Fulbright scholarship promotes peace
Michael Nadeau
Issue date: 5/6/03 Section: News
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05/06/03 - There are few people who get a chance to travel around the globe and explore foreign cultures, and there are even fewer who get the chance to do it for free. However, if you happen to be a Fulbright Scholar that is exactly what you can do.
The Fulbright Scholarship has been around since the end of Word War II, when Senator William J. Fulbright of Arkansas established an act to help promote peace and understanding between the United States and other countries. Since then, the success of that program has soared and there are now over 200,000 worldwide scholars in over 140 different countries.
You don't have to even be a scholar to become a Fulbright according to John Leo, professor of English here at URI.
"You can be researchers, photographer, an artist, student and still become a Fulbright," Leo said.
The program takes Fulbright scholars and sends them abroad to work and thrive in another culture. "Each year the United States sends about 800 scholars abroad," Leo said.
Leo, who is a three-time scholar himself, has traveled to Poland and will head to Slovakia later this year. While there he will teach American Studies and other courses of that nature to B.A., M.A. and Ph.D. students. The program truly is great, but it's not for everyone, Leo said.
"You need to be fluent in language and you need to like different cultures," Leo said. "Basically you need to be highly adaptable."
Being a Fulbright Scholar has several different perks to those that accept the responsibilities. Besides getting to live in another country, you also get travel and spending money each month.
"They will be giving me 2,600 a month in local currency, which in Slovakia goes along way," Leo said.
Along with living well in another country you get a chance to meet new people and gain valuable connections throughout the globe.
"It's a great way to network," Leo said.
Another point Leo stressed was how good the quality of food and beverages were in Europe and Asia. "Its great if you like really good beer and vodkas and food," Leo said. "The quality of food is something else, I couldn't get over it."
According to Leo, scholars get a chance to rediscover their own country. "You get a chance to see it through the eyes of others." Leo said. After you get accustomed to another country, coming back to the United States is quite different, Leo said.
The Fulbright Scholarship offers awards to all kinds of different people and is a very prestigious organization. "It's an extremely well-run program that doesn't have a lot of awards, but is the most effective people-to-people peace building program," Leo said.
The Fulbright Scholarship has been around since the end of Word War II, when Senator William J. Fulbright of Arkansas established an act to help promote peace and understanding between the United States and other countries. Since then, the success of that program has soared and there are now over 200,000 worldwide scholars in over 140 different countries.
You don't have to even be a scholar to become a Fulbright according to John Leo, professor of English here at URI.
"You can be researchers, photographer, an artist, student and still become a Fulbright," Leo said.
The program takes Fulbright scholars and sends them abroad to work and thrive in another culture. "Each year the United States sends about 800 scholars abroad," Leo said.
Leo, who is a three-time scholar himself, has traveled to Poland and will head to Slovakia later this year. While there he will teach American Studies and other courses of that nature to B.A., M.A. and Ph.D. students. The program truly is great, but it's not for everyone, Leo said.
"You need to be fluent in language and you need to like different cultures," Leo said. "Basically you need to be highly adaptable."
Being a Fulbright Scholar has several different perks to those that accept the responsibilities. Besides getting to live in another country, you also get travel and spending money each month.
"They will be giving me 2,600 a month in local currency, which in Slovakia goes along way," Leo said.
Along with living well in another country you get a chance to meet new people and gain valuable connections throughout the globe.
"It's a great way to network," Leo said.
Another point Leo stressed was how good the quality of food and beverages were in Europe and Asia. "Its great if you like really good beer and vodkas and food," Leo said. "The quality of food is something else, I couldn't get over it."
According to Leo, scholars get a chance to rediscover their own country. "You get a chance to see it through the eyes of others." Leo said. After you get accustomed to another country, coming back to the United States is quite different, Leo said.
The Fulbright Scholarship offers awards to all kinds of different people and is a very prestigious organization. "It's an extremely well-run program that doesn't have a lot of awards, but is the most effective people-to-people peace building program," Leo said.
