Romanian Alumni Stories
"I am grateful for this amazing experience and I hope that the legacy of Hubert H. Humphrey will further continue to create agents of change across the world, united around a common set of values."
"This Fulbright experience is hard to forget, especially when you are a first-time visitor to the US like myself. Vanderbilt keeps on bringing back memories of wonderful people and places and makes me think that a short-lived American dream like this is a real keepsake which tells me that I will come back soon."
"The most important fact for me was that I have discovered an American society that is culturally very strong and deep rooted and a system of values stronger than the media and politics, which will survive in almost any circumstances, beyond tipping points and paradigm changes."
"The Fulbright Scholar Award gave me the unique opportunity to conduct research at the reputed Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism at the University of Southern California, and meet top scholars in communication and public diplomacy."
"I do not feel I am exaggerating when I say that my overall Fulbright experience helped me rediscover myself as a person, helped me redefine my role in the society as a teacher and urged me to rethink my approach to doing science."
"I had spent most of my two years before the Fulbright experience doing archival research. Therefore, the sudden switch from the small reading rooms of Romanian local archives to New York did have a tinge of pleasant abruptness."
"As the overarching goal of the Fulbright program is that of „mutual understanding between people” I believe this can truly occur only when you develop your own internal models by reaching out and engaging across boundaries."
"Studying in the U.S. can be inspiring and challenging because you get exposed to different situations and unique cultures that are peculiar to the States. The Fulbright program offered me a Student Award to start my MFA in Film at Syracuse University, in Syracuse, NY."
"The different methodologies compared to the European ones, centered on extensive validations, have changed my approach in terms of conducting research. Also, the American culture has widened my perspective by introducing a fresh breeze and more commitment towards family and specific work values."
"My first interaction with an American on American soil was with an Airport security officer and after the gentleman checked my passport he said ‘you're the second Romanian I know... and the first one is Nadia Comaneci.’ That was the beginning of a magical (as I like to call it) journey as a Fulbright Student."