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 2016
When I first arrived in the United States, I had the chance to visit Los Angeles in California during my Pre-Academic Program at University of California, San Diego.
February 2017
While at a Fulbright Enrichment Seminar in San Francisco, I had the chance to visit Google with fellow Fulbrighters Brian and Mohamed.
April 2017
School always keeps me busy! Lately I’ve been working hard on this experiment I’m designing for an Experimental Physics class.
August 2017
I traveled down to Saint Louis Missouri to see the solar eclipse!
September 2017
“Since DePaul runs on the quarter system, we just started the academic year last Wednesday. At DePaul, we share the same core values that the Fulbright Program has: giving a chance to all, accepting other views, supporting people of color, tolerance towards people with different religions and orientations.
Our new president, Gabriel Esteban, asked the university community to gather for twenty minutes on the first day of the quarter on campus to stand again for these values, enforcing that DePaul’s commitment to these values is the same as its commitment towards excellence in education. For me, this is something I haven’t had the chance to stand for back in my home country. Therefore, I participated in this gathering and supported both the DePaul and Fulbright core values. The campaign theme was “Dignity for All, No Hate.”
I was so excited to welcome some of my fellow Fulbrighters to my host city of Chicago. We spent the weekend exploring the city, including going to the top of the Willis Tower.
October 2017
A few classmates and I decided to explore the different Chicago suburbs. Here’s a picture of us in Franklin Park, Illinois.
January 2018
In January, I had the pleasure to visit Washington, D.C. to attend the 231st Meeting of the American Astronomical Societywhich took place at the Gaylord Convention Center. I met astronomers from different parts of the United States (the number of the meeting attendees was around 3200!). I met officials from NASA, National Science Foundation, and the Space Science Telescope Institute. Besides that, I met with Dr. Adam Riess who won the Nobel Prize in Physics 2011 and had a photo with him. On top of that, it was a great opportunity to visit the nation’s capital for the first time. I went to the National Mall and the Smithsonian Institution.
November 2017
Our physics department had a belated Halloween party in November. I am dressed as the pink man which is a character I just came up with. It was my first time attending a Halloween party and it was amazing.
December 2017
I always enjoy the snow in Chicago and it was the first time I ever built a snowman. Maybe I should stick to virtual snowmen after this!
February 2018
Coming from Egypt, I was not prepared for the Chicago winter. This year I was always freezing as usual.
March 2018
In March, AMIDEAST brings all of the Fulbrighters from the MENA region together for a Re-entry Workshop that will help us prepare for the reverse culture shock when we go back home. I also had the chance to explore Washington, DC while there.
Also had to post with the Fulbright logo one more time!
April 2018
In April, I attended the American Physical Society meeting where I got to meet the 2017 Nobel Laureate in Physics, Dr. Reiner Weis of MIT. We talked about how at the age of 85 he still has the same passion and energy to do research as he had in the 1970s and 1980s.
May 2018
My last day of classes at DePaul is finally here! I was feeling rather sad after the final lecture. Here I am with the graduate program director and the class instructor Dr. Eric Landahl.
June 2018
Graduation time already! I’m officially a DePaul graduate! Finally!
Loay is a second-year Fulbrighter and is studying Physics at DePaul University. He is from Egypt.
