A Year in the Fulbright Life: Michael’s Story

For the next year, Fulbright MENA will be showcasing a handful of students as they study in the United States with their new series, A Year in the Fulbright Life. Each month, spotlighted students will share an update as they continue on their Fulbright journey.

August 2018

My friends and I met the very last day before I left for the United States to say goodbye. We had a lot of fun, but it was never easy for me. Later, I figured out that the adventure was worth leaving my comfort zone and my old life!

At Wayne State University, I had my real introduction to U.S. culture. We had a lot of speakers come in and talk to us about the educational and cultural system in the United States.

Not only did we attend lectures by different speakers, but we got to see American culture first hand. In the Gateway Program, we were taken on a bus tour and stopped in different interesting parts of the city where we saw street art and even went to the Detroit Institute of Art.

When I got to the University of Texas at Austin, I attended the international student orientation. We got to know university resources for graduate students, how they care for students’ health and wellbeing, and how they focus on building a person not just in the classroom but in all the university’s departments and areas.

One of the best experiences was kayaking in San Antonio, this culturally significant city that still holds the authentic Texan spirit. I did not only go kayaking there but I went to the rodeo where I watched bull riding and country dancing, and ate Texas barbeque, the best I ever tasted in my life.

September 2018

Being an international student at UT (University of Texas) is definitely a privilege. The UT Friendship Program aims at matching international students with local families; it is one of the best experiences I’ve had so far. Through it, I met Bob and Diana, an awesome couple and we got to see a nice part of the city of Austin and eat nice Tex-Mex food.

Another event that I was invited to by Bob and Diana, my friendship partners, was a cooking competition night. At their place, I got to network with people and try food from all around the world. Although I did not win in this competition, I was so happy for the experience.

Austin is so fun and friendly! I no longer wonder why Austin is the best place to live in America according to US News 2018. I have meet many people who show “southern hospitality” and love to help out new people in all life aspects.

Another nice social event I attended was “Discover America” hosted by Chi-Alpha Christian ministry. Every Saturday in September, we went to a different host family, ate local food and had a chat about different countries in the world. I got to know fun facts about the world like how people greet each other in different cultures. It was definitely a great experience.

Studying in the United States is a completely different experience. The campus is not just a set of classrooms and faculty member’s offices, but it is a huge resource for leaning and growing in every aspect of your life. In the United States, unlimited campus resources such as libraries, learning centers, recreational sports centers, clubs, information centers, and health services try to facilitate a healthy balanced life.

October 2018

One thing that does not exist anywhere else is the diverse community of the United States. One good example is this breakfast that I was invited to. It was hosted by a Chinese couple, and the invitees were American, Colombian, Saudi Arabian, Swiss and Egyptian (myself). It is very interesting to learn about different cultures from other parts of the world and see the world in a different dimension.

U.S. universities are integrated educational institutions that are full of resources. At the University of Texas at Austin, besides taking my classes and doing my coursework, I am working-out consistently and taking Salsa classes. My lifestyle changed to be more productive, healthy and open to learning new things.

U.S. national holidays are a lot of fun. Additionally, they are a good opportunity to learn about the United States history. For Halloween, I was invited to one of my friend’s house where I enjoyed carving pumpkins and learning about the history of the Halloween and how it has developed over time.

November 2018

I was invited for a Thanksgiving dinner by Eric and Lenette, a nice and welcoming couple I was connected with through the international office at the University of Texas, Austin. Eric also spent time with us talking about the history of how Thanksgiving became a national holiday and also engaged us in a conversation about his favorite hobby, hunting, and showed us the tools he uses to hunt different animals. It was an interesting conversation and a great opportunity to make friends and the food was great as well. I got to really experience how hospitable the American people are.

Texas is full of history, landmarks, and interesting places to visit. One significant masterpiece is the Texas Capitol that is located in downtown Austin and has stood for over a decade housing the offices and chambers of the state legislature. I spent a good amount of time inside the Capitol, observing the architecture and the beauty of the hallways with the portraits of the U.S.Presidents.

U.S. universities are not just about the classroom, they are integrated learning structures that facilitate all the means and methods of learning. Groundbreak Conference, to which I was invited by one of the area professors, was one of the best experiences I have had. The conference showed me a glimpse of construction industry in the U.S. beyond what I had learned in the classroom. My understanding of the business practices in the construction industry was augmented and better-rounded with such exposure.

December 2018

Austin is the capital of music in Texas. Every weekend, music bands come from inside and outside the U.S. to perform all over the city. It’s easy to find a great concert, the problem is deciding which one to go to because all of them are excellent and professional.

For many people in the United States, Christmas is all about celebrating love. Families gather to celebrate the birth of Jesus, exchange gifts, and sing carols. But mostly, they just want to be together. It’s definitely the best time of the year!

January 2019

Nothing is better than reuniting with good friends. In New York City, I got to hang out with these amazing Fulbrighters. We walked miles and miles and saw the beautiful city, and it never got boring.

Egyptian food is great, but don’t worry, America’s food has you covered! Never underestimate a food truck or a local donut stand, it could be the best in town.

February 2019

Spring semester has already started! School is fun, but it’s also fun to go spend the weekend at a ranch away from the city and the busyness of life. This getaway was a good time to recharge and chill after a long week of studying.

Chinese New Year is around the corner! Yes, we take every chance to celebrate, have fun and learn more about other cultures. It never gets boring.

March 2019

No matter how demanding school gets, dinner invitations are hard to turn down. I love to try new food, and I love chatting with people about random topics. I can’t count how many friends I made at dinners like this one and how many foods from different countries I have tried.

The Fulbright Reentry Workshop was an awesome experience. I got to meet all these cool people from all over the Middle East and North Africa region. We had fun visiting some of D.C.’s historical sites, ate a lot of good food, and built important friendships.

One thing I like about studying here is how creative and interactive the professors can be. This photo is from a video-recorded negotiation from my “Arts and Science of Negotiation” class. We recorded a 20-minute negotiation and sent it to other peers to be evaluated and in turn we evaluated their video-recorded negotiations. Education can be interactive and fun!

April 2019

During my Fulbright Enrichment Seminar, I had fun connecting with Fulbrighters and exploring Washington, D.C. In D.C., I visited beautiful museums, and guess what, all of them were free!

In D.C., I also got to meet an amazing family from the U.S. who hosted me. This truly beautiful and loving couple showed me so much hospitality, and I am so grateful that I met them!

May 2019

In May, we had an end of year party! Nothing is more fun than dressing up and going to a formal party. I will miss my friends who are graduating, but we had lots of fun celebrating together.

It’s summer, so why not take a nice drive and hit the beach? My friends and I went to Galveston, Texas. Not only did we enjoy the beach, but we also explored the historical part of the city. The experience was unforgettable.

June 2019

Dancing is a great way to shake off the heat of the summer. Every Thursday, we gather and go to the swing dancing club on campus. I have met professional dancers and have improved a lot just from dancing with them.

After being here for 10 months, I felt Texan enough to go get a cowboy hat! I decided to visit the Bullock Museum with my friends to learn more about Texas history, and I bought this nice hat.

Michael is a Fulbright student working on his Master’s in Civil Engineering at the University of Texas, Austin. He is from Egypt.

Follow updates from Michael and other Fulbright students on our Facebook and Twitter pages. Check back here every month for more updates on the blog and Medium Series to see what Michael does this year!