A Year in the Fulbright Life: Narjes’ 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 2020
First day at university selfie! I went to the university center and stood in front of the building to take this photo so that, in the future, I can look back at the start of my journey.
I told my roommate that I have not tried a smoothie since I arrived here and she told me there is a popular smoothie place called “Smoothie King” nearby. I did not expect these smoothies to be so big and filling. I really enjoyed it. It was my first smoothie in New Orleans.
On my third day in New Orleans, I got to know a fellow Fulbrighter from Indonesia through the Office of International Students. We went downtown to run some errands like going to the bank, post office, and Walmart. On that day, I got to see more of New Orleans and make a new friend!
Since New Orleans is famous for seafood, some friends and I went to a seafood place which has a lovely open area. Since I don’t like seafood, I settled for a lemonade. One of my goals is to get to like seafood through staying here. It won’t be easy; however, I won’t give up!
I knew before coming here that New Orleans was near the famous Lake Pontchartrain (the 11th largest lake in the United States). Little did I know that lakes could be this huge! I fell in love with the view and going there after classes have been a great way to relax and energize for the next day.
December 2020:
Spending my winter break in the United States has been an amazing experience. I tried to learn more about it while still being cautious. This picture was taken during a road trip from New Orleans to Virginia. North Carolina has been the third state I stepped in, after Louisiana. I remember feeling excited that even though I am in the same country, this is still a new and very different place and I felt it! It was a great feeling, and it was my first road trip ever. It took us two night to arrive to our destination, but it was wonderful passing by many states. We passed through Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, and North Carolina.
While staying in Virginia, I had the opportunity to visit many places and Washington D.C. was one of them. I visited the Capitol and understood more about the history and what every memorial and monument represent. I visited Old Town Alexandria and Georgetown; each place has its own story and unique architecture. It was a great opportunity to learn about their history and experience their environment. It was a beautiful insight into the United States.
March 2021:
We are currently taking midterms. I find going to the lake to be a good way to relax when it feels stressful, apparently other students felt the same way! Found beautiful chalk art on my visit last time. It was beautiful.
I am learning a lot from my classes and working with supportive classmates in a safe environment is something I appreciate.
I had the opportunity to paint a wall for the first time, and I must say, I will do it again if asked. I was nervous in the beginning, but my friend encouraged me, telling me it’s very comforting and a great escape from computer screens. She was right, and I loved it.
September 2021:
I never thought I would be visiting another city in Louisiana due to the evacuation, but I luckily did, and it was something I learned a lot from. I stayed in Lafayette for a week after hurricane Ida, which turned out to be a nice city. The people there were very understanding of our situation and very supportive which I really appreciated! In this picture I was trying to spot alligators in Cypress Lake and I found two!
This year, I’m determined to go out of my comfort zone when it comes to food. I decided to try an empanada for the first time in the French Quarter. It was tasty and trying it definitely encouraged me to be more experimental with food.
One of the things that helped me relax and get back on track after Ida was journaling next to Lake Pontchartrain. I consider it my magical spot because it really helps me feel calm and positive. I encourage everyone to find that place where they can go whenever they feel nervous and stressed. It really helps!
October 2021
Halloween month in New Orleans was really spooky! I went to the Haunted Mansion for the first time as Wednesday Addams and I loved the entire experience of having an adventure and being in character.
I also went to a movie theater in the United States for the first time to watch a Halloween movie. I was very emotional going because it was the first time I stepped into a theater since the pandemic started. I absolutely loved it!
January 2022
My spring semester did not start until the end of January, so I had the opportunity to travel to Washington, D.C., during winter break and visited Theodore Roosevelt Island and the surrounding national park. Due to the season, it was not green, and the lake was frozen, but it was beautiful, regardless. I tried new hiking trails and saw the granite tablets, such as the “Manhood” and “Youth” tablets.
Getting back into the swing of classes and filming has been so much fun as well as informative. One of the things I learned about myself is my interest in sound mixing. I worked on a project in the beautiful town of Covington for the first time. Mixing filmmaking and exploring other areas of Louisiana has been so much fun! I am truly grateful for all these experiences.
February 2022
Since it’s Mardi Gras season, I decided to participate in the dorms’ beads design competition. The winning design was to be printed on beads and given to all the residents during a Mardi Gras party organized by the dorms. It was revealed during the party that my design won! I was so happy to see students wearing my design and having a good time.
We had our spring break during Mardi Gras to celebrate and participate in different events and parades. I went to many parades that week with my friends where we caught beads and other things. This picture was taken during “Krewe of Endymion,” one of the most popular parades. We had to get there hours early to reserve a spot and ensure that we could catch items thrown during the parade. I won’t forget the memory of seeing people happy and celebrating for 2 weeks straight. I’m so glad I got to experience Mardi Gras!
March 2022
The highlight of March was concluding the principal photography for my short psychological horror film Spiral Hazard. I have been working on this project since July 2021 and invested a lot of time and energy into it. It is my first step as a genre filmmaker to make more horror and fantasy films when I get back to Bahrain. Coming to the United States and learning the principles of filmmaking enhanced my confidence as a female filmmaker.
May 2022
My short film that I worked on in March premiered at the University of New Orleans’ Film Fest in May and won the award for “Best Production Design.” I felt very grateful and humbled to win this award! It felt so rewarding to be a part of the festival and to meet so many talented filmmakers. This motivates me to do better in my upcoming projects.
One of the films I worked on was filmed in Baton Rouge, so I spent a weekend there touring the city after completing the project. I visited Louisiana State University and met Mike the Tiger. It was a very interesting and unexpected experience to see a real tiger on campus. Overall, I was grateful to see more of the beautiful state of Louisiana.
During the last week of classes at the University of New Orleans, we visited the Sculpture Garden at the New Orleans Museum of Art as a requirement for one of my classes. It was a very informative experience since most sculptures have a long history behind them. Learning more about the history of New Orleans always makes me happy.
Narjes is a 2020 Fulbright student from Bahrain. She is studying Film Production at the University of New Orleans.
Follow updates from Narjes 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 Narjes does this year!
