A Year in the Fulbright Life: Bassel’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.

September 2020

September was a very busy month for me. I moved away from my temporary housing in Saint Paul next to Hamline University, to my permanent residence. Also, I started university this month. It was scary yet very exciting to start this journey. It was a dream come true! I also took this chance to try new American food, like a Five Guys shake, and find some of my favorite food from back home, like Toom Garlic Spread.

October 2020

October is my favorite month and spending it in Minnesota is very exciting. Every 12 years, a section of the Mississippi is drained for maintenance, so I got to experience that rare moment and watch the sunset overlooking the city from the riverbed. I also got to experience the changing weather and the contrasting colors that come with it. With the days getting shorter, the colors of neon signs pop, and the fall colors look amazing when overlooking Hennepin bridge. I also got to experience my first Minnesotan snowstorm early in October. It was pretty cold! Finally, I got to see houses decorated for one of my favorite events, Halloween!

Bassel is a first-year Fulbright student from Lebanon. He is studying Human Rights at the University of Minnesota

Follow updates from Bassel 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 Bassel does this year!