My American Adventure
by Elka Veselinova, 2007-2008, Bulgaria
Fulbright Teacher Exchange Program

Being asked about my impression of America, I answered with one word – huge.  Having lived for more than 43 years in the small country of Bulgaria, everything seemed huge to me – houses, cars, parks, department stores, and malls.  Fortunately, my exchange partner was around to help me get settled into my new life.  After I arrived in Portland, Oregon, she and her daughters did the best to make me feel at home.  They took me to the waterfalls, the Columbia gorge, farms, and gardens around Portland.  Soon, I started exploring the city on my own, visiting the Japanese and Chinese gardens, museums, walking along the Willamette River bank, or just roaming around.

At Robert Gray Middle School, I taught Literature and Language Arts to six groups of eighth graders (about 150 students). From the very beginning, I had to forget about my twenty-year teaching experience.  Everything was different and new for me, and every day I had to learn many things.  I cannot imagine what I would have done without the help and support of my host school mentor and my other colleagues.  I have never in my life had such friendly, helpful, supportive, generous, and appreciative colleagues and principals.  I always tried to make my lessons interesting and attractive by making PowerPoint presentations in which I included some video clips of songs, speeches, and pictures.

Each year students from Robert Gray Middle School participate in Project R.E.A.C.H. (Respecting our Ethnic and Cultural Heritage).  This ongoing tradition is a multifaceted learning experience that includes a research paper with citations and an information speech.  In keeping with the theme of celebrating the diversity in the school and community, students research topics that focus on their family background.  They conduct research that utilizes as many sources as possible.  For their research paper, they choose topics which have a direct relation to the student’s family.  The highlights are the cultural, ethnic or family history displays created by students, which are featured at the annual Project R.E.A.C.H. Night.  Through Project R.E.A.C.H., I became part of more than one hundred family histories.  Looking through the various flags and maps of countries, I felt a citizen of the world.



Ms. Tammy Cole, a teacher from Haven High School in Kansas, invited me to be her guest for a week.  While I was there, teachers invited me into their classrooms, and I observed lessons going on in a calm and creative atmosphere with very well behaved and respectful students.  I was impressed by the students’ great knowledge and by the rooms, which stayed clean up to the end of the day.  The students were so inquisitive; they asked me questions about Bulgaria and even wanted me to write the Bulgarian alphabet, as well as some words and phrases in Bulgarian.

I wanted a challenge and I had it. Moving to the USA opened my eyes, my heart, and my mind to experiences I never would have had otherwise.  I grew more as a person in that year than ever before, and it is all because I was willing to take the risk and follow my heart.  At times, it was definitely difficult, but I knew I was living. Looking back, I am so thankful I was willing to take that big scary step and just go for it. 

The end of the exchange has been just a beginning of new bonds with my American colleagues.  I have been sharing my experience with my Bulgarian colleagues and students.  The experience I received from learning about the American culture undoubtedly will reflect in my teaching in Bulgaria.  Now, I am able to bring a culture firsthand to my students.  Moreover, I am able to describe to them my experiences, share with them the stories from the time I was in the USA, and inspire them to want to seek out new experiences for themselves.  Because experience leads to confidence! And confidence leads to success! Huge success!

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