Fulbright Pre-Departure Orientation Summer 2019 -- Eurasia -- July 2019 -- University of Kansas

I was so pleased to be asked to present at the Fulbright Pre-Departure Orientation for the outbound Fulbrighters to Eurasia (2019-20).

Fulbrighters heading to North Macedonia 2019-20!  to Skopje, Bitola, Stip, and Tetovo

Specifically, my job was to lead the North Macedonia Country sessions as well as to present during a panel for those bringing spouses and dependents.  We (Fulbright alumni) are also requested to be present at all sessions - so that we can offer comments, answer questions, and talk to the outbound Fulbrighters during the coffee breaks and meals.

This was my 5th Pre-Departure Orientation. (I attended one before my Fulbright to Moldova, and then the year after I returned to speak to the next group going to Moldova; and I attended before my Fulbright to Macedonia and then when I returned to speak with the next group going to North Macedonia.  And I was pleased to return this year as well to meet with the lucky Fulbrighters who are heading to North Macedonia this year.)

The other 4 PDOs were in Washington, DC.  This year, there was a bidding process, and the University of Kansas in Lawrence earned the opportunity to host this year's Eurasia PDO.


Hosting the PDOs outside of DC, as the State Department did this year, actually saved almost a half a million dollars.  At first I was skeptical about having the PDOs outside of DC, but it worked out well. All of the speakers from KU (from regional experts, study abroad resources, and sexual harassment trainers - and many others) were outstanding. And while we always appreciate the opportunity to travel to DC -- I have to say that Lawrence is a charming college town -- and we enjoyed our time in Kansas.

There are 3 days of sessions at the PDOs - filled with essential information to make the Fulbright a success.

The first session that I attended was for the Alumni -- the Pre-Orientation Meeting -- to review expectations for the PDO. How thrilled I was when I looked over to see a former colleague from the US Embassy in Chisinau at a nearby table.  Glad we had the opportunity to catch up.  (And I also had the opportunity to meet with some of the Fulbrighters heading to Moldova this year as well - including one heading to Transnistria! Times are changing.)

What a treat to see Irina from the US Embassy in Chisinau

We learned at our orientation meeting that from the survey feedback from prior PDOs that the alumni interaction is the most important part of the Fulbright Pre-Departure Orientation. I agree. I will be forever grateful for the Fulbright alums who presented at the PDO before I left for Moldova -- Lorraine and Javier.  (Actually, Javier spoke with me before I even decided to apply to Moldova, and his experiences informed my decision.  And Lorraine helped in so many ways -- with finding an apartment, driver, phone in Chisinau.   In fact, Lorraine and I subsequently published an article together! The alumni network serves as such a great resource for future Fulbrighters.)

Grantees come to the orientation with a myriad of questions - not all of which they want to direct to the State Department or to the US Embassy.  Mundane - but vital - things (like renting an apartment, navigating the public transportation, learning the language, finding items soy milk or tofu at the grocery store) are topics that can be best covered in small group setting with recent alumni.

Here are some pictures from our North Macedonia country session:

our Macedonia country session -- also joined by my daughter (who traveled with me to Macedonia in 2017 and 2019) and lead from the US Department of State Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs, which administers the Fulbright Program

our break out room for our country sessions

Some of the materials I brought for "show and tell" during our North Macedonia session

I also presented on the panel for Fulbrighters who will be bringing spouses and dependents with them on their grants

how grateful I am that my daughter was able to join me in Moldova in 2010 and 2012 and in North Macedonia in 2017 and 2019!!

So much is covered in the 3-day conference. There are sessions on personal health and well-being, tools for telling your Fulbright story, your identity abroad, personal safety and security, grant administration -- everything one needs to prepare for the experience logistically -- as well as practical sessions related to teaching and research -- as well as substantive sessions related to the role of Fulbright in US foreign policy and breakout sessions with regional experts. There are also networking and community building activities that are sometimes organized by country and at other times organized by award type (student, scholar, ETA).

my regional break out session was held in the law school

the expert session on the Balkans

P joining me in the lecture hall to learn about US Foreign Policy

There was one night where there was no formal organized dinner -- so we were free to explore the charming Lawrence downtown. We went to a Mexican restaurant for dinner and then out for ice cream -- with different groups of Fulbrighters at each venue.

out with Fulbright students and ETAs - such a wonderful group of bright young minds

delicious ice cream at Sylas and Maddie's!

dinner at Mexquisito Mexican restaurant

The closing dinner featured a performance by Kolograd (local group that performs Eastern European folk music). And we also had the opportunity to meet members of the Fulbright Scholarship Board there as well.

For more about the Fulbright Scholarship Board, see
https://eca.state.gov/fulbright/about-fulbright/j-william-fulbright-foreign-scholarship-board-ffsb

Members of the Fulbright Scholarship Board -- Kevin Hanrahan and Paul Winfree