DEARBORN — On Saturday, March 22, over 50 participants, many of whom are currently in the U.S. on a fulbright, took a cultural tour in Dearborn hosted by the Michigan Chapter of Fulbright Association.

The tourists, ranging from scholars to fellows, traveled to Dearborn from major universities in the state that included the University of Michigan, Eastern Michigan University, Wayne State University, Western Michigan University and Michigan State University. 

Many of the international tourists came from countries that include Indonesia, Malaysia, Libya, Palestine and Russia and are here in the U.S. attending one of the local universities for a school year. In total, 30 countries were represented in the group that took the cultural tour.  

The Fulbright Association, which includes chapters in nearly every state, facilitates many programs involving students and scholars in both the U.S. and overseas. Through numerous programs, hundreds of American scholars and professionals travel yearly to various countries to lecture or conduct research. Through the association’s fulbright visiting scholar program, foreign scholars are able to do the same in the U.S.

In any given year, there are approximately 25,000 students visiting Michigan from foreign countries. 

For the last several years, the Michigan chapter has been giving yearly cultural tours to selected scholars and fellows who are here on a fulbright. Last year, the association hosted an African American cultural tour in Detroit. This year, the association focused on the Arab American community in Dearborn.

Jeffrey G. Nutt, President of the Michigan Chapter of Fulbright Association, told The Arab American News that the Arab community was an ideal focus this time around because the culture is prominent in the Metro Detroit region, making it a unique attraction for tourists to experience.

The tour began at 10:30 a.m. in Livonia, where the group visited the St. Mary Antiochean Basilica, an Arab Orthodox Church, notable for its Byzantine-style architecture. Father George Shalhoub held a discussion with the guests about the building and Arab Orthodox Christian traditions.

The group then had lunch at the Al-Ajami restaurant in Dearborn before heading over to the Islamic Center of America (ICA).   Eide Alawan, an ICA representative, held a lecture with the group in the prayer room, explaining the architecture of the building and Islamic traditions. 

Ika Hutami, a fulbright student on the tour, says she was surprised to see rich culture in the city of Dearborn. A practicing Muslim, she says she was excited to visit a big mosque for the first time since she left her homeland. 

“I’ve been living in Ann Arbor for the last six months and you don’t really get to see any religious activity there. It’s awesome how Muslims and Christians live amongst each other and have a good relationship. My first thought on this country was that people only care for themselves and they aren’t religious. But here in Dearborn, I see a different perspective. It’s good to see a different side of America,” Hutami said.

A group of men from Tennessee were coincidentally touring the ICA facilities at the same time that the fulbright group was there and ended up joining them in the prayer room to listen to the lecture.

Alex Kalinin, here on a fulbright from Russia and studying at the University of Michigan, told The Arab American News that he had no knowledge of the Arab American community prior to his visit to Dearborn. 

“It was interesting to find out that there is such a big Arabic speaking community in Dearborn. I was surprised to learn that it was the biggest Arabic community in the U.S. I did not know about that at all. This is the first time that I’m in a mosque and it’s a very exciting experience,” Kalinin said.  

Ibrahim Kanda, here on a fulbright from Niger to study Applied Linguistics at Michigan State University, said he did not expect Islam to be prevalent in the Detroit Metro region. He is a practicing Muslim and drew similarities between the way the religion is practiced in his country and how it is practiced here. 

“What surprises me the most is while we were on the road, I saw Arabic scriptures on many of the shops. I just feel like, wow, this is really a place where Islam is embedded. I’m a Muslim and I was  really excited to come see this mosque. It’s wonderful and I feel honored to pray in it,” Kanda said. 

Following their visit to the ICA, the group split up to attend Arabic shops that included the Super Greenland Market and Shatila Bakery, both located on Warren Ave.  

Dr. Hashim Al-Tawil, Professor and chair of the Art History Department at Henry Ford Community College, served as the tour guide for the group. He is also on the board of the Michigan Chapter of Fulbright Association.

“My goal is to introduce the Arab American culture to these international scholars. It’s a good way to show them the diversity and richness of our culture whether it is in terms of religion, culture or other variations within the community. They are very impressed with what they have seen,” Al-Tawil stated.