Hello, my name is Arielle Moreau, and I’m from Queens in New York City. Since I was a kid, I’ve been really interested in learning about history and other cultures. Growing up in Jackson Heights, an ethnically diverse neighborhood where more than 160 languages are spoken, I enjoyed sampling a variety of foods from different cultures: from the momo (dumplings) at the Nepali and Tibetan food trucks to the Colombian smoothies and pastries under the subway tracks. I also loved hearing about different countries’ histories through my friends’ family stories of immigration and the Independence Day parades for the dozens of countries in the neighborhood.
In college, I became particularly interested in languages, studying German and a little bit of Yiddish. I was fascinated by the connections between English and German and the historical reasons for them. I fell in love with the German language, with its long compound words like Kühlschrank (refrigerator), which directly translates to “cool/cold closet.” Then, I spent the summer of 2023 in Leipzig taking an intensive language course. Although it was sometimes difficult getting around with my intermediate-level German, it all felt like an adventure. I loved the thrill of ordering a Seitan Döner (a Turkish-style sandwich invented in Berlin) from the Turkish shop, both the store owner and I trying our hardest to communicate in our broken German.
I decided to participate in the Fulbright English Teaching Assistant program in Germany because I want to improve my language skills and learn more about German culture. I also want to learn more about the cultural mixing in the Rhineland, the region I will be living in, which has significant French influence. I spent two years studying the Rhineland as a graduate student and am excited to finally experience it for myself.
Want to learn how you could be a Fulbright Scholar like me? The Fulbright Program is the United States government's flagship international exchange program. Fulbrighters foster mutual understanding between the United States and partner nations, share knowledge across communities, and improve lives around the world. Learn more by clicking here!
