My Fulbright-Hays experience abroad

This 4-phase, two-month Fulbright-Hays Group Project Abroad to Zimbabwe and Zambia included 13 educators and two administrators, one with a specialty in state-side affairs and one who coordinated the Africa events.  My colleagues included eight college-level teachers, four high school teachers and two K-8 educators, myself included. At that time I was teaching my diverse district's only intermediate classroom for students with behavior disorders.  I am certified in ED, BD, LD, EMH, TMH and regular education, grades K-8.  (I am presently teaching intermediate students with learning disorders and some BD, ED.) 

     The Fulbright trip was extremely well planned out by coordinators Zinta Conrad, COD international education director, and Dr. Nancy Horn, international consultant and micro-business specialist.  Because each of the participants was of a different background in education, we visited, as a group, many aspects of Zimbabwean life which represented each of the areas our participants were studying.  For instance, we visited several businesses, countless schools, a variety of literary events, etc. The two-month trip was divided into four parts:

• Lectures by related university and business professionals.
• Visits to all of our areas of expertise.
• A tour of the entire country, it's history and culture.
• A one-week individual field research period, during which we each went our own way.

 Two-week lecture period.                Tour of country.                        Field research.

    While interesting, how long can one be expected to sit in lecture when the whole country is beconing from outside the door?  Some members planned trips to local schools and businesses during off hours, and had to be reeled back in.

     I immediately flew back to Bulawayo where I spent three days with the family of two teachers, then traveled out to live in the rural areas for the remainder of my week.  This was-by far- the most rewarding part of my trip.