HBAGN

hi, revtowns! I'm sorry to hear this. I don't have any advice, but I wanted to let you know that your frustration seems totally legitimate and justified to me. Of course no one's doing the Fulbright for the money (or for the health insurance!), but I do think we deserve to know what we're getting into. It's a major accomplishment to win a Fulbright, but if you've won, it's only because you're majorly accomplished. There's a clear lack of respect in telling a grantee his or her stipend will be x amount and then expecting them to go along with the program uncomplainingly when the stipend mysteriously is cut in half. Of course, it's possible that funding was cut or the language institute's tuition was sharply increased, but you deserve to have that information clearly communicated to you. The language institute sounds like a great opportunity, but depending on your personal situation perhaps it's no longer feasible (some Fulbrighters might be getting sweet checks from their parents to help with the expenses, others might be struggling to repay student loans or other debt ...), but I hope whatever you decide you'll have a good and fruitful experience. best, Hodna

Hi, screel45, Thank you! I'm off to Morocco and really just beside myself with joy. I'm pretty sure that the ETA stipend ranges from about $1,000-$1,500 depending on the local cost of living (I'm guessing that the cost of living is probably higher in Bahrain than in Morocco ... and, of course, it varies depending on whether you're in a rural area or a capital city) and I think you can get a rough idea of the grant dates by looking at the country profiles. I know, for example, that all Morocco ETAs will be placed at the university-level, so I've looked up the official university calendar online (the semester begins in early October and ends in late July or early August) and I also managed to figure out which Moroccan cities have universities ... maybe you could do some sleuthing, too? Are Bahrain ETAs assigned to all levels or just universities? And in the worst case, I guess the PDO is less than six weeks away! Best, Hodna

Congratulations, screel45!!! I was notified a bit later (April 6), and when I emailed the US commission's MENA coordinator, he said grant details could arrive as late as June 12th (the first day of the Pre-Departure Orientation). ? Hopefully we'll hear something sooner than that... Best, Hodna

Have any MENA Fulbrighters received grant details? I'm on tenterhooks waiting to hear where I'll be placed!

Hey, Mags! You can email Fulbrightorientation@iie.org to ask about travel to the PDO. I think you can fly to wherever you want - when you select the flights on the HRG/Concur site, there is a place to add a note if your proposed itinerary doesn't comply with all the Fulbright rules. I think you could just mention that the cost of flying to NY is substantially lower and that you will take a train at your own expense. However, if you plan to spend time in NY before (or after) the PDO, I think you will need special permission. Here's the information from the PDO website: "For current grantees, if you will be abroad during PDO, your international flight itinerary will be reviewed for approval prior to booking. You must submit your proposed itinerary through the HRG/Concur travel site for approval. Please note that IIE will only cover the cost of a flight up to $1,000, and any additional cost beyond $1,000 will be the responsibility of the grantee and is not eligible for reimbursement. If your flight is over $1,000 and it is approved, you will be required to call HRG/Concur to provide a credit card for the balance of the flight cost over $1,000. International flights that are under $1,000, and approved by IIE, will not require calling HRG/Concur. Reimbursement forms will be available at the orientation. Flights must be Fly America Act compliant to be eligible for reimbursement. Please note: Travelers must fly into and out of the United States on U.S.-flag carriers; a foreign carrier may be used for travel between two points abroad; A code-share flight qualifies as a U.S.-flag carrier provided the ticket identifies the U.S. carrier’s code and flight number; International itineraries are subject to approval by IIE."

@awilliams CONGRATULATIONS on your grant! I ended up using that number, too ... but haven't heard back (it can take 2-3 weeks, I think, for the medical forms to be processed). Thanks for your advice! (It's so nice to be in contact with everyone on here )

Hi, everyone! Can anyone help me to understand which is my "grantee number" - is it the number that begins with two letters and is followed by eight numbers (send in the initial selection email) or is it the eight-character-long number that was automatically populated in my Fulbright Self-Service account? I am asking because the medical form submission specifically requests a "grantee number" but I've been sent both a "Fulbright ID number" and a "Participant ID" and don't know which one to use ... Thanks! -Hodna

Hi, everyone! I just found out that I'm a finalist for the ETA in Morocco! sandralbertin & littlegate, your research projects sound so awesome (circuses and women's rights, two of my favorite things!) - I really hope you get selected in the end (and that you'll find another way to do your projects if not with the Fulbright). I'd love to be in touch. DM me! Best, Hodna