International Programs
Report from a Fulbright Scholar: Trip to Tucson, Arizona
Dina Mukhamedkhan, Fulbright Scholar from Kazakhstan
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| Dina Mukhamedkhan giving a presentation in Tucson, Arizona. |
I was in Tucson, Arizona for a week, March 20-26. I met my friends from Boston and Maine there. As always, I can not simply have a vacation for the whole week. So, before going there I contacted the University of Arizona in Tucson for a possibility of making a presentation there.
On March 22, 2006 I did a presentation at the University of Arizona. Dr. Reid, former Fulbright scholar and Dean of Natural Resources School and Dr. Espanza, a professor of this school invited me to make a presentation on Kazakhstan development projects. The presentation attracted both professors and students of the University who work on development issues in teaching managing resources and culture issues. I talked on a number of development projects where I worked and which I analyzed from educational policy as well as from interdisciplinary viewpoints. I particular stopped on the project “Gender and poverty” and also enhanced the idea that both USA and Central Asian Universities have to take the lead in effective but not hindrance development.
During my stay I also found out information on Tucson society on sister towns. Almaty-Tucson are sister towns from end of 80-s. I found people, talked over the phone with Jerry Gary, chairman of the society who invited me to their meeting with high school students, March 25, 2006. The topic was about Almaty. I contributed to discussions on culture, languages of Kazakhstan and our responsibility for mutual understanding of cultures. Students asked me a lot of questions; about language education. Origins of my family, religion, etc.. Many are very much interested in knowing more about Kazakhstan. They were very excited to have a guest from Kazakhstan.
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| Dr. Mukhamedkhan speaking to a class during her visit to the Flathead Indian Reservation. |
On May 16, 2006 I had a trip to Flathead Indian Reservation, Montana. Professors of Geography Jim Rogers and Pat Danley invited me to talk about Kazakhstan in their World Geography and Global Issues Classes. I had a privilege to talk in front of students of Salish Kootenai Tribal College and students of the High school in Polson. During this day I did several presentation with 125 students attending. I am happy that more young people in USA learnt about my home country Kazakhstan, about my hometown Semipalatinsk, about Abai, the great Kazakh poet, about our history and culture.
During the entire day I also had an opportunity to talk on important global-regional-local issues of education. I talked that day with Joe McDonald, the President of Salish Kootenai College; Julie Cajune, an outstanding Native American educator; Aggie Incashola, a teacher of Salish language and many other people.
I must note that this sort of individual links and professional discussions help to build bridges for better understanding the issues of preserving our cultures through education.
