Fulbright and the Future

Fulbright Women in Athens

Day 10 June 15th;

       This evening four women who have been teaching in Athens on a Fulbright Foundation Scholarship came to speak to us. On both; their experiences of the Fulbright Foundation opportunity, and as American expats experiencing the capitol of Greece during this pending political condition.
       First the heartening part of the round discussion was hearing the women discuss how Athenians handled the last fiscal years political process with the Eurozone. They described the school that they work at as being a private school for the Athenian elite, including children of political leaders. In times of political hardship there was tension and stress from their students. As well as in areas of Athens were working class families lived and frequented. They talked of the political voices of protests and picketing with an impending uncertainty for Greece's future. The working class was not alone long-term political families also had this feeling of political uncertainty seeing the political power in new hands, hoping all their years of hard work would not become undone.
       The other was hearing of the incredible opportunity that the Fulbright Foundation has to offer (http://www.iie.org/fulbright), living a year abroad working in an international internship. There are several different countries that the Fulbright Foundation works in. Additionally, there are different programs within each country; from graduates building towards their PhD's on Research Grants, to Teaching Assistantships, Public Health Fellowships, and Clinton Fellowships. The opportunities are endless and most students could easily find a region that would have their field of study. It was also comforting to hear one of the women say that she had applied one year and was denied only to apply the exact same application and be accepted. Meaning if I chose to apply I can do so after taking a year off from academia.
       Earlier in the day I heard a fellow student was talking about WWOOFing at a farm on Crete. I had just heard of these experience from the women in my previous abroad program. To WWOOF is to volunteer at organic farm, usually internationally, having room and board covered by the hosting farm (http://wwoofinternational.org). It is a great way to give back to the environment, build up the organic eating world, and an inexpensive way to live in and experience other cultures. Being an Organic farmer myself, I found this as an amazing opportunity as well especially for college students who want to travel with limited funds or even adults with a free lifestyle.