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katieo-- The stipend is 8,500 L.E. (about $1,500) per month. Also, there is a $400 one-time excess baggage allowance. It's unreceipted, so if you don't have excess baggage, you can use the $400 how you choose. There is also a $1,000 allowance for conference participation, but everything must be receipted for this. There is also a one-time 1,700 L.E. allowance that comes with the first grant installment upon arrival. In addition, there is a 5,000 L.E. tuition allowance. And, of course, international travel. This is what I was told. However, I'm not sure if it is the same for all people. For example, in addition to this, since I'm affiliated with Helwan University and the AUC, I get some money to cover the associated costs of holding a research position there. So if you need exact numbers, it might be worth sending an e-mail about it.

Here is the line from IIE website: Fulbright grantees should arrive in Egypt in late August or early September to participate in the in-country orientation. They must also attend a pre-departure orientation in Washington DC during the summer of 2010. Which leads me to believe that there are two orientations.

Yeah, it's definitely a frustrating process. The IIE website says that there is an in-country orientation in Egypt, so I got the impression that we all have to be there at the same time to participate in that. But it's just a one-line statement with no explanation, so really I have no idea what it's about. I guess we'll find out all the info in DC? Though I certainly hope we know all that info before the end of June haha.

Yeah, I've already got the Israeli stamp, so I'm out of luck with that. Might just have to apply for a new passport. I guess I could always just tear the israeli stamp out Yeah, I've heard Gaza is locked up pretty tight. Though I hear there is an underground tunnel across the border...guess I could always try and find that lol. So what were you doing in Egypt before? Just traveling, or doing research/studying? I've been twice before, but just as a traveler. Did the whole scuba diving thing and then just toured the highlights--Siwa (my favorite), Alexandria, Cairo, Luxor, etc. etc. Do you know much about the in country orientation in Egypt? I haven't gotten any of that information yet. Like: when are we supposed to arrive? Do we fly over independently or together? I'm trying to get my medical checklist sent in so they'll approve it and give me all the info or whatever, but all those tests take a while haha.

The whole clearance thing took a bit of creative wording :-) Also, it's all fiction, as opposed to political commentary or anything like that, so I get a bit of freedom going that route. I would love to go to the west bank. I've heard it's difficult to get in?

I'll be working with the Department of English at the American University in Cairo, writing a book about Palestinian refugees in and around Cairo. I got a student grant as opposed to a scholar/research one, so I'll probably still be taking Arabic or something at the school. I'm pretty excited :-) Only the new AUC campus is WAY out of town (as opposed to the old campus, which is right downtown and in a perfect location). But that's okay, Cairo is one of my favorite cities and I'm really lookin forward to going back.

Haha I'm not a girl But we'll all be introduced anyway. Do you know what institution you'll be associated with? And what's your project?

Hey all! Congrats to everybody who got a Fulbright so far! Just found out I got a creative arts grant to Egypt in creative writing. Looking forward to meeting you all in DC! I was checking out the registration page for the orientation and it said we could request roommates. Any Egypt Fulbrighters interested in rooming up to chat up about Egypt and whatnot? Haha I'm so ridiculously excited!!!!