American Alumni Stories
"My greatest wish is that I adequately conveyed to my students how much they taught me — that I learned far more from them than I could have learned from an entire library about Romania. Because of the connections we developed, my students and I are now better able to evaluate the strengths and shortcomings of our own nations, and can better appreciate that we share the same aspirations for justice and human rights, no matter how imperfectly governments have managed so far to implement them. Despite the uncertain futures both our countries currently face, I am left with great hope. I can think of no greater value a Fulbright experience could achieve. România, te iubesc!"
Romania took hold of my heart in 2015 and since then has consumed my mind and soul. As with any genuine commitment, my relationship with this beautiful, complex country has grown and deepened over time as I have learned of its many tragedies, as well as its many triumphs. I have surrendered myself to Romania. [...] As I continue my Romanian journey, I marvel over the resiliency and fortitude of the people. I am fortunate to have developed close relationships, familial in many ways, with many Romanians. And I am eternally grateful to have been granted a Fulbright and honored to become part of this amazing community.
"In all, I feel fulfilled despite a truncated Fulbright experience. Thankfully, I got a taste of all my goals, in some fashion, before the pandemic. And it’s only a matter of time before I come back to fully explore Romania and Europe, hand-in-hand with my fellow colleagues and friends."
"Although my Fulbright cohort underwent an experience that is (hopefully) unlike any other, I loved my time in Romania and learned so much. I am so grateful to the Fulbright Program and the Romanian Commission for this incredible opportunity that I will remember for the rest of my life."
“My time in Romania is a stained-glass window of images–the rush of the Bucharest metro, […] afternoons building furniture with a German expat named Brunhilde, the Moldovan ballerina and Ukrainian didgeridoo player who couchsurfed with me on their way through Sibiu, the attic windows staring like eyes over the squares and alleyways of Sibiu, and frosty evenings in the Piata Mare as Christmas music mingled with the scent of vin fiert—and I’m grateful for all of it.”
"My time as a Fulbrighter was about so much more than the research I was honored to work on. It was about building lasting relationships, learning about Romanian culture, and sharing my experiences with friends."
"I brought back enduring connections with colleagues and friends and a resolve to return to reconnect and continue to explore the hidden corners of Romania and maybe find my own special spot in a secluded 'sat.'"
"My memories of my Fulbright semester are a whirlwind of colors and sensations: the whimsical architecture of Bucharest streets—familiar, yet also very much changed—the smell of coffee in Old Town, the bustle of the Gara de Nord railway station and its trains, the outlines of the mountains in Brasov, the arches of greenery of Rose Park in Timisoara, and the salty bitter taste of the Black Sea on a scorching hot weekend in June."
"My academic experience in Romania was wonderful and I hope I contributed as much as I gained. But my daily experience was every bit as rich, and there too I hope I was able to contribute as much as I gained."
"My Fulbright experience has indeed played a transformative role in my life, both professionally and personally. On a professional level, it has given me a unique perspective on how people in the rest of the world view our culture, and since my research area involves nationalism in America, it has been an eye opener."