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Fulbright Foreign Student
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A Year of Firsts
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Agent of Changeby Elvis Fernandes Brites Da Cruz, 2007-2009, East TimorMy journey started when I left Timor-Leste (also known as East Timor) for Oklahoma on July 4, 2007. I am the first Fulbright grantee from Timor-Leste since it gained independence in 2002. I left my country, family, relatives and friends to pursue my dream to become a “knowledgeable person who possesses global understanding.” My first day in the United States was really challenging because I had to adapt to a new environment and way of life so different from my own.
After I arrived at the University of Oklahoma (OU), I spent most of my time on campus in the Department of Educational Leadership Policy Studies. I was therefore limited to a certain perspective of Americans. I was able to interact with faculty, classmates and other students I met in the library, computer lab, student union, cafeteria, and gym. The people I met were enthusiastic and full of energy, and their willingness to help was fantastic. One of the interesting events I attended was the Native American Spring Powwow Contest, hosted by the University of Oklahoma. I was excited to attend this cultural event as it was my first powwow after living in Oklahoma for more than a year. I learned that Native Americans still preserve, protect and value their traditional cultures, even though they are currently facing such challenges as globalization and modernization, which have forced many to leave their traditional core values. The most unique thing I learned was that OU has played an important role in preserving and promoting traditional Native American cultural values by conducting the powwow contests annually. I hope that the richness of cultural diversity I experienced while studying in the U.S. will continue to inform my knowledge of American society and that my views towards different people and cultures will continually reveal that different cultures share similar values. I've experienced a big personal change as a result of my Fulbright experience. I’m proud to represent my country and I know that the knowledge I have gained will make a difference to my society and others. Thanks to Senator J. William Fulbright and the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs for making this program possible. To comment on Elvis Fernandes Brites Da Cruz's article on State Alumni, please click here. |
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My Year on the Russia International Education Administrators (RIEA) Fulbright Programby Vladimir Melnikov, 2008-2009, RussiaFor the past year, I've been participating in the Russia International Education Administrators (RIEA) Fulbright Program. The first part of my stay in the United States involved intensive training at Teachers College, Columbia University, the Institute of International Education and the One To World Program. Through One To World, we visited the Bronx Leadership Academy High School in New York. It was probably one of the most interesting, memorable and valuable experiences I've had, particularly since I graduated from a pedagogical university in Russia and have a degree in education. That great opportunity gave me a chance to see and directly experience an American school first hand. Before my visit, I had only known about American schools through books and Hollywood depictions. In reality, it was quite different, especially the one where I went to teach and tell high school students about Russia.
It was
surprising to me that these American students were
more organized than Russian high school
students. The school was also not noisy
during recess like our schools. My lesson
plan was devoted to Russia: a brief historic
overview, some general information about the
country with some facts and a description of the
culture. My lesson lasted over two classes
and was held in the library for about 60
students. One of the most challenging things
for me was that I had no idea what the students
knew about Russia, so I started my lesson with
questions. First, the students were a bit
shy. However, it turned out that some
students knew more about Russia than I expected.
The great majority of the students listened to me
with keen interest and kept asking me
questions. I would also like to mention that
not only did the students ask questions, but so
did their teachers. After the lesson,
several students came up to me to ask more
questions. In the end, I wish I had had more
time to talk with the students. To comment on Vladimir Melnikov's article on State Alumni, please click here. |
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Submitting Photos, Articles and Blogs to State AlumniShare your
photos with the Fulbright Community!
Tell the Fulbright Community about what you're writing!
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A Call for Articles with PhotosWe welcome articles with accompanying photos for future issues of the Fulbright Foreign Student Newsletter. Articles should ideally be about your experience of being abroad as a Fulbright grantee (and cultural ambassador), and any relevant and/or unique musings you might want to share with your fellow Fulbright grantees and others interested in the Fulbright Program. The length of the article should be no more than 500 words and not require much editing in order to be published. The accompanying photos should show you engaged in program activities, or be illustrative of your article's content. Please submit your articles with photos within two weeks of the release of this newsletter. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us. We look forward to receiving your articles! |