Scribbles

Continuing with my previous post, I was saying that one of INSEAD’s great traditions is the national weeks run by different students. Throughout the week, the students organize a ton of activities related to their nationalities. Usually there are corporate sponsors that support us, as well as some budget allocated by the student council (so don’t forget to pay your student dues.) The funds help pay for the food, decorations, and even raffled prizes. Some people won plane tickets to goto Beirut.

The week kicked off with a practice known as “Amphi Storming.” (Our courses all take place in amphi-theaters. Each section, 4 per promotion, has an assigned home amphi for all its classes.) In between classes, the Lebanese gang stormed our amphi with a brief presentation of all the upcoming events for the week followed by music and dancing. Another part of the tradition is to address our professors in Lebanese (istez) for the whole week. We also all received in our pigeon holes (what they call our mailboxes on campus) a name plate written with our names in Arabic. (On top of assigned amphi’s, we have a seating chart and laminated name plates so the professors can get to know us.) Here’s mine below.  I couldn’t resist scribbling my name in Chinese underneath.

During the week, we sampled tons of ethnic foods. We had a traditional Lebanese breakfast, a shawarma (middle eastern pita sandwich) lunch, desserts like baklava, and some beverages made from syrups that I don’t recall the name of. They even served Lebanese food in the cafeteria. As far as events went, there were backgammon competitions, the belly dancing performance and competition. We even smoked hookah (no hashish involved) and drank Arak while playing backgammon matches.

Lebanese week ended with a chateau dinner and party. From what I heard, some great times there. Next up is the Indian-Pakistani week (yes, we do really get along). I’m looking forward to some good food; it’s been a while since I last enjoyed real Indian cuisine.