«Once again, we gathered the US Fulbrighters, starting their projects in the Fall, for the annual  Orientation Meeting in Lisbon.

I’m thrilled to meet our Fulbrighters in person, after months of virtual connection, helping them navigate preparations, difficulties, and bureaucracy. Finally, they’re here to start their journey, in locations throughout the country, from Aveiro to Leiria, Santarém to Lisbon to the Archipelagos of Madeira and Azores.

We’ve had two days of food for thought: sessions led by Portuguese and US alumni who presented on topics such as Mental Health and Wellness Abroad, helping us to better understand how a transformative experience like Fulbright is likely to affect us, and strategies to maintain our balance, Diversity and what it entails, navigating our diversity in a foreign language and culture and, often, the many identities within ourselves and the sense of belonging that we can express even in an unfamiliar setting that soon will turn into a place of community.

Our Orientation is also an opportunity for networking so our grantees had the chance to meet, over dinner, Deputy Chief of Mission Doug Koneff, Board Members, and the alumni community.

On the last day of the Orientation, the Fulbrighters met US Embassy officers to learn about which services and exchange opportunities are available to them. The Orientation meeting was closed by the Deputy Minister of Science, Ana Paiva.

To wrap up an intense Orientation we visited Museu do Aljube Resistência e Liberdade (Museum of Resistance and Freedom), to raise awareness to Portugal’s recent History on the year that we celebrate 50 years of Freedom and Democracy.

Thank you, once again, to our esteemed partner FLAD – The Luso-American Development Foundation for hosting us in their beautiful venue and, also, to the Fulbright community, partner and host institutions, and friends of Fulbright for joining us in this welcome.

My best wishes to every one of our US grantees on an unforgettable and life-changing experience in Portugal!»

Dora Reis Arenga, US Program Manager

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