A Year in the Fulbright Life: Razan’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.
July 2019
Farewells can get emotional, but my motivation is that I’m departing my home country to make my family and friends even prouder while developing myself.
My Fulbright journey in Washington, D.C. has been thrilling so far, from running errands and settling in, to making new friends in D.C. as I began orientation at Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies. I’m proud to be the only Arab and Middle Eastern person in my class, which makes conversations very interesting according to my classmates! We started having an Arabic word of the day because everyone is interested in our language. My independence, open-mindedness, and receptive modes are on and I can’t wait for new chapters of my journey to unfold!
August 2019
August has indeed been such a fruitful vibrant month both academically and socially. I celebrated my 22nd Birthday with my American and International friends on a sunset party cruise. I also chose to have lunch with them at a Lebanese restaurant which was an impressive experience for them! After achieving 3 A’s on my summer courses, I went with my friends to New York City for the Labor Day holiday. We visited almost every place in Manhattan and Brooklyn. It was an unforgettable adventurous experience!
Done with my first semester with 3 A’s on my courses.
September 2019
As I started my fall semester, I made time for participating in competitions and conferences as well as expanding my network. I participated in a social entrepreneurship boot camp at my school Johns Hopkins SAIS where I won second place for the pitch I gave about education for Syrian refugees in Lebanon, a campaign I started in summer 2018.
I also attended and volunteered at a conference about the Lebanese diaspora where I had the chance to meet international speakers as well as the Lebanese Ambassador to the United States, Gabriel Issa.
Finally, I met with many Fulbrighters at an event in DC where we had a housewarming party together sharing laughs and ideas.
October 2019
This month, I attended many conferences including the International Monetary Fund-World Bank (IMF-WBG) annual meetings. These are superb opportunities to make connections and meet new people, have discussions, and have mentors provide guidance about what I personally want for my future!
I also went for a hike at Great Falls in Virginia. There is no better way to ease the busy mind than with an energetic Sunday hike.
I planned several gatherings with Fulbrighters in DC such as a happy hour and a tour of the Washington Monument. Making connections with Fulbrighters is a great way to connect with future leaders, share common challenges, suggest solutions, and simply have fun!
Here I am at dinner with my classmates in the program. Since my program is cohort-based, we study together during the day and have dinner together at night. We have built a family that shares both hard work and fun at the same time!
I also attended a dinner at the residence of the Lebanese ambassador in the United States. One way to feel greatly connected to my home country is to meet its ambassador and other Lebanese people in DC! These connections are another family I have developed during my stay so far in the United States.
November 2019
Here I am at dinner with friends from the cohort. It is always great to end a busy day with some conversations over dinner with your friends.
Here I am attending the SAIS International Dinner. It was a great night to see all the international Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) students cook their home country’s food and dance their national dances. What an amazing night of cultural exchange!
For a Thanksgiving potluck at SAIS, I made Lebanese Fattoush as a contribution. It was great to have the food of students from other nationalities as well. We are one international family and this day reminded us to listen to others and to speak about what we are grateful for in our lives. It turned out that one common thing we are grateful for is being part of this program and having these friendships.
This month I went with my friend to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania nicknamed Philly. What better way to energize for finals and have a Thanksgiving break than explore a new city?
I also attended the Global Partners Forum at the World Bank, a great conference on long term economic sustainability and a great way to connect with influential economists.
December 2019
We had the Fulbright annual Christmas dinner where we celebrated our success together. The best part is having work connections that are also friends. We motivate each other to achieve more successes and celebrate them together!
I’m glad I took the chance to celebrate the National Christmas Tree lighting with my fellow Fulbrighters in Washington, D.C. It felt like a home away from home since home is a feeling not bound to a place.
I started my Christmas vacation in New York City. What’s better than the Big Apple for a break after finals?
Some of my friends didn’t go back home during Christmas, so I decided to introduce my close friends to each other at a Christmas Eve dinner. Sometimes, if you invite friends who don’t know each other, it can be awkward, but this was awesome! Seven different countries, seven different languages, seven different cuisines, and one common trait: the curiosity to learn about other cultures and people!
I got the best of both worlds by splitting Christmas between friends and family. I went back home on December 25th to surprise my parents! I had a great Christmas with my family in Lebanon, where the heart is.
I celebrated New Year with family and many childhood friends. This charged me with a heartful of energy and motivation that I brought back with me to Washington, D.C.
January 2020
I traveled to visit some extended family in California where I explored Los Angeles and other cities.
I went to Disneyland in Anaheim for the first time!
I had a reunion party with my classmates.
I celebrated the Lunar New Year with my Fulbright friends.
I had dinner with Fulbrighters from other states who were visiting Washington, D.C.
February 2020
This month, I went to George Washington’s Mount Vernon on his birthday and had a tour of his house with my Fulbright friends in Washington, D.C.
My sister also visited from Lebanon and we toured D.C. together.
We had the Fulbright Reentry Workshop and I was very happy to meet with other MENA Fulbrighters.
During the workshop, I reconnected with my Lebanese Fulbright friends who came from Chicago and Boston to visit D.C. for it.
I volunteered with others at Capital Area Food Bank. It was a very enriching experience in service of the community.
We attended a basketball game, Atlanta Hawks versus the Washington Wizards, at the Capital One Arena. It was so much fun!
March 2020
Despite the COVID-19 pandemic that came unexpectedly and changed or cancelled a lot of plans the spring season isn’t cancelled: the cherry blossoms will still bloom, and hope can always be found around the corner. Academic excellence isn’t cancelled. Healthy lifestyle, good nutrition, and persistent workouts aren’t cancelled. Hard work, planning ahead, and working towards our degrees aren’t cancelled. Newton invented his relativity theory during the Great Plague of London.
Sharp minds are boosted, not cancelled during pandemics. Physical contact was cancelled but social contact isn’t; we are lucky to have technology that helps us stay connected to one another.
COVID-19 has taught us to be adaptable, flexible, grateful, focused, and realize the blessing of time, security, and safety. It has taught us to not take simple, beautiful things for granted.
Besides staying focused on my academic goals, I always find time to enjoy cherry blossoms, run in the city, and self-reflect.
Razan is a Fulbright student from Lebanon. She is studying International Economics at Johns Hopkins Univesity- School of Advanced International Studies.
Follow updates from Razan 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 Razan does this year!
