We were delighted to host Dr. Hajjar on September 16, 2016 at the Lebanese American University (LAU).

Dr. Hajjar addressed LAU students at her lecture entitled “Speaking for Beirut: Woman, War, and the City in the Narrative of the Lebanese Australian Female Novelist, Nada Awar Jarrar.” During the lecture several themes were discussed namely war and women, the main difficulties women faced in war-torn Beirut, and how they dealt with the challenges. Dr. Hajjar also shared with the students her personal experience as a Lebanese living in Australia!

“I wonder how my parents of all people could think that leaving this place would be easy? It was difficult the first time and it would be worse now. I have my doubts just like everyone else but I can’t imagine myself being elsewhere any more. Nothing feels certain or even real when I’m away from here”. Nada Anwar Jarrar.

Dr. Nijmeh Hajjar quoting , the journalis’ sentiments which resonate with a lot of Lebanese that are fed up with our failed state, rising insecurity, corruption, gender based violence, and women oppression, yet we find it extremely difficult, unbearable even, to leave our Lebanon.