Cultural Exchange through a Lasting Friendship
I met Summer in August of 2017, when she started studying in the International Development Studies cohort below mine at Ohio University. We met at the usual gatherings — orientation meetings, group get-togethers, etc. Even before we got to know each other well, I knew Summer was strong. She came in confidently — advocating for herself and for her children, asking questions, and even when faced with extremely stressful and trying circumstances, she always kept smiling.
We got to know one another better through our shared classes. There are not words for the way that Summer’s personality drew me me to her, but from the beginning I knew that she would be a lifelong friend. We shared contact information, notes, and talked after classes. I am not able to imagine how she was managing the life of a full time graduate student while caring for two young children. I offered to help out by watching them her children when she needed time to focus on her assignments. This exchange was one of the most rewarding I had in graduate school.
Not only did I get to know Summer better by watching over Sham and Elia, I also gained a new family. I learned so much from each of them. Among many other things, Summer taught me how to stay calm in the face of challenges . Sham taught me how to be resilient, always curious, and culturally fluid. Young Elia showed me the simultaneous struggles and joys of being an “aunt.” A fast friendship turned even faster into a lasting bond — one that I think exemplifies the true importance of the Fulbright program.
A huge part of our exchange was in conversations we had on study breaks, after class, driving to the grocery store, or picking up the kids from their day care . Summer told me about the Palestinian Territories: the food, her family there, the beautiful landmarks she missed, the war and its impact on her, and the hopes she has for her children. I told her about the United States: the food my family cooks, the best restaurants in Athens Ohio, the rural community that surrounded us, stories of my undergraduate days, and much more. I never get tired of talking with Summer. She has a unique and often beautiful way of looking at the world, and I have benefited so much from knowing her.
I have no doubt that everyone else in the International Development Studies program, and numerous other Ohio University community members, have been deeply, positively, and forever impacted by knowing Summer. Recently I learned that Summer has taken new students under her wing over the past year, adding “mentor” to her already incredibly busy workload — graduate student, Fulbrighter, mother, spouse, daughter, colleague, and friend. Summer wears many hats, and she wears them all with sophistication and respect. She is exactly what Fulbright should continue to look for in their scholars from the Middle East and North Africa.
Katherine met Summer while they were both pursuing master’s degrees in International Development Studies at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio. Summer is a Fulbrighter from the Palestinian Territories.
