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.
Final meeting of the 2023-2024 U.S. Fulbrighters
On June 5 and 6, we had the pleasure of organizing the final meeting for the 2023-2024 American Fulbright grantees in Romania.
The event was hosted by the Multicultural Center of Transilvania University of Brașov. The group was welcomed by Conf. Gabriela Chefneux, coordinator of the American Studies program, and Prof. Mircea Dumitru, the Executive Director of the Fulbright Commission, along with the Fulbright team. The U.S. Fulbright Scholars, Student Researchers, and ETAs presented their main teaching and research activities. They also showcased an impressive selection of academic, artistic, and cultural projects and events they participated in, including conferences, public lectures, exhibitions, poetry readings, and volunteering work, and even demonstrated their amazing Romanian language speaking skills. Overall, the Fulbrighters contributed a significant amount of good work and gained valuable experience, benefiting their Romanian colleagues, students, and friends.
On the second day of the meeting, the group visited the Libearty Bear Sanctuary in Zărnești. This sanctuary is one of the largest animal welfare projects in Europe, hosting over 100 bears on 69 hectares of oak forest. The sanctuary features trees for the bears to climb, swimming pools for them to splash in, specialized diets studied by veterinarians, and necessary medical care.
In the afternoon, the group visited the Migrant Integration Center in Brașov, an NGO that offers integration services for migrants and refugees in Brașov and advocates for their fundamental rights. NGO coordinator Astrid Hamberger introduced the center’s important work. The Fulbrighters then participated in the final meeting of the English Speaking Club conducted by U.S. Fulbright ETA Alyssa Heath and engaged with the center’s students. Check this news report for more details about the activity: Stire RTT English Speaking Club Youth as Cultural Ambassadors project – YouTube.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to all the grantees for their dedication and enthusiasm, and to the representatives of Transilvania University of Brașov and the Migrant Integration Center for their warm welcome!
More photos are available on the Commission’s Facebook page.