Anaïs Arnopoulos
My name is Anaïs Arnopoulos. My family is originally from France and Greece, but I grew up in Cameroon. I then moved to London to study my bachelor’s degree and have found a home in Madrid as a student of the Master in International Development at IE University. In my free time I love to travel and learn about new things. I also love meeting new people, playing the piano and taking pictures. Since arriving in Madrid, I’ve had the opportunity to hear a talk given by the UN Deputy Secretary General, make new lifelong friendships and discover a love for salsa dancing!
“The best part of studying at IE is meeting different people from all over the world and learning from their experiences, their passions, and their goals for the future.”
From Cameroon to London to Madrid: Anaïs Arnopoulos talks about her experience at IE University
With family ties in the French Basque Country, Anaïs was initially drawn to IE University due to its location in Madrid. Little did she know she would find a master’s program that fit both her professional and academic needs while also allowing her to meet people from all over the world. From professors to classmates, she feels as though she’s made human connections for life.
Anaïs comes from a French and Greek family, but spent most of her life living in Cameroon where she attended the American School of Douala. After high school, she moved to London to study international relations at the School of Oriental and African Studies.
While her bachelor’s program was heavily based in theory, Anaïs found IE University’s practical approach to education extremely rewarding. In a field like international development, the ability to learn from professors who are also professionals in the field is an invaluable asset. She was also drawn to IE University because of the option to complete a capstone project with a development agency or organization. Having worked throughout her undergraduate degree, Anaïs is well versed in the benefits professional experience can bring to one’s education. Of course, IE University’s partnership with the United Nations also piqued her attention. She hopes this additional detail will open many doors for her in the future.
“My experience at IE so far has been nothing short of amazing.”
Although she has plenty of time left at IE University to explore the wide variety of courses available in the Master in International Development, Anaïs says that her favorite class so far has been Human Rights. In addition to her coursework, she enjoys attending other events available to students, such as a seminar on children's rights led by her Human Rights professor or a talk held by Amina Mohammed, the UN deputy secretary general. She has even discovered a love for hiking and gone on a few excursions with IE University’s hiking society. Staying active is an important part of the IE Experience, as it helps improve a student’s overall well-being.
Apart from a variety of academic opportunities, Anaïs says that one of the best parts of studying at IE University is meeting diverse people from all over the world who bring their unique experiences to the community. A deeply empathetic person, she loves learning new things from the people around her, something she gets to do often in such an international environment.
What better place to explore with new friends than Madrid, which Anaïs describes as having “all the benefits of a big city while being a human-sized city—anyone can feel at home right away.” Some of her favorite things to do in Madrid include exploring El Rastro on Sunday mornings or finding new bars and vintage shops in the La Latina neighborhood. One thing Anaïs recommends all new students try while in Madrid is salsa dancing. Her favorite salsa bar—El Son—is where you can find her relaxing with friends on the weekend.
