The University of Louisville Alumni Magazine: for alumni, faculty, staff, students and anyone that is a UofL Cardinal fan.
Issue link: https://louisville.epubxp.com/i/705015
S U M M E R U O F L M A G A Z I N E | 2 7 T H E F U T U R E I S F U L B R I G H T process without their help, I think even I would have gotten overwhelmed. They're just so thorough. Even down to proofreading the one-page statement of purpose. I think I had 20 drafts of that thing! And they just pushed me to make it better and better. The whole thing takes up a lot of time, and they make sure you're committed to it. When you win a Fulbright, you go overseas to represent not just your university, but the United States. And the whole application process, in a way, makes sure you're ready for that kind of responsibility. What was life like in Oman? I knew I'd be the only ETA in Oman that year. There were three research Fulbrighters who I was friends with, but they came to Oman much later than I did. They all worked in the capital of Muscat, whereas I was placed in a border town about six to seven hours away from them. Because I had military experience and experience traveling alone, the U.S. Embassy knew I'd be comfortable in an isolated city like Alburaimi. So I taught beginning English at the University College of Alburaimi. I was assigned to the absolute beginning level of f uency. Some students could have a basic conversation with me, while others couldn't understand a word I said. My Arabic was OK then, but I was encouraged not to speak it with my students. On the side, I took it upon myself to teach a continuing education language class, kind of like a night school for adults. It was one of the more gratifying experiences I had because I had so many different types of students. I only taught girls at the university. But the night classes were mixed, and I had some variety in age and phases of life. Was it tough being geographically, socially and linguistically isolated? I was prepared mentally for it. And I was surrounded by colleagues who spoke English, although I was the only native English speaker. So that helped a lot. Has the Fulbright played a role in where you are now? Absolutely. I've always been adventurous, and even this experience pushed the boundaries of my comfort zone. You learn a lot about yourself when you're living in a tiny city in the middle of the desert, where you don't know anyone and you have to learn to communicate on your own. Scholastically, it def nitely added f re to my intellectual curiosity of material culture in the Middle East. I just f nished my Master of Art History in Islamic Art, which I started right after I got back from my Fulbright. The Fulbright, the teaching experience — everything — conf rmed it was the path for me. Knowing you're on the right path is such a good thing. adventurer veteran marine ISLAMIC ART SCHOLAR