Fulbright Reality Czech

Christian Blackburn and Britt Mobley are Fulbright English Teaching Assistants. When Christian signed up to spend a year at the Technical High School in Liberec, and Britt at a Vocational High School in Tábor, they knew they were in for the adventure—but they couldn’t have imagined just how much this year would teach them. As two Southerners from the Carolinas, they came with their accents, traditions, and a hope to bring a piece of home into our classrooms. What unfolded, though, was something deeper and far more rewarding: "Spending a year as Fulbright English Teaching Assistants in the Czech Republic gave us the chance to reflect on who we are, where we come from, and how we connect across cultures. From the mental labor of language learning and lesson planning, to navigating the paradox of American pride and cultural humility, to sharing sweet tea and pork belly on a football field, this year reminded us that true exchange happens in the everyday moments of showing up...

Kimberly Stuart is an artistic and adventurous soul. In the past school year, she taught English language at Vocational School of Crafts in Šumperk, a town of 26,000, poetically called the “living gate into Jeseníky Mountains.” With Masters in poetry, a passion for bookbinding, and a love of hiking and outdoor exploration, her placement at a school for future woodworkers, mechanics, engineers, entrepreneurs, carpenters, electricians, and hair dressers was an exciting fit. Embracing her seven years of previous teaching experience, Kimberly had quickly adapted to a new role, and her talented students inspired her to leave a physical and long-lasting mark in Šumperk: “So the idea to build and erect two officially chartered Little Free Libraries in the town square began as a two-fold concept: to showcase the skill of my students and to hopefully make a joyful addition to the city that I’d grown to love.” In her free time, Kimberly and her husband Marley explored Czech culture, traditions,...