Work

I consider myself lucky being assigned to do my internship at 109 Architectes. The architectural bureau 109 Architectes consist of 6 people, with whom I worked closely for 7 weeks in the most wonderful working atmosphere. I worked on a preliminary design for a project that the company has been working on at the time. I did the same amount of the work like the rest of the employees, with the same importance, for which I'm very grateful, as they gave me huge trust, even though I didn't have much experience. I learned a lot not only in the field of architecture, but I also learned how the business is managed, observing my bosses, who were outstanding mentors. The team always made sure I feel comfortable and welcome, speaking English most of the time, even between themselves, whenever I was around, so I don't feel excluded. We had the most pleasant lunch breaks, getting to know them and their country. This experience was rewarding not only for my future as an architect but also as a person since I'm lucky that my mentors became also my friends.

Experience

I stayed at the AUB (American University of Beirut) dorms, in one of the busiest neighbourhoods in Beirut, close to the coast and only a 10-minute walk to the city centre. AUB is considered to be one of the best universities in the Middle East, so my campus life was very comfortable, with everything that I needed close to the dorms (supermarket, fast food, restaurants, bars, gym, swimming pool, beach, hospital...). The rooms are two-bed, with the shared bathroom, kitchen and laundry per floor, not very modern, but everything worked perfectly and it was really really clean. During the weekdays, after work I was all the time with my friends, going to the gym, having dinner, going out or just doing laundry and shopping for groceries. There were 15 of IAESTE interns, but I also made friends with some students from AUB that were staying in the same dorm. IAESTE Lebanon didn't organize any trips or events, but maybe it was for the best since we managed to do that by ourselves and we experienced a lot more than we would if they organized everything. Lebanon is a small country so we got to visit almost every city during our weekend trips, and also went hiking and exploring nature - seaside and the mountains. Nightlife in Lebanon is amazing, a lot of great clubs, parties, friendly and kind people everywhere. I experienced the country as a tourist and as a local with the help of my Lebanese friends who treated me in the most hospitable way.

Discover

The summer I spent in Lebanon was the first time I was away from home for such a long time, and it was one of the most valuable experiences so far. I got to live alone in a country that has a different culture than mine, but I really felt like at home from the first day. Every person that I met was so kind, ready to help me whenever I needed something and I felt very welcome and safe everywhere I went. What I learned about myself is that I really know how to enjoy things in life, and the fact that I feel like I made the most out of every single day during my internship, proves it. IAESTE helped me broaden my international social network, and now I feel like it's easier than ever to travel or find a job in a foreign country since I met a lot of people around the world.