Set within the confines of the Klein Academic Enrichment Commons, Fulbright scholars hosted an informative presentation to an intimate audience on April 17. The presentation consisted of three scholars educating the room about the countries they are from.
Knowledge is power
Peggy Imai, the director of St. Michael’s College Study Abroad program, opened the presentation by introducing the speakers and explaining how special these graduate students are to the St. Michael’s community.
“The Fulbright Scholarship program is a bigger deal than many people know,” Imai said. “The qualities of these graduate students that are involved are fabulous in so many ways.”
A handout was given to those attending that explains the Fulbright program and what it stands for.
The Fulbright Scholarship program was proposed by former Sen. J. William Fulbright, of Arkansas, and signed into law by former President Harry Truman in 1946. The scholarship is a grant for U.S. citizens and nationals of other countries to participate in a variety of educational activities such as lectures and conducting research in a wide variety of academic and professional fields. The grant is funded by the United States Congress and given to the Department of State. There are eight current graduate students that are Fulbright scholars within the St. Michael’s community.
André Franque, from Mozambique, was the first Fulbright Scholarship recipient that presented. Using a Power Point presentation filled with facts and pictures, Franque focused on the history of the country as well as the type of government, the architecture, and culture.
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| The Fulbright scholars chat in Klein Academic Enrichment Commons. |
Franque stressed that in Mozambique there are only two seasons: summer and winter. His winters are a little different than the ones he sees in Vermont.
“When I first came here to St. Michael’s I didn’t know if I was going to be able to survive the snow,” Franque said. “But here I am! Still alive and well.”
Franque works for the Department of English at UP-Beira back in Mozambique.
A lesson in adjustment
Dilini Walisundara, from Sri Lanka, was the second speaker.
Walisundara had the option to either attend a SUNY school or St. Michael’s, but ultimately chose St. Michael’s thanks to the available classes.
“I am very excited to apply what I’ve learned at St. Michael’s College to my life back home.” Walisundara said.
In Sri Lanka, Walisundara has worked at a local university for the past six years teaching English literature. She is attending St. Michael’s College for her Master’s degree.
Walisundara went on to explain much of the culture of Sri Lanka. For instance, the idea of arranged marriages is still traditional in Sri Lanka.
“With so many new media outlets, the tradition has been updated recently with internet and newspaper advertisements for brides.” Walisundara said.
She said for lower-income families in her country, the price for college is less than a dollar.
“The government assists with much of the expenses of our education system,” Walisundara said. “They pay for the meals, the buildings, and a lot of other things while providing the opportunity for low income families to still go to school.”
While Walisundara is in the United States, she feels that she has had a duty to her country to inform more people about Sri Lanka. Walisundara has been on numerous trips to places such as Annapolis educating large groups about Sri Lanka and her experiences there.
“The program has really enforced the idea that we aren’t here just to experience the American culture,” Walisundara said. “Just because we are in America does not mean we should forget our own individual cultures and traditions; we should help Americans incorporate some of ours into their everyday lives.”
Walisundara also incorporated some of the American culture into her everyday life while in America, celebrating Thanksgiving for the past two years.
“The first time I celebrated Thanksgiving was quite an experience,” Walisundara said. “The second time, a group of friends and I decided to make our own Thanksgiving meal like we had the year before. It actually didn’t turn out too bad!”
The final speaker at the discussion was Mutahar Al-Murtadha, originally from Yemen, which is located on the southwest tip of the Arabian Peninsula. Yemen was for a long time two separate countries due to different political views. In 1990, Yemen was unified into one country.
"Back home teachers are feared and because of that fear, given plenty of respect." |
Andrè Franque, Mozambique |
Al-Murtadha has taught in several institutions in Yemen over the past seven years and is attending St. Michael’s to become a professor of English at the college level.
“St. Mike’s was one of seven schools the program offered to me,” Murtadha said. “I am very happy with my decision to come here.”
During his presentation, Murtadha showed images of his homeland’s architecture. Many of his ancient buildings were built out of mud and stone.
In 1993, Yemen held its first parliamentary elections in the country's history and in 1999, it held its first presidential elections.
“In Yemen, we have had elections for officers for a while,” Al-Murtadha said. “And the President we have now continues to win each time we have an election.”
Teachers and smiles
The presenters found similar areas of life in the United States, especially Vermont, to be quite different than what they are used to.
A big difference is the way that Americans interact with their teachers, Franque said.
“Back home, teachers are feared and because of that fear, given plenty of respect,” Franque said. “We would use a title with their names to show that respect. It’s very different being able to call a professor by their first name like I have been able to do at St. Michael’s.”
“I believe the biggest difference is definitely in the education process here in America.” Walisundara said: “In Sri Lanka, the professor will give long lectures and the student will have to interpret and understand it themselves. I really enjoy the fact that at St. Michael’s the professors give us a theory and then let us apply it.”
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Dilini Walisundara speaks about Sri Lanka, her homeland, while wearing native attire. (Photo by Matthew DiVenere) |
Murtadha’s biggest challenge was learning to smile more. In Yemen, when you are in a photograph, you have a serious look on your face. But in America, if you don’t show your smile then people don’t think you are happy, Murtadha said.
“A first when people would smile at me or nod towards me as to say ‘hi,’ I wouldn’t know how to react,” Murtadha said. “It took a lot of getting used to actually acknowledging that they didn’t mean anything negative about the smile; it’s just everyone being friendly!”