So I have been charged with reinvigorating the Oregon Chapter of the Fulbright Association.
To celebrate, I am writing my first grant — basically an application to support all of the amazing activities we Oregonian Fulbrighters will participate in during the next year.
Don’t know Fulbright? It’s the alumni association of people who have participated in one of the U.S. State Department’s Fulbright Programs. Fulbright sponsors student grants, teaching grants, research grants, and a number of other programs to other countries. Launched in 1946 under the direction of Senator William Fulbright, its purpose is to create mutual understanding between the peoples of the United States and other countries through an exchange of people, knowledge and skills.
Fulbright has been great to me. I’m not really a joiner, but this is one affiliation that I wear proudly on my sleeve. In 2001, I moved to Munich on a Fulbright grant to study Germany’s book industry — the history of book production, the current climate, and the culture of books. I extended my grant another year, studying at the University of Munich’s Book Studies program, visiting the Frankfurt and Leipzig book fairs, and conducting an analysis of the Munich Literaturhaus, a public-private partnership between publishers and the city.
Oh, and I got to meet Jonathan Franzen. And Richard Powers. And Ian McEwan. And and and.
So I am more than happy to give back to an organization that has given me so much.
I am looking for area Fulbrighters — area being a wider concept encompassing Portland, Salem, Corvallis, Eugene, and their surrounding regions. If you know of anyone who has had a Fulbright, or who is going on one, or who is currently on one now — and they are from or in Oregon — please encourage them to contact me.
What we want here is a chance to communicate.
So you lived in Germany for 2 years?! I always knew, Emily, that your soul was European… forgive me. I am very passionate about European ways. If not for my family, Lance & I would take our savings and move to the Netherlands in a heart-beat. When looking at Germany for our honeymoon, we were pretty much stuck with Cologne (and I’m sorry to say “stuck with,” but I’m sure you understand, having lived in Germany and all… we’d love to go to Bavaria some day. Switzerland, too. Don’t get me started with my wanderlust!!!) You’re brilliant!
In the end, I lived in Munich a total of three years. I have nightmares about D.C., but I still dream of Munich. That place has pinned my soul. Actually, Adam did an externship in the Netherlands last year, in Nijmegen. He had fun, but we are totally Germanophiles… If you ever need any help planning a trip, I know of some majorly awesome sites in southern Germany.
I second the Munich hurrah!
I second the Munich hurrah!
BTW I love your blog!