2. Orientation workshops in Washington DC and in Bloomington, Indiana

“Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away”

-          Maya Angelou

The last two weeks, which I have spent as a Fulbrighter in two different orientation workshops, have been breathtaking.

In Washington DC our orientation started with welcome reception and dinner. All 48 U.S. teachers, 17 international teachers and the staff of Institute of International Education (IIE) enjoyed the food and company of each other. The sessions in the next two days dealt with crossing cultures, global competence as well as administration of Fulbright Grant and Inquiry Project, on which every teacher will be working intensively during their stay abroad.

The orientation workshop was so well planned and organized, that it took my breath away. Washington D.C. took my breath away with showing it´s beauty, when we did tours to the U.S. Capitol Building and DC Monuments.

More breathtaking moments were still to come, when we flew from Washington to Indianapolis and finally arrived to Bloomington, which will be our home for the next four months. Center for International Education, Development and Research (CIEDR) is hosting us in the University of Indiana and the great and helpful staff had done so much for us, that it also simply took breath away! With the help of CIEDR staff we purchased things we needed for our apartments, opened telephone connections, received student cards, opened bank accounts, visited Office of International Services, went to Social Security Office, etc. etc. The whole week was minutely scheduled and it just worked out so well. Everyone of us knew how much work had been done beforehand for us - the staff is just awesome!

We also did two school visits during our orientation week in Bloomington. We visited University Elementary and Bloomington High School North. In these schools each teacher is visiting several times during the fall.

The orientation is now over and it is time to draw some breath after all these breathtaking experiences. In the next few weeks we will study and concentrate on our inquiry projects, but also enjoy doing different things with our group of international teachers as well as people we learn to know here in the beautiful Bloomington.