What's in Their Bags?
Coming from all walks of life, the community here at AUP is a diverse, yet mysterious bunch. Taking a peak into five people's bags from this unique community shows just what is important to the people that surround us.
Training for the 2020 Olympics is not an easy task—See what helps keep Chiara focused to achieve her goals.
Image credit: Katie Zambrano
"I am Chiara Amor, a second-semester freshman here at AUP. I am a Phsycology major with a double minor in International Law and Philosophy. I moved to France from Sydney, Australia to pursue my international riding career and decided to study at AUP while training for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics."
Image credit: Katie Zambrano
"My bag is from a riding brand called Kingsland Equestrian; essentially, its sole purpose was for riding, but because I go from competitions to uni, I decided to make this bag my everyday essentials bag. It holds everything from my laptop, to helmet, to books, to spurs—basically my life!"
Image credit: Katie Zambrano
"The most important thing is my laptop, because I use it for everything: from school work to editing to DJing. If I lose the key on the green lanyard I am f*****! It opens a tack locker in Normandy which contains all of my things I need to ride—basically, all my money. I have a tiny bag within my big bag which holds my life essentials, like meds, extra pens, etc. It's easy because I can swap it from bag to bag. I also have my Buttons headphones because I like to listen to music whenever I can ... single handedly the greatest earphones I've ever had! My Mad Hatter keychain was a gift from my friend. I have a persona that everyone perceives me as the Mad Hatter because I have a collection of hats and I am kind of insane! My life pen is my Olympic pen. It motivates me, and I write all of big assignments and essays with it. It's always a steady reminder that, from uni, I will get to the Olympics."
Image credit: Katie Zambrano
"I have my tangle, which is literally called a Fidget Toy, to help reduce anxiety and stress... especially stress from teachers!"
AUP's junior representative dissects what is in her carry-all tote.
Image credit: Katie Zambrano
"I am Monique Callendar. I'm from DC by way of LA. I am a junior majoring in Psychology. I wanted to come to Paris, and AUP was an opportunity to do that. I like to keep things really simple when it comes to accessories ... [my bag] is very useful for carrying school supplies, and I don't have to worry about it getting dirty."
Image credit: Katie Zambrano
"I got my bag in LA from Trader Joe's—I love Trader Joe's! Ironically, I very rarely use it for groceries!"
Image credit: Katie Zambrano
"I have a folder with all of my papers from class because I have to read a lot of psych articles. I also have a pen and a highlighter for when I read said papers. I also keep a notebook with me for writing notes - not necessarily class notes. I have an extra battery and charging cable for my phone because I can't be without my phone! And obviously always have my keys and wallet. I think that's all I have! Right? Oh, and of course headphones... for obvious reasons. Also, I can't go without my eyedrops or chapstick because I wear contacts. For the chapstick, I have to keep my lips ready for when I meet Mr. Right on the streets! I live really close to campus and I don't like to lug a bunch of s*** around! I can always pop back home if I need anything."
As the Dean of Student Development, Kevin Fore is a busy man. Take a look at what he keeps in his backpack.
Image credit: Katie Zambrano
When asked if he always carries a bag, Kevin replies: "No. I usually bring it in when I'm doing work from home, or if I go to the gym."
Image credit: Katie Zambrano
Kevin keeps things simple by only carrying "gym clothes, a USB key, maybe a book, possibly a clementine, Kleenex, etc."
Image credit: Katie Zambrano
Kevin's favorite thing about his backpack is that "it has a lot of pockets and that it's green." What you will always find on Kevin is his wallet, phone, and keys—ironically, they are never in his bag!
Hopping from city to city, Cristobal Lans is always on the move. See what he holds dear.
Image credit: Katie Zambrano
"I am an International Business major and I have about a year and a half to go. I was born in Monterrey, Mexico in the north, very near Texas. It's a very industrious city; it's not that great... it's a huge city though! My father is German and my mother is Mexican. When I was about ten, my mother wanted to travel, so we just decided to move to Florence for two years. Then we went back to Mexico, and I was sent to boarding school in Switzerland for two years. I came back to Monterrey for a year, and then I went to Africa, then Chile to get my mountaineering guide license, then Argentina and back to Mexico. After that, I was in Denver, Colorado for university for a semester. Then, I transferred to Suffolk University in Boston for two years ... now, I'm here."
Image credit: Katie Zambrano
What Cris finds most important in his bag is his leather notebook. "At the time, I was really into Hemingway and wanted a leather-bound book. I had it with me when I was in South Africa and Mozambique with the military—since I was 18. It's emotionally the thing that has the most value to me, simply because it has been with me the longest and has seen the toughest times." Along with his leather notebook, Cris also carries around art supplies, "About five years ago I started getting into drawing, but abstract stuff, like shading. When I came to AUP last year, I saw that there was a nude art course, so I took it and that's when I started painting people. I got really into it, so I started carrying [my supplies] around and starting sketching on the metro."
Image credit: Katie Zambrano
Aside from sketching, Cris carries around a mouth guard for when he boxes. "I boxed since I was about 15 for three years, and I got quite good at it, so I started competing. A friend invited me to try Muay Thai (Thai boxing), and I did and I really enjoyed it. So, I got into MMA, and then I moved to Boston. Since then, I've been training and I have gotten quite good at it." Another passion of Cris's is poetry, "I just started reading this book. I really enjoy poetry." So much so, he cannot name a favorite poet, "I can't, it's too hard! But I love T.S. Elliot. And I sometimes write my own poetry." What you can always find on Cris are his keys: "So, my keys are quite cool. In my family we all have these keychains, but they make them—you can't buy them—they make them in a shop. They have four different colors [for] the cord, so in my house I always have red, my father always has blue... so it's really cool, because we have a big family, but I know that red is always mine."
Sophisticated and fashionable, see what Megan Owens carefully curates in her handbag.
Image credit: Megan Owens
"I'm originally from Nashville, Tennessee—just outside of Nashville—I love it there so much! Then I moved around a lot when I was younger because my dad was in the military, and now I'm in Cincinnati, Ohio. I moved when I was 8 or 9 permanently, but we go to Nashville all the time. My major is Middle Eastern pluralities with a minor in Gender Studies. I feel a really strong tie to [my major] for some reason. I care a lot about social injustices, so I saw how undereducated I was about the Middle East, especially coming from such a strong Southern and Midwestern background. Hopefully, I can eventually bring the two together."
Image credit: Katie Zambrano
"My bag is from Saint Laurent, I got it this past Christmas as a present, and for getting good grades. I'm really into fashion, and as pretentious as it sounds, I just love high fashion, like really well made designer pieces. Something about it, I don't know, the whole style that goes behind making luxury pieces, I just think it's so interesting. I love Saint Laurent's whole style and what they stand for. it's so ... edgy and cool. They're so pleasing and I've always loved their brand and style—it's all so interesting."
Image credit: Katie Zambrano
What is most important in Megan's bag is her keys, "I would say my keys are most important ... my roommates always have to buzz me in—I feel so bad! It has a little keychain from a little cute boutique in the Marais. What is also probably, but not technically, important is my Dior lip gloss. I always use it in the winter, too. The Unicorn Dust is from a boutique I live by in Ohio —which is surprising that Ohio has trendy things! It's just a cream highlighter... I love highlight, I just love it, I'm obsessed with it! My favorite scent is Black Opium by YSL. Since I moved here, I'm really into scents; now, I'm obsessed with them because they have them everywhere here. I also have a Metro card from my recent trip to New York with my sister, but I feel so bad because it still has $15 on it and it has no use to me here!"
What these five people carry in their bags is a reflection of who they are, proving that no one member of the AUP community is alike.
