The American DREAM (Nightmare!)

By Shady Fouad

Hello all. This is an article for all of you who don’t have hope of improving your life and achieving the maximum of your self-esteem. If you do have hope, then consider it a motivation for you to work harder. This is an article that I wrote about my first few months in the USA. It will discuss my experiences, my problems, my pleasant surprises as well as my disappointments. I hope it will encourage you to approach life differently, after all, you never know what is going to happen for you in the future.

PART 1: PREPARATIONS

HOW IT ALL STARTED:
I never imagined in my wildest dreams that I’ll live in the USA for about two years, but it all startedWith a newspaper ad stating that there are scholarships to study for the Masters Degree in the USA. I really didn’t give the slightest attention to that ad, after all I thought that millions would apply especially because it was in Al-Ahram newspaper and hence I thought it would be a waste of time to apply. However, my family didn’t see it that way, they had much confidence in me. My father and brother both of them patiently urged me to apply, saying I’ve got nothing to loose. The most difficult assignment in my life started since that day. The road to USA had to pass through the road to hell first!

PLANNING TO WIN THE SCHOLARSHIP:
To qualify for the scholarship, I had to write a one page article answering questions such as why do I need it, what do I intend to do with it, what are my future plans, and so on.  Since I am a very creative person, I have tired to follow a different approach regarding the article contents. First, I worked hard on expecting what others might write and avoided it completely. Second, I took a considerable time on expecting and clearly understanding the screening criteria. Third, I have focused on using objective measures and statistics to cement my arguments. Fourth, My boss helped me through a well-written recommendation letter (which was a requirement for qualification). Completing that article in a quality manner was by no means a simple task. I had to re-write that article from scratch for about 15 times. I have reached a stage where I was completely fed-up with it, but my family and my father in particular always encouraged me, saying that I can do it.

STRUGGLING AGAINST SCREENING:
It was one of the most joyful days in my life when I got a confirmation that I have passed the first round of screening. The second round was much more difficult than the first one. It was an English exam, in which the minimum acceptable score was 80%. It was a real painful experience but I passed it as well. Part 3 of the process was a real nightmare. It was an interview process, which sounded to me more like police investigation than an interview. Needless to mention that the future of my whole life was dependant on that interview, and hence, you can imagine how stressed was I. However, this stress was an excellent motive to be well prepared. I felt as if I’m getting into a war and that I must know what grounds I am fighting on before going into war. An American committee came from USA specifically for that screening process. Believe me, Americans are very nice people, but NEVER in interviews! Their questions were quick, decisive, and up to the point. With support from God, prayers from my mother, encouragement from my father, technical advises from my brother, and a lot of patience and hard work I was officially I notified that I have been selected from among some 300 applicants to join a group of 25 Egyptians who were awarded this scholarship.

SELECTION IS THE BEGAINING OF THE ROAD, NOT THE END:
I thought that I was selected and was the end of my problems. However, that wasn’t the case exactly. I have faced lots of serious problems. First, I was required to fill millions of applications, take TOEFL and GMAT exams in addition choosing the university and getting official copies of many documents in just two weeks. At the very last week before traveling, I was shocked by a list of requirements that were given at the last minute. Those requirements were very hard to fulfill because they committed my company to financially guarantee me, which is of course a difficult commitment to be taken by any company. However, my boss agreed after some negotiations. I am thankful for his understanding and help. Things have gone extremely fast to the extent that I was calling my friends to tell them I was leaving Egypt from my cell phone while I was on my way to the airport! It has been a very difficult period for me. Unfortunately, I didn’t have time to see any of my friends or even family members before leaving. God knows how much I miss them.

PART 2: WELCOME TO THE USA!

PROBLEMS, PROBLEMS, AND MORE PROBLEMS:
The first few months in the USA were very difficult for me. My sponsors have reserved a room for me for a month in a hotel. Hence, I had 1 month to arrange my life and find a place to live in. I was a total stranger. I knew nothing about the place I’m in. Additionally had no transportation means (taxis are extremely expensive). Living in the USA without a car is like living in the desert without a camel. In both cases your life becomes really miserable. You should always view the USA as a continent, not as a country. Distances here are extremely huge. Moreover, I didn’t know what set of rules that apply when renting an apartment. I had to find a good apartment, at the right time, location, terms, cost, facilities, and in less than a month. It sounds a difficult equation, and it is more difficult applying it.
My strategy was to find a house near the university. So, I tried searching the Internet for the apartments with the same ZIP code of the university, then I’ve screened the apartments according to which is nearest to the underground. The search engines allow you to enter the requested price ranges and facilities. Day by day I started learning the tricks and tips regarding housing.

LET’S GET STARTED:
The semester started and I started attending lectures. My fear from failure was (and still) enormous. A score below 80% is considered a failure, and if you fail, then the scholarship will be cancelled and you will return back home with all the embarrassment in the world. I have graduated from Cairo University with an average of 75%. The problem I slept and dreamt of for months is how on earth am I going to achieve that 80% if I didn’t even achieve it in Egypt!

WANNA CHALLENGE?
I do not attribute my success to myself only. I attribute a good deal of it to the challenge. When you are put in such a challenge, you are pushed to the maximum limits of your capabilities, and the Americans are very good in getting the best out of you without discouraging you. Faced with my fears, I had nothing to do but counting on God and myself. Anyway, I told myself if I fail, then I’ve spent 6 nice months in the USA and that much more than many have in a lifetime!

READY? STEADY? GO!
I started stretching myself day after day. After two weeks my life became upside down! I have put the maximum of my efforts. I accustomed myself to start studying at about 11 pm or 12 am till dawn. Even though I was working very hard, I was following a strange technique, which is never to pressure myself to study. I only studied when I wanted to. I have seldom forced myself to study. This technique has proven very effective, because it made my study time abnormally effective and efficient.

JUDGEMENT DAY!
Days and months passed till I had my final results. I was scared to the extent that I told my parents that I have failed and that I’m packing to return to Egypt. However, my results were awesome: an “A” grade in all subjects, and a GPA of 4.0, which is equivalent to 100%. Success is really sweet, and failure is really bitter.

THE PRESENT:
I have just started my second semester and I still don’t consider myself on the safe side. I had a good start, but that is not the end of the game yet. I won’t rest till I graduate. I will do my best and hopefully succeed. Pray for me!

PART 3: Additional Information

LESSONS FROM THE AMERICANS:
I have learned a lot from the Americans. Actually, they are very different from what you see on TV. I am glad to have had the chance to better understand them and their culture. I have learned the following from the Americans:
  1. Always be a modest person, even if you are the best. I remember that my professor always said “you are here to learn from us, and we are here to learn from you and your experiences”. They treat you on equal basis to themselves. They never consider themselves as God’s gift to humanity as some professors do in Egypt.
  2. Always respect other cultures. I believe that the American success is attributed to their multicultural diversity. They simply skim the best of the best in each country. They have made me fully stretch my capabilities, to an extent that surprised me before surprising anyone else. For example, I have proven that the book was wrong about a certain problem; the professor next day announced a correction. However, I have also proven that the correction was wrong. He gave me full credit for that and has always encouraged me. He never marginalized my opinion or way of thinking.
  3. Never give up! They just keep on trying on and on and on; they always believe that only losers give up. They try always to learn from their mistakes. They believe in training and more training. They never stop training. Additionally, they believe that their failures are pre-qualifications for their successes.
  4. Always invest handsomely in capital investments. Americans always make sure that their factories have the latest technology. Technology leads to more productivity relative to competitors. In the competitive world of business, it may be just this slight edge in a firm’s capital investment, consistently applied, that determines who survives. Apply this to yourself through investing in education.

REASONS FOR MY SUCESS:
I think I have succeeded due to the following reasons:
  1. God’s blessing, ambition, patience, and hard work.
  2. As I have mentioned before, the American system explores the best out of you. Hence, they are continuously improving you without you realizing it.
  3. Being calm. I have rarely pressured myself to study. This helped me to stay calm, and instead of waiting endless hours trying to concentrate in one page, I have chosen the best time I like (I’m a night creature). The flexibility of the system allowed me to do that (because you choose the times of your lectures).
  4. It was a matter of life or death for me. I have left my country, my family, my friends and my job for this MBA. Hence, I worked all night almost everyday out of the fear of failure.
PEOPLE WHO CONTRIBUTED TO MY SUCCESS:
I would like to express my sincere gratitude for the following:
  1. My father, for his support, mother for her love, and brother for his advices.
  2. My fiancée, Sherry, who lives in England. Her daily international calls, care ness, and love are highly appreciated.
  3. My professors at the Faculty of Commerce, English Section (Tigaraa English) – Cairo University. If you are studying there, then know you have the best education money could buy. Without the excellent education I had in that faculty, I would have never made it here. The English Section has enabled me to establish a concrete base of knowledge that gave me an enormous driving force. The materials and the theories discussed in both countries are the same. The huge difference is how you use the material. In Egypt you memorize it. In USA you apply it.
  4. My boss at work, for his understanding and approving the serious commitments. Without his recommendation and the company’s commitment to my program, life would have been harder.
Tips if you are coming to the USA:
  1. Northeastern states are extremely expensive, unlike the south.
  2. The general rule for expenses: US$ 1 = LE 1. Which means that if you have a big Mac meal for LE 10, then you’ll find it here worth US$ 10. My rent is for US$ 525 (single), which is very good price by the way for the area I live in. The only exceptions are the phone bills and the Internet. The Internet connection is for free for anyone (yes, for free and there are no tricks). Advertising covers the costs. The monthly phone bill is $20 for unlimited usage (which means you can talk for 24 hours and the bill will be the same).
  3. Electronic equipment is very cheap here, and it gets much cheaper if it is used. I have bought my microwave as an example for US$ 15.
FINAL WORDS:
I don’t consider myself a genius, however, I have made a superb usage of a once in a lifetime chance through dedicating my full capabilities to attaining that chance, and that is what made the difference between others and me. Never give up and never loose hope. Believe in God and yourself. As long as there is tomorrow, good things could happen in the future. For instance, I have applied for a scholarship in Germany but it didn’t work…few months later, the USA scholarship worked!
If you’re passing through hard times remember that you had harder times before, if not, then this will be the next benchmark for future hardships. Also remember that there is always light at the end of the tunnel. Should I be of any help to you, please do not hesitate to contact me. I will do my best within my capabilities.

My name is: Shady Hassan Fouad, Email: shady-@mailcity.com
Web Page: www.geocities.com/shadymba (under construction)
Address: 70, 12th Street NE–Apt. 3 (Midtown Business District),
Atlanta, Georgia 30309 – USA
Tel:(001) 404 733 5642
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