Author Archive for Observer Staff
Ranking concentrations at SAIS
By Robert McDonald
Southeast Asia, IDEV, STRAT and Korean Studies top student approval charts
For some, the concentration choice is nearly innate. An undergrad toiling over Swahili, 2 years of Peace Corps in Kenya, a passion for microfinance and a life size blow up doll of Amartya Sen in your bedroom meant you had IDEV tattooed [...]
International law and the realities of India
By Peter Rizov
Over the fall break, 20 students from the SAIS International Law and Organizations department flew to New Delhi to try and gain an insight into the realities, politics, and economics of life in India. After two days of tourism and five days of meetings, visits, and many questions I, for one, came away [...]
Looking for something to do? SAIS offers a variety of paid positions
By Jessica Lamberston
Switching from a full time career to a full time job as a student (as many SAISers do) can’t always be easy. Although studying new topics and class time full of discussions may be a great break from the drone of every day life, there is a certain strain on the pocketbook during [...]
Ask the SAIS Guy & Gal
Each month, the SAIS Guy and Gal sit down and answer your questions about life, love, and change. Yes, they can!
Dear SAIS Guy:
Dear SAIS Guy (why does it say SAIS Gal up there??):
I’m stressed. I’m not sure why. I know it’s not my responsibilities as an editor for the SAIS Observer, I got Andre doing all [...]
Fun, competition, and deliciousness at the International Dinner
By Masha Bolotinskaya
The SAIS International Dinner traditionally takes place at a time when all students are crazy with the onset of finals. However counterintuitive, the dinner does provide much needed reprieve for the stressed and helps raise money for a great cause: the summer internship fund.
Thanks to the SAIS summer internship fund, this author took [...]
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Studying Strategy in Afghanistan
By Paul Kane
On 3 July, after sixteen hours in the air and one night in Dubai,fellow SAISer Gabe Serrato and I arrived at Kabul International Airport. After walking across the tarmac to the terminal, we cleared immigration, and met our point-of-contact, an Afghan contractor. An armored Toyota Land Cruiser shuttled us to a compound not [...]
Politics in Moscow
By Nadine Szablya
This summer in Moscow I shared a two-bedroom apartment with a 45-ish year old writer and professor of history and political science and her 20-year-old daughter. We lived in an old Soviet-style apartment building with 18 floors and closet-sized elevators made to hold approximately two people and one tiny dog. The apartment itself [...]
Two for one: first year, Bologna reps share thoughts
By Jinny Lee
I had the opportunity to interview new SGA representatives Larina Helm, the Bologna Representative, and Sean Healey, one of two first year representatives. What follows is the personal interviews of these two new SAIS figures in the SGA.
Jinny: Tell us a bit about your background.
Larina: I’m from Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. I studied international [...]
Interview with SGA Vice President Sebastian Muehlbauer
By Chris Liu
Sebastian Muehlbauer is from Vienna, Austria and naturally grew up with a passion for classical music. He sang in a choir since he was 12 and was the singer for a rock band for 2 years. As he grew older, Sebastian also began to explore a wide variety of other interests and initially [...]