Photo of the Week
Every year CET’s staff takes one week away from their offices across the planet to meet, review, plan, and share best practices. Named “RD Gras” in honor of our Resident Directors (RD’s), this week has evolved to become a great annual event for all staff. This year, thanks to our staff who work on Italy programs, we were able to take RD Gras on the road to Florence, Italy. 40+ staff representing every CET program location attended. On our last day, we toured Siena and took this group photo in the beautiful Piazza del Campo. There were lots of great pictures, but this one best captures the spirit of that week. Here’s to the CET staff!
Monks Are People Too
Posted by Ingrid Lombardo, CET China Programs Manager
It was a normal Friday afternoon at Beijing International Airport on 7/29/11. I was in line to go through immigration for my flight home from China. Just when I thought the fun was over, I noticed a dozen well-toned young men, dressed in blue knee socks and high-visibility, shoulder-exposing robes, going through immigration beside me. This produced many questions in me. For example, was it Halloween? No, it was July. With bodies made of iron, how did they get through the metal detectors? Lastly, as practicing Buddhists, once they achieve enlightenment, dol they still have to show their passports? These and other questions await you when you set foot in the Middle Kingdom.
Photo of the Week: We’ll miss you, Meredith!
Posted by Mark Lenhart, Director of CET Academic Programs
Best wishes to our amazing Europe and Middle East Student Services Manager, Meredith Akery! Meredith will soon begin a new job at George Washington University. It’s been a fast two+ years here at CET, but Meredith has really made her mark. We will miss her organization, speed, responsiveness, and humor. So will her students! Thank you, Meredith, and we look forward to seeing you at future burrito Fridays!
Photo of the Week: New Beginnings
Posted by Mark Lenhart, Director of CET Academic Programs
Pictured here are Dr. Elias Samo (Professor of International Relations), Dr. Assem Faress (CET Aleppo’s Academic Director), Dr. Sara Dumont (Director, AU Abroad), and Mark Hayes (Associate Director, AU Abroad). This week I had the pleasure of joining this group for a lovely dinner, hosted by Dr. Dumont. Although our program in Aleppo has been suspended, I’m pleased that this group is continuing to strengthen the academic ties between their respective institutions. We engaged in a wonderful discussion about an array of topics, including our shared hope that the CET Aleppo program can resume someday soon. Our students learned so much from their Syrian teachers and classmates—and they had so much more to learn before the program ended. As we parted ways with our Syrian friends, they gave us big hugs and said with happy confidence: “Next time in Halab!”
CET Academic Programs