It's been forever and a day since I've posted on international exchanges. Meanwhile so many events happening around the world.
I've seen great stories about high school exchange students involved in providing assistance to Japanese families affected by the earthquake and tsunami. I've seen lots of press about the demonstrations and protests sweeping across the Middle East and North Africa but not much on ways to move forward in that region. I'm sure that policy makers are looking at different ideas, but I hope that they can convince Congress that we need to increase our exchange portfolios now between peoples and not cut them. It's a critical time where we all can benefit.
Unfortunately, I'm hearing about programs possibly being cut--programs like the language teaching assistantships. I'm also hearing stories about Americans being evacuated home without the possibility of completing their programs or grants. This practice of sending people home when there is unrest is an evolving stance. Even a couple of years ago I heard of American grantees being reassigned. In the past however that was not the case. It happened to my husband when his Fulbright student grant was cut short some years ago due to a civil war. He was lucky, however, he had completed the bulk of his research and was able to publish more than 10 articles. Unfortunately an initiative he wanted to find sponsorship for didn't get the time it needed to move forward.
In any event, expanding exchanges is an important key to moving forward for everybody.
I've seen great stories about high school exchange students involved in providing assistance to Japanese families affected by the earthquake and tsunami. I've seen lots of press about the demonstrations and protests sweeping across the Middle East and North Africa but not much on ways to move forward in that region. I'm sure that policy makers are looking at different ideas, but I hope that they can convince Congress that we need to increase our exchange portfolios now between peoples and not cut them. It's a critical time where we all can benefit.
Unfortunately, I'm hearing about programs possibly being cut--programs like the language teaching assistantships. I'm also hearing stories about Americans being evacuated home without the possibility of completing their programs or grants. This practice of sending people home when there is unrest is an evolving stance. Even a couple of years ago I heard of American grantees being reassigned. In the past however that was not the case. It happened to my husband when his Fulbright student grant was cut short some years ago due to a civil war. He was lucky, however, he had completed the bulk of his research and was able to publish more than 10 articles. Unfortunately an initiative he wanted to find sponsorship for didn't get the time it needed to move forward.
In any event, expanding exchanges is an important key to moving forward for everybody.
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