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A True and Equal Exchange
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The Power and Pull of Whys and Waisby Derron J. R. Wallace, 2008-2009, Thailand ETAA few weeks ago, I stood in breathless amazement at a vast expanse of rice fields swaying in the wind. It was not my first time witnessing these fields in Thailand. However, the moment - and my deep consideration of it - was altogether refreshing. Prior to that sunny Saturday morning, I had failed to welcome the captivating sight before me and take in the simple, subtle sensations that can stir passion and curiosity for life. All at once, I was reminded of how easy it is to take matters, places and people for granted to the point when we fail to wai (Thai greeting) or ask why. Thanks to that moment, I discovered a valuable cue for making cross-cultural connections. Questioning and respecting traditions enriches global mutual understanding and engenders empathy for different ways of life.
The ability to pay respect to foreign traditions (wai) and inquire about the roots of cultural differences (ask why) are necessary prerequisites for global competence. In fact, I would wager that the sustainability of the world and reduction of conflicts rest on our commitment to humbly honor and critically engage with differences. If we are to interact effectively in an increasingly interdependent and interconnected world, we need more rich intercultural experiences that promote respect and provoke curiosity. I relish greatly the revelation I experienced weeks ago. The rice fields' bountiful greenery gave me a pervasive awareness of cultural reverence and social concern, which ushered my thinking down previously unfamiliar corridors. I remain hopeful that I will forever be mindful of the power of whys and wais. Awareness of both will not only strengthen U.S.-Thailand relations, but perhaps the entire world as well. To comment on Derron J. R. Wallace's article on State Alumni, please click here. |
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We Careby Anne Sargent, Italy ETA, 2008-2009It was a dark, damp December evening, one of the last before schools closed for the holiday break. Ticket in hand, I slipped into the crowd entering my host city’s theater with throngs of students, parents, teachers and friends from the Liceo Classico - one of the schools I have been working with as a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant (ETA) in Matera, Italy. I was eager to see what this ‘spettacolo’ was all about, knowing only that it was a production which students had been working on for months. During the performance, one scene opened up into another: a heartfelt monologue led to a hip-hop dance sequence; a poetry recitation was followed by short scenes of young people talking about their powerlessness and disinterest in the state of society. The show emphatically urged the audience to buck the tendency towards defeatist indifference and, instead, adapt an attitude of civic engagement. At the end of each scene, the student performers stacked a large, block letter at one corner of the stage. By the time the curtain closed, they had delivered an energizing and moving performance, and spelled out their simple, succinct message loud and clear (especially to those of us in the audience who speak English, the language in which they surprisingly chose to deliver this message): "We care."
Another astounding aspect of the performance was that one of the two playwrights happened to be Carmelo: my host family's cousin from my first stay in Italy’s Basilicata region as a high school student on the AFS exchange program. As a fearless and candid nine-year old, Carmelo had been one of the few people in his small town excited to practice his English with me, a foreigner from far away, unpronounceable Massachusetts. To this day, I will never forget a trip we made to the Calabrian coast where little Carmelo stood beside me, pointing first towards the brilliant blue sky overhead, and then towards a rocky island jutting out of the sea in front of us. He carefully pronounced the words for ‘sky’ (‘cielo’), ‘island’ (‘isola’) and ‘sea’ (‘mare’), patiently waiting for me to repeat them back to him. Effectively, Carmelo was one of my very first Italian teachers, yet here I am now back in Basilicata ten years later, teaching Carmelo and his classmates about English and the Anglophone world. To comment on Anne Sargent's article on State Alumni, please click here. |
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A Call for Articles with PhotosWe welcome articles with accompanying photos for future issues of the Fulbright U.S. Student Grantee 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! |