As a new teacher, I was bouncing from one school district to another due to budget cuts. I was looking for a new experience and a valuable way to build my experience in the classroom. I had lived in Austria previously and it was one of the best experiences of my life, so I decided to do it again. Through my experiences, I have been able to bring my international experiences into my classroom and show my students the many possibilities that exist outside of school. My teaching skills improved as well, having worked with non-native English speakers. There are not that many experiences such as the ones Fulbright offers, and it will be quite a shame to lose such wonderful experiences that created more effective and contributing members of the American society.
Rachel Olson is a graduate of the University of Maine with a degree in education. She taught at BHAK, BHASCH and BG in Salzburg as a US Teaching Assistant in 2012–13.