Fellowship Testimonials

"Gamarjoba (hello)! I teach at Iakob Gogebashvili Telavi State University and hold a board game and democracy club once a week at the Telavi American Corner. When I am not teaching and running clubs, I love walking and exploring the streets of Telavi. I am obliged to stop at my favorite cheese/wine bar for a glass of Kisi wine every so often, since I am in Kakheti, the wine region of Georgia. I have also been able to attend countless supras which are celebratory feasts led by a tamada (toastmaster). Supra’s typically involve singing and the retelling of Georgia’s centuries long fight for independence. Fulbright has been an incredible opportunity and I will treasure my time in Georgia forever."

"Studying abroad definitely changed my life for the better. Being truly independent for the first time in a country was a challenging experience up front, but it forced me to take the initiative to make the best out of the experience and meet new people. As an introvert at heart, this was especially difficult. However, my roommates, which included another Siena student, and the friends I made along the way helped influence my personal growth and made me feel more comfortable meeting people from vastly different backgrounds than myself."

"As a Fulbright postgraduate awardee, my day-to-day life is filled with coursework, multiple coffees at different cafes with friends and classmates, and weekends dedicated to exploring Belfast. I worked for a semester as an independent researcher with a local non-profit organization and experienced a new side of Belfast as a young professional. I make it sound like a routine, but no day has been the same as the last. Living abroad has made me more independent and self-reliant than ever before, and the fields of study I have been introduced to as a result of my master’s program have made me reevaluate my intentions as I pursue job opportunities. While it is my intention to move back to the U.S. after completing my master’s degree, I believe Fulbright has opened doors for me that will allow me to return to Northern Ireland as well as engage with scholars and professionals across the world for the rest of my life, in professional and personal pursuits."

"Serving as a U.S. cultural ambassador to Bulgaria (2023-2024) and a returning Fulbright grantee to Moldova (2024-2025), I have the privilege of helping promote cross-cultural relationships and understanding around the world. My work in Smolyan, Bulgaria saw me teaching English at a top language school in the region, managing three clubs (Business & Leadership, Cross-Cultural, and Speech & Debate), attending and presenting at international conferences, and spending hundreds of hours with my community outside of the classroom. Of the many memories from my time in Bulgaria, the hours with colleagues, students, and friends, who shared the joy of Bulgarian culture through festivals/holidays, horo lessons (traditional folk dance), delicious meals, and wonderful family stories and traditional Rhodope folklore will always have a special place in my heart. Building on prior academic and professional experiences at Siena, my time in the Fulbright Program continues to help support and enrich my pursuit of personal and professional goals in ways I am confident will last a lifetime."

"Living and working as an English teaching assistant in France was a dream come true, not only because I got to experience a new country, but also because of the people I met along the way - the students, coworkers, and friends. My fellow TAPIF assistants and I formed a close-knit community, a mini-family spread across neighboring towns, and we supported each other throughout the experience. As someone who grew up in the vibrant energy of New York City, I initially felt nervous about my placement in Romilly-sur-Seine, a small, relatively quiet town. It wasn’t exactly the bustling environment I was used to. Despite my early concerns, I quickly grew to love the charm of these smaller towns. I loved walking everywhere, being surrounded by nature, and chatting with the locals, who were often curious about why an American had come to visit their corner of France."

"I can confidently state that studying abroad in Seoul, South Korea changed the trajectory of my life. I learned more about my personality, aspirations, fears, and desires during those five months than any other period of my life thus far. These changes didn’t revert upon returning to the US—they continue to shape the way I perceive and experience life in and outside of America. My time abroad inspired me to work as an International Student Advisor, helping international students as they experience their own journey studying abroad."

"I spent my time as a Fulbright ETA in Velbert, a small city in western Germany near the Ruhr River, at a college preparatory high school where I ran conversation groups and discussed American literature, history, and culture in upper level English classes. The school also had a wonderfully robust English Theatre program, so I was able to assistant direct several plays in English, including The Importance of Being Earnest! Outside of the school, I loved being able to make friends in the community and with other language assistants, volunteer, and work on improving my German. My time in Fulbright led me to a greater interest in pursuing a globally-minded career. Through my work at the school, a seminar and workshops in Berlin, and meetings at the U.S. Consulate in Düsseldorf, I was exposed to many perspectives on how to engage with international matters in different fields, like education, diplomacy, and science."

"Studying abroad at Kansai Gaidai University in Hirakata, Japan was one of the most fulfilling and life-changing experiences. By going to the local student hub near campus, I had the pleasure of meeting other students, professors, and locals who I became close friends with. From then on, the locals introduced me to other prominent figures in the community which eventually led me to get a part-time job as an English teacher for young kids in the community. The Gilman Scholarship allowed me to have the finances to enjoy my time in Japan stress-free and since I'm a first-generation American who faced financial troubles for most of my life, I did not think studying abroad would be possible until I received this scholarship."

"I worked at Universidade Federal do São Carlos (UFSCar) in São Carlos, Brazil - a college town about 3.5 hours from the city of São Paulo. My fellow ETA and I taught a class for college students that focused on topics in U.S. culture, and the practice of different English language skills. We also offered hours where we helped students improve their language skills, and reviewed dissertations and other works written in English for grammatical accuracy. In addition, I volunteered with EducationUSA to help Brazilian high school seniors with their college applications. In my free time I ate my weight in delicious Brazilian food (açai anyone?), had a language exchange partner, took Brazilian Portuguese and dance classes, and traveled. It was truly an experience of a lifetime and it better prepared me for my career in International Education!"