- As a little girl in Kosovo, Zana Zeqiri Rudi’s role models didn’t come from fairy tales or TV shows. Instead, she looked up to the ambassadors she heard on the evening news. She was born in Pristina, Kosovo in 1983, when it was still a part of Yugoslavia. Her childhood coincided with conflict as Kosovo struggled for independence, and her early English skills allowed her to watch the international news reports with her parents each night. Those reports contained both horror and… Read More
- Editor’s Note: October 10 is World Mental Health Day. We asked Ms. Huang, program manager for the Chinese Overseas Flagship Program, to talk about the positive impact mindfulness can have, particularly during study abroad experiences. What’s the first image that comes to mind when you hear the word ‘mindfulness’? Is it an idyllic scene of Bohemians in long skirts frolicking across a green field? Or, do you perhaps see a young monk serenely sitting within a Buddhist temple in lotus pose?… Read More
- The US Department of Education’s Fulbright-Hays Group Projects Abroad (GPA) program has awarded $238,500 to American Councils to continue to provide scholarships to advanced undergraduate and graduate students of Russian and Persian participating in its Advanced Russian Language and Area Studies Program (RLASP) in Moscow and Eurasian Regional Language Program (ERLP) in Dushanbe. US K-12 teachers are also eligible for the new scholarship funding and are encouraged to apply. A total… Read More
- Editor’s note: Anastasiya Gulak is a program assistant for Open World who grew up speaking Ukrainian and Russian. She later studied English and French and has maintained her skills in all four languages. She has worked as an interpreter, volunteered as a translator for refugees and students, and continues to seek out opportunities to hone her skills. She offered her tips for studying, learning, and maintaining a second (or third, or fourth) language. My love for foreign languages … Read More
- Editor's note: Hannah Combe is not a dancer by trade, but her enthusiasm for dance helped her find community while living overseas. Ms. Combe has lived in Georgia, where she taught English as a Peace Corps volunteer. She has also taught English in Bulgaria as a Fulbright scholar. She is currently a program assistant on the AC Study and Research abroad team. When I was four years old I refused to wear anything but my pink tutu. At the peak of my illustrious dance career, I ran around a… Read More
- Nearly two dozen Open World alumni were elected or reelected to serve as members of parliament in Ukraine's snap parliamentary elections last month, according to a press release from the Open World Leadership Center. Representing a wide political scope, including both single-mandate delegates and party lists, these Open World alumni have demonstrated key leadership roles within their government and communities.Among the newly elected Open World alumni are single-mandate delegates:Maksym… Read More
- Editor’s note: Karissa Huntington is the senior program manager for field operations at American Councils, where she has worked for eight years. She didn't start her career in international education, but hosting international students changed her path. She and her husband have hosted a total of 45 students, au pairs, and foster children from more than 20 countries. She thinks she’ll probably always host, and she thinks you should also consider hosting, even just once.My interest in… Read More
- The Master’s and Internship Program (MIP) was established in 2016 by the Albanian – American Development Foundation (AADF), to provide young Albanian professionals, future leaders, and managers a unique opportunity for master's degrees and professional internships in the fields of agriculture, business administration, heritage, eco-tourism and hospitality, education, information technology and computer science, public health, public policy, and public administration.Furthering the mission… Read More
- An American friend recently sent me a message about how proud she is of me. She said that I have come a long way, overcoming my obstacles and challenges. She watched me struggle on my first day learning English and adapting to the [American] culture. She praised my hard work on events on campus at Saint Michael’s College. She said I made a powerful impact and will leave a legacy that will stay forever in this school. She said that I am her biggest inspiration. I receive that compliment almost… Read More
- Editor's note: We polled our staff all over the world about what to bring on exchange. The submissions ranged from snacks to mindsets. (Almost everyone mentioned having an open mind, an absolute exchange essential!) Here is our top ten list: 1. A good pair of shoes for exploring. 2. Small doses of familiar flavors (spices, food mixes, etc.) to share with your host community--or to help combat homesickness. 3. Measuring cups! It makes baking for your host family and friends so much… Read More
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