Report:InternshipESDU

ClaireFriedrichsen,PhDAmericanUniversityofBeirut

June2019

Acknowledgements

ThankyoutoDr.ShadiHamadehandtheESDUteam.IcouldnotbemoregratefulforthehospitalityandgenerosityyougavemeduringmytimeinLebanon.MyfavoritemomentsofmytripincludecampingwithHindandvisitingChouwenlake,tastingeveryproductatthesoukonSaturdaymorningwithNadim,visitingEco-Khallehandlearningabouttheenvironmentaleducationmovement,tourofcommunitiesinBeqaawithOmar,eatingmanouchealongsidetheroadwiththeCLIMATprojectteam,winetastingwithCLIMATprojectteam,andthewonderfultourofBaalbekwithHaydar.Imadesomelifetimefriendshipsandcollaborations,whichwillcontinuetobuildandfosterovermylifetime.

Iwasabletotastemanyheritage/localfoodsofLebanonincludingwine,mouneh,freshlemonade,roseandzataricecream,carobmolasses,Sheeha,tabbouleh,stuffedcabbage,andgrapeleaves.IreallyappreciatehowLebanesefoodsuseacidwithintheircuisinemakingituniquetoanyothercuisineIhavetasted.IhopethatESDUisabletocontinuetobuildtheirrelationshipwithSlowfoodtobeabletopreserve,buildandpromoteincreasedtourismsurroundingheritage/localfoods.IfearthatfastfoodischangingtheabilityofthenextgenerationtobeabletosupportafoodsovereignLebanesenation.

IwisheveryAmericanhadtheopportunityIhadtocometoLebanontobuildfriendshipsandunderstandthecomplexhistoryandcultureofthecommunities.UnderstandingtherefugeecrisisandtheimpactoftheCivilwarhashelpedmebetterunderstandtheinterconnectionbetweenconflict,theenvironment,andfood.IncreasedunderstandingbetweencommunitiesintheMiddleEastandAmericawouldhelpcreatepeaceandpreventfutureconflictsandwecouldworktogethertotacklethedifficultproblemsoffood,water,communityhealth,energyandtheenvironmentalconservation.IhopemyvisitandinternshipisjustastarttobuildingastrongpartnershipbetweentheUniversityofFloridaandtheAmericanUniversityofBeirut. ThankyouMabelleforyourcoordination,logisticsandhostingmeatESDU.Iknowthatthistimewasabusytimeforyouasyouprepareforyourdefense.GoodLuck!Ican’twaittocontinuefosteringourcollaborationinthefuture.

Finally,IwouldliketosaythankyoutoShadiforyoureffortstopushforachangewithinthefoodsystemofLebanon.Iknowthatyoureffortswillpayoffintheendhelpingtopromoteenvironmentalconservationandthepromotionandevolutionoflocalfoodtosupportafoodsovereignnation.Thepathisdifficultandtwistedbutincreasedcollaborationbetweeneffortsacrossnationsandinstitutionswillhelpustomakeasolidcountermovement.IknowthatwithdevotedeffortandclearvisionKarianetwillbecometheoutreachtoolthatyoudreamittobe.Thankyou!

TraditionalFoodsofBaalbekwithHaydar CelebratingImportantLifeMomentsintheESDUoffice

Eco-KhallehKitchenLaunchCelebration NewFriendshipsatESDU

UnderstandingLocalAgriculture-WineryTourwithESDU

LocalOrganicFoodProductionatEco-Khalleh

TraditionalMountainFoodandCampingwithHind VisittoAREC

SeminarPresentation CLIMATDemoPlotTour

LocalFoodTastingandFarmersmarketwithNadim UnderstandingRefugeeFoodSystems:Bourj

HammoudFoodTour