FbT Post #6: Perks & Pleasantries

Perks & Pleasantries of Fulbright Life

Feelings felt: lucky!

In the previous post, I mentioned that attending conferences all over the country feels like going on custom-made field trips for grown-ups! Honestly, though, the whole placement feels that way. Being on grant comes with all sorts of unexpected perks. As I wrap-up my placement, here’s a sampler:

National Trust Membership

This has been my favorite fringe benefit! The Royal Oak Foundation is a US nonprofit that supports the work of the National Trust of England, Wales, and Northern Ireland in preserving historic places across the UK. The Foundation generously gifts each UK Fulbright grantee with a year-long membership (essentially a National Trust membership), providing unlimited access to over 350 historic sites, 610,000 acres of countryside, and 775 miles of coastline in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

I ended up visiting a dozen properties during my five months in the UK and hope to return for more. I made a custom GoogleMaps set marking sites around London and wherever business trips or weekend excursions took me… then when I found myself with a couple extra hours, I’d pop over to one. Membership saved hundreds of pounds in entry fees. (See my upcoming Nat’l Trust travel post for more details and site photos!)

Cultural Immersion Events – Sponsored

US-UK Commission staff are big believers in becoming part of the local community. They encourage grantees to get out and experience it firsthand, through day-to-day neighborhood life and by attending major cultural events. During my placement, in case grantees were reluctant to venture out on our own, the Commission also arranged some incredible group outings.

During Forum (a mandatory grantee gathering week) in London, we split a day between Kew Gardens and the Victoria & Albert Museum, each with custom tours and presentations arranged just for Fulbrighters. We saw a play in Soho, had lunch in a historic pub, and sat in on a Q&A with one of the world's renowned Shakespeare coaches at LAMDA.

We mingled with Fulbright board members and donors at a reception at the British Library, after viewing the Magna Carta and Shakespeare’s drafts during another private tour.

Later, at our pinning ceremony in Durham, Fulbrighters were treated to a private look inside the castle and cathedral, followed by a viewing of rare historic documents in a secured area of the university library.

I know it seems incredible, but this is just a sampling of the tremendous activities offered to Fulbrighters by the Commission throughout our UK stay!

Cultural Immersion Events – Around Every Corner

Even on my own, it would have been impossible to avoid cultural events around London – opportunities pop up constantly, sometimes planned and sometimes by surprise.

People like to say that dreamy experiences are like being in a movie… In fact, during my first week, I quite literally stumbled into a movie set! I was just a few feet away from Jason Statham before crew hustled the bystanders out of frame.

During the King’s birthday celebration in June, I had another dreamy moment — when I got a little ride-by nod from Prince William!

I led a UCL master's cohort on a British Museum excursion, on the 2222 anniversary of the Rosetta Stone housed inside… then attended Silk Road and Curries presentations by local chefs and authors at the nearby British Library.

Prefer sports? One of the most invigorating ways to spend an evening is in a pub during the World Cup, especially when England is playing! Win or lose, it’s electric! Didn’t win the Wimbledon ticket draw? No problem, just get comfy in any of the public viewing zones around the city. Again, opportunities for immersion lie around every corner.

In fact, I didn’t even have to leave my building to join in fun events! Management offered curated events every week. Local musicians and small theatre troupes previewed their shows in our listening lounge and invited us to full performances in nearby venues. Central St. Martin’s design school took over the public spaces in our building for a whole month, presenting fashion-designer documentaries in the theatre, exhibits of student design work, and maker sessions. We were even treated to cocktail and tea-mocktail tastings in the communal kitchen, led by local bartenders and tea purveyors.

And of course, it's London — hundreds of plays and musicals run in any given week. I think my favorite during this visit was Sinatra, which just opened over the summer.

Last but not least, here’s a shot from the very first cultural event I attended: Chinese New Year in Soho/Chinatown. Wow!

Which Perk calls to you??