A Year in the Fulbright Life: Omnia G.’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.

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September 2017

“Recently I volunteered at the Heart of Ghent 10k race in Norfolk, Virginia. Ghent is a very beautiful city and I always see people run here, but in this race, they ran for charity. One of the charities helps homeless children in Kenya. It was very fun, and I met a group of very nice Americans who I volunteered with. My favorite moment was when a runner would say thank you for the water that I gave out, even though she was exhausted from the race. It was such a nice day, and I loved being able to spend more time in my American community.”

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October 2017

One of my American friends, Taylor, recently took me to get ice cream at Coldstone so I could try homemade American ice cream! I’ve gone past the store a million times but never noticed the ice cream shop. Taylor has been a really great friend since I arrived. She introduces me to American culture, clarifies what I miss due to differences, and is also deeply interested in different cultures. I’m lucky to have such a great friend who helps take care of me when I need it!

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November 2017

This month our program went on a field trip to the Division of Consolidated Laboratory Services in Richmond. It was a two-hour drive, but the laboratories were amazing and definitely worth it. At the lab, they run experiments on bioterrorism, chemical weapons, food adulteration, and newborn screening. I really enjoyed my time with my classmates at the lab learning all about the work they do there.

“I went to the Hampton Roads Reptile Expo with my friend Taylor, where spiders, snakes, worms, and frogs were all on display. I saw plenty of snakes with gorgeous colors. Because of this experience, I was able to overcome my fear of animals and reptiles and even held a lizard! It was amazing.

December 2017

This semester I asked for a rotation in Dr. Anca Dobrian’s lab to gain hands-on experience working on endothelial cells! I learned a lot and met such wonderful people in this lab. Dr. Dobrain is an excellent primary investigator and Bronson, her Ph.D. candidate, was an amazing instructor. By the end of the semester, Dr. Dobrian invited the lab students and techs to dinner at a Greek restaurant. Many of the meals had Middle Eastern and Egyptian elements, and it was the perfect end to a tedious semester.

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Omnia is from Egypt and is studying Biotechnology at Eastern Virginia Medical School in Norfolk, VA.

Follow updates from Omnia 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 Omnia does this year!

You can view other Fulbright Life stories here: https://medium.com/@FulbrightMENA/

Engaging with Fellow Fulbright Alumni: My Experience at the Fulbright Alumni Regional Conference on Natural Resources

 Fulbright alumnus Abderrahmane before his presentation on the benefits of piezoelectricity, a clean way of generating electricity using mechanical pressure

Attending conferences has always provided me with new ideas and perspectives, but participating in the Fulbright Alumni Regional Conference on Natural Resources in Cairo, Egypt from December 4-6, 2016 was particularly beneficial. As a participant, I had the chance to network with an amazing group of Fulbright alumni who work in fields like meteorology, renewable energy and architecture. Conversing with these Fulbrighters and learning from their research was a wonderful personal and professional experience for me.

Nataly, another Fulbright alumna attending the conference, shares her research on fighting cancer using plant-based compounds

The research presentations I listened to were rich in information and insightful. For example, from one presentation, I learned about a new method of treating cancer by using organic chemical compounds. I was also introduced to the presenter’s admirable Alumni Community Action Grant project, Pink Steps Lebanon, which helps breast cancer survivors live a healthy lifestyle. This part of the conference broadened my perspective on how to contribute to society, and it gave me a better idea of the types of projects funded by the Fulbright Alumni Community Action Grant. Through yet another presentation, I was amazed to learn that the cheapest solar installation on record is in Abu Dhabi, a byproduct of that city’s expansion of renewables. For my presentation, I was able to draw on the knowledge I gained as an Electrical Engineering student at the University of Arkansas. I spoke to the group about the benefits of piezoelectricity, which is a clean way of generating electricity using mechanical pressure.

Abderrahmane and fellow Fulbright alumnus Adnan meet before the conference

 

In addition to the engaging academic atmosphere, the conference was also a fantastic Fulbright networking opportunity. For example, I talked with an alum who spoke three languages with a perfect accent and full proficiency. That was amazing! I also met a Fulbrighter who is a very successful author and blogger. That conversation inspired me to start writing about topics that I am passionate about. Overall, the Alumni Conference gave me the opportunity to learn from successful, dedicated professionals in the field of Natural Resources. This was a unique growing experience because it provided me with valuable insight into how others have learned to follow their passions.

 

Abderrahmane is an alumnus of the Fulbright Foreign Student Program. He graduated in 2016 from the University of Arkansas where he earned a master’s degree in electrical engineering.

 

 

Fulbright Friends 4ever : Advice for Graduating Fulbright Students

                              

         Fulbrighter Maaly supported by fellow Fulbrighters at Fulbright Enrichment Seminar

       

         Any member of the Fulbright Program team will tell you ----the most rewarding aspect of their work is meeting Fulbright students in person. As a Fulbright Communications Officer, I don’t often get face-time with our students. I’m usually writing, posting and creating content that showcases their unbelievable achievements. During the past few months, however, I’ve gotten lucky and had several opportunities to break away from my computer and interact with Fulbrighters during Enrichment Seminars, at volunteer projects and on college campuses. For me, these experiences confirmed a Fulbright fact - that Fulbrighters are among the best and the brightest - but they also revealed a lesser-known truth; Fulbright is friendship.

 Fulbright students Nada (right) and Sara (left) in art studio

        I first discovered that Fulbright friendship “was a thing” during a visit to the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) when I met second-year Fulbright student, Nada, to discuss her thesis project. As Nada and I sat in her studio drinking cups of hot tea, she explained the planning process for her art curation project, which included everything from venue scouting to networking with artists. When I said that implementing such a project seemed daunting, she immediately mentioned that Sara, another Fulbright student, had helped her throughout the process. In fact, she said that she also chose Sara as one of only four artists to be featured in her exhibit. As it turned out, Sara was later able to join us, and together they told me the story: they met as Fulbrighters, became roommates, and then grew to be best friends.

 

Fulbright students Najat (right) and Nourhan (left) in Philadelphia

 

        After my “ah-ha” moment with Nada and Sara, I began to notice close Fulbright ties at every Fulbright event I attended. At an Enrichment Seminar in Philadelphia, for example, I overheard phone-number exchanges, agreements to collaborate on research, and future plans to meet-up. I also received countless “would you take a picture of us” requests. Before snapping the photo, I always asked the students when they met----often the answer was, “yesterday.” Likewise, at the 2016 Fulbright Reentry Seminar in Washington, DC, the “Fulbright Alumni Engagement Wall” (a space to brainstorm ways to continue the Fulbright mission as alumni) was filled with pledges to collaborate with fellow Fulbrighters to solve issues in their home communities. One student even wrote that he hopes to marry a fellow Fulbrighter---that’s taking friendship to a whole new level.

          

        

        And it wasn’t just in-person that I noticed close Fulbright ties; I found the support Fulbright students extend to one another on social media as equally inspiring. My advice to Fulbright students is to keep this up. If you cherish support and friendship from your Fulbright colleagues now, chances are that you’ll need their guidance even more in the future ---as Fulbright alumni. So the message to future graduating Fulbright students is this: stay positive, stay engaged, and most importantly, stay connected. Oh, and keep sending those positive Facebook messages. Fulbrighters are friends-4ever.