Hi! My name is Madeleine Walker. I am from Fairfield, Connecticut. I grew up on a farm where I had a pet pig, chickens and sheep. One of my jobs on the farm was cleaning up their poop!
I have lots of hobbies, but I love sports the most. I love to run, ride my bicycle and do yoga. Yoga is a fun way to stretch, practice breathing and make your muscles stronger. I like yoga because it makes me feel calm and strong at the same time.
When I was 18 years old, I decided I wanted to travel to other countries. I had read many books about different places, but I wanted to see them for myself. I was very curious!
I earned a scholarship that let me live with a host family in Rabat, Morocco. Morocco is a country in the top left corner of Africa. People there speak Arabic, French and a local language called Tamazight. "Tamazight" is very hard for English speakers like us to say!
I loved living in Morocco. I tried new foods, memorized new words, learned about Islam (the main religion there) and the country's traditions. After that, I kept traveling. I was very lucky to earn more scholarships from the government and my university. They helped pay for my trips. You do not have to be rich to explore the world. Important first steps: Work hard in school and be kind to others.
Last year, I lived in Jordan, a country in the Middle East. I loved it there. I also learned that the majority of people in Jordan are of Palestinian descent. This year, I received a Fulbright Scholarship to teach in the Palestinian Territories. Here, I am a high school teacher in East Jerusalem. I teach children in elementary school. Some are blind (they can’t see) or deaf (they can’t hear).
In East Jerusalem, the main religions are Islam and Christianity. Most people speak Arabic. In West Jerusalem, most people are Jewish. They speak Hebrew. However, there are many people from India, Ethiopia, Armenia, and Russia, too, among other countries! Jerusalem is called “The Holy Land” because there are so many important religious sites here. For this reason, people come to Jerusalem from all over the world.
I am very excited for this new adventure, and I hope I can share my stories with you!
Want to learn how you could be a Fulbright Scholar like me? The Fulbright Program is the United States government's flagship international exchange program. Fulbrighters foster mutual understanding between the United States and partner nations, share knowledge across communities, and improve lives around the world. Learn more by visiting https://us.fulbrightonline.org.
