Hellen and Evelyn Aguilar-Murillo - Fulbright Students and Twins from Costa Rica

Host Institution: Ohio University, Athens, Ohio
Field: Linguistics
Grant Dates: 1990-1992

Twice the Fulbright Pride

Who do you think is a better candidate for the Fulbright Scholarship, you or your twin sister?  This is the question that one member of the Fulbright Selection Committee asked one of us almost two decades ago during the interview stage of the selection process.  The answer: “Well, I think that we shouldn’t be judged on the basis of our twin relationship but rather on the basis of our qualifications as “Fulbright Material.”  That simple question may well have paved the way for what was going to become the most spectacular and extraordinary ride of our lives thus far.

During the last semester of our Bachelor’s program at the University of Costa Rica in English, some of our professors strongly encouraged us to apply for the Fulbright Program.  Nonetheless, they were equally emphatic about discouraging us from applying the same year because they all argued that it was extremely unlikely, if not impossible, for both of us to get the scholarship for the same year, especially since we both were applying in the same field.  However, this sort of situation was not unknown to us at all.  Ever since we were born, we have had to face the often-uncomfortable discourse people use when talking to twins:  Which one is the nicest? Which one is the smartest? Which one is the strongest? etc. Thus, when confronted with the question regarding which one of us was a better candidate, we simply answered what we had learned from our parents early on in our lives:  “We are both nice, we are both smart, we are both strong” … and as of August 28, 1990 … we are both Fulbrighters!

Although we knew it was a long shot, we decided to go against the odds, and apply to the same university programs.  The waiting period was long and stressful.  Consequently, when we were told that we had been accepted to the same universities, we were thrilled, deeply grateful, and strongly committed to giving our very best 24/7.  It was then that our Fulbright journey truly began.  The Fulbright seeds of excellence, commitment, mutual understanding, and respect were already planted; the germination of those seeds depended on us.

Ohio University in Athens, Ohio, was our destination.  The Linguistics Department at Gordy Hall was going to be our home for the two following years.  The first day of classes in September 1990 was a real eye-opener.  We walked into the classroom, and had it not been for the desks, the board and the professor, we would have thought we were in a United Nations session.  There were students from Saudi Arabia, Japan, Argentina, China, Turkey, Palestine, Colombia, Swaziland, the United States, etc.  The Fulbright Scholarship was, has been, and will always be our bridge to the world, a better world. Being in touch with so many people from so many different cultures provided us with a unique opportunity to learn, appreciate, and respect differences and similarities as well. The vast array of nationalities fostered a multicultural atmosphere in which students, and professors alike exchanged views, experiences, customs, and languages. Social, and cultural ties were strengthened, geographical borders disappeared, and friendships were created: It was indeed the “Fulbright Experience” at its best.  When we first walked into the classroom in 1990, we saw a score of desks with people representing diverse geographical locations.  When we left Ohio two years later, after completing our Master’s Degree in Linguistics, we bid farewell to scores of close friends from all over the world. That is the essence of the Fulbright Program.

While in the Linguistics program, we specialized in Teaching English as A Foreign Language.  Thus, being exposed to the experience of teachers from so many different linguistic backgrounds was a priceless opportunity that truly enhanced our learning process and consequently enriched our professional outlook.  The daily exchange in and outside the classroom was a non-stop source of language experiences.

On several occasions, we even provided real-life input to our professors and classmates on twins and language acquisition. At times, we temporarily became “guinea pigs” in the classroom, and we absolutely loved it.  On the one hand, it was a treat for us to be able to tell our story and describe our language learning process; on the other hand, our professors and classmates really appreciated the opportunity to have “hands-on” experience with a set of twins from Costa Rica who happened to be Fulbrighters, and Linguistics graduate students.  One anecdote that we truly treasure is when one of our professors decided to coin the term “Hevelyn” – Hellen/Evelyn – to call either one of us. It was amusing to trick our professors and challenge them to tell us apart, but it was even more amusing to see them give up and simply say: “Oh … well, … HEVELYN it is”.

Upon our return to Costa Rica, the U.S. Embassy in Costa Rica contacted us because the General Manager of SC Johnson & Son in Costa Rica (a Fulbrighter too) wanted to give English language training to his staff, and he specifically asked for a Fulbrighter specialized in the language training field. The Fulbright network came into play once again.  We met with him, discussed his goals, elaborated a language training plan, and on November 2, 1992, we signed our first contract as Grupo IDIOMÁTICA de San José, S.A.  Our first job contract was negotiated from Fulbrighter to Fulbrighter.  Fulbright opened up our doors to state of the art education, and once again, Fulbright opened up our doors to a “bright” professional career.  To this date, S.C. Johnson in Costa Rica remains the oldest and most loyal customer we have.

We have also been the Spanish language tutors of all U.S. Ambassadors and their families in Costa Rica since 2001.  This interaction with U.S. diplomats has helped us provide much more than just Spanish language training; it has helped us show them the essence of Costa Rica and its people through the eyes of two Costa Rican Fulbrighters who seek to foster mutual understanding and respect. To be the Spanish tutors to Ambassador John Danilovich, Ambassador Mark Langdale, Ambassador Peter Cianchette, and current Ambassador Anne Slaughter Andrew is an honor and a privilege.  Denying the role the Fulbright Program has had in our personal and professional lives is simply impossible.

Evelyn (on the far left) and Hellen (second from the right) at the meeting of the Board of Directors of the Fulbright Alumni Association in Costa Rica. Both received a Certificate of Appreciation for their service from U.S. Ambassador Anne Slaughter Andrew (second from left) in November 2010.

In line with the Fulbright spirit of giving back to our countries, upon our return to Costa Rica we also became involved with the Fulbright Association of Costa Rica.  We have been members of the Board of Directors since 1993. The Fulbright Association in Costa Rica has organized seminars, workshops, discussion groups, etc. for Fulbrighters and non-Fulbrighters on topics as diverse as improving reading skills to the use of computers in the language classroom.  As members of the Board of Directors, we have also had the opportunity to attend national and international conferences in Panama and Marrakech in which we were able to connect with other Fulbrighters from around the world.

We could go on and on about the Fulbright Program and its impact in our lives, our country, and our world; yet we believe that what is truly essential is that the impact the Fulbright Program created had an essential and common formula:  study abroad, learn about other people’s culture, respect their differences, cherish their similarities, and then, once you are back in your own country, transmit your knowledge to others, create a multiplying effect of mutual understanding, and help create a better world. Isn’t that what Senator Fulbright envisioned all along?

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