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Report: Internship ESDU Claire Friedrichsen, PhD American University of Beirut June 2019
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
