Fulbright Student and Scholar Panel - Testimonials
	Patricia Almeida Carvalho Ph.D., Fulbright Visiting Scholar at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology  “The Fulbright commission is a respected and renowned institution in Portugal and an application to a Fulbright grant for a sabbatical year at MIT could only come as natural. Cultural immersion in the Cambridge/Boston area could not have been easier and the professional experience has been far better than projected.”
	John E. Ettlie Ph.D., 2005 Fulbright Scholar Alumnus, Rochester Institute of Technology “The Fulbright Scholarship experience for me was not a single summer in a host institution but the centerpiece of a long and continuing relationship I have established with colleagues and students in Lisbon.  Not only has Fulbright had a direct impact on my teaching and scholarship, there are tangible outcomes as well on pedagogy and research publications…For my preparation and my part, I am grateful to the Fulbright for this opportunity.”
	Manfred Philipp Ph.D., 2006 Fulbright Scholar Alumnus, Lehman College: City University of New York (CUNY) “What I expected was a strong interaction with Portuguese students and faculty members, but what I actually experienced was far more. The Fulbright Award gave me a far more intense academic, professional, and cultural experience than I ever expected... My experience in Portugal was intense and positive. I would recommend it to anyone.”
	Eva Cunha Ph.D. candidate in Biophysics at Johns Hopkins University “The diversity of people from different countries with varying cultures, languages, attitudes, foods and styles of life that I have met has helped me to grow on a personal as well as professional level, and has shown me that there are many ways of acting and thinking. The personal growth I have experienced here is invaluable and I believe that it has broadened my horizons and made me a more knowledgeable person overall.”
	Ana Verissimo Ph.D. candidate in Marine Biology at the College of William and Mary “The Fulbright scholarship was the opening of another world to me, both professionally and personally. It has allowed me to work and contact with some of the best professionals in my research area and experience a very encouraging and rewarding working environment. The latter, in particular, is one thing I will take back home with me. But it has also been an enriching experience as an individual and I have gained much perspective from the people and the places I have met in the U.S. and the contrasts to my own country. It has been a life changing experience, truly.”
Fulbright Classroom Teacher Exchange Panel - Testimonials
	Peter Kelley U.S. Teacher to the United Kingdom “For most people, “Put yourself in my shoes” is just a figure of speech.  Through the Fulbright Teacher Exchange Program, it became a personal adventure.  I lived in someone else’s house, worked at his school, and got to know his neighbors until they started to seem more like my house, my school, and my neighbors.  Although I left at the end of a year, the memories, the sense of accomplishment, and the fresh perspective on the world are with me to this day.”
	Angela Martin U.S. Teacher to Mexico “I came back from a year's teacher exchange in San Luis Potosi, Mexico with a number of souvenirs. There were some I had expected: Mexican friends, new fluency and linguistic insight, and a broad context for discussing immigration or swine flu with my high school students in Virginia.  But, an unexpected gift was the lasting affection I now feel for Mexico and its people.  My Fulbright experience strengthened my belief that there are kind, curious, interesting people everywhere.  It better equipped me to nurture these qualities in my students and to encourage them to experience the rewards of cultural exchange.”
	Edina Sipos Hungarian Teacher in Fairfax County, Virginia “As for the personal aspect, I have tried to absorb as much of the American culture as I could. Living with an American family and interacting with them on a daily basis helped me learn a lot about the everyday life of American people and their way of thinking. My hosts took me out to a professional pre-season football game and to a rally just before the elections. I attended the inauguration of President Obama. I spent Thanksgiving in the West, Christmas in the South and spring break in the Midwest. Also, visiting Arlington National Cemetery over Memorial Day weekend is part of the process of fully grasping the American identity.  I have gained a much better understanding of the values this country stands for than before I came.”

 

View photos from the June 2009 event

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