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World Fellowship

From Kazakhstan to the United States:

An Experience of a Lifetime

By Eileen Little

Just imagine….
Receiving your letter of acceptance as a Fulbright scholar!
Receiving your letter as a DKG World Fellowship recipient!
First time traveling abroad!
First time traveling to the United States of America!
The excitement, the trepidation, new friends, saying good-bye to family and
friends!
The adventure began in July 2019
when DKG World Fellowship recipient
Zhanar Tostubayeva arrived in the United
States and went to Syracuse University
in New York for Pre-Academic Training.
For one month, she and other Fulbright
scholars had classes in the morning
and then lectures, museums, or other
trips in the afternoon. Morning classes
were Academic Writing and Academic
Speaking to increase fluency in English.
Afternoon trips included a visit to Harriet
Tubman’s home, William Seward’s
home, Niagara Falls, and Boldt Castle in
Alexandria Bay.

Year 1 at Lehigh
In August 2019, Zhanar arrived at Lehigh University in Pennsylvania to study
and achieve her master’s degree in special education. Zhanar shared that it was
hard at first, and she was scared. Six Fulbright scholars were there the first year at
Lehigh University. After attending classes, Zhanar surprised herself and realized
that she could participate in the class discussions and that the professors were
very understanding and helpful. Zhanar describes herself as an introvert, but she
made friends and shared that this first semester was wonderful. In addition to
many events such as a trip to the United Nations and Philadelphia, Zhanar and her
friends always had an event to enjoy at Lehigh University. For example, during
International Education Week, foreign exchange students were encouraged to
create a display and share information about their countries and cultures with other
Lehigh University students. Another event, sponsored by the Graduate Office, had
students taking turns teaching other graduate students how to make a national dish.
After a visit home to Kazakhstan at the end of the fall semester, Zhanar
returned to Lehigh University to get ready for spring semester—new classes, new
assignments, and more adventures, including winter break and a trip to Miami,

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