Curious what it’s like to be a part of Fulbridge as a Country Representative? Our current Reps share their experiences, what motivated them to get involved, and what they’ve liked about spreading the Fulbridge project in their host country.
Robyn Kincaide
Korea Country Representative (2015-2017) & Lesson Catalog Coordinator (2017-2018)
My primary role with Fulbridge has been maintaining the lesson planning database and making blog posts for the Lesson of the Week and Lesson Resource of the Month. I have really enjoyed this role, as it allows me to dig through teaching materials from ETAs around the world and shamelessly pluck out elements that I like for teaching my own classes.
While simply using the Fulbridge website can really enhance your experience as an ETA, becoming a part of the Fulbridge team helps you to forge even closer connections with ETAs in different parts of the world and strengthen your teaching skills by offering you a more in-depth look at what other ETAs have been doing inside and outside of the classroom.
Sinia Amanonce
Czech Republic Country Representative 2016-2017
During the academic year of 2016-2017, I attended the Fulbright Conference in Berlin, Germany. In that short week, I had the pleasure of meeting ETAs from all over Europe. While everyone had varying experiences, many of us shared the same struggles of adjusting to a new community, culture, and country. As we sat around for dinner, one of the ETAs from Spain told me about Fulbridge and its mission to create a more interconnected Fulbright community. I went online and was so excited to see how much Fulbridge has already done and I knew I wanted to help in any way that I can.
Fulbridge has so much to offer! It allows you to connect with ETAs all around the globe and equips you with endless resources for your classrooms. As the site continues to grow, I hope more people come forward and volunteer to be Country Representatives. I contribute to the Lesson Catalogue and help organize the Lesson Database, and we found that there were several lessons that would suit students in specific countries. Ideally, every country that Fulbright serves could have the same focus on their students.
Sojourner White
Spain Country Representative, 2016-2017
I chose to be a Country Representative to help other Fulbrighters and connect with them around the world. I also wanted to help other Fulbrighters with their lessons, because I know it was a struggle for me.
As a Country Representative, I got to submit lessons I did with my classes. I also interviewed Fulbrighters in other countries about their experiences and connected Fulbridge with my own commission in Spain. My favorite aspect was building connections between Fulbrighters, Fulbridge and Fulbright Spain. The only way we can build a stronger community is through collaboration, so I was happy to be a part of it.
Mary Nagel
Brazil Country Representative, 2017-2018
As the Brazil Country Rep, I’ve particularly enjoyed interviewing my fellow ETAs for the ETA Spotlights and look forward to working with my fellow Country Reps to promote global educational initiatives through our Fulbright networks. We have the opportunity to bring a unique light to educational issues or success stories around the world and therefore I encourage you all to write — write to share, complain, or explore but don’t ever stop sharing your Fulbright experiences.
An essential aspect of growth is buy-in from Fulbright Commission’s and/or US embassies to shift mentality, from day one, to encourage ETAs to think of themselves as part of a global Fulbright network; not limited to your country cohort as it is today. Fulbridge serves as a unique digital network of like-minded individuals around the world who are missioned to use the power of digital to link our Fulbright experiences. (++ who wouldn’t want to have couches to crash on all over the world?)
Ayat Abourashed
Indonesia Country Representative, 2015-2016
Our grant year was really focused on community engagement, but I also wanted to be more involved in Fulbright as a whole. Becoming a Country Representative allowed me to also have that global engagement I was craving. It’s a great way to meet new people, share ideas on lesson planning and bringing not only Fulbrighters together but the students they teach in other classrooms abroad. I’ve loved getting inspiration from the Fulbridge team and website.
As a Country Representative, I’ve been able to connect with ETAs all over, current and alumni. I acted as a liaison to start the collaborations between Indonesiaful and Fulbridge. I also began the Fulbridge Instagram page. I think my favorite aspect has been finding current and alumni Fulbrighters for the blog spotlights.
Lindsay Mickles
Bulgaria Country Representative & Blog Editor-in-Chief, 2017-2018
I applied to be a Country Rep and the Blog Editor-in-Chief because I was passionate about the Fulbridge.org mission and I was looking for a way to give back to the Fulbright community.
I am the first Country Rep for Bulgaria, so my main goal has been to spread the word about the Fulbridge mission and to get as many of my fellow ETAs involved in the project. My favorite part, so far, has been seeing three very talented ETAs take part in the Fulbridge Photo Contest.
I’m hoping that as Fulbridge grows, the role of the Country Rep will become even more dynamic. I can see the Country Rep regularly working with Fulbright Commissions on mini-ETA exchanges, organizing regional meetups, and becoming even more invaluable than they already are.
Noah Baker
Taiwan Country Representative, 2014-2015
I helped spread the word about Fulbridge to other in-country ETAs and coordinate with our in-country Fulbright staff. In addition, I helped find the next country rep. To be honest, my favorite part was working with other members of the Fulbridge team.
Fulbridge is a great idea both professionally and personally. In the classroom, Fulbridge can help you find pen pals for your students and help you discover lesson ideas for TEFL classrooms. Outside of the classroom, Fulbridge can help you meet up with other ETAs when you travel. In addition, it is wonderful to work with ETAs from other countries and to hear what their experiences are like.
Chris Hoffman
Korea Country Representative, 2015-16
I wanted to become a Country Representative at Fulbridge because I wanted to work towards bridging the Fulbright community. I’ve met some fantastic Fulbright grantees doing amazing work all over the globe. I see all of our work as connected. We each aim to build connections and mutual understanding, feed curiosity and creativity, and work towards a better, collaborative future. I really enjoyed getting to know other Fulbright grantees across the world. I think Fulbridge’s work is essential in bringing together people from a mosaic of backgrounds, sharing stories, cultivating creativity, and working towards peace. I’m excited to see more collective projects with Fulbridge Country Reps working together towards issues of social justice. I’m forever grateful to Fulbridge and Fulbright in welcoming me into a diverse, dynamic, creative and fun network of people working at making a positive difference. I look forward to seeing future Fulbridge projects and the community continues to grow!
Lizzy Harvey
Argentina Country Representative, 2017