People to People

A Humphrey Fellowship is a one-year academic and professional development opportunity for accomplished mid-career professionals from certain nations in Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Caribbean, and Middle East. The Penn State College of Education offers one of 13 Humphrey Fellowship Programs nationwide, which are named in honor of the former US Vice President. This academic year (2017-18), Sue and I were community hosts for Kinley, a college administrator from The Royal University of Bhutan. We joined Kinley and the other fellows for program events (e.g., seminars, implementation plan poster sessions, pot lucks, certificate ceremony). Kinley, his family (which arrived in early December) and other fellows joined our family for holidays and at other times. Across the 10 months we provided information and support as Kinley requested, e.g., airport pick-up and apartment check-in, where to shop from groceries, the CATA bus system, public school enrollment process, the Methodist Church (Kinley is Buddhist), Penn State’s organization and history, American family life and holidays, the way our houses are built).

Kinley, his family, the other fellows and College of Education International Office staff were wonderful. The knowledge, skills and perspectives the fellows gained through the fellowship will help improve education in their home counties. Our interactions with them were culturally extending experiences. We hope they better understand the US and its people. Kinley believes their children have adjusted so well to life in the US that they will face reverse culturization upon returning home to Bhutan.

Below are a few photos (three taken with an iPhone 6) from across the 10 months. We enjoy the experience so much, we have volunteered to be community hosts to another Humphrey Fellow in 2018-19, who we look forward to meeting in August.