East Meets West: Reflections on Teaching an American Past in the Former East Germany – Stephen Engle – Germany 1995
“The future is certain,” goes the old Soviet joke, “it is only the past that is unpredictable.” For many former East Germans the unpredictability of the past six years has left them searching for a way to blend their culture with that of the West without abandoning their past, Though there are obvious differences, today’s […]
A Standing Ovation for Law – Rumu Sarkar – Poland 2016
While attending a seminar at Georgetown University Law Center where I was an adjunct law professor, I happened to sit next to a Chinese law professor studying at Georgetown Law under his Fulbright Scholarship. He was, to my amazement, already familiar with my publication, INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT LAW, and promptly invited me to speak at his […]
Gordon at the Kremlin Wall – Philip E Rakita – USSR 1976
I was in Moscow in the spring of 1976 on my Fulbright exchange for 4-month teaching chemistry at Moscow State University. With me were my first wife, Frances, and our two sons, Michael (9) and Gordon (6). It was a cold spring day, and we were headed out on a family sightseeing trip. We were […]
Is Mutual Understanding Through Exchange Still Possible? – Margaret McLeod and Bryce Johnston – Spain 2020
Since early 2020, global travel bans have placed educational exchanges on pause. While American students remained at home, the landscape of international education changed dramatically. Hybrid classrooms now allow students from across the globe to connect through digital technology; however, it also created new channels for misinformation to undermine classroom discussion around sensitive topics. As […]
Fulbright – A lesson in compassion – Waqas Idrees – USA 2013
A few questions that were asked by people when I told them I am from Pakistan; “Do you own a camel?” When I told them, “Sadly, I don’t,” follow up question…” how do you travel to work then?” “Do you know any American singers?” I answered, “Madonna, Michael Jackson.” Follow-up question, “How do you know […]
My Fulbright Experience at Montclair – Debdas Ray – USA 2010
I was always interested to do something meaningful in my life which would enable me to serve the society as a whole. As a teacher, I had the opportunity to serve the society. But I was searching for a larger platform. In the year 1996, the entire scenario changed in my life. I got involved […]
Carnival in the Canaries – Pharibe Pope – Spain 2019
“¿Qué significa murga?” This was a question I asked after picking up the local newspaper in our teacher’s lounge. It was a room just big enough to fit one futon and four stools, but at any one time you might find ten to fifteen exuberant teachers sitting shoulder to shoulder, sipping 1-euro cafecitos from the […]
My ‘Distinguished Service & Outreach Award’ Winning Moment – Gaurav Misra – USA 2015
I was a foreign language instructor to my American students at the University of Montana, Missoula (UM). I was part of an established South & South-East Asian Studies Program with a focus on India and several India-based courses. Through my presence on this campus, I helped to develop the foreign language program and increase overall […]