Joys of Professional Recognition

The Hungarian Fulbright Commission called me late last week to ask if I would be an evaluator for Fulbright applications submitted by Hungarians who want to go to the States on the scholarship. I have been doing this for them for the past six years. Usually, they have six to eight applications for me to read, but this time around it only three. That is more manageable given time constraints and their needing them back by Tuesday. It is intriguing to me to read the scholarship that different people here are wanting to pursue in the US as well as their achievements thus far. My only regret is not being able to sit down with these applicants after their evaluations are turned in and having a coffee with them. The topics are incredibly diverse, intensely interesting, but especially stemming from a Hungarian. For example, one applicant wants to explore the narrative prose of Chicano/a authors in modern American literature. That is a simplistic explanation; however, at my university, there are no such courses. He is on a tenure track for teaching Chicano/a literature in the American Studies department at his university once he completes his doctoral dissertation. Not only is it a privilege to be asked to be an evaluator, they pay me for it too. A double bonus. I guess I need to thank all of my early childhood teachers for teaching me to read.

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Good Morning, Vietnam

How can 22 different embassy web sites be wrong, I ask you? After looking for the Vietnam embassy address, we found the same listing on all web sites, but when Ron went there, they were no where to be found. A call into the US embassy did the trick, we found the corrected address and this morning, we went to apply for our Visa for December. First we had to have pictures taken in one of the photo booths in the subway. Two photos per application please! This was a comedy of errors since the machines are obviously made in Italy. All of the signs are in Italian. Of course, we had a late start and was fumbling for change once we were at the booth. Our plan was to have two snaps and immediately change seats so we could get 2 and 2 with the same amount of money. BUT we were fooled. The flash only goes off once and you get four of the same shot. Better look pretty the first time or you are out of luck. After scrapping for more bills (recommended) and the balance in change, Ron had his chance. Off to the embassy, tiny, but orderly embassy with two women and one man working, we had our applications in and were out of there in 20 minutes time. One sheet, easy to fill out application and two photos was all it took. They keep our passport until it is completed. We can return on Monday for them. Viola!! Simple. The Visa is 9,000 Ft each. Our Visas for Cambodia and Malaysia can be obtained at the airports.

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