Wednesday nostalgia

Pondering a rich and enriching experience.
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by PAM

Yesterday I was working on an 'assignment', which had me 'unlocking the door' that leads down memory lane.  My 'assignment' required that I dig for photos and memorabilia from my days in Cornell University as  a Fulbright scholar.  My Cornell 'vault' is so massive that the little time I had to work on my 'assignment' only afforded enough to allow me to merely skim the surface, and this came up first...

AY 2002-2003 Fulbright Scholars Seminar in Washington D.C.
sponsored by the US Department of State and organized
by the Institute of International Education.

I remember, it was my first time to share a hotel room with a 'stranger', a fellow scholar, as we were paired by our hosts from the Institute of International Education (IIE) for our accommodation.  My roommate was a Greek girl, and I learned a lot from her... uhm, ahem, I don't think I'd like to discuss that part of my experience here though. ;)  Suffice it to say

Meeting Mrs. Harriet Anna M. Fulbright, the widow of
Senator J. William Fulbright, in Washington D. C. 

that, yeah, I think I'd like to live in Greece for a year or so someday... and see whether my former roommate's promises of Greece can actually be realized. :)  Having known another Greek... a guy, a classmate in Cornell, and now I consider as one of the most intelligent people I've ever met in my life, I think that, indeed, living in Greece for a year or so should be worth it! :)

More than  anything else, my experience in Washington D. C. with my fellow Fulbright scholars from about 50 countries, conversing with them, analyzing international issues with them in friendly but challenging debate, going on community development activities with them in the US capital, storming the World Bank with them, and even partying with them like there was no tomorrow was absolutely personally enriching!  I never felt so alive and so exhilarated in my whole life before that!  

And, Cornell, too, played a big role in my life-changing experience between 2002 and 2007... Cornell was the paradise that I imagined an Academic environment was supposed to be.  The campus was an absolute beauty... especially in autumn, and totally vibrant on summer days.  It was the reality of my idealism as an academic before I set foot on its beautiful

Reaching my 2002 destination after 28 years of life in
the academic world - as a student and as an educator.

campus on that fateful day in August 2002.  I had a pilot plant for a 'playground' for my graduate studies at the Institute of Food Science and Technology to begin with!  And I've met and sat in the classes of world-renowned scientists and educators.  Of course, my experience there was far from 'perfect'... although I'm not sure what 'perfect' meant as far as Academic experience is concerned.  And yet, it stimulated my whole being, irreversibly changed me in ways that are beautiful. I learned to be wholly independent and self-reliant, and discovered many strengths in me everytime I was challenged to respond to an interesting question.  As I formulated my answers, with the help of my mentors, and tried them out to fit the question, more than ever before, I was convinced that there's no such thing as stupid answers... only stupid questions! :)  And, answering even the most stupid of questions still makes you learn many invaluable things about the subject matter... and about yourself.

After my stint in Cornell under the auspices of the US Department of State via Fulbright, I was a completely different person.  My values were the same, but I felt I had a different outlook on many matters, and I am able to view things from different perspectives.  I felt like a shy turtle that poked its head out of its thick shell for the first time, and loved what it saw.  All of a sudden, it wants to spread its wings and soar like an eagle, or growl and sprint like a graceful tiger!  All of a sudden, it was a turtle no more!

Indeed, the only way to know more about your own strengths and God-given attributes is to dream big, and then take courage to go out there and fulfill your dreams.

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