Areije & Hamzah

Areije Al Shakar ’99 and Hamzah Bawkher ’99

Areije and Hamzah were in the same Grade 5 homeroom back in the day!

How did you meet? We both joined ASL in 1990, in Grade 4, and we were in the same fifth grade homeroom with Mr. Baldock (ASL 1973-2006). We barely spoke though! In 1995, each of our families left London; mine to Bahrain and Hamzah’s to the Ivory coast. Hamzah actually returned to London and ASL his sophomore year and stayed through graduation. Our paths didn’t cross again until 2010, in Bahrain, where I was living. Hamzah came to visit his uncle and another ASL alum, Piero Passatore '99, and we briefly caught up. Six years later, we overlapped again, this time in Abu Dhabi; Hamzah was visiting his parents and I was there on a work trip. We decided to meet for coffee, which turned into dinner. We continued to stay in touch, and Hamzah took a job in Bahrain several months later. We were married in 2017.

Areije, center, met up with Hamzah (right) in Bahrain in 2010 after years of being out of touch. Piero is on the left

What was your first impression of Hamzah? I thought he was extremely polite, kind and intelligent.

What do you remember about each other during your ASL years? Hamzah recalls I was an active class participant, and also how, in fifth grade, I was accidentally hit with a baseball bat during PE and had to be taken away by ambulance. I remember sitting in a corner of the Commons with him and several other students during Ramadan as we were fasting. We didn’t really know each other in those days, but of course ASL is where we spent our formative years. It quickly connected and bonded us years later as adults.

What is your favorite thing about Hamzah? His kind heart and open mind.

Describe your life today. We are still in Bahrain and are both working. Hamzah has been extremely supportive of me and my career.

Where do you see yourselves in 10 years? We hope to have a bigger family and perhaps be living in London.

Hamzah and Areije at their wedding in 2017