PhD student in Transportation Engineering
at University College London, believes that the pain was worth
it.
She said that students receive first class education in the
UK. “Knowledge is practical in this country,” she told
Alternative. “Students get to apply the theories they learn
and both the government and the private sector provide
substantial funds to help students get involved in major
research projects.”
Maya Talih, another foreigner from Beirut, supported
Rana’s arguments. Maya is doing her Masters in Development
Studies at the London School of Economics.
“There is no similarly intriguing courses offered at any
university in Lebanon,” Maya said. She added that she opted to
come to Europe rather than the US since she feels that the
European culture was closer to hers. “I would have felt
alienated in the US for it is a totally different continent,”
she added.
Maya said she appreciated the cosmopolitan feature of London
with so many people coming from all around the world to work
or study. She is currently living in a private flat in
Chelsea, around four tube stations away from the city center
but much safer with many Europeans and Lebanese people around
as well.
“It is essential for an Arab girl to experience life on her
own in a free country such as the UK,” she maintained.
Meanwhile, Reem Fayez said that one of the petty annoyances in
London was its outdated plumbing system. Reem, a Jordanian
student doing her Masters in International Management for the
Middle East at the School of Oriental and African Studies
argued: “How come such a modern country still did not figure
out how to have a mixed water tap in the washing basin!”
In
London, if the hot water goes down, it might take weeks before
it is repaired. This becomes a serious problem once the
temperature drops sharply during the winter season. Plumbers
are relatively few here since most British prefer to have an
office job since almost everyone is entitled for a school
education.
“It is easier to get your heart fixed than to fix the plumbing
in your house,” said Steven, an English businessman.
