Our group picture at Austin, Texas. Also shown in this pic is Ms. Becky Conn, the Program Director and also some of our mentors and friends in Austin
Joyful Memories in Texas
This page is dedicated to our Austinite friends and mentors, our host families and to my fellow Fulbrighter friends I met there from all over the world, majority of whom will be graduating this spring semester 1997. May this simple page remind us of how lucky we are for having been a part of that unique program (and being the last to be ever held in UT at that ), a program which gave us valuable information and perspective prior to our respective academic programs here in the US, which we may not have learned any other way. The program is long past our lives but the good memories will remain alive. I hope this page will serve that purpose.
Our group picture at Austin, Texas. Also shown in this pic is Ms. Becky Conn, the Program Director and also some of our mentors and friends in Austin
General briefing by Ms. Becky Conn, the Program Director (not shown in the pic) on day 1 of our 3-week orientation program. Just to give you an idea of how diverse we were... On the left photo from left to right (regardless of row): Luiz (Brazil), Hansi (Germany), Ma. Antonia (Venezuela), Alfio (Italy), Guillermo (Dominican Republic), Doru (Romania), Michela (Italy), myself, Angeli (Philippines), Jon-Hag (Korea), Silvia (Ecuador), Ivan (Croatia), Richard (Austria), Hui (Cambodia), Milena (Bulgaria), Michal (Poland), Nabil (Morocco), Sybille (Germany), Ghiorgis (Eritrea) and Safoi (Morocco). On the right photo from L-R: Nabil(Morocco), Yuko (Japan), Sybille (Germany), Safoi (Morocco), Mary Elizabeth (Brazil), Dikeledi (South Africa), Suela (Albania), Ghazaleh (Israel), Antonio Carlos (Brazil), Elisabeth (Austria), Tony (South Africa), Petra (Germany), Jeannine (Ecuador), Javier (Dominican Republic), Vivian (Taiwan), Chutima (Thailand), Jalh (Peru), Ada (Ecuador), Jean (Taiwan), Pekka (Finland), Monica (Spain), Rosa Maria (Colombia), Waseem (Pakistan), Tim (New Zealand) and Kate (Japan). Other Fullies unfortunately cut in the pic: Manuel (Peru), Jose (Spain), Sira (Syria), Mawuli(Togo), Desire (Benin), Seydou (Mali), May (Thailand), Sofoh (Niger), Maurizzio (Italy), Ida (Denmark), Rubana (Bangladesh), Jesse (Nigeria), Okello (Uganda), Pimpen (Thailand), Arturo (Guatemala), Alper (Turkey) and Auguste (West Africa). These pics were taken by our American friend Christopher of Austin.
Our cultural awareness class at UT under Ms. Katie Kane
of UT Austin. My Fulbright classmates and me(from L-R):
Silvia (Ecuador), Kate(Japan), Ivan(Croatia), Chutima
(Thailand), Arturo(Guatemala), Mikhal (Poland), Richard
(Austria), Nancy(Mexico), myself, Mary Elizabeth(Brazil),
Monica (Spain) and Michela (Italy). This pic is courtesy of
our dear friend, Silvia
The champions among the 6 groups which competed in the
scavenger hunt. With me receiving the prize from Ms. Beth
Bernhard, the Asst Program Coordinator are fellow Fulbrighter
teammates and friends Nancy (Mexico), Jessie (Nigeria)
Hansi (Germany) and Arturo (Guatemala). We're technically
the winners but folks, we were all winners in that trivial pursuit
and we sure did have a lot of fun.
Having a great time watching western-style rodeo.
Upfront: Guillermo (Dominican Republic); 1st row from L-R:
myself, Monica (Spain), Maurizzio (Italy), Angeli(Philippines)
and Hui (Cambodia); 2nd row from L-R: Doru (Romania), Alfio
(Italy), Michela (Italy), Shannon (USA) and Alper (Turkey);
3rd row fr L-R: Richard (Austria), Elisabeth (Austria), Nabil
(Morocco)and Arturo (Guatemala); uppermost row: Jalh (Peru),
Rosa Maria (Colombia) and Sybille (Germany).
Taking some time to swim in the natural springs of Austin
one hot summer afternoon. From L-R: Jose (Spain), Sybille
(Germany), Richard (Austria) & May (Thailand), Milena
(Bulgaria),Ada (Ecuador), myself and Marija (Croatia).
Host family weekend, with hostbrother Arturo and our
wonderful hostfather, Roger who gave us a really great time
and further showed us both the outer and inner beauty of Austin.
Breaking away from the group for a little while
to climb up the Tower of Americas instead of going with
some groups directly to the Alamo, during our trip to
San Antonio, Texas. (Folks, why didn't you join me?
You missed capturing the great sight up there.)
During our closing program where everyone had a chance
to showcase his/her national costume. Standing from L-R:
Alper (Turkey), Chutima (Thailand), Angeli (my fellow Filipino),
Suela (Albania), Pimpen (Thailand), Safoi (Morocco), Monica
(Spain) and myself (wearing "Barong Tagalog", our national costume);
In squatted position are (fr L-R): Tony (South Africa) and Nabil (Morocco)
This is just a minute sample of the good old days in Texas. And only in our memories can we fully capture everything we learned and experienced there...
Although we are generally indebted to all Americans for this scholarship, we are particularly grateful to the following staff of the Pre-Academic Orientation in UT Austin for their commendable efforts: Becky Conn, Beth Bernhard, Katie Kane, Angie McDonald, Kazel Morgan, Albert Rouzzi, Teri Terrazas, Christopher Oakland, Shannon Russell, Beth Irizarry and Joi Chevalier, all from the University of Texas in Austin. I'm likewise particularly grateful to my wonderful host father, Roger and his Filipino and American friends in Austin for their remarkable hospitality.
Thanks to all of you who made our stay in Texas a truly rewarding experience. We will never forget you...