Fulbright Orientation

Before I left for Panama, one requirement (and, it turns out, great opportunity) was a three-plus-day "PDO":  Pre-Departure Orientation, run by the Fulbright folks. I wasn't entirely sure what to expect.  I figured that, because it was a zoom-based orientation, it'd have a lot of boring and bureaucratic stuff: that was partly true.  But it also had some great presentations by former Fulbrighters, including chances to connect with people who'd been in, are still in, or will soon be in Panama.  I took copious notes and added a few to-do items.  In case you're wondering what a Fulbright PDO looks like through the eyes of Annalisa, read on! 

I preface this description with the disclaimer I learned, which happens to be true:

 This post is not an official site of the Fulbright Program or the U.S. Department of State.  The views expressed on the site are entirely those of Annalisa and do not represent the views of the Fulbright Program, the U.S. Departments of State, or any of its partner organizations.

Also, I want to say that there was other stuff included that clearly meant a lot to other people: there were a lot of sessions about navigating identity abroad, about bringing children, and some nifty sessions on history of of the region (including problematic U.S. interventions) where I didn't take notes.  What follows below is just the stuff I felt like jotting down in the moment. 

Medical insurance stuff

Fulbrighters have access to a secondary travel insurance for "emergent accidents and sickness" (not for routine healthcare such as well visits, and also not for "perilous activities" like sky diving, bungee jumping, rock climbing, or motor scooter use).  This particular session had lots of reiteration of the rules and regs: need to let them know within 24 hours if there's a medical issue, need to include the EOBs from the primary insurer.

We had all gotten a bunch of documentation, and then a pre-recorded video going over the information from the document (while repeatedly reminding us to read it all); then another live zoom presentation that repeated much of the above.  Any good teacher knows that all this redundancy means that many people who this was aimed at will nonetheless have no idea that they need to actually follow these rules; I was glad when there weren't a lot of questions and we ended this session early.  

Some notes I took during this session. 

• www.wellabroad.com is a good site for provider search
• Bring lots of meds!
• Once I get to Panama, locate nearest hospital/treatment facility

In the alums session, former Fulbrighters enthused that healthcare providers there are "wonderful" and less expensive than in the U.S.

Grant Benefits

This was, mostly, but not entirely, a rehash of emails we'd already been sent.  The Fulbright program is administered by three organizations working together: 

• the U.S. State Department (sets budget parameters), 
• the Institute for International Education [IEE] (my main point of contact before I go), and 
• the U.S. Embassy (my main point of contact in country).

Tax information:  a Fulbright award is common/idiosyncratic enough that it has its own tax guidelines; go figure!

I get a book allowance. I can (maybe) arrange a diplomatic pouch shipment of books (one way; books I ship to Panama don't get shipped back to the US).  This benefit is administered by the U.S. Embassy, not IEE.  More info to follow.  One alum recommended reaching out to local librarians about books they'd like to have you bring along.

There's a "Regional Travel Program Grant", for 3-14 day travel to other Fulbright countries, in concert with a current project and its goals, run through Fulbright Uruguay.  I'm looking into this now that I've gotten my feet underneath me in Panama.

Health and Safety

One piece of insight from a former Fulbright that reminded me a LOT of my trip to Haiti was this: "In the U.S., we hide our trash, which now feels dishonest to me." In the country he visited (and in many places in the developing world), trash is out in the open.  To us, it might feel "dirty", but it's also a chance to reexamine our cultural assumptions.

All the alum panelists emphasized that an important component of health and safety is curiosity and understanding how locals navigate the environment: ask everyone (uber drivers, neighbors, etc) their take.  Other recommendations:

• Get a local sim card for data in case the internet goes out. 
• For women, wear a (fake, if necessary) wedding ring to deflect unwanted attention.
• In a similar vein, maybe get a burner phone on which to "chat", again to help deflect unwanted attention.
• Why burner phone? So people don't snatch your regular phone out of your hand.
• Don't flash money, computer, or a phone.
• Have extra water in case of natural disasters (eg, hurricanes)
• The Embassy has an emergency network; respond when they reach out.
• "We rarely go out after dark".  As one person phrased it to his students, "Nothing good happens after 10 p.m.".

That being said, although I've seen a bunch of stuff about "avoid public transportation in Panama because, crime", a recent Panamanian Fulbrighter said he loves, and we should definitely take, the subway.  

"It's full of grandmas and dudes going to work; the only time I ever saw a problem is when one of my students had someone take the cell phone out of her back pocket . . . and aside from actually handing it directly to him, there's no way she could have made it easier for him to take."

He said buses are also fine, as are ubers; under no circumstances* get into a taxi.   [*exception: taxis at the airport are okay because the only way they can get into line is to have security forces with vectors (?) scan them.]

How to social media my experience

(and how to refer to myself on social media)

• The preferred expression is "Fulbright Award", not "Fulbright Grant"
• I don't use hashtags, but if I did, it'd be "#Fulbright", all by itself -- and not for example "#FulbrightProgram"
• Ways to describe the program to people who aren't familiar with it include
• International educational and cultural exchange
• Sharing knowledge across communities
• Lasting connections
• Global networks
• Do take pictures, but get permission from any people, and don't show the faces of minors
• Disclaimer on anything I post: 
  
  This blog is not an official site of the Fulbright Program or the U.S. Department of State.  The views expressed on the site are entirely those of [site/my name] and do not represent the views of the Fulbright Program, the U.S. Departments of State, or any of its partner organizations.
  
  
• When speaking to the press, emphasize that I'm not speaking in an official capacity: speaking about my personal experience, not as an advocate for Fulbright or the government

Presentations from Fulbright Alumni

I got to meet a bunch of cool former Fulbrighters, both from Panama and elsewhere.  The network of support is organic, real, and super helpful.  

• I should go whale watching in Panama!  [updated: done!]
• Water in Panama City is fine; they're not sure whether it's fluoridated. [update: I still don't know whether it's fluoridated.]
• Get a water filter for when I go into the countryside.
• Pharmacies there sell ibuprofin/Tylenol by the pill, so bring a supply with me.
• The rural clinics are awesome, although they don't have their own pharmacies.
• They re-emphasize value of the travel insurance program: get pre-approval, save receipts, make a spreadsheet.
• Keep vinegar on hand, in case of tear gas use ("Panamanians love protests")
• Dress in Panama is somewhat more conservative: avoid shorts, avoid sleeveless shirts [update: no kidding; people wear jeans and long pants here, despite the heat and humidity!]
• Bring my important documents in a waterproof folder with desiccant.
• One Fulbrighter with a trailing spouse said the spouse developed the role of "entertainment reconnaissance", finding cool things that they could do together once the weekend rolled around. [update: this has been a great role for my husband as well!]
• I should find a book by Raby on biodiversity in Panama (American Tropics).  [updated: done and read!]
• Humility from a white American is often surprising to, and much welcomed by, many of the people in the countries we'll be visiting -- for example, admitting that I don't speak Spanish well and that I'm still learning.
• Googling stuff is less useful in a bunch of or host countries (where there's not as much on line) than social media.  People who weren't social media savvy ended up using Instagram a lot more.  (Sigh; maybe that'll have to be me). 

Other feedback

I've met Fulbrighters who had previously done other funded overseas projects that had come with much, much more extensive orientations.  These folks were significantly less thrilled with the Fulbright orientation than I was, finding it more check-box-y than I did, and also pointing out that it didn't offer anything in the way of help with the Giant Sucking Swamp of immigration paperwork.  

I figured I ought to add that perspective in, as a reasonable one. I'm the kind of person who likes going to faculty meetings, as I think they're fascinating fishbowls for understanding local political behavior.  If that's not you, and you have have the fortune to attend a Fulbright Pre-departure orientation, it might be good fortune if you think like me, but other opinions are possible, obviously!  And now you have some nuggets distilled from the half-week of zoom meetings as a kind of Cliff notes,  in case you need them.