Na primeira pessoa, Raquel Matos  partilha connosco a sua experiência Fulbright. Ao abrigo de uma Bolsa Fulbright para Investigação com o apoio da FCT (22/23) e no âmbito do seu doutoramento em Civil Engineering da Universidade de Aveiro, Raquel desenvolveu parte da sua pesquisa em Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, EUA.

 

(Raquel is the first one on the right)

«In May 2022, at the online pre-departure session held by Fulbright, the ones selected were told: ‘Don’t worry! You will not escape unscathed from this adventure‘. So, since I knew to be selected to do part of my PhD in the USA, I started all the planning so everything would go on schedule. In fact, everything went well, the planning was a great help, but the predictability could not have been more ironic, because my journey in the USA was marked by personal and professional challenges!

I was based at Texas A&M University, College Station. Professionally wise, I had the opportunity to extend my networking and also to teach about the Portuguese Facility Management culture, which allowed me to exchange ideas and traditions valuable to my career. I also contacted the most reputable Facility Management companies based in College Station, Houston and Austin, and it was excellent to know how US companies work in my field. Besides all the knowledge that strengthened my PhD work, personally, my journey in the USA was marked by deep self-knowledge and personal changes. I was lucky, I had the opportunity to be in an American family, which transmitted and taught me their values and traditions. They included me in Thanksgiving, Christmas celebrations, and family lunches, and even set up a baby shower, especially for me. I’m glad about the Friendships and Family that I won there.

A Fulbright experience is a self-changing adventure in all senses. I’m grateful I have Fulbright’s support and I am proud that I could complete my program successfully!

Thank you for this unique opportunity Fulbright Commission!»

 

Thank you, Raquel, for being part of this wide and friendly community, welcome back!

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