"Fulbright wasn't founded in 1946 to send people on vacation; it was founded to bridge communities, to build ties, to share knowledge, to solve some of our pressing global challenges, and to work for peace." - Tom Healy (Sharing the World Through Storytelling)
Various 8+ hour long bus rides in the last few weeks have given me plenty of time to reflect on my experience so far in the Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship program in Brazil. In addition, I have been receiving several emails and Skype calls from future Fulbrighters bound for this country next year and from those that are only just starting their application and are looking for advice. Finally, having Sue and Erica visit gave me a chance to think about how Brazil has changed me and the hopes that I have to make a difference here. These reflections are well-timed because in August Fulbright sends all of us ETAs to Brasilia for a mid-year seminar to re-connect with colleagues, share experiences and to modify existing/make some new goals for the upcoming semester.
It's fun and easy to stay up-to-date concerning my time off with Sue and Erica, but I haven't written much about how I actually stayed busy this last semester. Reading Healy's article was a good reminder that although being able to explore Brazil with friends and family is a huge perk of the Fulbright grant, it's not the main reason for why I'm here. The past semester was one of the most challenging ones that I have ever experienced for various different reasons, but I'm happy with what I was able to accomplish and with what I was involved in. In brief, here's how I spent the last four months:
Teaching: Although my official contract says that I am supposed to be a teaching assistant, I was in charge of three different English classes at the university and co-taught an additional one with Loni. Each class met once a week for two hours and the focus was comprehension, communication and conversation. I also taught quite a few classes about the language and culture of China to students who specifically requested such a class.
Culture: Every month Loni and I gave a two-hour, university-wide presentation about some aspect of American culture. We were also asked several times to speak in other classes about anything from the English language to how education works in the U.S. I was also invited to speak about linguistics and my time in China from time to time. For me, public speaking has been a huge part of my time in Brazil. Though it wasn't something I was expecting I am grateful to have had all of the practice.
Language: After the semester got rolling, Loni and I were
fortunate enough to be able to study Portuguese with a student who gave us an
hour lesson twice a week. In
addition, I had a few different students that I met with on a weekly basis to
practice English and Portuguese.
My favorite language exchange was with an international relations professor who
met with me twice a week to practice English and Portuguese.
Community:
Every week I went with a student from UESC to teach an English class at
the local artisan market and this became my main and volunteer side project
of the semester. I also had the
chance to visit and teach a class at a local public school and attend various
functions of private schools in the area.
Loni and I also met with area public school English teachers once a
month for a week to practice English and talk about effective teaching methods
in the classroom. When you throw in our weekly forró dance outings and capoeira classes our calendars filled up really fast.
Though the aforementioned activities took up a significant
part of my time, I feel like the most important area of my Fulbright experience
thus far has been in the relationships that I’ve made. Before I came, I was worried that I
would feel alone and lonely during my time in Brazil but this has not been the
case at all. In fact, during first
semester it felt like I hardly slept in my own bed because of all of the
invitations welcoming me into friends'/students'/colleagues' homes. I was constantly invited out for weekends, meals, small
trips and nightly activities. Sometimes it got a bit overwhelming but I was
always impressed at the hospitality and the way that my Brazilian friends loved
me and took care of me.
I think it has been during all of this time spent outside of
the university that I am feeling the impact of the Fulbright opportunity; it is also when I am most keenly aware of the fact that I am an ambassador of my country
and my culture. While sitting
around having coffee or drinks, other professors feel like they can ask me
anything, we correct each other’s languages and we are really aware (and are
able to laugh about) our cultural differences. For me, personal relationships have been where the magic
happens and my friendships here have become valuable beyond words.
I like this quote from the same article cited above. "Fulbright is not just about changing the world. It is about sharing the world." To me, before the world can be changed, it has to be shared. That might involve me standing in front of a group of people talking about American politics, listening to my barefoot and shirtless landlord talk about what it was like for him when he was growing up in Brazil or writing a blog post about my experiences for my family back home in the States. I hope my next semester here can be just as jam-packed with experiences and activities but I also know I'm going to value the time I have with people here to listen to their stories and share some of mine.
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