Marie Hélène arrived in Beirut a few weeks ago. So did her friend Magalie. Both young women are studying in Paris. Marie-Hélène in Literature at the Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales (EHESS) : she is currently doing research for her last year project. As for Magalie, she is studying psychology. Both of them chose complex study fields. Magalie, the brunette one, explains why she actually chose to study psychology in this specific French university and not somewhere else: she was looking for a European approach of psychology instead of the American approach, which "over promotes neurosciences", she says. To Magalie, first comes the patient. She prefered studying human beings.

What can't be denied though, is that these girls knows about being good-looking. Our interview started with a 10-minute-long tchat about manicures. But then it lead us to plastic surgery. Marie Hélène and her friend are wondering why it is so popular in Lebanon. Magalie is mad about the ads on Middle East Airlines flights, which show plastic surgery as one of the Lebanese specialties, between the Chouf and the Corniche. Marie- Hélène is convinced that this fad has something to do with the small amount of men in Lebanon, as well as with « boredom, this Romantic sickness». Magalie is very serious about the issue « It's linked to the war, this death culture, and to me it appears just like doping. Women here have to face strong competition ». Marie Hélène adds « I'm 25. When I'm going out with girls from here, I feel like a 60 years old woman ».

Talking about there scholarship, Magalie explains that she spent one year in the very Parisian Pasteur high school. She has two sisters and all of them were raised like boys by their father who wanted to make them independant and ambitious. Marie-Hélène a complete different story. She studied Law at the USJ, and lost her ideals by dint of hearing talking about corruption instead of laws. « And it was also a bit too easy » underlines the blond-haired young woman. She decided to focus on literature. That's probably the reason why she quotes Albert Camus. Leaving Beirut to Paris was complicated for Magalie. Though the EHESS is not really well known in Lebanon, it is an excellent and prestigious school in Paris. But Magalie is an only child and she has exclusive bounds to her roots, her family and friends.  So, leaving the country has been difficult for her.

Regarding the future, these two brillant women are well-resolved. They are convinced that Lebanon is evolving in a good way. However, both are convinced that it will take time for their country to overcome its issue such as sectarianism, demographic issue, instability, inefficiency... But they are still proud of being Lebanese, and think of staying in Beirut instead of leaving for the Emirates or Europe.

Marie Hélène wants to have her own art gallery in the Lebanese capital where « young artists no matter their citizenship can have a start ». She also wants « 4 beautiful blond-haired boys » she says, laughing. Magalie asserts with nerve : « My future is brillant, I have a carrer plan: 10 years of practising psychology in Paris, and then I'll come back to create the adapted structure for psychological patients here ». As far as marriage is concerned, she answers « Married? Well in 10 years... probably. But it's not my priority».