Miguel's Teaching and Travel blog; Russia, Morocco, Senegal

A Community College professor's experiences serving as a Fulbright Scholar at the Stolypin Volga Region Institute of Administration in Saratov Russia in 2014 and as a Fulbright/Hays grantee in Senegal, West Africa in 2016; Includes a 2nd and 3rd trip in 2015 and 2017 to Saratov, and, in 2015, as part of a delegation to Morocco's Ministry of Education. Continues with an additional trip to Senegal(CAORC) in 2019 and a study abroad summer program at the University of Nicosia, Cyprus in 2019.

Monday, June 30, 2014

June 30, 2014

I have been home from Saratov, Russia for a little over a month now and am slowly getting back to a normal routine. I've gotten my yard and garden back to respectable shape, Janet and I had a new flagstone patio installed, I've been to two Washington Nationals games, went camping in West Virginia, I ride my bike 10-15 miles per day, saw Tiger Woods at his tournament on Friday, participated in a Webinar for new Russian Fulbrights at the State Department, and so on. I feel lazy. I feel confused at times. I am having a lot of difficulty sleeping.

Today, Monday, at 1pm is my first class since returning. It is a course I enjoy teaching, BUS 100 and I am curious to see how my teaching will reflect my Russian experience. I am going to try to get some communication going between my NOVA students and those I met in Russia. I will try to write about my experiences here going forward.

Tried to pump some gas the other day after not driving for almost 5 months----took me several minutes to figure out how things worked.

My world is lacking the background of Russian speech. I find that I listen better now---probably from trying so hard to comprehend the language of the last few months.

Monday, June 2, 2014

June 2. Fulbright work since returning home.

A brief update on progress related to my Fulbright grant;

I'll be meeting with a team of course developers this week, perhaps providing some input for our(NOVA) initiative to provide distance language and culture content to Russian Public Administration students at PAGS.

I shall meet with the college's(NOVA) Global Studies director where we will move forward with signing a Memorandum of Understanding with Stolypin Volga Region Institute of Administration. This agreement includes a goal of regular faculty exchange between our colleges.

This month, I will be participating in a professional development event at the US State Department relating to future Fulbright scholars.

My summer teaching schedule begins in July.

In other news, I shall likely be attending a baseball game very soon. Washington Nationals.