This project inspired me to teach English in Serbia on a Fulbright grant, where I now have the opportunity to learn the language and write more poems about my family.
I’m excited to have received a Fulbright award, and I now teach English Literature at the University of Novi Sad, located in Northern Serbia, near Hungary’s border, right in the Vojvodina region my grandparents once called home! Here, I help people of all ages learn English, enabling them to pursue better jobs and education.
Novi Sad is peaceful and elegant. Downtown, the buildings are fancy and often painted in fun colors, such as pink and blue. A running path snakes down the bank of the Danube River, and I like to sit near the water and take photos. A 16th-century fort looks over the city across the river as if it's still protecting Novi Sad. Serbia has so many museums, fortresses, spas and cafes that it's impossible to see everything in a year!
Over my winter break, I took a solo trip around Europe, traveling to the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Germany, the Czech Republic and Austria. I also got the chance to visit Bulgaria for work! These amazing experiences have taught me a lot about different cultures and ways of life. I missed Serbia, though, and I was surprised I felt at home after only five months. I hope my story can inspire you to travel, too, whether to the next town over or across the world.
