Where are you from, and where did you grow up?
I am half Dutch and half Lebanese. I spent most of my childhood living in Paris until my family and I moved to Rhode Island, in the United States, when I was 11. Once I graduated from high school, my family moved to Singapore and I left to come to Parsons.
What languages do you speak?
I speak French and English.
Do you feel at home in Paris?
I definitely feel at home in Paris. Although my first year was not great due to my living situation, I do feel comfortable here not only because of the city’s walking culture but also because I lived here before and therefore have family and friends to fall back on when I feel homesick.
How does Paris inspire you in your work?
What inspires me the most is the small art galleries and art book shops that Paris has. I feel that these types of resources have most certainly helped me in my work.
What is your favorite class?
My favorite class so far was Marketing, PR, and Branding. I really enjoyed how the class functioned around several case studies. This allowed me to not only learn about the subjects in an academic setting but also apply my new knowledge to real-life scenarios. In addition, we received feedback from the companies we worked with along the way, which made it all the more fun, as it felt like we were working for them.
Have you done any internships?
Yes; I’ve done a few internships since I’ve been at Parsons. My favorite experience so far was working with Reese Cooper. I helped them with their show last January and loved it. I built great relationships and learned a lot about all the different departments that contribute to making a fashion show happen.
What is your housing situation in Paris?
Currently I live with two roommates in the 9th. Both roommates (Carolina Baldor and Alina Mufti)[1] are Parsons students. What I really enjoy about our living situation is that we each are doing different majors so our dinner conversations are always fun and insightful.
What does your typical weekend look like?
As we are in COVID times, on the weekend, my roommates and I like to walk around our neighborhood, grab some food, and sit on the steps of Sacré-Cœur. It’s a beautiful view, overlooking the whole city, and as there are no tourists, we take advantage of the empty streets. Montmartre now feels like a little French village.
Another example would be going for a bike ride on the quay along the Seine with a few friends or walking around Le Marais and going shopping.
Do you have any hobbies?
Recently I bought a bike (very impulsively), so instead of taking the metro everywhere, now my new form of transportation is by bike. I also take Zumba and yoga classes once in a while, so that I can meet new people outside of school. On the side, I also write articles for my blog about postmodern feminism and attempt to break down taboo subjects.
What advice would you give incoming students?
Some advice I have for incoming students is to take advantage of the city as much as possible. Sign up for sports teams, cooking classes, a mah-jongg group, etc. This will allow you to meet new people and integrate yourself into French/European culture as much as possible.