I was one of the first seven Americans selected as Fulbright scholars to Uruguay.  I had previously hosted three sets of teachers and principals from Uruguay who had been selected by Fulbright to live with bilingual teachers in the United States for three weeks in February while Uruguayan schools were on summer break.  I was able to visit all the schools of the educators I had hosted.  At one school, a huge Bienvenidos/Welcome sign greeted me.  The kids all called me Welcome, assuming that was my name!  My hosts insisted on holding my arm anytime we crossed streets, taking their responsibility for my safety seriously to the max.  We spent two weeks in Montevideo and provided ESL lessons to college students.  At the concluding celebration, one student commented she attended assuming she would meet Americans but went away having met friends!

Brenda Ellen Kirk – Fulbright to Uruguay 2003