A Year in the Fulbright Life: Zizi’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 2018

“I am finally here at the airport! Almost a year and a half of hard work and preparations has finally paid off! My feelings at this moment are indescribable; mixed emotions of enthusiasm and anxiousness. It is so hard to say goodbye to your loved ones, but you still can’t wait to start this new journey that can change your life forever. Right after this shot, I waved at my parents one last time and stepped inside the building, smiling and murmuring to myself, “To new beginnings!”

August 2018

Before going to my university, I was invited to attend a Gateway Program at the Rochester Institute of Technology. It was a once in a lifetime opportunity where I got to meet almost 77 other Fulbrighters from 39 different countries. We shared about our home countries as well as our perceptions. We also attended sessions about the U.S academic life, culture and politics. However, the greatest part of this program was taking us on an adventure to Niagara Falls! I will never forget the fun I had and the great friendship I made through this program!

August 2018 (Part 2)

When I first arrived in Cincinnati, my advisor welcomed me and invited me to dinner along with his family and some of his students. One of the fascinating things here in the United States is how easy you can reach out to your professors and sit around and engage in discussions with them.

Everyone knows that settling down in a new country is tedious. However, I was surprised that here in the United States, you can assemble your furniture all by yourself! Back in Egypt, we usually hire someone to do it. I never thought it would be so much fun! So, here I am putting my bed together! I decided to capture every moment of this new first-ever furniture assembly process to serve as a reminder of how empowering and rewarding it felt after finishing my bed!

After working hard to finish my paperwork and get done with the furniture, I decided to pamper myself with an ice-cream. And there is no better place to do this than Graeter’s! It is absolutely one of the best and they have many different flavors that wouldn’t even occur to me. For example, in this photo, I was enjoying my black raspberry with chocolate chip ice cream! Definitely worth trying!

September 2018

Luckily September was full of international events and I had the chance to join one of the international organizations called UC Bridges. I met many international students as well as American ones. We went on a tour to explore Cincinnati and there was a guide who explained the history of each place. It was a mind-blowing experience!

When I first arrived in Cincinnati, everybody told me that no city in America celebrates American Labor Day like Cincinnati! My professor invited me to watch the incredible fireworks in a yacht over the Ohio River. The atmosphere was awe-inspiring and I even had the chance to meet one of the Fulbright American alumni! It was a day that I will always cherish and remember!

Zizi is a first year Fulbrighter from Egypt. She is currently studying at the University of Cincinnati where she is working on her Masters in Pharmaceutical Sciences.

Follow updates from Zizi 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 Zizi does this year!