Composers

Hikmat Abou Shahla is a freshman at California State University, Chico. English is the second language for Hikmat after Arabic. Graduating from a public high school in a rural area in Lebanon, Hikmat had to work enhancing his English on his own when all his family members did not know any English. Hikmat lived in the US for a year during his junior year of high school in Oroville, CA where he managed to score over seven hundred hours of community service and managed to find time to share his culture with many hundreds of locals.

I am Sunshine Verma, and I am a passionate dancer who has started to enjoy writing. English has always been my strength in school, and now, I am able to showcase my strength and my love through this blog. I am not very sporty, but I do enjoy a game of ping pong or badminton. Music is my go-to best friend, whether I’m sad or happy. I love getting to know new people and making friends. I love horror movies, so I’m always ready to watch a good horror/thriller/slasher. 

My name is Mohammed Al-Qallaf, also known as “Moe” just as similar and miserable as the one from The Simpsons. I am a Kuwaiti student, currently at Chico State University. I am 18 years of age, allowing me to travel, book hotels alone and do other childish things that I would’ve dreamed of doing as a child. My biggest passions have always been football/soccer, shoes and music. I like to think I got this ability from my mother, but I can literally talk about these three ( and many other things ) for hours and hours. Every time I think of something, especially something I’m passionate about, I always disappear into my own dream land and just talk about the detail about the subject, and that’s why I enjoy this blog!

The writer is Khai Tran and he is currently a first-time freshmen at CSU Chico, majoring in computer Science. He is conducting an ethnographic study about the community of former expatriates on campus. As an international student from Vietnam and a young expat himself, Khai is excited to study more about life and experiences that many Americans have while spending a significant amount of time living and working outside the United States. He is joyful, relaxed, a truly global citizen who loves to learn new things everyday by connecting with people from different cultures and backgrounds.

I’m from Kuwait, and I’m here to go to school. I’m doing electrical engineering, and I’m planning to get my master’s degree after getting my bachelor’s degree from Chico State. I worked as a photographer in a company, and I played handball for 7 years. I fix my cars at home in my free time. I work on my project car every other day and it’s still sitting for 2 months without being driven.

My name is Sovannlina Hong, but I go by Lina. I’m from Cambodia in Southeast Asia, and I’m currently a freshman at CSU Chico. I’m a biology major specifically focusing on cellular and molecular biology. After getting a degree, I plan to attend medical school so I can become a pediatrician. I’ve been living in the United States for over a year with a very lovely host family, and I’m loving it! I enjoy playing various kind of sports but now I only play table tennis and I really enjoy it so much. I also love watching movies, listening to pop music, travelling, and learning new languages.

My name is Dasha Grigoreva. Originally, I’m from Moscow, Russia, but I like to say that I’m also from Australia since I lived there for so long.  I’m a  freshman at Chico State, and my major is Computer Animations and Game Development. In the future, my ultimate goal is to work for “Quantic Dream”, which is my favorite game development company. I enjoy playing video games (duh) and hanging out with puppies in my spare time. 

I am Salem Alzaabi from UAE and I study electrical engineering at CSU Chico. My goal is to get a bachelor’s degree in my major. I enjoy playing football and won many trophies with my high school team. In my free time, I like to hang out with my friends and watch football with them. There is a new certain habit starting to grow on me in the US, and that is drinking coffee all the time.

My name is Rashid Alkaabi. I am from the United Arab Emirates and I came to Chico to study at Chico State University. My major is Electronic/Electrical Engineering and my educational goal is to graduate with high grades. In high school, I was reading 4 books that contain more than 2000 pages while I was doing my finals and getting high scores. What I personally like to do when outside of being a college student is traveling with family or with my friends, play video games, play bowling, swimming, watch movies, reading novels, do the homework with my family and many different things.

I’m a proud patriot of the United Arab Emirates, born by the name Humaid Alkaabi that was given to me by my grandmother. I passed High school in my home and came to the US to continue my studies, and learn how to depend on myself. I came here with the sole purpose of getting my bachelor degree of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, and serve my home with all I’ve got. I was really happy and relieved when I got my High School certification, that allowed me to get a scholarship to study abroad. I try hard to be myself wherever I go, whether it was inside the University or in my home, I try my best to stay Humaid. I hate people that wear masks to satisfy other people, and I don’t want to be what I hate. Personally I like challenging people. I don’t care whether I lose or win, I just enjoy the challenge. 

I’m from United Arab Emirates and I am here to complete my studies in Electronic Engineering at CSU Chico States to graduate and complete my life journey. I accomplished my dream to study at the United States. I start with doing my own routine with going to the gym and watching some episodes at Netflix.

My name is Mohammed Alsubousi but I am always called Subousi. I am from the United Arab Emirates (UAE). I am here in CSU Chico on a scholarship. My major is Electrical/Electronics Engineering. My goal is to graduate and get my bachelor’s degree with a minimum of 3 on the GPA. My personal achievement is studying in the US because it gives me a chance to proving myself to my parents and my siblings, and it helps become independent at a young age. I am an easy-going guy that likes to talk, laugh, and have fun. If someone wanted help or just to hang out I rarely say no. I like to cook and try new things. 

My name is Hamad Alkaabi. I’m 21 years old and I come from the Untied Arab Emirates in the lovely city Dubai. I came to Chico 2 years ago to study Electronic Engineering, yeah I’m a little nerdy but I enjoy outside activities. Like hiking, laying on the beach,and shopping. I know how to have fun During vacations, just point at the map and leave the rest for me.

My nationality is from India but I have lived my whole life in the United Arab Emirates. I major in computer science. My goal is to the best computer engineer and earn a lot of money. I feel that my level of enthusiasm is very high and sometimes uncomparable. I am an easy-going guy who always smiles and can have fun without breaking any laws of the state. My hobbies are reading, watching movies, listening to music, and definitely to make people laugh but not at me. I don’t play a lot of sports but I love to watch it with my friends. 

My name is Dhruv Bahl, and currently I am an international student at Chico State. People here call me D (the letter). I know it sounds so weird right? Well people here have problem saying D and H together. Anyways, about myself. I am from India and I love playing soccer and debating. I have been in US of A before as a tourist but as a student it is my first time and I am loving my college life here. I have a goofy personality and doesn’t wanna settle at one place. I am a party animal and love traveling. I am one of the biggest foodies you will ever know.

My name is Mohammed Almheiri and I’m from the United Arab Emirates. I’m here to get my  bachelor’s degree at CSU Chico and my goal is to get my degree and complete a master’s degree in Los Angeles and make my parents proud. I like to play video games and upgrade my car with parts that will give it more boost. I also love watching youtube while drinking coffee and eating donuts.