World@VCU: Ali Ansari in Afghanistan -VCU News

Ali Ansari is registered with Geo’s English program. (Thomas Kojcsich, Enterprise Marketing and Communications)

By staff at the Global Education Office

World@VCU is a VCU news feature in collaboration with Global Education Office, which highlights students from around the world who enrich the VCU community. Ali Ansari is registered with Geo’s English program.

What should we know about your home country?

Afghanistan has a rich culture. This is a diverse combination of ethnic groups that have lived in peace for many years. We were also home to a variety of religious communities, including Muslims, Christians, Jews and Hindus who coexisted for centuries before the conflicts of the past 40 years. Furthermore, we would like to clarify that we do not speak Arabic in Afghanistan. Our main languages ​​are Persian, especially Dali dialects and Pashto, have roots in Persian language.

What inspired you to study at VCU?

I was born in Afghanistan during the war and grew up there until I was 13 years old. As an Afghan refugee in Iran, I had no right to study. A few years later, I moved to Türkiye, where I had no idea about the language or culture. I had to start from scratch. A few more years later, I moved back to Greece. I stayed for a year and then travelled to North Macedonia, Serbia, Hungary and finally Austria with my backpack. This became my home from 2015 to 2022. The VCU is part of my journey.

Tell us about your favorite memories and experiences here in the US

At VCU, we appreciate diversity and enjoy meeting so many international students. There are also many opportunities to study and grow at VCU.

Did you experience any surprises while studying abroad?

I didn’t expect there to be that many events at the school. I also love seeing all the activities in the gym.

Share something about important results or projects.

My wife, Olivia and I started a business that supports small businesses and women in Afghanistan, especially those who lost their jobs after the change of government. We are extremely pleased that our business will have a positive impact on people’s lives. Help Afghan families put food on the table all the way from Richmond. They appreciate this support and hope that our business will continue to grow and offer our children. This is truly an impact on the community and we are proud to be part of it.

What do you want to do in your free time?

trip. I would like to spend some time traveling with Olivia all over the United States and learn more about beautiful countries.

You can get a glimpse into your future.

I would like to pursue a bachelor’s degree in political science and Chinese to serve the community I live in. I also want to use the languages ​​I speak (Dali, Persian, Turkish, German, English) to help others.

Do you have any advice for international students just beginning their journey?

Make the most of your opportunities. Learn new things and work hard for several years to complete your degree. To some extent, many opportunities will come in your way. You can use your success to inspire others in your community to work hard too. Prioritizing education can help your people and your country. Studying isn’t easy, but it’s incredibly rewarding and I love to learn. When I was a child in Afghanistan, my grandfather would say in Persian, Benevis, Benevis ta Bashavid quad quad nevis – that means “writing and writing until you become a writer.”