Everybody wonders about the American dream. I had the chance to live the dream, due to the Teaching Excellence and Achievement Program. International teachers had the opportunity to develop their expertise, to learn and teach.

My host university was Claremont Graduate University, in Southern California. We were 22 fellows from 12 countries: Thailand, India, El Salvador, Poland, Kazakhstan, Ghana, Russia Federation, Ukraine, Rwanda, Colombia, Morocco and Romania.

On the very first day at CGU the TEA Fellows created a mind map and we found out about what we were supposed to do during six weeks . It was a rigorous program designated to help us develop expertise in our subjects areas and enhance classrooms skills. The professional development included academic seminars and clinical experience. We had three classes at CGU: Teaching and Learning Process, Methods Class and Technology Class. These classes concluded with four lesson plans, which had to include  student engaging strategies. The  final evaluation took place in Washington D.C when we had to demonstrate our skills during 10 minutes of micro-teaching.

The clinical experience was the most impressive one! I went to Claremont High School. My partner teacher was dr. Molly Quest Arboleda, an amazing woman, teacher and partner in crime. For one month we did everything: co-teaching, preparing materials for students, lesson planning and she was more than willing to let me teach. I presented my country and also I included eastern European history in the world history. Students were very interested in finding out something else, something new and exciting. We will be in touch, we have great plans for the future!

I learned in California the true meaning  of a famous saying: ”work hard, play hard”. And we did both. We had Sundays events: Venice Beach, Los Angeles, Hollywood, Disneyland, Pasadena. They succeeded in showing us the American life and culture. Through the entire program we had our friendship families. We are now friends for life! I am so grateful to them. This will be an exchange program, they will come to Romania.

The program wasn’t only about United States. It was also about being in touch with different cultures from across the world. We learned a lot about our countries, education systems, hopes and dreams. Now we are a very powerful group of 22 teachers willing to fight for a better future in education.

Words are not enough to express my gratitude to the Fulbright Commission, United States Department of State, IREX and Claremont Graduate University for ones in a life time chance.

The story will not end here. This is only the turning point for my professional life.

Diana Ioana Melian
History teacher, Technical High School of Comunication “N.V.Karpen”, Bacau, Romania