Pittsburgh Exchange Trip
From StudentOrganization
Pittsburgh Exchange Trips
Since the beginning of the university in 2003, Student Affairs has been sending groups of students from the Qatar campus to the main campus in Pittsburgh. Organization of these trips has increased over the years, incorporating service learning and themes. Here's a history of what the trips have looked like! If you've participated in one of these trips, please feel free to add your perspective.
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PET January 2008: Arts & Entertainment
From January 6 thru 14, 2008, a group of 15 students chaperoned by Greg Smith and Darbi Roberts, Student Development Coordinators for the Office of Student Activities, went to Pittsburgh for the Winter trip. The theme of the trip is Arts & Entertainment, and the group explored what those two subjects look like in Pittsburgh as well as engage in Summit, a 3-day mini course put on by students at the Pittsburgh campus before the start of Spring classes.
Museums visited include:
- Andy Warhol Museum
- Carnegie Museum of Natural History
- Carnegie Museum of Art
- Carnegie Science Center: Bodies Exhibit
- Phipps Conservatory
- Heinz History Center
The group also saw a performance by the traveling Second City company called "Three Rivers Runs Through It" and Disney's "The Lion King."
After the first 3 days of cultural exploration, 10 students headed off to Summit, and 5 students headed off to Odyssey, a sophomore program for high-achieving students. After both programs were over, the group spent their last day going to various religious services, having lunch at the grand concourse, and going up the Monogahela incline to Mt. Washington where you can have the best view of Pittsburgh.
PET Spring Break 2007: Service Learning
During Spring Break, March 2007, 10 students and 2 chaperones made a trip to the Pittsburgh campus to engage in service at the university as well as interact with students from the main campus. They spent some time cleaning out the basements of some old houses on the South Side, had seminars and other workshops with the Pittsburgh students, and other cultural experiences. Of particular note was the Sunday morning church service they attended at Mr. Ararat Baptist Church, where they were received with open arms and a standing ovation. Participants included (some pictured right): Fatima Al-Rumaihi, Hala Abbas, Maha Al Khulaifi, Mehrumissa Anis, Mustafa Hasnain, Nasreen Zahan, Sahrr Malik, and Walid Khwaja.
PET January 2007: Summit
A group of 10 students and 2 chaperones made their way to Pittsburgh in the blistering cold the first week of classes in January. Half of the trip was spent taking part in Summit, a 3-day collection of workshops and classes that teach everything from massage therapy to gun shooting. This was the first time students from Doha took part in Summit in Pittsburgh (it was only the 2nd year that Summit even existed!). The Qatar students gave a presentation about their campus at the end of the week and formed great bonds with the students from Pittsburgh. One of the great highlights for the Qatar students was that they got the chance to go skiing for the first time! Participants included: Aman Bashir, Dana Hadan, Kaleem Rahman, Maha Mahmoud, Naif Al-kaabi, Noor Al-Jassim, Rana El Sakhawy, Rezwan Al Islam, and Yasser Khan.
PET Spring Break 2006
Only the second time students were taken to the PGH campus for spring break, the trip again proved successful. Chaperone was Kristin Gilmore and participants included Imran Karim, Maryam Chadna, Lina Manshawy, Basit Iqbal, Yousef Al-Sabeh, Samiha Kamel, Mona Maher, Hicham Nedjari, and Reem Khaled.
PET January 2006: Summit
The second trip to Pittsburgh with Qatar students was a hit as students were given the chance to participate in the Summit Conference. Summit is a 3-day workshop where students can learn about anything from massage therapy to gun shooting. This was only the 2nd year in a row the conference was offered, so it was monumental that we participated in the conference the 2nd year of its existence. You can learn more about the conference on the webpage. Participants included Anas Al Qamar, Mohammed Abou Zeinab, and Mustafa Hasnain.
PET Spring Break 2005
The first trip to Pittsburgh with students from Qatar was definitely a landmark event. Little is known about what happened, where they went, who they met, or what they did, but we can say for sure it was a good learning experience for all! Participants indluded: Wesam Said, Yasmine Abdelrahman, Fahad Al-Jefairi, Noor Al-Ansari, and Maha Obaidan.
