Becoming Fulbright-Oriented

The Fulbright Distinguished Awards in Teaching (DAT) Program Orientation Workshop was held in Washington D.C. on August 8-11 at the Loews Madison Hotel. This would be the first and most likely last time all of the Fulbright DAT participants would be together in-person. We understood this going into the workshop, and we tried to make the most of every moment. I was fortunate to meet and work with the 18 international teachers who went on to study at the University of Indiana during the fall. Connections were established, and friends were made during our time together that will live on well beyond the end of our exchange programs.

In the spring of 2018, 34 U.S. teachers will be traveling to eleven different countries. Teachers will spend 3-6 months in Botswana, Colombia, Finland, Greece, India, Israel, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Singapore, Taiwan, and the United Kingdom. The Fulbright Program reaches far and wide!

2017-2018 Participants

Fulbright alumni were also present for the orientation. However, alumni were not just in attendance, they presented and led breakout sessions. Alumni shared their experiences studying abroad and the ways in which they used their Fulbright grant to impact their students and local communities.

The orientation workshop provided essential information about the DAT Program and included sessions related to cross-cultural adaptation, inquiry project development, program logistics, and administrative details. We engaged in dialogue about Finland’s educational system, culture, and values. During my time in Finland, I will take university courses, visit local schools, present to Finnish teachers, and complete an inquiry project that explores students’ roles in project-based learning. I am most excited to visit Finnish classrooms and observe how students engage in authentic learning activities that center on real-world issues. I plan to apply my research in Finland to the design of authentic-learning tasks as part of an interdisciplinary library curriculum.

Teachers from and going to Finland

Washington D.C. is a historic and culturally-rich city. I was fortunate to travel to D.C. three days before the official start of the orientation for an in-person visa interview at the Finnish Embassy. Fulbright grantees and their accompanying family members need a residence permit if their stay in Finland exceeds 90 days. The residence permit is necessary for receiving a Finnish ID number. Having an ID number is extremely helpful in opening a bank account, registering for child care if applicable, and receiving discounts on bus passes.

While in D.C. my wife Kara and I had the chance to explore historical monuments, museums, and local eateries. We visited national landmarks and historic sites, which included Lincoln Memorial, Jefferson Memorial, Washington Monument, and Ford’s Theater where President Lincoln was assassinated.

My wife Kara and I outside Ford's Theater

The museum scene in D.C. is like no other. We spent hours touring museums like the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, Newseum, and the National Museum of Natural History. One of the most special events for me during this time (outside the Fulbright Orientation) was having an intimate tour of the United States Capitol Building by Kentucky Representative, Brett Guthrie’s office.

The Fulbright DAT Program Orientation Workshop was held five months before I would leave for my extended stay in Finland. My excitement for embarking on this international adventure was intensified by the dialogue and interactions I experienced during the orientation. Yes, there is a lot left to do before the beginning of my Fulbright program in January, but I am much more at ease knowing the support I have from fellow Fulbrighters and the Institute of International Education staff. It still does not seem possible that after such an enjoyable and beneficial event as the orientation workshop in D.C., the real adventure has not even started yet!

National Museum of Natural History

Statue of Freedom inside the Capitol Building