INTERVIEW WITH EBRAHIM AL-AGHBARI
I’m Ebrahim from Yemen. I came in October 2023 to study Print Media Technologies at the Hochschule der Medien in Stuttgart. I will tell you a little bit about my country and its capital, which have been recently all over the news, and I will let you know why I specifically chose a Bachelor programme of Engineering in Print Media Technologies at Hochschule der Medien in Stuttgart, and I hope I will encourage you to do likewise.
My home country Yemen is an ancient place that dates back way before antiquity; it is the cradle of Arab language and culture, the very place where the ancient Arab tribes started to build the legendary city of Saana. Sanaa is one of the highest capital cities in the world and is located next to the Sarawat Mountains of Jabal An-Nabi Shu’ayb and Jabal Tiyal, considered to be the highest mountains in the Arabian Peninsula and one of the highest in the region. Sanaa has a population of approximately 3.2 million people, making it the largest city in Yemen.
The old city of Sanaa, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has a distinctive character; it is plastered with thousands of medieval palaces. According to tradition Sanaa was founded at the base of the mountains of Jabal Nuqum by Shem, the son of Noah, after the latter’s death. The name Sanaa is probably derived from the Sabaic root ṣn, meaning “well-fortified.”.
In 2004, Sanaa was chosen as the Arab Cultural Capital by the Arab League. But unfortunately, during the conflict in 2015, explosives hit UNESCO sites in the old city, destroying many irretrievable treasures. In late 2017, the “Battle of Saana” broke out between the Houthis and forces loyal to former President Saleh, who was killed.
Today (2024), Sanaa is facing a severe water crisis, with water being extracted from its aquifer three times faster than it is being replenished. The city is predicted to run out of water completely by 2030, making it the first national capital in the world to do so. Access to drinking water in Yemen is limited, and there are problems with our water quality.
To make a long story short, I left my country because of the constant wars and conflicts, the lack of prospects, the lack of jobs, and the lack of opportunities. After having arrived in Germany, the country of my destiny, I began my life as a student again after more than three years of working experience since I finished my first bachelor degree (MIS) in 2020, so starting again from scratch and getting back into the learning routine was and still is a challenge for me.
Print Media Technologies is a programme that I have been looking for a long time. I have always loved printing, packaging engineering, advertising, and everything that’s specialized in printing and paper. The programme is unique not only in Germany and offers me and my student colleagues’ excellent future perspectives.
I am excited to have the opportunity to share my experiences with international students from 56 countries enrolled in the programme. In March, I will start my second semester here in Stuttgart, and I am confident that an excellent career path will open up for me due to the combination of my existing skills, my capabilities in communication, and the new academic skills that I will acquire at the Hochschule der Medien.
The Old City Of Sanaa