A Year in the Fulbright Life showcases selected Fulbright MENA participants’ program year, month by month, in the United States.
July and August 2018
Saying goodbye to my friends and family has been tough, knowing that the people I am always around won’t be here for months isn’t easy at all. But the support I took from them and the dreams I have change the look on that moment and makes you feel more proud and grateful.
Meeting other Fulbrighters at my Gateway Orientation and meeting more than 30 nationalities made me realize that what we have in common is much more than our differences. They really were a remarkable three days.
Settling into a new place is never an easy task. But the more friendly people you know and the more fun you have, the less intense this task become. Just have fun and enjoy every moment and those will be remarkable days!
September 2018
Take-home Quiz? Solving a quiz in a group? This was a totally new unique experience in education for me since we do not have them in Egypt! Biochemistry take-home quizzes with my classmates was actually a very intellectual experience that helped me absorb the material addressed in the class even better.
It’s the weekend, and I can’t go somewhere far to spend my day but that’s no problem here! I can ride my bike in just 5 mins to Canalside on Lake Erie and enjoy the sunset with a frozen juice cup, maybe I will do some kayaking next time!
It has always been a dream to go to American football match. Recently I got to see the University of Buffalo Bulls Vs. Army game, held in UB stadium, which was the chance for my dream to come true. Learning the rules of the game from my American friend Eric was so fun. Witnessing all of the celebrations, tailgating, the teams’ entrance and cheerleaders made it unforgettable experience and definitely one of the highlights of the American culture.
3 Fulbrighters preparing for Buffalo’s legendary winter at the outlet mall in Niagara Falls. Every day we ask other people what to buy to prepare for the winter and cold. Friends have said it snows so much that the snow covers the house doors! Time to prepare!
October 2018
Hiking has been one of my bucket list items since I arrived in the United States. I managed to join a trip to Letchworth State Park, where we witnessed the changing colors of the trees with red, yellow and orange leaves, along with the mesmerizing scenery of the waterfalls. It was an unforgettable journey through the woods with such great company.
It’s HALLOWEEN time! Seeing the holiday on a TV series was nothing in comparison to living it! I decided to get a banana costume as Ahmed Mekky did in his movie! The result was hilarious, somebody even told me, “you should win the best costume award today!”
December 2019
My friend Violetta hosted a Christmas party in her house for the whole class and it was really a delightful night. Spending my first Christmas in the United States with such friendly and warm people was a remarkable experience.
Because Christmas was approaching, the University Center of Arts hosted a performance of the Nutcracker ballet. I really enjoyed the show and the spirit of the audience!
January 2019
In January, I experienced the streets covered with white snow for the first time. The scene was mesmerizing but slippery.
For winter break, we decided to head to Florida. It was breathtaking and every tiny detail there was genuinely awesome. I visited the Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, and Islands of Adventure. It was three full days of rides and mesmerizing shows made us feel ready for the new semester ahead.
February 2019
I went skiing for the first time…and maybe the last time. I spent 90% of the time falling because I couldn’t ski or couldn’t stop the skis and kept going, so I had to force myself into falling to stop. It was a really exciting day, but I spent the next day in bed from body aches. However, I want to learn skiing professionally one day, I am sure it would be so much fun to go down one of those steep hills.
There was a snowstorm almost every two weeks, however, I had to go to the lab every day. This is what I looked like each day getting back home covered in white snow.
Western NY Fulbrighters gathered together at an event at Albright-Knox Art Gallery. It was a wonderful day in which I made new friends and visited one of the best art museums in Buffalo.
April 2019
I took a much needed break from my hectic semester to visit Niagara Falls. Going in early spring was a completely different experience than my previous visit in summer — there was still snow on the ground, and the weather was not as hot as last time.
I heard tons of recommendations for Anchor Bar Chicken Wings, which is the oldest wings place in Buffalo, and supposedly the best. So some friends and I paid a visit to check it out! I must say, they were by far the best wings I have had in Buffalo, especially because our meal was accompanied by a thrilling musical show.
Staying in the lab until midnight to finish experiments has become a part of my weekly routine, since it is inevitable to stay late to finish experiments. As tiring as this can be, being the last one to leave the building gives me a special feeling of accomplishment.
May 2019
I attended two exciting Fulbright events in a row! The first was a Fulbright Enrichment Seminar called Combating Addiction in which I was the only local student from Buffalo. This gave me an opportunity to show others around while learning in-depth about a new subject! Meeting Western New York Fulbrighters at Niagara Falls was also a great experience.
May 2019 also marks the start of Ramadan and the challenge of fasting all day while being productive and preparing food for Iftar and Sohour every day. It was a really great month especially because I kept talking to other people about Ramadan and its benefits!
June 2019
Since Ramadan was ending and I couldn’t celebrate Eid al-Fitr with my family, I decided to celebrate it with my lab mates. A fellow Fulbrighter Heba and I brought pizza and one of my American friends, Jackie, made us some of her spectacular cookies. We had a really fun lunch together celebrating the end of Ramadan! It’s also the beginning of the summer and the sun is out! It’s good to spend some time on the canal side and have a scoop of ice cream!
July 2019
Summer break is here and I decided to pay a visit to Boston and New York City. Visiting MIT and Harvard was one of my lifetime dreams and here it comes true.
We can’t be in New York City and miss the city icons, Times Square and Statue of Liberty!
August 2019
Time for a short trip home! I spent two weeks in Cairo with my family and friends and, most importantly, ate all of my favorite Egyptian food! Besides, it was a wedding season, so it was good to attend my best friend’s wedding!
After 3 weeks of fun, it’s time to get back to work! Spending my evenings in the lab working on my thesis! Let the new school year begin!
September 2019
As summer is ending, some activities are coming to an end as well. My university offered kayaking for free to students, so I couldn’t miss that!
Presenting your research work is an integral part of your scientific career; I was honored to do so at a Cold Spring Harbour LaboratoriesStem Cell Biology meeting. It was a unique opportunity to engage with the scientific community and get to know cutting-edge advancements in my field.
October 2019
Fall is here, and hiking is the activity of the season. I enjoyed seeing the beautiful trees changing their colors. I went on two incredible hikes at Whirlpool and LetchworthState Parks.
November 2019
It’s Thanksgiving and we used this break to go somewhere new. IT’S TORONTO TIME! I really enjoyed the Niagara Falls view from the Canadian side, especially at night under the lights.
Also, I visited CN Tower, one of the highest points in Toronto.
I also went to the Museum of Illusion where I got dazzled with mind blowing illusions.
December 2019
It’s Christmas time, filled with a lot of celebrations and lights. The holidays were a perfect opportunity to see my family in New York and spend some quality time with them.
January 2020
I was selected to present my research work in at a “Genetics, Genomics and Bioinformatics” research day. It was a great opportunity to develop my presentation skills and get to discuss my project with the students and professor at the medical school.
February 2020
As the program is approaching its end, I wanted to spend more time and make memories with the friends I made in the lab. These people have been great supporters and companions during my journey in the United States and, for sure, will be life-long friends.
March 2020
It’s the long-awaited event, the Fulbright Reentry workshop in Washington, D.C.! I got to meet old-friends I met back in Cairo during Fulbright orientation sessions. It was also a great opportunity to make new friends from all over the MENA region. I got to re-explore the magnificent D.C. that I’ve loved since I visited it in 2013.
April 2020
Everything in the world changed in matter of weeks. Coronavirus suspended life as we know it. Suddenly, we started wrapping up the work in the lab in order to stay home. Luckily, I had most of my thesis work done by then. Zoom meetings became the new normal!
May 2020
It has been a month since we started to stay home, but we started to get used to it. We had to adapt to the new situation. Face masks became part of our outfits. Spending the holy month of Ramadan during these tough times wasn’t easy, as an integral part of Ramadan is gatherings with others.
This month, I defended my thesis on Zoom and successfully became a Genetics, Genomics and Bioinformatics master’s degree holder. This moment was the end of such a wonderful journey that not only allowed me to live two unique years of my life, but also opened the gates for tons of opportunities and pathways in my future.
Hossiny is a Fulbrighter from Egypt who is studying Genetics, Genomics and Bioinformation at the State University of New York, University at Buffalo.
