Please introduce yourself.
Mohammad Abuabiah. – “My name is Mohammed, I have come from Palestine and I have lived in Luxembourg since 2021. It was on this date that I joined the University of Luxembourg as a postdocho. In parallel, I am also a professor assistant at the National University An-Najah, in Palestine. Before that, I obtained a master’s degree and then a doctorate in mecatronic engineering at Politecnico di Torino, Italy, with work carried out in various fields such as automotive robotics. Since my arrival in Luxembourg, I have focused on additive manufacturing, and more particularly on metal additive manufacturing.
Is this like 3D printing?
Yes, with metal.
Italy, Palestine, have you lived elsewhere?
“No, only Italy, Palestine, and now Luxembourg. But I have visited many countries for conferences in Europe, the United States, Australia, but just for short-term stays.
And how did you find the postdocho the opportunity in Luxembourg?
“It’s a pretty funny story!” It was in 2021, in the middle of Cavid. I was teaching at university, but as everything was closed, I gave my distance lessons. And you know what we are doing when we get bored? We go to social networks. I surfaces on LinkedIn when I came across an ad: the University of Luxembourg was looking for a postdoc in control engineering. I said to myself: why not?
And there, I was lazy. There were two options: send my own CV or let LinkedIn generate one automatically. I clicked on the second option. It went quickly … and obviously, it worked!
Two months later, I receive a call from a foreign number. I pick up. The voice on the phone said to me: “I am a professor at the University of Luxembourg. Do you have 30 minutes for an interview? You applied here.” I answer: Yes, of course … but I had completely forgotten that I applied!
I start to do research: What is the University of Luxembourg? Where is Luxembourg, exactly? I was convinced that it was a city in Belgium! [Il rit.] The interview with the teacher goes very well. He talks to me about the project, we exchange, it was pleasant. And at the end of the call, he tells me that there will probably be a second interview, that my file will be examined, etc.
But as I told you … I was lazy. So I ask him a direct question: “I know it may be unusual, but can I know the result now? Because between the visa, the preparation, and the fact that I am married to children, I would like to be able to anticipate.”
He laughs – he is German – and replies that normally, you have to follow all the steps. But I said to him, “You had my CV, we talked for 30 minutes, you have the essential … So, your opinion?” And there, he says to me laughing: “Ok, prepare your visa.”
I get up immediately, I will see my wife and I say to her: let’s suit our suitcases, we go to Luxembourg. She believes that I am kidding, because we had never talked about it. But no, I was serious. And that’s how it all started. I came for a contract of a year and a half … and today, it’s been four years already. And the adventure continues.
And your wife agreed with the plan?
“Yes yes. I had a child at the time, and in 2023 I had another here in Luxembourg. So, yes. I settled.
So you had never visited Luxembourg before deciding to come here?
“No, I had never come before. And it was in the middle of a covid period, so there was no exploratory visit before my installation either. It was necessary to move immediately – no possibility of coming to spot the places and then to leave. I even was lucky to find a flight at the time. The strategy was simple: to come and live.
And what were your first impressions?
“My first impression is that it was really calm – a peaceful city on a human scale. I was a little afraid of the question of languages. I had lived six years in Italy, where we speak mainly Italian, and I had fought a little to adapt to the beginning. But here, I was pleasantly surprised: everyone speaks English without problem. It’s very international, we hear a lot of different languages. So I had a very good impression from the start. The climate, however … a little cold!
Even if I arrived in July, it was raining. This is one of my first memories! And then we had to get used to free transport. As I told you, I knew nothing about Luxembourg. When I arrived, I was looking for where to buy bus tickets … and I discovered that everything was free. That too was a nice surprise.
What about arrival and installation?
“To get my visa, it was not easy. Unfortunately, there is no Palestinian embassy in Luxembourg: it is the Belgian Embassy that manages requests. We must therefore submit a request as if we were going to Belgium, then convince that in reality, we want to go to Luxembourg. All of this took about a month and a half. Once the visa in hand, I was able to reserve my flight.
Finding accommodation, however, was more complicated. Everything was done very quickly, I had not had time to contact an agency before arriving. So I spent three weeks looking for an apartment, praising an airbnb in the meantime. Fortunately, I came alone at first, without my family – it made things easier.
The university has also been of great support. She grants new arrivals for two weeks to seek accommodation, without an obligation of presence on the campus. My supervisor was very understanding: he did not put any pressure on me, he knew that the search for accommodation could be difficult, and he even offered me his help by contacting people likely to love me. Finally, I found accommodation. And that’s when I told my family: “Now you can come.”
Cultural shocks or strange discoveries on Luxembourg?
“No … well, maybe two things that really surprised me. First, the fact that everything closes at 7 p.m.! It is not at all like in my country-there, [il rit] The stores only open at 7 p.m.! So necessarily, it was a shock. Fortunately, restaurants remain open after 7 p.m., which is appreciable the second thing is languages. I still remain impressed today by the way people here speak three, four languages with incredible ease. This is something that I have never seen elsewhere – neither in Germany, nor in Belgium, nor in Italy.
My son is at school and he learns new words all the time … But my wife and I never know if it’s French, Luxembourg or German! SO [il éclate de rire]we stick the word in a translator with automatic detection, just to know what language it is! It’s amazing, really. And seeing my son starting to speak all these languages is great.
And in your daily life, what are the languages you use?
“I speak English. It is also the language that I use with my students – I give some lessons here at the University of Luxembourg. We can express themselves freely in English: Luxembourg is a multinational country, and the university is just as much. A semester, I had 26 students… and among them, 19 different nationalities! Can you imagine? And all spoke English. The English -speaking ecosystem here is really excellent, it works very well. Of course, in grocery stores, we especially hear French … but even bus drivers can speak English.
Between Palestine, Italy and Luxembourg, what are the differences in professional culture that you observed?
“The atmosphere in Italy is very friendly … It is a culture that suits young people, say. There is a real festive spirit. In Palestine, it’s stricter: there are rules, and you have to follow them. You always have to stay very professional. Luxembourg is somewhere between the two. And that’s exactly what I need today. I am a parent now, and it’s nice to evolve in a professional environment, but not too rigid … nor too relaxed either! [Il rit.] A good balance, in short. It is ideal, especially for people who come to settle here.
Do you find that Luxembourg is suitable for children?
“Yes, absolutely. What I noticed first is that there are playgrounds everywhere. No matter where you are going, you always find one – and my children love it. There are also very beautiful pedestrian areas, without traffic, as in Hamilius, where I can let my children run freely without fear. Before, we were in the Netherlands-with all the bikes, I was constantly worried about my children. In Italy too, there was a lot of traffic. But here, no: it’s more peaceful, safer.
And then there are schools. They are very good, just like nurseries and children’s gardens. My wife and I even had our second child here in Luxembourg. We were a little worried at the start, because we have no family on the spot … but everything went very well. The process was clear, well organized. We felt taken care of from the first day. And even after birth, for three months, professionals came to visit us at home.
How is food here?
“I lived in Italy, a country renowned for its gastronomy … so to be honest, I had a little trouble with food here in Luxembourg! Maybe there is not as much variety … In any case, I remain faithful to Italian cuisine-and to Italian restaurants! But it is also one of the good things here: there is not a single dominant cuisine. If you like Italian, you find Italian restaurants. You also have Turkish, Syrian cuisine – which reminds me of me -, Indian … There is really everything. The Luxembourg cuisine, on the other hand … Let’s say it’s a little more difficult for me! [Il rit.] That’s all I can say.
And I think you said it was a little cold?
“Yes, more than a little, actually!” Winter is really gray. Last week again, it was raining … I sent a photo to my parents in Palestine saying to them: Look, it’s raining – and here, we are in summer!
But sometimes the weather is nice. In Palestine, we can reach 45 degrees – we literally grill. So here, even if it’s not very hot, it’s refreshing. Let’s say that if it is not raining, it’s a great day! But you have to be honest: there are more dark days than sunny days.
Is there anything you would like to add and that I didn’t ask you?
“If you allow me, I would like to approach an important subject. I live today in a stable, peaceful, really pleasant environment here in Luxembourg – a multinational and serene country. But I cannot forget my family, my parents, my friends, my students, who live in Palestine, in a context that is neither stable nor peaceful. Let’s not forget them. I hope that one day, they too will be able to know this stability, this freedom, this peace – and that everyone can enjoy, without distinction, of the same human rights. ”
This article was originally written in English and translated and published in French.
