Caitlin is a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant in Galicia, Spain. She is teaching English and History to high school students. Her grant focuses on cultural exchange and understanding between the United States and Spain.
This year I am living in Galicia, Spain as a Fulbright grantee. I am having a great time working as an English Teaching Assistant in the city of Vigo!
I mainly teach English classes about U.S. culture and history. This month, I have taken my students on virtual “roadtrips” to national parks and landmarks and facilitated debates about fast fashion and the environment. I have worked with students to analyze Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail,” and explained references to American history in his “I Have a Dream” speech.
To help students practice their public speaking abilities, I’ve planned lessons imitating the television show “Shark Tank” and listened to students pitch business ideas.
For English grammar and vocabulary practice, I have had students pretend to be home renovators on an American HGTV show. The students are great and eager to learn.
Outside of my required English and History classes, I have taught in the Earth Science class and played my clarinet with the school band. The teaching team at my school is amazing—I could not have asked for a better group of colleagues. In my free time, I've loved attending Galician festivals, and I am doing my best to learn Galego (the regional language) by participating in a community book club and sports team. I have enjoyed learning about Galician culture and I am grateful for the warm welcome I have received from locals.
For my Fulbright independent project, I am investigating how Galicia is implementing climate change solutions that are aligned with existing cultural values of the region. Immediately upon arriving, the proximity between “old” and “new” buildings caught my attention. On my way to school, I walk past a beautifully preserved castle that neighbors a building with a solar array. On the train I take everyday, I pass windmill farms alongside dozens of “hórreos” (traditional stone structures on stilts that keep rodents and moisture out of food).
Galicia’s extremely rainy climate influences both cultural and logistical elements of the region, from the iconic phrase “Se chove, deixa chover” (if it rains, let it rain!), to the stormwater management of its big cities. Getting to see this in action influenced my goal to explore how the region is preserving elements of its culture while adapting to climate change and meeting increasing energy needs. I hope this case study contributes to the broader idea that every community has unique strengths that can contribute to climate adaptations and utilize community knowledge.
My Fulbright year has been flying by, and I feel so grateful for this experience. I highly recommend applying for a Fulbright grant and utilizing the support of the University of Michigan's International Institute.
