A Year in the Fulbright Life: Vanessa’s Story
Fulbright MENA showcases a handful of students as they study in the United States with their series, A Year in the Fulbright Life. Throughout the year, spotlighted students will share updates as they fulfill their Fulbright journey.
August 2022
August was a month full of emotions, changes, and discoveries. The flight in itself was as interesting as visiting four different countries, and five different airports: Beirut, Istanbul, Munich, Chicago, and Madison. Through this self-reflective journey, I felt excitement, pride and gratefulness for the adventure on which I am about to embark. When my flight got delayed, I got the chance to rest in Chicago for one night! On my fourth morning in the United States, I woke up to see beautiful green Madison. I was amazed by the beauty of this city and the kindness of its people. At the orientation, I got to meet new friends who showed great interest in learning about my culture and where I came from. I was amazed by the plethora of opportunities and services that my university had to offer.
To get the authentic Madison experience, the Lebanese Group took me to the Union Terrace where we listened to live music, ate cheese curds, walked by the lake and tasted the local ice cream. Throughout the evening, the capitol sat majestically in the background, acting as a lit sculpture in the heart of the city.
To wrap up my first week, I got invited to St. Paul, Minnesota, to attend a baptism, where I met some of my relatives for the first time and got to catch up on old stories about my grandparents and the origins of my family. Three states in one week. I can’t wait to see what this journey holds for me! And most importantly, Go Badgers!
September 2022
This year, I started classes AND got my master’s degree for my birthday! It felt amazing. In a way, this is one of the best gifts that I have ever received. This month I attended multiple orientations and got to meet some friends and faculty in the department, and even the mascot, Bucky
I recently traveled to Minneapolis! I got to visit the Mall of America, and I was able to explore the twin cities during the day and night. I explored the stone bridge and walked around the industrial area. The second day I visited Northfield, and I attended a play representing the story of the First National Bank. What a lovely, tiny town. The third day, I attended a wedding that I got invited to in Peppins. I got to experience an American wedding, and I met lovely new people. It was a remarkable weekend in Minnesota. On one field trip with my university, we visited the city of Madison, where we met with the team at the planning division to discuss projects for Madison.
October 2022
There’s an old saying that goes, “There’s no such a thing as bad weather, only bad clothes.” Preparing for the harsh Wisconsin weather was exciting as I got to shop for winter gear. When it snowed for the first time in Madison this month, it truly felt like a scene from a movie. My childhood best friend visited me from Indiana at the beginning of the month, and I acted as his guide to all things Madison! From State Street to the Capital, to Lake Monona, to the terrace, we enjoyed the beauty of fall in Madison. The trees became yellow and orange for a week before completely losing their leaves. It was very charming.
In the third week of October, I went on a trip to Milwaukee, as the Milwaukee Modern Art Museum was always on my list of things to see as an architect. The architectonic sculpture animates the lake and acts as a strong reference in the city. Amorphous, it changes the cityscape by moving its wings. I felt fulfilled contemplating how this white volume shapes its surroundings. On the second day, we visited Henry Vilas Zoo, where I saw the cutest polar bear.
I wondered how I managed to avoid visiting the capitol building the first day I reached Madison, even though I lived a few blocks away. Therefore, on a Friday, I went on a tour with the planning club (WSPA), where we learned about the many stories behind the capitol’s architecture.
I am amazed by the many layers of the city of Madison. It acts as an outstanding urban example, not just through its architectural monuments but also its infrastructure. Through our seminar course, I visited the sewerage treatment plant in Madison and learned about the many disciplines and processes that govern it so I could get a better understanding of the city’s many processes!
With the changing color of the trees in scenic Madison, wearing a Disney movie character costume for Halloween felt just right. To wrap up this dreamy month, I dressed as Angel (From Lilo & Stitch) and enjoyed the Halloween festivities on State Street.
November 2022
November was a special month full of heartwarming gatherings and new adventures. Starting the month with a potluck dinner with my colleagues at the department, I prepared Lebanese Tabbouleh! With the gradual decrease in temperature, I decided to explore new places in Madison. I found a beautiful gem: the Olbrich Botanical Gardens. Diverse plants, exotic pavilions, and hidden gardens add a sense of play and discovery to the conservatory.
With Christmas around the corner, I enjoyed the Christmas lights at Olin Park. In parallel, and to celebrate Thanksgiving with my cousins, I traveled to Chicago where I discovered an architecture masterpiece: Chicago Union Station. Adorned by a big Christmas tree and a beautiful American flag, the station acts as a majestic historical statement at the center of downtown. To experience the local cuisine, I tried the famous deep-dish pizza, which was so good! On the second day, I traveled with my cousins to Lafayette, Indiana, where I explored the town and the campus of University of Purdue. The Neil Armstrong Hall of Engineering was my favorite spot (there are cool steps that you can walk on!) I ended my Lafayette journey with a Hitachi dinner with Lebanese friends that I had met there. Gathering over dinner on Thanksgiving Eve, I felt grateful for my experience, the people that I have met, and those who I’m about to meet on this exciting journey.
December 2022
I could not have thought of a better way to start and end the last month of 2022 than to put a tiny Christmas tree next to the Lebanese flag in my bedroom to remind me of a small piece of home.
In Madison, WI, I experienced art in three forms through cuisine, museum, and theater. First, I had a delectable fine-dining experience that incorporated local Wisconsin ingredients. Second, I had an immersive experience at the Van Gogh Museum, where paintings and music took me to another world of light, movement, and colors. And finally, I also had the chance to watch a captivating rendition of the play Peter and the Starcatcher at the Mitchell Theater.
Finally, my journey came to a perfect end when I saw deer for the first time! The scene filled my heart with joy. I traveled to another state, Minnesota, where I enjoyed seeing the city of Farmington dressed in white. With the severe storm and the cold weather, I enjoyed staying warm inside and visiting the Lebanese Maronite Church in St. Paul, Minnesota.
At the end of the month, we explored Chicago. I visited so many iconic locations: the Shedd Aquarium, the Art Institute of Chicago, the Museum of Contemporary art, the Starbucks Reserve, the Millenium Park tree, The Bean, and Frank Gehry’s Pavilion were breath taking. Looking at Chicago from the signature lounge, I reflected on all the good memories that 2022 held for me. In the light beams of Chicago, I saw hope for a better year to come.
January 2023
January was the coldest month by far in Madison. Truly, it was freezing. For the first time, I had to wear all my snow gear (including my face mask!). Yet, I seem to find the weather exciting! In the winter break I decided to refocus on my research assistantship and take advantage of the time to develop various parts of my project. I also finally got the chance to go to the university’s gym! Every now and then I visited and walked on the frozen lakes, looking at people ice fishing.
There’s something serene about the purity of a white landscape with nothing but snow, it’s relaxing and fresh like a piece of white paper waiting for the viewer to paint their thoughts on it. But I’m now back to school! I took my winter reflections to my visual communication class, where I drew a mental map of Madison. However, my mental map failed to be as dreamy as Madison’s true winter scene!
February 2023
Spring is around the corner!
Devil’s Lake looked amazing, all covered in white. Hiking the steep hills, I discovered that I do enjoy winter, even though I am a summer person. The view was stunning. I can’t think of a better way to end the winter season!
Another highlight of this month is the Chazen Museum on UW-Madison Campus. It has amazing pieces, from Picasso to Andy Warhol. I was truly happy to know that I have this museum near home and that I can visit it often.
March 2023
March was MENA month at UWM! I started the month right by attending a MENA night with my friend, where we watched a dabke performance from the Milwaukee-based Al Ghurba Dabke Group. We watched the representatives of different countries perform dances, showcase their clothes, and read poems about their countries. Then we moved to do henna , see some embroidery, and eat Lebanese food together. It was a beautiful night on campus.
For Spring Break, I travelled to Minnesota to spend the vacation with family. A fun activity was visiting the science museum and learning about the Mississippi River.
April 2023
After the long winter, the trees and the flowers started to bloom, and I explored the Cave of the Mounds in Mount Horeb. The rock formation formed a natural museum where water, rocks, and light illustrate nature as a work of art. I was truly amazed by this masterpiece, located in a charming small village in Wisconsin. Around the cave, the farm is preserved to exhibit the farming lifestyle adopted in the area. On the way back home, I saw six deer running in the woods. This might be the cutest thing I have ever seen!
May 2023
I concluded my second semester with a planning proposal for Charleston, North Carolina. Time passed by so quickly, and it’s shocking to realize I’ve already completed my first year already. To celebrate, I went with my colleagues to the famous “Terrace” and enjoyed the good weather on the lake.
This month, I captured some amazing sunsets on the different lakes in Madison.
The flowers started to bloom, and the weather was perfect for exploring the local parks, like the University of Wisconsin Madison Arboretum.
I also started my internship at Common Wealth Development, and received training on Fair Housing at the Public Library at Madison.
To celebrate new beginnings, I traveled to Minnesota and attended my friend’s graduation. I had a great time experiencing Minnesota during springtime!
June 2023
June in Madison is all about enjoying the good weather and being outdoors. From going to the Farmers Market on Capitol Square and State Street, to exploring the different museums in Madison, I have been exploring and admiring this city more every day. I also traveled to Minnesota to attend my friend’s engagement party! Bus drives in the Midwest are always enjoyable, with its beautiful scenes.
Professionally, I have been learning more about Community Development at Common Wealth Development every day. One morning, I baked man’ouche, a sort of flat bread with herbs, for my work colleagues to taste. They absolutely loved the za’atar! It was a nice opportunity to share with them stories about Lebanese food and culture.
Vanessa is a 2022 Fulbrighter from Lebanon. She studies Urban and Regional Planning at the University of Wisconsin - Madison.
Follow updates from Vanessa 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 Vanessa does this year!
