Fulbright Reality Czech

Katherine O'Neal is a Second Lieutenant  in the U.S. Army. This year, she teaches English, P.E., and Psychology at Gymnázium Vysoké Mýto, a college-preparatory high school located in a town with 12,000 inhabitants in the Pardubice Region. She enjoys staying busy; therefore, in the afternoons, her students can join Katherine's writing workshop or conversation club. Like many recent college graduates, Katherine has had to adjust to a different pace of life, four seasons, and, perhaps most importantly, a dramatically changing amount of sunlight during the school year. Today, she shares, "In my first five months, I have learned that what I choose to focus on will significantly influence my experience here as an English Teaching Assistant." After Fulbright, Katherine plans to start her active duty service in the Medical Service Corps. As a photographer, people have always been my preferred subject. However, acquiring a pocket-sized camera (affectionately referred to as “Ba...

Aidan Uvanni is an active-duty United States Coast Guard officer and currently a full-time master’s degree student. He is studying Water and Environmental Engineering at the Czech Technical University in Prague. His research focuses on water management and examining sustainable treatment systems to address stormwater pollution. In his free time, he enjoys indoor rock climbing and exploring the city by bike or on foot. In addition, he volunteers with a local non-profit organization that assists socially excluded children and youth, and he practices English conversation with a group of middle schoolers from Ukraine.  Prior to his Fulbright grant, Aidan served onboard USCGC Polar Star, deploying to Antarctica in support of Operation Deep Freeze 2022.  Growing up, I wanted to follow in my mother’s footsteps; I thought of entering the medical field to become a doctor. But, if you read the first line of my Fulbright grant description, you know that I am studying water engineer...