Alexandra Saulenas, Amzie 
Dunekacke, Emily Kohlman, Jennifer Dorn, Lizzy Ehren, and Parker Henry are lifelong friends and also 2018/2019 Fulbright alumni. Their friendship journey began over eight years ago in the lobby of a Brno Hotel. In late August of 2018, 30 new, excited and nervous English Teaching Assistants and Fulbright Commission staff met for the first time to start the in-country orientation. At the end of the four-day training, the ETAs traveled to their host towns. Alex and Emily took a bus to Znojmo, as Alex was placed at the Nursing School and Emily at the Gymnázium and Pedagogy School in Znojmo. Lizzy was placed at Gymnázium Hustopeče, Jen at Gymnázium Zábřeh, Amzie at Gymnázium Svitavy and Parker at Gymnázium Šlapanice. At that time, no one would have guessed how much travel, adventure, support and joy this group would share. Today, six years after the start of their Fulbright journey, we can surely call this a Fulbright love story. The group keeps in touch, and they meet at least once a year in person: “We are always sure to incorporate a little piece of the Czech Republic in our travels, be it finding a Czech bakery in rural PA or visiting the site of the Pittsburgh Agreement, which founded independent Czechoslovakia. Every year, we raise a glass of Pilsner and pay homage to the amazing country that brought us together.”
There we were, standing in a hotel lobby in a city far, far away (Brno). We had come from all corners of the US and we were embarking on day 1 of our Fulbright journey in the Czech Republic. Everyone exchanged nervous smiles and excited chatter. Alex reflects on that moment, “We knew we were about to have a once in a lifetime experience as English Teaching Assistants in our small Czech towns, but I don’t think we could have anticipated the incredible bonds that we would build with our fellow grantees along the way.” There in that hotel lobby were the people who would become not just our friends, but our newfound family.
Our friendship was born out of a simple Facebook message. We were looking for some nearby travel buddies to explore our new home. We quickly realized we all shared a similar sense of curiosity and adventure. Traveling with people is not always easy, but we discovered during a weekend trip to Brno that this group somehow traveled together perfectly. On that trip, a few traditions started, such as Parker’s iconic pancakes and a love of finding places off the beaten path. We traveled all over the Czech Republic, from the Hustopeče Almond Festival to Znojmo wine tastings, visiting lots of cafes in between. We shared stories from our budding lives in our host towns and even taught a few lessons at each other’s schools. Nestled in Southern Moravia, we found an unexpected yet unmatched camaraderie.
But all good things must come to an end, right? As the final days of our grant approached, we hesitated to say goodbye. It was difficult to envision life after such a transformative year without the people who had made it such.
But thankfully, our journey did not end there. In the words of Lizzy, “Living in the Czech Republic on a Fulbright grant was such a unique experience. When I got back to the US, as much as they tried, my friends and family could not understand my newfound deep love of Czech culture or relate to my stories as an American living abroad. This group is the sole place in my life where I can share these experiences and they truly understand. I get so much joy swapping memories.”
During 2020, stuck at home, we took to Zoom. We had regular hang outs where we talked and reminisced. “When the pandemic hit and my life in the idyllic Moravian town felt so far away, talking with this group made me feel closer to the people and the school in my Czech home. When I was in the Czech Republic, this group were my primary American companions. There, they made me feel closer to my American home.” says Lizzy.
Over Zoom, we devised a plan to journey to rural Nebraska in 2021 to attend the largest Czech heritage festival in the US. Reuniting felt like magic. We picked up right where we left off, enjoying koláče and listening to traditional Czech folk music on the streets of Wilbur, Nebraska. Since then, our travels have continued. We have avoided major destinations, visiting our hometowns. We learned how to harvest corn in Nebraska, made a Wisconsin cheese charcuterie tray, ate jello salad from Lizzy’s mom in Minnesota, and visited a warehouse filled with thousands of old bicycles in Pittsburgh. Every year we hold a vote and plan out an annual trip together. This year we will be venturing to the mountains of Vermont to sample some maple syrup and enjoy leaf peeping together.
We are always sure to incorporate a little piece of the Czech Republic in our travels, be it finding a Czech bakery in rural PA or visiting the site of the Pittsburgh Agreement, which founded independent Czechoslovakia. Every year, we raise a glass of Pilsner and pay homage to the amazing country that brought us together.
We have been able to watch each other grow over the years. Together we have navigated new jobs, new homes, and new loves. We have celebrated each other’s milestones, soon to include 3 upcoming weddings! What’s the secret to our long-lasting friendship? Commitment, curiosity, and the same love for adventure and discovery that brought us together in the beginning. As Parker puts it, “We laid a great foundation during our grant period, but it’s taken a strong sense of dedication, initially spurred by the pandemic, to make sure we all plan and execute our trip each year. As we grow into our separate careers and communities, vacation days are precious! Yet the first week of August is now sacred, reserved for another opportunity to reminisce on our grant year.”
In 2018 we were united by our curiosity and desire to learn more about Czech culture. In 2023, the same excitement ties us together as we continue to explore the world around us and create new memories while cherishing those made during our grant year.
Note: The profile picture shows Parker, Amzie, Emily, Alex, Lizzy, and Jen enjoying some final moments together in Prague at the end of year conference, June 2019.