BBEYOND BARRIERS My Fulbright Experience “The preservation of our free society in the years and decades to come will depend ultimately on whether we succeed or fail in directing the enormous power of human knowledge to the enrichment of our own lives and the shaping of a rational and civilized world order...

It is the task of education, more than any other instrument of foreign policy to help close the dangerous gap between the economic and technological interdependence of the people of the world and their psychological, political and spiritual alienation.”

[From Prospects for the West, Senator J.

William Fulbright] Courtesy of Fulbright

Association (U.S.) My Fulbright Experience © 2007 Fulbright Association ()

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying or recording or by information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the Fulbright Association (Singapore).

Reflections on “My Fulbright Experience” are made in a personal capacity. Permission to reproduce a contribution must also be obtained from the relevant Fulbrighter.

Editors Anne Pakir and Jeremy Lim Coordinator Chan Wei Ling Designer Yeoh Kok Cheow Advisor Ang Peng Hwa Resource Panel Rosemary Khoo and Vincent Ooi

ISBN 978-981-05-7996-8

Fulbright Association (Singapore) www.fulbright.org.sg CONTENTS DEDICATION 1 Hadijah Bte Rahmat 46 Ho Chee Lick 48 PREFACE 4 Tony T. N. Hung 50 Hussin Mutalib 52 FOREWORD 54 Ang Peng Hwa 6 Robert K. Kamei 56 Rosemary Khoo 58 MESSAGES Annie 60 8 Koh Tai Ann 63 Patricia L. Herbold 10 Lily Kong 65 12 Devadas Krishnadas 66 Agnes S. L. Lam 68 BEGINNINGS Asad-ul Iqbal Latif 70 Victor R. Savage 15 Julia Lau Bertrand 72 Andrew Lee 74 REFLECTIONS Jeremy Lim 76 Steven Ang Beng Wee 19 Suchen Christine Lim 78 Ang Peng Hwa 22 William S. W. Lim 80 Melissa Aratani Kwee 24 Lim Swee Teck 82 Chan Wei Ling 26 Lin Chung Ying 84 Ernest C. T. Chew 28 Jeremiah Lo Tuck Seng 86 Chong Yean Joo Augustine 30 Vernon Loh 88 Chua Chong Jin 31 Lui Hah Wah Elena 89 Peter Ignatius De Costa 33 Stephan Muench 91 Calvin Eu 34 Ngiam Tee Liang 92 Harold Fock Mun Hong 36 Nor Hidayah Bte Mohd Amin 94 Burhan Gafoor 38 Ong Chye Hin 95 Ganapathy Narayanan 40 Vincent Ooi 97 Ganesh S/O R. Kalyanam 43 Anne Pakir 99 Robbie B. H. Goh 44 Ira Renfrew 101 DEDICATION TO Samtani Anil 103 Senator J. William Fulbright Victor R. Savage 105 Kim T. K. Seah 107 Kheng Boon 109 Tan Ming Jen 111 Tan Tarn How 113 Tan Tee How 114 Senator Fulbright receiving the 115 Clarence Tang Presidential Medal Tang Sing Hai 117 of Freedom at Simon S. C. Tay 119 the Fulbright Association’s 88th Teo Chee Hean 121 Birthday Tribute to 123 Senator Fulbright on Kimberly Trager 125 5 May 1993. Wang Allen 126 Henry Yeung 128 Yip Wing Kong 130 This book is a tribute to the founder of the Fulbright Jean Wan Hong Yong 131 Program. Through sharing how the Fulbright experiences Zalman Putra Ahmad Ali 133 have enriched our lives, we hope to inspire readers to live Senator Fulbright’s dream. PAGES FROM THE PAST In Appreciation of Senator Fulbright (1993) 135 We reproduce an article published in the International 50th Anniversary of the Fulbright Program (1996) 142 Herald Tribune in 1995 detailing Senator Fulbright’s faith and hopes for the Program. Genesis of a Fulbright Association in Singapore (1996 to 1998) 146

The Fulbright Contribution To the Survival of Mankind ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 148 J. William Fulbright’s crowning achievement came in the earliest days of his long and distinguished Senate career. Only two weeks after the first atomic bomb destroyed the city of Hiroshima, Mr. Fulbright sponsored legislation creating the international educational exchange program which bears his name. The program was his pride and consolation for 50 years.

1 “The exchange program is the thing that He believed that if a larger number of Patrick Moynihan, among others. They n his book The Price of Empire published reconciles me to all the difficulties of persons came to know, understand, work have also included not-so-well-known in 1987, Bill Fulbright wrote: “It is a modest political life,” he once said. “It’s the only and learn beside their counterparts in other Americans - hundreds of elementary and program with an immodest aim – the activity that gives me some hope that the cultures, “they might,” he said, “develop a high school teachers who have exchanged achievement in international affairs of human race won’t commit suicide.” capacity for empathy, a distaste for killing classrooms with foreign counterparts for a regime more civilized, rational and other men, and an inclination for peace.” a year and returned home to broaden the humane...I believed in that possibility when Bill Fulbright continued to actively promote views of their students. I began. I still do.” his exchange program well into his ninth His legislation establishing the Fulbright decade, even from a wheelchair. He Program slipped through the U.S. Senate Inspired by the value and generosity of Others do, too. The people in Mr. Fulbright’s never stopped believing in the program’s without debate. Its first participants went this U.S.-funded program, some of the 130 hometown in Arkansas endorse the vision purposes and always spoke about them overseas in 1946, funded by war reparations countries where the exchange operates of the world he brought them and the powerfully and eloquently. and foreign loan repayments. now contribute up to half the funds needed importance of the program he sponsored. to run their individual programs. In a flower garden in the Fayetteville In recent years, even as he was less Since then the program has brought more town square is a bust of their favorite son, prominent on the public stage in his own than 120,000 foreign nationals to teach, In 1984, more than 100 former Japanese inscribed with these words: “In the beauty land, other nations on every continent study or do research in the United States, Fulbrighters returned to the United States of these gardens, we honor the beauty of continued to bestow on him their and sent more than 90,000 Americans on what they called a “sentimental his dream: peace among nations and the highest honors. They recognized that his overseas to do the same. The master of journey,” bearing a gift of $1.6 million free exchange of knowledge and ideas program had helped to educate several Pembroke College, Oxford, once called they had raised to bring more American across the earth.” generations of leaders around the globe. this “the largest and most significant Fulbrighters to Japan. Some in this Mr. Fulbright’s name has become part movement of scholars across the face of Japanese delegation had studied in the Source: The Fulbright Contribution To the Survival of the world language. Speak in India or the earth since the 15th century.” United States immediately after the war. of Mankind by Joseph Duffey, International Japan or Sweden of a “Fulbrighter” and Said one who went on to become Japan’s Herald Tribune (Courtesy of New York Times the reference has widespread instant Many foreign Fulbrighters have returned ambassador to the United States: “In those Syndicate) recognition. home to become prime ministers, days, just after the Occupation, there were cabinet members, diplomats, newspaper articles in the Japanese press which were In 1945, the freshman senator from editors, and academics. Some, like the very anti-American. After living in the Arkansas looked out on the devastation of United Nations secretary-general, Butros United States for a year, I simply couldn’t World War II and on the new atomic age. Butros-Ghali, have gone from national to believe those arguments.” He took seriously the admonition of Albert international prominence. Einstein: “We must acquire a substantially Last spring, Fulbright Program staff at the new manner of thinking if mankind is to American Fulbrighters have included U.S. Information Agency and the Institute survive.” Remembering his own experience university presidents Derek Bok and of International Education worked tirelessly as a Rhodes Scholar, Mr. Fulbright reasoned Hannah Gray, economist Milton Friedman; to find and bring two Rwandans out of that people and nations had to learn to scientist Joshua Lederberg; historian Henry refugee camps in Zaire to take up Fulbright think globally if the world were to avoid Steele Commager; authors John Updike and scholarships at Oregon State University and annihilation. Eudora Welty; musician Aaron Copland; the Berklee School of Music in Boston. actor Stacy Keach; and politician Daniel

2 3 Programme which hosts Fulbrighters President: Ang Peng Hwa from the United States, discussion Nanyang Technological University PREFACE forums in partnership with local universities to engender exchanges Vice-President: Anne Pakir between Fulbrighters and the academia, National University of Singapore and hosting seminars for enterprising students. The FA(S) will be hosting the Secretary: Jeremy Lim academic programme for the Scholar Singapore Health Services Ship, a floating university that will be in Singapore in January 2008. Assistant Secretary: Tan Ming Jen The Fulbright Program was established in 1946 under Nanyang Technological University legislation introduced by then Senator J. William Fulbright The success of FA(S) is due in of Arkansas, to enhance mutual understanding between no small part to its supporters, in Treasurer: Vincent Ooi

the people of the United States and the people of other particular its distinguished Patrons. 2006/2007 Committee Executive National University of Singapore countries. Since its inception, approximately 279,500 Singapore’s Fulbrighters do enjoy a “Fulbrighters” - 105,400 from the United States and fine spirit of camaraderie despite our Members: 174,100 from 155 other countries - have benefited from the diverse backgrounds. Chan Wei Ling Program, including 230 Singaporeans. Ministry of Health Executive Committee 2006/2007 The Fulbright Association (Singapore) [FA(S)] is the Fulbright Association (Singapore) Rosemary Khoo membership organisation of Singapore Fulbrighters, April 2007 University Women’s Association committed to promoting the objectives of the Fulbright (Singapore) Program. Devadas Krishnadas The FA(S) celebrates its 10th anniversary this year, with a Singapore Police Force commemorative publication prepared for the 10th Fulbright Annual Dinner on 26 April 2007. The Guest-of-Honour is Lui Hah Wah Elena a Singaporean Fulbrighter, Minister for Defence, Mr Teo Nanyang Technological University Chee Hean, who was also the first to submit his reflection on his Fulbright experience. Through this compilation of Ngiam Tee Liang Fulbrighters’ sharing of their Fulbright experience, the National University of Singapore FA(S) hopes to inspire future generations of Fulbrighters to further strengthen the bridges of understanding between Samtani Anil Singapore and the United States. We chose the theme Nanyang Technological University ‘Beyond Barriers’ to reflect the role the Fulbright Program plays in breaking down national and cultural barriers and Kim T. K. Seah overcoming the fear “to think ‘unthinkable’ thoughts”. A. Ang, Seah & Hoe

Throughout its ten years of existence, FA(S) has Jean Wan Hong Yong continuously promoted the objectives of the Fulbright Nanyang Technological University Program through various activities such as FA(S)-Friends

4 5 I found the Morocco meeting to be Special thanks to committee members FOREWORD inspiring, just learning that there are Wei Ling, Anne, Jeremy, Vincent and FROM people like us who are out to change Rosemary for coming up with the idea President, Fulbright Association (Singapore) the world for the better. We had a quiz and then working together to bring where the answer was 35—the number this commemorative book to fruition. of Nobel Prize winners who had been I found many of the stories warm, Fulbrighters. We had a presentation touching, funny in parts, and yes, also from Alex Counts, who runs the U.S.- inspiring. I hope you do too. based Grameen Foundation. Alex had ike any great enterprise, the Fulbright Program is spent his Fulbright year in Bangladesh Lfuelled by two main things – good people and a good in 1988, and saw for himself how Associate Professor Ang Peng Hwa idea. Yes, the Program also needs money but good people microcredit—loans as small as tens President, Fulbright Association (Singapore) with good ideas have always been able to surmount that of dollars—could lift borrowers out obstacle. of the grinding poverty they would otherwise be mired in. Alex returned to In some ways, it could be said that the Program has some Bangladesh to work under Mohammad of the highest ideals that humanity can aspire towards Yunus, the founder of the Grameen – international peace and cooperation through better Bank and who won the 2006 Nobel understanding of one another. Like clean air and water, Peace Prize. In 1997, Alex started the peace is a “hygiene” factor often taken for granted until its Grameen Foundation with US$6,000 absence rears some ugly heads. and the charge to channel resources from the U.S. towards the microfinance It is an honour to be associated with a program that has movement. In 2005, the Foundation’s such lofty goals. Because these goals are lofty, they are annual budget was US$11 million. also inspiring. And so more than ten years ago, a group of Fulbrighters planted the germ of an idea to start the We hope that this collection of Fulbright Association (Singapore). Similar associations reminiscences will help others have been started all over the world. These associations appreciate the genius and value of the share the common goal of fostering better understanding Fulbright Program. For many of us, between the U.S. and Fulbrighters’ home countries through the support from the Program enabled cultural exchange and intellectual discourse. Last year, I was us to encounter people and incidents privileged to attend the first-ever international conference we would have never been able to of these associations of Fulbright alumni which was held in experience otherwise. Marrakech, Morocco.

6 7 World War. Together with its allies, But the strength of the U.S.-Singapore the U.S. defeated Germany and Japan relationship goes beyond goods and MESSAGE in World War II, fought in Korea and services or a military connection. FROM Singapore’s Ambassador to the United States Vietnam. Their effort and sacrifice in It is the healthy people-to-people blood and treasure enabled the newly ties and the development of warm independent countries of Asia and in relationships between Americans and particular Southeast Asia to build their Singaporeans over the years especially political institutions and strengthen through cultural exchanges that form economic development over the crucial the bedrock of the relationship. am privileged to be counted as a Fulbrighter. I received years. The U.S. is today among the A large number of Singaporeans I a Fulbright travel grant to the U.S. to pursue graduate leading trading partners of ASEAN. have been educated in American studies at Cornell in 1965. This brought me to Indiana It is among the top three trading universities. The Fulbright Program University in Bloomington where I attended the Fulbright partners of nearly all the countries in has played a major role in fostering this Orientation Program. It was most useful as an introduction the region and it is also amongst the connection. I would like to thank the to the American academic establishment and campus life. top investors. In 2006, the U.S. was U.S. Government for sponsoring five I moved on to Cornell where I graduated with a Masters’ the second largest trading partner for to seven Singaporeans each year on a degree in Government. My student days seem so long ago. Singapore, and Singapore is the 16th Fulbright Program as one of the ways As an academic at the National University of Singapore, I largest trading partner of the U.S. In to keep this connection going. 230 continued my engagement with American universities and 2003, Singapore and the U.S. signed the Singaporeans have been to America have had the good fortune to move along the academic Free Trade Agreement, the first Free on Fulbright grants and scholarships. track and meet many stimulating and distinguished Trade Agreement between the U.S. They return to Singapore to take on Americans. and an Asian country. Total bilateral important decision making positions trade between the U.S. and Singapore and through their own channels work I have been in Washington as Singapore’s Ambassador to in 2006 amounted to S$90.3 billion or to promote strong ties between the the United States for more than ten years. Over my tenure, approximately 11.1% of Singapore’s U.S. and Singapore. I have seen the bilateral relationship grow from strength total trade. The U.S. is the second to strength. In fact, a good bilateral relationship between largest FDI in Singapore after the U.K. Professor Chan Heng Chee Singapore and the U.S. has been the norm. Singapore but in previous years the U.S. has been Singapore’s Ambassador to the United States and the U.S. share many values in common. We both are traditionally the largest FDI. There are Patron, Fulbright Association (Singapore) egalitarian and meritocratic societies. We embrace all ethnic now over 1,500 U.S. firms in Singapore. groups, and seek integration and accommodation. Singapore and the U.S. share the same advocacy of rule of law, an This strong economic relationship open international economic environment and open trading is buttressed by the strong defence system. We give equal opportunities to men and women and relationship. Singapore signed the place strong emphasis on education. Singapore welcomes Strategic Framework Agreement with the U.S. contribution to the peace and security of the Asia the U.S. in 2005. Singapore believes Pacific, a role it has played since the end of the Second the U.S. can contribute positively to the peace and security of the region.

8 9 lifelong friendships with host country MESSAGE citizens and share a common bond FROM through their experience in a program United States Ambassador to the synonymous with excellence. Republic of Singapore The Fulbright Program was designed to foster bilateral relationships in which our partner countries and the eartiest congratulations to the Fulbright Association United States shape the Program to H(Singapore) on your tenth anniversary! For the past meet shared objectives. The United decade, U.S. Ambassadors have been honored to serve as States appreciates the Government the Association’s Patron, and we’ve watched proudly as you of Singapore’s strong support for the have promoted the goals of the Fulbright Program. Fulbright Program, which enables more Singaporeans to study in the The Fulbright Program was born in difficult times, at United States and strengthen the the conclusion of World War II. A young Senator from bonds of understanding between our Arkansas, William J. Fulbright, believed that individuals countries. can make a difference in the world and that governments should promote opportunities for them to do so. His vision I wish the Fulbright Association of of increasing mutual understanding through the exchange Singapore continued success. The U.S. of persons, knowledge, and skills is as relevant today as it Embassy looks forward to working was more than sixty years ago. Nations still need leaders in with you in the coming decades. all fields of endeavor with a Fulbright mind-set – endowed with a sense of discovery, willing to embrace the new, and respecting the practices and cultures of others. With warm congratulations,

Patricia L. Herbold Senator Fulbright’s vision led to the creation of the United States Ambassador to the Republic of Fulbright Program by the U.S. Congress in 1946. From Singapore the Program’s inception, the fundamental principle of Patron, Fulbright Association (Singapore) international partnership has remained at the core of the Fulbright mission. The Program operates in more than 150 countries, and more than 280,000 Fulbright scholarships have been awarded worldwide. Fulbrighters develop

10 11 Award. My year at Harvard, as I have In 1986, the Fulbright Commission MESSAGE explained in the “Crimson Essays”, celebrated its 40th Anniversary. The FROM changed the course of my life. Commission requested me to write a Singapore’s Ambassador-at-Large 100-word essay on what my Fulbright In 1976, the United States had a double experience had meant to me. The celebration, the 200th Anniversary following were two of the points of its Independence and the 30th contained in my essay: Anniversary of the Fulbright Program. I was told that the names of all the “Having studied in this thank my good friend, Associate Professor Ang Peng former foreign Fulbright scholars were country (USA) has certainly made Hwa, the President of the Fulbright Association I put into a lottery. Twenty lucky ones it easier for me to understand the (Singapore), and the members of his committee, for inviting were chosen and each was assigned, for extremely complex nature of the U.S. me to contribute a message to this book to commemorate a fixed period, to a different university. government, to understand how the the 10th Anniversary of the Association. I was glad to have I was one of the lucky winners and, system works, to understand America’s played a small role in the founding of the Association. I am because of my involvement in the Law virtues and idiosyncrasies, its dreams very proud to be a patron of the Association. of the Sea Conference, was assigned and nightmares.

to the famous Scripps Institute of In 1946, one year after the Second World War ended, a Oceanography at La Jolla, California. … the Fulbright experience freshman Senator from the State of Arkansas, J. William At the end of our attachments, we has reinforced my belief in the value Fulbright, sponsored a Bill in the U.S. Congress to promote were all invited to participate in a of cross-cultural communication educational exchanges between the U.S. and other countries. conference in Washington, D.C., and the importance of international The Congress passed the Bill and President Truman signed whose agenda was to help the cooperation in all fields of human it into law, which has come to be known as the Fulbright Fulbright Commission reflect on its endeavour, including education.” Act. achievements and shortcomings and to determine its future directions. In conclusion, I would like to make What was Senator Fulbright’s inspiration in proposing the the following suggestions for your law? His inspiration was to use educational exchange as a In 1976, I had the great pleasure consideration: means to increase mutual understanding between nations of meeting the great man, Senator and to reduce the danger of war. Under the Fulbright Fulbright. Later, when I was posted to (i) Each of us should consider Program, hundreds of thousands of Americans have the Singapore Embassy in Washington, “adopting” a foreign student, had the opportunity to study, teach or research in foreign D.C. from 1984 to 1990, I saw him studying at one of our universities or countries and hundreds of thousands of non Americans, several more times at his Senate polytechnics. A few years ago, my wife like me, have had the opportunity to do the same in the U.S. office. He was always happy to meet a and I attended a students’ function at Fulbrighter. NTU. We met a student from India, In 1963, I received two gifts from the United States: a who had studied at one of our JCs fellowship from the and a Fulbright

12 13 and then at NTU. He told my wife BEGINNINGS that in his four years in Singapore, FROM he had never been invited home by a Founding President, Fulbright Association Singapore family for a meal. We should rectify this deplorable state of affairs; (Singapore)

(ii) The Fulbright Association (Singapore) should consider convening a meeting of the various branches of ow time has flown. It is now nearly a decade since the the Association in the other ASEAN HFulbright Association (Singapore) was inaugurated countries. What could such a meeting in 1998. In 1994, the USIS head Denis Donahue had a discuss? It could discuss the state of lunch meeting with Professors Tommy Koh and Chan relations between the U.S. and ASEAN Heng Chee, myself and the Vice-President of the U.S. and how to enhance educational Fulbright Association to discuss the establishment of the exchanges among the ASEAN Singapore chapter of the Association. Both Professors countries and between ASEAN and Koh and Chan turned the offer down because of their the United States. many commitments. I turned it down because I did not have the social clout nor the financial muscle to head it. (iii) The Singapore government But the idea of the association did not stop there. In 1997, should consider the possibility of I remember distinctly the two meetings we had in Michael upgrading and merging the various Anderson’s (Head, Office of Public Affairs, U.S. Embassy) existing schemes of educational home contemplating the pros and cons about establishing exchange between Singapore and other a Singapore chapter of the Fulbright Association. All the countries into a coherent, high quality usual suspects of Fulbrighters were at the meeting; a mix and greatly expanded programme like of academics, the arts, private sector and civil service the Fulbright Program. Educational personnel. Thank God we had Kim Seah, our who exchange is one of the most drafted the Fulbright constitution. The founding members effective means of enhancing mutual of the Fulbright came from this original group. Anderson understanding between Singapore and was very passionate about getting the Association up and other countries. about especially when he noted that several countries had operational associations. He felt that Singapore had come of age and hence was in a position to run its own Professor Tommy Koh Association. Generally there were positive vibes amongst Singapore’s Ambassador-at-Large all of us at these meetings though many did express Patron, Fulbright Association (Singapore) worry about the sustainability of the association and its

14 15 directions. Unfortunately, we had no (our Ambassador-at-large), the U.S. Kirpal Singh, Dr. Low Ee Ling, Dr. the enthusiastic support of the U.S. rich benefactor who could sponsor Ambassador to Singapore (beginning Leong Liew Geok and Dr. Lisa Lim, Ambassadors in Singapore, the U.S. the association. Somewhere along with Ambassador Steven Green) and “Ghosts and Spirits: Asian Sightings” Embassy’s Public Affairs Officers the line my name was proposed by the Singapore’s Ambassador to the U.S. by Pugalenthii, Dr. Timothy White (Mike Anderson, Thomas Gradisher, Dean Tong Chee Kiong (Dean of the (Professor Chan Heng Chee). and Dr. Carole Faucher to Bernard David Andresen, Valerie Fowler) and Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Harrison’s “Surviving the Corporate the wonderful Public Affairs support NUS) to be the first President of the Over the years, the Fulbright Jungle: Leadership in the Animal staff of Celin Leung and Goh Hwee Association. I was not very enthused Association (Singapore) held several Kingdom”. With Anne Pakir as the Lian. We have held many of our AGMs being suggested, but then I accepted activities during my term as President former Director of the American in the Deputy Chief of Mission’s home the nomination given that there were (1998-2004). Our highlight event Studies Centre (NUS), we initiated and were invited to many educational no other candidates. has been the Annual Dinner at a Fulbright Book Prize for the best functions at the U.S. Ambassador’s the Churchill Room, Tanglin Club student. Besides a donation from residence. After much deliberations and with the (with thanks from Dr. Yip Wing the U.S. Office of Public Affairs, we U.S. Embassy support, the Association Kong). We had a wonderful array of received a donation of $2000 from All of us remember the good times, was inaugurated on 31 July 1998 at good speakers at our dinners: U.S. the Westin-Stamford Hotel for the the eventful memories and the the NUSS Orchard Guild House Ambassador Steven Green (1999), prize. I was fortunate to be invited educationally rewarding experiences with RADM (NS) Teo Chee Hean, Professor Tommy Koh (AGM, 1999), to the U.S. Fulbright Association’s in America under the Fulbright the then Minister for Education as Professor Wang Gungwu (2000), Ho annual conference and awards activities scholarship. The Association’s our Guest of Honour. He gave a Kwon Ping (2001), U.S. Ambassador and gave a paper on multiracialism activities hopefully will underscore the speech on “Singapore as a Hub for Franklin Lavin (2002), K. Kesavapany in Singapore. I also represented importance of a global education we Higher Education” which reflected (2003) and Professor Mohammad the Association at the Malaysian all received. But more important at the government’s intent on making Amien Rias, Speaker of the Indonesian Association of American Studies this time of troubled global political Singapore a global schoolhouse. The Parliament (2004). International Conference in August tensions, cultural misunderstandings inauguration was a semi-formal and 2002 where I was elected Vice- and social divisions, we can take heart yet congenial and pleasant evening During the initial years of the President of the Asian Federation that we have been a chosen few to attended by about 100 people. Given Association we began the Fulbright of American Studies Association hopefully become good educational that at that time there were said to In-Town talk series from 1999 to (AFASA) at their Annual General ambassadors of Senator J. William be only over 200 Fulbrighters from 2003 which we held in the library Meeting. Fulbright’s academic programme in Singapore, we did rather well. The venues both at the National Library bringing “a little more knowledge, a inauguration of the Association was in Stamford Road and the Library@ Over the years, the Association has little more reason, and a little more also the time when the executive Orchard. These public talks covered moved from humble beginnings to compassion into world affairs”. board members were elected. At a wide range of subjects such as Dr. a more stable platform of younger, the first meeting of the executive Ryan Bishop’s “Perceptions of Asians enthusiastic members. The success Associate Professor Victor R. Savage committee, we decided to have three in the American Public Imagination”, to date of the Fulbright activities Founding President, Fulbright Association patrons: Professor Tommy Koh “Singapore’s Global English” by Dr. would not have been possible without (Singapore)

16 17 STEVEN BENG WEE

ANGUniversity of Fulbright Affiliation: New York University Year of programme: 1999 “I teach courses on employment law and intellectual property rights at NTU. My current research preoccupations include an exploration of the intersection between the protection of intellectual property and ethics.”

spent the Fall of 1999 (between the tail of August and I the tip of December) at New York University (NYU) School of Law as a Fulbright Visiting Scholar. It was an interesting time to be in America on such a programme, with the freedom to indulge one’s inquisitiveness, but without quite the pressure to perform in courses to which those on student scholarships were subjected. We were on the brink of a new millennium and wondering what it would be like, and the clouds of globalisation that had been gathering for decades were just beginning to generate unease and discontent. In Seattle this was reflected that year by the disruption of the WTO Ministerial Meeting by rioting protesters and the eventual breakdown of talks. When I next returned to New York in 2005, I was to gaze at the horrific chasm where the Twin Towers once stood. Between then and now, the world has seen challenges and crises and rents in international relations – not least of which those involving the United States – which make the Fulbright Program’s vision of achieving international

18 19 understanding through exchange ever from other cultures, It is interesting One of the most illuminating insights with their example because of my more urgent and important. how explaining one’s tradition forces I gained from the visit came, unlooked interest in the way intellectual property one to get a better grasp of it. The for, on one of these cultural excursions spurs technological and other forms My primary purpose for being at NYU experience at International House which were organised by Metro of creativity and how this transforms was to audit a course on Employment really drove home the truth that International for the Fulbrighters in the world, and the ethical dimensions and Discrimination Law conducted understanding and exchange are best the New York area. It was a Sunday of this relationship. The Amish are for by Professor Paulette Caldwell, as I achieved informally over coffee tables. visit amongst the Amish at Lancaster me a reminder that there are radically was then doing research on issues International House made interaction County, Pennsylvania. The Amish different ways of looking at this matter. relating to employment equality. I amongst students and academics make a striking contrast with New Theirs is not a model I would advocate also managed to attend most of easy with an almost nightly array of Yorkers, or, for that matter, with everyone adopting, but they remind a term long colloquium series on cultural events and talks. Those that Singaporeans. They dress plainly in one that technology transforms lives, Law, Philosophy and Social Theory stand out in the memory are talks by contrast with much of the modern relations and communities for better conducted jointly by Professors Ronald patrons like Paul Volcker and Henry world’s obsession with attention or worse. We are faced, especially Dworkin and Thomas Nagel. This last Kissinger. grabbing styles, use horses and in the 21st Century, with the task was an intellectual feast as I sat in on carriages instead of motor cars, and of fashioning social structures that papers delivered by Jeremy Waldron, Not all of the lasting memories of technology like tractors, telephones determine the path that technology J. J. Thompson, Frances Kam, Eric the visit are of intellectual matters. I and televisions is kept at arm’s length. will take us on – as regards the quality Rakowski, and others. I also sat in remember hay rides and apple picking Visiting amongst them was like going of our environment, the threat of on – ‘gate crashed’ may be a more one weekend after the harvest at a back in time, but not backward, for, destruction by our own weapons accurate description – other colloquia New England farm: the burnt gold of despite initial appearances, they have and the genetic basis of our identity at NYU. shorn corn fields and rioting reds of not chosen to reject technology or as human persons, amongst others fall foliage are vivid memories. And I modernity. Instead, they are attempting – and reflecting on the ethical basis I was fortunate also in being able to get recall a Saturday afternoon listening to to take technology on their own terms, of these choices. The alternative may residence at the International House chamber music on a barge on the East rather than let modernity transform be the societal equivalent of being in where I made several friends and River followed by a walk to Manhattan them against their will. They are open a runaway rail car without a clue as to acquaintances amongst the community with other visiting Fulbrighters over to the use of biotechnology, because what lies around the bend. of post graduate, professional and the Brooklyn Bridge as the sun was developments in this field may be academic residents. The mainland and setting. From that end, we could see important to solving problems that I can’t say I have many helpful answers overseas Chinese residents, led by a the skyline of the city which still had small communities like theirs may be right now, but the Fulbright experience couple of Singaporean New Yorkers, the Twin Towers then, outlined as the prone, and some traditions permit has not fallen short in terms of food organised a little celebration of the sun sank. access to a telephone (perhaps a pay for thought. Mid-Autumn Moon festival which phone) outside the home for use in were attended by some residents emergencies. I remained fascinated

20 21 Second, I discovered some best an unusual electoral process because practices in Harvard that I took back November 2000 was when there was PENG HWA to Singapore. I visited the business the controversy over who won in school, where the carpet was lush Florida and so won the presidential and the food unlimited. Then I had a elections. The Kennedy School ANGUniversity of Fulbright Affiliation: presentation at the law school where, had live television news in its foyer Year of programme: 2000 surprisingly, there were no carpets, running all day. Practically every faculty “I am a researcher in internet law and policy issues and while studying at least in the areas I went. Clearly, member who could speak sensibly was in the U.S., also learnt how to make pizza from scratch.” infrastructure does not a great school interviewed by the media, this after make. all was THE School of Government. That was strange and wonderful. Instead, I discovered that values were what drive that great university, and I consider myself very fortunate to Strange and Wonderful all great universities. One value was have spent the sabbatical in 2000. honour: all great universities honour I had arrived in Logan Airport on y Fulbright experience in Fall 2000 as a research their faculty. Just to cite three examples September 9. One year and two days fellow at the Kennedy School of Government M from that one value: Every year begins later, on September 11, two planes left in Harvard University consisted of some strange and with a photo of the entire School Logan Airport but never reached their wonderful discoveries. It was a mind-expanding and life- – something that I practised in my originally intended destinations. And changing sabbatical that was wonderful for me. I came away School. And when I went to the room the world changed. What a reminder with some ideas that I applied in my administrative roles, named in honour of renowned defence of the relevance of the Fulbright ideas that may have been strange for my colleagues. analyst Graham Allison, there large as Program’s ideals. life was Graham Allison himself. (In First, I discovered myself – that I was a teacher at heart. A the U.K. tradition, he should have been former colleague, who had returned to work in the Boston long deceased.) Allison himself had Globe, took me out for golf a few times. On one of those given an employee-of-the-year award outings, I scored my first par in Boston, a rarity for me. using his frequent flier miles for a pair It was a par-four hole and when I had sunk the ball at the of air tickets, which that year was won fourth stroke, I danced a jig in uncontained excitement. by the webmaster. And so back home, My friend, a much better player who had also sunk the ball I have instituted a staff-of-the-year in four strokes, smiled at me and said, “I’m happier for award for administrative staff. That was you that you parred the hole than for me.” I stopped my wonderful. ungainly jig, and reflected for a second that, my goodness, we are both teachers at heart – we are happier when others Third, I discovered America’s succeed than even when we succeed. That was a wonderful democracy: I had a front-seat view of discovery.

22 23 and through the lives of many local He chuckled to himself amused. Nepali minorities. One interview I Raising his brow, I could tell from his MELISSA will never forget is with Man Bahadur smile that it was in pity for the ladies’ ARATANI Gurung, resident of Sikles, Kaski inability to savour delights with ‘the District, my former village base. It was natural spoon.’ a misty day and the clouds had rolled up against the hills, sweeping a cottony KWEE gauze over the fields. I greeted him as University of Fulbright Affiliation: Harvard University; and ‘Sir’ as I knew he had been a Gurkha Tribhuvan University and that that specific salutation was Year of programme: 1995 probably the best way to communicate “I remain an idealist at heart and believe in the power and grace of respect. My intention was to ask him ordinary people to create joyful, purposeful and inclusive communities.” about his life and the leadership of the village, but we meandered off into exploring his personal history. He spoke of his experience in World received my Fulbright nomination from Harvard War II, marching through Italy along I University and was selected as an American Fulbright the wide roads lined with people. He Scholar to Nepal. My Fulbright experience in Nepal built recalled the large machines “bigger on my nearly five-year love affair with the tiny, land-locked than five buffalos” used to plough the state. I had previously lived in the wild and gorgeous hill land. As he spoke, he glanced across region below the Annapurna range, and worked with a the verandah of his mud, wood and pioneering, participatory development initiative in one of thatch home. Below his house were the village headquarters. Living there taught me the value his workers ploughing the fields on a of working with people to solve problems and create new stubborn, lone mud-crusted buffalo. solutions for better living. The anachronism was jarring, but Man Bahadur didn’t flinch. There was a My Fulbright year was supposed to be based in the city certain dignity and wisdom about him with an attachment to the national Tribhuvan University. that I recall vividly to this day. Instead However, the strikes or bandhs by both students and teachers he continued to speak of the refined made it impossible to commute on a regular basis. So I ladies he saw on that tour that wore became a freelance researcher interviewing my way across gloves, and ate with silver utensils.

24 25 The Weather life. This town of just a little more than 100,000 residents exposed me WEI LING Strange to me was how everybody to another world. Picnics at the lakes talked about the weather all the time, during spring, miles of street art fairs and how cold the winters could get. in summer, sipping piping hot cider CHANUniversity of Fulbright Affiliation: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor It seemed that even the Michiganders with donuts at orchard mills in autumn Year of programme: 2002 to 2003 could not get used to the cold. Rumour time. I was in awe of the vibrant “I miss Ann Arbor; but not the cold.” was spreading that the coming winter arts scene entertaining the small would be harsh, as the previous year’s population, with bands that sang of was mild. True enough, by the first the Blues, weekly music concerts, and week of November it started to snow. a culture that supported artisans with The sub-zero winter lasted till early amazing creativity and flair. This town rior to my Fulbright stint, I had visited the U.S. a couple April. When the temperature dipped to was also home to the Wolverines and of times as a visitor. But the privilege of the Fulbright P its low of minus 29oC, I told myself the largest college-owned stadium in scholarship allowed me to holistically experience the U.S. as that if I could get through this winter, the U.S. I often wondered how a town a resident – for two years. I could weather anything. as small as this could support such a vibrant cultural scene. I had never previously lived outside of Singapore before The Singapore Accent this, and I greeted the prospect of this overseas stint with a The Life-Changing Moment sense of trepidation, yet excitement for what was to come. I hadn’t really thought Singaporeans All my friends who had previously lived overseas assured me spoke with such a strong accent, and My stay in the U.S. became even more that the experience would be ‘life-changing’. So with a brave only realised it one day when a group meaningful when I got to share my front, I embarked on my adventure to Michigan. of Asian students speaking in a familiar Ann Arbor lifestyle with my then- accent caught my attention. ‘Do I really boyfriend (now husband), each time The Shopping Experience sound like that?’ I wondered. It was a he came over for a visit. Being a tour

rather embarrassing revelation, and I guide to him allowed me to reflect on When I first arrived, my landlady drove me around the little vowed to articulate in proper English my enriching experience there. He university town of Ann Arbor and introduced me to what from then. proposed to me on his third visit. would become very familiar to me. I must confess I was a little disappointed that this place was quite unlike the big The Rich Culture Indeed, Ann Arbor will always have a U.S. cities I was familiar with. I was surprised to learn that special place in my heart. there was only one shopping centre, and quietly wondered As I slowly adjusted to life in Ann to myself “how will I while away my weekends?”. I even Arbor, I began to appreciate the quiet asked a classmate where locals bought their clothes from, and simplicity of a lifestyle I never and she gave me a quizzical look. knew – being a city-dweller all my

26 27 several cartons of official histories as resources for my course. ERNEST C. T. I also recall giving a talk at Hope CHEW College, Michigan, on “Teaching War University of Fulbright Affiliation: Harvard University; and and Preaching Peace”, arranged by a former NUS colleague, Dr. Keith Year of programme: 1988 “I collect old picture postcards, mainly of Southeast Asia.” Taylor. There were both pacifists and “just-war” advocates among the faculty and students in the audience. uring Fall-Winter 1988, I was awarded a Fulbright DVisiting Fellowship to prepare a course on American All in all, the Fulbright award provided military history. While I was formally affiliated to Harvard marvellous opportunities to prepare and then Stanford’s Hoover Institution, I also visited materials for an academic course, to several other universities and colleges, and met specialists in meet eminent scholars, and to engage military, naval and air-force history. in fruitful dialogue with them and with their students. Through the good offices of Professor John Hattendorf of the Naval War College at Newport, Rhode Island, I visited When I offered “The American Way and met Professor Paul Kennedy, a naval of War, 1775-1975” to my History historian whose widely acclaimed book on The Rise and Fall students in Singapore, it provided of the Great Powers had recently been published. a relevant back-drop for them to understand the ending of the Cold I also met one of the leading American military historians, War, and the Gulf War of 1991. Like Professor Russell Weigley of Temple University, me, they also became beneficiaries of Philadelphia. He had written a book on The American Way the Fulbright Program. of War, whose title I later borrowed for the course which I offered on my return to Singapore.

In Washington, D.C., Professor Tommy Koh, then- Singapore’s Ambassador to the U.S., facilitated a visit with Dr. Richard Kohn, the Chief Air Force historian at Bolling Air Force base. Dr. Kohn ensured that I received

28 29 YEAN JOO CHONGAUGUSTINE CHONG JIN University of Fulbright Affiliation: University of California, Berkeley CHUA University of Fulbright Affiliation: Harvard University Year of programme: 1968 Year of programme: 1997

he Fulbright Program enabled me to land in the n international PR assignment which started off TAmerican continent for the first time in my life. Acasually with a kind recommendation by a contact made at an MIT seminar in Boston. Exposure to passionate At Berkeley, I did research work in the famous Lawrence advocates of community outreach in developing countries Radiation Laboratory, studying the properties and measuring the nuclear spin of the isotope of tin, Sn123, whose influence and advice led to a project in Yunnan, which has a half-life of 40 minutes. China. For me, these two contrasting examples (one pertaining to enterprise and personal gain and the other I enjoyed the International atmosphere of the community related more to helping others) sum up the real impact my of the University of California at Berkeley interacting with brief but meaningful Fulbright experience (based in Boston, people from many different countries. Harvard University) has had on me – even years after the

stint. The city of San Francisco, just across the bay, was near enough to be like living in that city and yet not being caught in the midst of the hustle and bustle of that busy The balance between the drive for one’s career (a very commercial hub. Singaporean trait) and the same kind of drive directed more at non-profit work (an evolving but still a minority quality Driving a car along the beautiful California coast was an among Singaporeans) is the most enduring gift I’ve received unforgettable experience. from my Fulbright experience. Looking back at the path

I enjoyed visiting some of the resorts and climbing some of my career has taken since this experience, I cannot but be the mountains in the Sierra Nevada. thankful for how the way I think about success has changed. For example, I have learnt to search for significance – even Towards the end of the programme, I went to New York to way before I have had my quota of achievements often attend an International Conference on Atomic Physics. deemed necessary before one starts “doing good”. At the same time, I have learnt not to embark on community work

30 31 based purely on good intentions – a like Ezra Vogel, Orville Schell and pitfall we sometimes fall into, thinking Lucien Pye who were as insightful as that kindness and all things nice are all they were engaging and even indulgent. PETER one needs to be of help. Then there was the chance to approach IGNATIUS leading newsmakers in fields like DE COSTA University of Fulbright Affiliation: Harvard University Post-Fulbright, I’ve been more business, arts and sports in different Year of programme: 2001 to 2002 convinced than ever that even in US cities whose open door policy (as “I enjoy museums which create narratives that are at once both strange voluntary work, credentials don’t hurt long as I could ask good questions, and familiar.” – both for the real skills underlying whoever I was representing) revived them and, no less importantly, for my interest in good, old journalism. the branding behind them. This keen n the Fall of 2001, I found myself starting on a Master awareness, I feel, has helped me stay Iof Education at Harvard. Having spent four and a half motivated to build on the tools of years in a Singapore school, two of which working part corporate success which I may feel time on my Masters in Applied Linguistics, I embraced less inclined to work on if there isn’t this sabbatical afforded by the Fulbright stint with deep the possibility of some significance, appreciation. My nine months there turned out to be an eye opening experience as I came into contact with however modest, in community peers from Buenos Aires to the Bronx, Jamaica to Japan. outreach. In my subsequent trips to Perhaps more fascinating were the education contexts they places like Chengdu, Yunnan, Ho Chi worked in: I met people who worked with the incarcerated, Minh and Hanoi for projects, I have and others who helped immigrant workers obtain their often brought with me my fondest General Educational Development (GED) while attending memories of my Fulbright experience, night school. Through them I became more aware of including the many associated with the inequalities in society, and consequently the need my supervisor Dr. John Thomas to transform lives and bring about greater social justice whose blessedly fine combination of through education. One way to do this was by working intelligence and warmth was exactly within and through the academy. Two years after returning what I was looking for. to Singapore, I found myself back in America, but this time in the Mid West, where I am currently working towards a This central point aside, I am of course PhD that enables me to marry my two passions – linguistics also grateful for many other things and education. I would never have dared making such a bold move had it not been for my Boston sojourn. For that, my Fulbright experience gave me. For I will always be grateful as it has also enabled me to re-think instance, I will treasure the opportunity the value and power of education, and to see the world to interview leading China scholars through a different lens.

32 33 of government like Congress and the CALVIN White House, I hardly had a single dull moment. Political debates within the Beltway and U.S. international EU relations were easy distractions. It University of Fulbright Affiliation: Johns Hopkins University Year of programme: 1985 to 1986 was a challenge, albeit enjoyable, to “Whenever my schedule permits, I will work to further reduce my remind myself that I was student golf handicap. Always value those diving experiences in the former largely because my American course Indonesian islands of Ligitan and Sipadan, as well as the elephant mates had been relentless in helping trekking in the Chiang Rai jungles.” me to understand the intricacies of the domestic political dynamics. These informal but valuable tutorials left an indelible impression on me, and I often fter about five years in the service, I was awarded draw on them in the course of my Athe Fulbright Scholarship to read a Master in work years later. I also recall fondly the International Public Policy course in the School of heated but friendly exchanges between Advanced International Studies, Johns Hopkins University my Japanese and American colleagues (SAIS). It was both a memorable and enriching stint for I on Japan’s voluntary export restraint was able to interact, learn and share our experiences with policy to the United States. We still a diverse group of well honed and dynamic professionals reminisce about this almost 20-year old from various countries. The intensity of the coursework had topic whenever we meet in different been reinforced with the robust and vigorous exchanges of parts of the world. knowledge and experiences among the participants. I was fortunate that the Fulbright Scholarship had offered me this My Fulbright experience is a special unique holistic experience of learning at SAIS and allowed treasure. It was the very first of the me to network with an international group of top notch other U.S.-sponsored programmes professionals. that I was to go through in subsequent years. My days in SAIS broadened my As a mid-career student and professional, I was amazed global perspectives, and accorded an at the remarkable and diverse scope that Washington invaluable opportunity for me to be D.C. offered. From the well established institutes like the friends with my colleagues from the Brookings Institution, Smithsonian complexes, to agencies four continents.

34 35 Bundesbank’s (Germany’s Central I meet foreigners and my regional Bank) monetary policy very closely customers, I try to understand their HAROLD MUN HONG and my new German friends were point of view instead of dictating astounded that an Asian from the my world view or my needs to them. FOCK Far East actually knew more about They often become fast friends and University of Fulbright Affiliation: Bentley College Year of programme: 1999 to 2001 their respected central bank chief, Dr surprise me with a contract or lend “I co-write a blog on globalisation with Minister at Hans Tietmeyer than them. That very me a hand in my darkest hours. beyondsg.typepad.com” moment epitomised what Fulbright is Upon introspection, I should not be all about. It was not about writing the surprised at all – it is what Fulbright is perfect business plan in my B-school really about. entrepreneurship class. It was not The Courage to Include all about learning new E-commerce processes and business strategies. It is uring my last year in Boston, IIE (International about people who respect other people. DInstitute for Education) organised a symposium It is about listening not just learning. in Colorado for all Fulbright Fellows based in the United It is about the courage to speak out States. It was the first time I would meet Fulbright Fellows for your fellow man. It is about being from all over the world. I can still recall the incident with kind to strangers and yet firm among complete clarity as it defines my Fulbright experience. At your friends. It is about reaching out the welcome dinner, I sat at a table comprising mainly not because it is profitable or politically Europeans. They started speaking in German and were correct, but it is the right thing to do. excited to trade stories among themselves. I was the only Asian at the table and I tried to break in to the group My Fulbright experience would have politely but they smiled and moved on with their own been incomplete had this brave lady conversations. I will never forget that moment. A German not spoken up and invited me to join lady at the table spoke firmly and admonished her German in. Today, I am still trying to live by her friends, “Hey, all of you are so rude, you know Harold is example. While running my company, from Singapore and he does not speak German. All of you I try to listen to my quieter colleagues can speak English. Can we all speak English so that we can and encourage them to speak up. communicate?” My German friends quickly apologised and They often surprise me with ideas and we started talking. As a former currency trader, I followed solution I cannot even imagine. When

36 37 never content with the status quo. They had clear political convictions and BURHAN had different ideas to make America a better place. I found them deeply GAFOOR patriotic. I was also impressed with University of Fulbright Affiliation: Harvard University Year of programme: 1996 to 1997 their sense of civic duty because they “I remain a poor golfer.” were very active in volunteer activities. I still keep in touch with several of my classmates. Finally, as in any good university, we had excellent teaching aking a year off from work to go back to school is an faculty. A memorable experience was Tenergising experience. It was all the more energising meeting John Kenneth Galbraith, for me at the Kennedy School, which brings together the iconic economist and later a Americans and foreigners from very diverse backgrounds. diplomat, who apparently once said I found this mixing of ideas and experiences educational. “In economics, the majority is always I remember a classmate who gave this advice: “don’t let wrong”. I suppose his rule may also your studies get in the way of your education”. He was not apply to other fields of study. wrong because I learned much from discussing and debating issues with my classmates, mostly outside the classroom. A memorable experience was my economics study group meetings, which always started with a pot of chicken curry and rice made by the wife of one of my classmates from India. This was one study group I never missed. The greatest value of the Fulbright experience is that it helps one to better understand America and Americans. I had as a classmate a young ex-Senator from Florida who much later played a decisive role when the votes were carefully recounted in the U.S. Presidential elections of 2000. Another classmate was fire-chief of a state and yet another was an actor from Los Angeles. They came from different backgrounds but they shared a questioning spirit that was

38 39 of everyday life engendered by a fast- Lincoln and police perceptions of and paced, highly industrialised, decidedly responsiveness to these communities capitalistic and vastly urban society in terms of dealing with domestic – Singapore. violence. My visit to the Rape and GANAPATHY Spousal Abuse Centre (RSAC) in NARAYANAN My research on ‘Victims’ Experiences Lincoln confirmed many of my of Policing in Situations of Domestic anecdotal observations and through University of Fulbright Affiliation:University of Nebraska, Lincoln Violence’ took off very well, both informal dialogue sessions with Year of programme: 2003 conceptually and empirically from the volunteers of that centre I managed to very outset. I managed to gain access gather some valuable data. to the data on inter-personal crimes kept by the Lincoln Police Department Though the Fulbright research study he 2003 Fulbright Foreign Researcher Grant was (LPD) and had the opportunity to specifically aimed to draw out a cross- awarded for a period of three months from September T interview Sgt Jeff Gade who was the cultural, comparative examination to December 2003. For both intrinsic and instrumental officer in charge of the Family Crimes of the various aspects of police reasons, I chose to be based at the Department of Criminal Unit at LPD. He was very helpful and response to situations of domestic Justice, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, and had the a naturally enthusiastic person, and violence using Nebraska (Lincoln) and opportunity to work with Professor Chris Eskridge who was receptive to the research I was Singapore as the focus of research, I is also the Executive Director of the prestigious and undertaking. We exchanged notes wasted no time to acquaint myself with influential American Society of Criminology. – I gave him copies of my academic other aspects, processes, structures articles on domestic violence – and and institutions of the criminal justice The Fulbright stint was simply an amazing one and it was truly had a productive time discussing system. In this pursuit, I visited the such an enriching experience, academically, socially as well the progress and shortcomings with Nebraska State Penitentiary, Juvenile as culturally, that I have now developed, and have begun regard to the history of policing Detention Centre of Lancaster County, to practise, quite consciously, a renewed and refreshing domestic violence. To speak to an County Jail, CASA and the Juvenile perspective towards not only the academia but also towards officer who had accumulated more and Summary Courts in Lincoln. My the social and communitarian aspects of life. than 30 years of experience as a visits to these places were very warmly police officer was simply amazing welcomed and representatives of the As a sociologist, I am fascinated with the way of life in and an eye-opener. Through him, I various institutions always took their Lincoln and am motivated to believe that one’s performance also had the opportunity to do some time to explain their in-house facilities in the academia and one’s passion for life are indeed ride-alongs with the police and that and programs, and more importantly, complementary and mutually reinforcing, and how provided me with an insight of how the rationale and ideology behind these together they provide for a more holistic and empathic local policing was spatially and at processes. I found these visits truly appreciation of (modern) human living. Spending three times culturally located with respect refreshing and intellectually stimulating, months in Lincoln, a quiet, semi-urban, university town to local sensitivities and demands for and I believe I have made life-long where personalised relationships prevail and are emphasised police work. It also gave me a nice contacts with these practitioners has been most cathartic, and to an extent therapeutic, for overview of the social positionalities of the justice system and its related someone who has been socialised into meeting the demands of the various ethnic communities in institutions.

40 41 Meanwhile back in the University, and the trip was covered by CIES Professor Eskridge had arranged for under the Occasional Lecturer two presentations to take place. The Program (OLP) Award. I am very S/O first one was organised at the Omaha grateful to CIES for their assistance. R. KALYANAM Campus, University of Nebraska, It was simply fantastic to meet GANESH and I addressed the faculty staff in and exchange views with so many University of Fulbright Affiliation: Emerson College the Department of Criminal Justice. criminologists from all around the Year of programme: 1996 to 1997 The title of my presentation was world. It was particularly exciting to “Love the arts and the outdoors. Will grab any opportunity to help the “Rethinking the Problem of Policing talk to renowned criminologists whose youth realise their passion and live life to the fullest.” Marital Violence: A Singapore work I have read as a student and now Perspective”. It was well-attended, as a junior academic. Of course, my he Fulbright Scholarship offered me an opportunity to and stimulated a lively discussion host being the Director of the ASC pursue a master’s degree in an area that was relatively afterwards. The meeting with the wasted no time to take me under his T new in Singapore – Arts Management. It was also my first faculty staff also presented an wing and always had me introduced to trip to the United States. opportunity to develop collaborative all of his friends and colleagues as a research with Professor Robin Oggle, “Fulbright Scholar” from Singapore. I The whole experience was a cultural eye opener! The U.S. a renowned criminologist working in have made some good contacts and am was more wonderful than I had imagined! But I also realised the area of feminist criminology. The exploring the possibilities and potential that it had its inherent flaws. My interaction with several other presentation was held at the of some kind of collaborative research international students and U.S. students helped me realise, Students’ Union at Lincoln Campus or institutional links. just how diverse views can be, on issues that often appear and it was meant to address the entire to be black or white. While I learnt a lot about the U.S., University. Many staff and students, Overall, the Fulbright experience ironically I also learnt a lot about being Singaporean. At even some practitioners from the local was an amazing and unforgettable the risk of being corny, I felt more Singaporean pride and police department attended the talk one. It has certainly enriched me identity there than when I was in Singapore. I started to see on “Organized Crime in Singapore”. academically, socially and culturally. I Singapore in a new light. It generated some intriguing questions am very grateful to my host, Professor and comments from the audience Chris Eskridge, and to CIES staff The Fulbright offered me an opportunity to broaden my who have been so acquainted with in Washington, especially Ms. Susan mind, my experiences, my network of friends and potential the popular and populist images of McPeek, who were always there to international partners and most of all my deep calling to Singapore as one which has a low- assist and guide me whenever I needed reach out to others and provide for the less privileged, crime rate, and is highly disciplined and them. opportunities to grow and find passion in what they do regulated. and do them well. The arts management programme, was well designed and allowed me to see the arts and media as I was also very fortunate to be in tools and platforms for active community engagement and the U.S. at a time when the annual development. American Society of Criminology (ASC) Meeting was being held. That A most enriching period of my life, and for this I sincerely year it was held in Denver, Colorado thank the Fulbright Program.

42 43 university that I had gleaned from the Fulbright certainly came in handy. ROBBIE B. H. Thus there were quite a number of GOH concrete and beneficial outcomes University of Fulbright Affiliation: University of Washington from my Fulbright, but also a number Year of programme: 1998 of fond memories and experiences under the category of “personal development”: seeing the absolute magnificence of the Olympic Peninsula and the incredible view eceiving a Fulbright allowed me to spend three months north from Port Angeles; driving Rin 1998 at the University of Washington’s English through Bainbridge Island, about Department. I had earlier met a Victorian scholar, Lauren which I had heard so much from Goodlad (who was then at UW, and is now at the University architectural magazines and film of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign), at a conference; the references (and taking the ferry back Fulbright allowed me to spend valuable time with scholars to Seattle); hosting old friends from like Lauren, sharing my work and learning more about my Chicago PhD days who flew out to theirs. Lauren contributed an excellent chapter to a book Seattle to see us. The most memorable I co-edited, Postcolonial Literatures and Cultures. I also had experience, however, was seeing my a chance to meet other interesting UW colleagues like firstborn son Gavin take his first steps Kathleen Blake, Srinivas Aravamudan, Ranjana Khanna, and in my Seattle apartment when my others. The Chair of the department then was Shawn Wong, family came to visit. the well-known Asian-American writer, and I wasn’t familiar with his work before I went to UW, but over the course Like most academics I’ve had to travel of the Fulbright Fellowship I got to know him better. a fair bit, including spending protracted Subsequently, I invited him to Singapore to give a plenary periods of time in certain locales, but paper at a conference that I was organising, and we had that Fulbright Fellowship at UW (as the opportunity to pick up where we’d left off at Seattle. long ago as it was) stands out in my The result was the book Asian Diasporas: Cultures, Identities, memory. It came early enough in my Representations (2004), which we co-edited. I later had a career, and in my personal life, to make chance to re-visit Seattle and UW for a conference, and a significant impact and become etched as Sub-Dean representing my University’s Faculty of Arts indelibly in my memory. and Social Sciences for discussions on Student Exchange Programmes, and the earlier familiarity with the city and

44 45 manuscripts and rare books. When Our research at the above institutions the station was closed down in 1843, provided us with greater knowledge its library collections were shifted and understanding of their BTE RAHMAT to its headquarters in Boston, and organisation and professionalism. HADIJAH were subsequently transferred to the During our stay, we established University of Fulbright Affiliation: University of California, Berkeley; Houghton Library, Harvard University excellent contact and friendships with Harvard University; and Library of Congress, Washington D.C. in 1942. These two significant but several Americans who provided us Year of programme: 2002 to 2003 unexplored collections of Malay opportunities to learn and to enjoy “I love reading and writing – academic as well as creative works.” manuscripts and rare books, were first hand the experience of American the focus of my study as a Fulbright cultures and life. We are grateful for Visiting Scholar from November 2002 their kindness and hospitality. Besides to May 2003. the academic atmosphere, we also enjoyed the colourful and vibrant cities My Fulbright Journey – In Search for American I was assisted by my husband, Hajis of San Francisco, Washington D.C., Connection to the Malay World Salim, whose skills in classical Malay Boston and New York. and Jawi script were instrumental for uch has been written about British and European the study. We were attached to the On the whole, the Fulbright Program Mhistory in South East Asia (S.E.A). However, very Department of South and Southeast had provided my husband and I fruitful little is known about historical links between America Asian Studies, University California, and invaluable academic and social and S.E.A., particularly with the Malay World. Was there Berkeley, the Library of Congress, experiences. We reached our research American contact with the Malay World? I wanted to seek Washington D.C. and at Houghton destination to trace historical links answers to this question, specifically on American links to Library, Harvard University. The between Malay literature, Singapore early Malay literary development. The Fulbright Program primary materials consulted and and America in 19th century; but provided an excellent platform for me to embark on an gathered from these libraries were more significantly, we have gained academic journey in search for American connections to the indeed rich and stimulating, including greater understanding and appreciation Malay world. invaluable information and documents of American history, philosophy, on the early history of Singapore. So its richness and varied lifestyles. This search, instead, exposed me to the first American far, I have written several papers and The journey has truly widened our scientific journey – the United States Exploring Expedition shared my experiences and preliminary intellectual and cultural horizons. of 1838-1842, led by Lt. Charles Wilkes (1798-1877). In research findings at local and We really treasure our enriching 1842, the expedition stopped over at Singapore and Wilkes international seminars. The research and wonderful Fulbright journey in purchased several old Malay manuscripts. His collection is still going on and more papers or search for greater understanding of of manuscripts was initially deposited at the Smithsonian publications will be produced based on our shared history and knowledge of Institute but in the 1860s was moved to the Library of the experiences and materials gathered humanity. Congress, Washington DC. The American Board of in U.S., in years to come. Commissioners for Foreign Mission (A.B.C.F.M) station in Singapore (1836-1843) also kept a collection of Malay

46 47 CHEE LICK

HOUniversity of Fulbright Affiliation: University of California, San Diego Year of programme: 1996 “Professionally I am a linguist; at heart I am an artist.”

48 49 was ‘Chinese’ and talked about little TONY T. N. else but Tiananmen. Almost every student that I knew from China who was studying in the U.S. at the time HUNG came out to demonstrate against their University of Fulbright Affiliation: University of California, San Diego Year of programme: 1989 own government. Whatever political “My main interests are still music and film, but since moving to Hong motives the cynics may like to attribute Kong in 1997 I’ve taken to walking in the countryside (a hobby it to it, it was a generous humanitarian would be foolish to pursue in the heat and humidity of Singapore!)” gesture for the U.S. government to offer these students asylum, and all my Chinese classmates at UCSD ended up staying on, and are now leading free y Fulbright visit was short (two to three months), and more fulfilling lives. Mand I was back in my own alma mater (UCSD) with people I already knew, so there were few experiences that I realise that my reflections on my could be called new or transforming. Besides, I lack the ‘Fulbright experience’ have very little poetic talent (which some others have in abundance) to to do with the programme itself. immortalise that period in verse. But still, it is in the spirit of Senator Fulbright’s ideals for the programme, However, for totally unexpected reasons, that particular which were (in his words) to “bring a period will always be indelibly marked in my memory, little more knowledge, a little more reason, because that was when the Tiananmen massacre took and a little more compassion into world place in Beijing (4 June 1989). The trauma it caused to affairs”. He would have been proud every civilised human being, and most of all to educators of his countrymen’s response to the (including myself) who had spent their entire lives working Tiananmen tragedy, and the lives with students, could not be told. Being in the U.S. at the that this compassionate response has time, with round-the-clock coverage in the media, I was changed. deeply moved by the public and private outpouring of compassion and sympathy for the students and workers who were killed, injured or arrested. The tragedy made the whole world one, and for a while everybody in the U.S.

50 51 Huntington and Bob Scalapino, attending a seminar in the Business MUTALIB School (whose students then included Winston Choo, former Chief of

HUSSINUniversity of Fulbright Affiliation:Harvard University Defence Force in the Singapore Armed Year of programme: 1992 Forces), seeing the demonstrations “I read (and find solace) in books about philosophy, religion, politics; by Harvard students on U.S. foreign these readings not only help me to better understand, if not appreciate, policy, and successfully coaxing ten the vicissitudes of life, but also the unending dramas, trials, triumphs, and frailties of peoples and countries, especially in these times of our international scholars to contribute lives.” chapters to my book. The dream that I entertained at the time was that perhaps one day my own children would excel academically, such that was fortunate to be given the opportunity to visit they could join the Harvard fraternity I about two dozen cities in the U.S. – meeting the elites, and benefit from its rich intellectual seeing the contrasting lifestyles of ordinary Americans, environment – and I thank God that experiencing home-stays, attending numerous academic this dream was finally realised, when sessions from Boston to Utah, and Florida to New Orleans. my daughter, Iza Riana Hussin, won Two memorable experiences, however, continue to linger the Public Service Commission Merit in my mind even until today. The first was a three-day stint Scholarship to study there. to better understand the workings of the American civic movement – where I chanced to meet Ralph Nader (Editor: Nader is an American attorney and political activist who ran for President of the United States in 1996, 2000 and 2004) and attended some boisterous meetings that pitted civil society NGOs and establishment authorities on the matter of consumer rights.

The second was the attachment at Harvard University for a few months – where I was exposed to the active intellectual culture of the campus, listening to gurus such as Samuel

52 53 PHILIP a writer from the Philippines, Rofel Brion, who both remain fast friends to this day. The evening began with insights into Elvis’s borrowings from black musicians, but ended in rather JEYARETNAM different oblivion of the soul. At University of Fulbright Affiliation:University of Iowa; and Harvard University Harvard, it was meeting , Year of programme: 1990 to 1991 who pulled me along for an Amnesty “My interests straddle law and literature, and I was lucky that my event and I witnessed his charisma at Fulbright experience encompassed both.” work undimmed by age or exile.

These few months in America were also the time when I broke the back I enjoyed two strongly contrasting experiences of America. of the first draft of Abraham’s Promise, and for that reason too will always be Iowa City in fall colours: bonding with established cherished by me. writers from across the globe over visits to hog farms and tractor plants, mixed in with occasional teaching of undergraduates eager to understand a new world emerging after the fall of the Berlin Wall.

Harvard Yard in winter: burrowing in the library to understand American constitutional law, lively discussions with my host Alan Dershowitz about civil liberties and American foreign policy, new year’s eve wandering through dozens of events in Boston with my wife, Cindy.

The standout memory from each half of my Fulbright tour? In Iowa it is dinner with Professor Peter Nazareth, a renowned expert on Elvis Presley, and the author of a fine novel about a young Indian political activist in Uganda before Idi Amin’s regime. was there too, and

54 55 internet to base their medical decisions. of the year, when I hosted a party This was quite a new idea for their at my house for all of my medical ROBERT K. faculty who otherwise previously had students and residents… it was those very few (and mostly outdated!) library students that truly made my year KAMEI resources available to them. special as I had learned so much from University of Fulbright Affiliation:Udayana University School of them. After returning from Indonesia, Medicine, Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia I was really delighted that my ideas I published a short article on some of Year of programme: 2000 to 2001 “I am a third generation Japanese-American, born in Los Angeles, were well accepted by my faculty these thoughts: “Why Dying Doesn’t California. However, I was educated and lived most of my adult life colleagues. A French diplomat in Seem to Matter”, a Teaching and in San Francisco. It was living in SF where I learned from my best Indonesia told me that he was very Learning Moment, in Academic Medicine, friend, a Singaporean restaurateur, to love hawker food.” surprised how well I did, considering Vol 78. No 6 June 2002. that the hospital I worked at typically tires of volunteer foreign doctors and It is hard to believe how well my quickly asks them to leave! Several Fulbright year in Asia helped to n 2000, our blended family decided to spend the year years after my Fulbright, I returned prepare me for my new job here in Iliving together in Indonesia. We had been splitting time to the medical school for a visit. One Singapore. Although I had no idea at between San Francisco and Bali and thought a sabbatical of the Deans excitedly took me to see the time that I would be working on year in Indonesia would be perfect timing for us because their new computer facility set up for the new Graduate Medical School in our youngest daughter was a newborn. A childhood friend their faculty and students. You can Singapore, my Fulbright was a tailor- of mine mentioned that I should apply for a Fulbright grant imagine how extraordinarily honoured made experience for much of what I’m because of my interest in education. I immediately applied I was when he then told me the room doing now. but found that almost all of the Fulbright posts were was developed from my inspiration! already closed, except for a handful of countries holding a few more positions open, including Indonesia! Our family had many wonderful experiences during the Fulbright year. I was extremely fortunate then to be awarded the Fulbright Returning at dusk to our hotel by and grateful for the opportunity that it provided me. Since elephants from the ancient ruins at part of my life was already in Indonesia, it was not hard to Borobudur near Yogyakarta counts as settle in there. But my Fulbright position gave me the open one our most memorable experiences, door to really accomplish things at the medical school that as well as being invited by the U.S. I would otherwise not have been able to achieve on my Ambassador to stay with him and his own. I worked with the faculty on several projects, including family at their residence in Jakarta. teaching them to use medical references found on the Probably the highlight was at the end

56 57 the Law School, Business School and from Harvard all constituted vastly MIT. I recall learning from Nadine contrasting experiences that left an ROSEMARY Gordimer, Deborah Tannen, Cokie indelible impression about the diversity Roberts, George Lakoff, Paulo Freire, and richness of American culture. Jeffrey Sacks and Noam Chomsky to KHOOUniversity of Fulbright Affiliation: Harvard University name a few. A significant event for Back in Singapore in January 1995, I Year of programme: 1994 Singaporeans at Harvard then was the resumed with enthusiasm my work “My professional interests are in everything to do with language and launch of Francis Seow’s controversial of starting the University Women’s human communication. My passion is to work towards a better world book To Catch a Tartar at the Law Association, which would encourage for seniors and women. For recreation, I like travelling, window School, which some Singaporean graduate women in Singapore to take shopping and chatting with friends.” students were ambivalent about on a more active interest in issues attending. Vivid also in my recall affecting society, and to engage in are the talk I gave on ‘A Linguistic lifelong learning. I also met up with Perspective of Culture in Singapore’ Tracy Thiele of the American Embassy and my participation in the 12-session for discussions on our aspirations Bright Memories of a Full Experience Fall seminar ‘Feminist Perspectives in of having a Fulbright Association in Research: Inter-disciplinary Practice Singapore, and practical steps to take. ed and gold autumn colours, brightly-lit Christmas in the Study of Gender’ organised by trees through window panes, gently falling snow – R the Graduate Consortium in Women’s Now in 2007, both associations are these pretty as a postcard scenes are what my mind conjures Studies at Radcliffe College. celebrating their tenth anniversary. up of the New England I experienced. Street performers, Recently, during the Chinese New Year theatres, museums, bookshops, the Coop, hot coffee outside At El Paso where I was invited season, I received a surprise call from Au Bon Pain, and the homey burgers of Mrs. Bartleys to give a lecture on the linguistic my faculty associate at HGSE, Prof stand out in my memory of Harvard Square, Cambridge. manifestations of culture at the Courtney Cazden, here in Singapore on Most striking of all must be historic Harvard Yard with its University of Texas (UTEP), I saw a research attachment at the National imposing statue of John Harvard, which seems to breathe a different face of American higher Institute of Education. As we renewed intellectual vigour into the minds of those that daily traverse education as UTEP’s students were our ties over lunch, the bonds of its terrain. predominantly Mexican-American. friendship with my American friends despite the march of time struck me as My Fulbright experience enabled me to further my research Celebrating Halloween in Salem, being the best thing that has come out in educational linguistics at the Harvard University Graduate enjoying Thanksgiving dinner in of my Fulbright attachment. School of Education (HGSE) as well as soak in American Kathleen Cloud’s home and singing culture and know American tertiary education first-hand. along with African Americans at This I did through discussions and through the numerous their Sunday worship service in the lectures and brown bag lunches I attended at Radcliffe public square one train stop away College, the Bunting Institute, JFK School of Government,

58 59 into a list of schools determined by the financial support which I appreciated Public Service Commission as credible together with the book allowance and ANNIE schools for pursuing a PhD program. travel allowance.

It was an interesting period of my What was amazing was that scholars KOHUniversity of Fulbright Affiliation: New York University life. I actually went to University of were always given first-run tickets for Year of programme: 1983 to 1987 California Los Angeles (UCLA) for off-Broadway shows and concerts “My interests are in reading, interviewing folks for articles watching the first academic quarter and found at Carnegie Hall and other great movies and having great conversations.” that while it was a great school, it performances. I was busy juggling did not suit my lifestyle. I didn’t classes on finance and attending a slew know how to drive a car and that of great concerts and performances was very inconvenient for someone courtesy of being a Fulbrighter. am grateful for the Fulbright scholarship which was studying in California. I was staying I awarded to me to pursue a PhD in International Finance right next to the Anderson school at What was even more amazing was at New York University. For four and a half years after Landfair, surrounded by sororities and that half a year into my programme, graduating from the Singapore University with majors in fraternities….not quite the life I had I received a phone call from the Economics and Sociology, I worked as a foreign exchange anticipated for myself for the next four Institute of IIE folks administering trader in DBS bank. It was a wonderful first job, but I knew years. the Fulbright scholarship informing I wanted to return to academia one day. me that they lined us first year foreign So I called up the Institute of students up with a mentor, just for a That ‘one day’ took place in late 1981, when I was International Education (IIE) folks year to ensure that we were settling approached by Professor Lee Soo Ann, then-dean of in Washington and asked if I would down in school and in the U.S. nicely. NUS business school, and told that there was a senior be allowed to transfer my credits to tutor scheme available with a Fulbright scholarship to New York University, or NYU for On hind sight, I kick myself for not pursue PhD studies. As usual, there was a bond attached short (I was given a place there which getting in touch with my mentor and NUS required I serve as a tutor for two years before I originally rejected). Living in New more…I only met her once when she deciding if academic life is something I wanted to pursue. York City, having a car was considered actually arranged for me to witness a I took to teaching like fish to water and was quite happy a liability. Within a week, after the Federal Reserve Bank of NY meeting. being the lowest member of the food chain in the business December quarter, I was on my way I recalled clearly that the chairman school then, tutoring business and accountancy students in east. presiding at the meeting then was Paul Monetary Economics and Public Finance course. Volcker and my mentor introduced The four years at NYU and being me to him (Editor’s note: Paul Adoph I commenced my application to a slew of U.S. schools as a Fulbright scholar opened up Volcker is probably best known as former the scholarship would only be awarded if I managed to get opportunities. It was not just the Chairman of the U.S. Federal Reserve,

60 61 serving from August 1979 to August 1987 under Presidents Carter and Reagan). I was allowed to sit by the side of the TAI ANN long table as an observer. It was in the early 80s, 1983 to be precise, and the KOHUniversity of Fulbright Affiliation: discussion then was on whether some Year of programme: 1987 tightening of the market was needed to “Previously with the Department of English Language and Literature put a curb on inflation. It was a magical at the National University of Singapore, I joined the National moment and it also brought to mind Institute of Education of Nanyang Technological University in 1994 the importance of having astute policy as its Dean of the School of Arts, then became the NIE Dean makers. (Academic) and subsequently, NTU’s first Dean of Students from 2003-2006. Now back in academe, I expect to complete at the end My mentor asked if I was settling of this year an “Annotated Bibliography of Imaginative Literature in in nicely and whether I needed any Malaya/Malaysia, Brunei and Singapore” with author biographies and titles dating back to the 19th Century and up to the present help. I told her everything was hunky (2007). Interrupted by other projects and administrative duties, it had dory and being Singaporean, I had no its origins all those years ago during my tenure as a Fulbright Fellow problem getting adjusted to the Big when I toiled, reading till late at night in the dank, ghostly basement Apple. So she reckoned I did not need of Olin Library, Cornell University, which housed the Wason-Echols her help and left me alone to continue collection of rare Asian and Southeast Asian literary texts.” my happy ways.

Guess what, my mentor was Madeleine Albright, former ambassador to the n 1996, as the then-Dean of the new School of Arts at UN and former Secretary of State. Ithe National Institute of Education (NIE) at Nanyang Technological University seeking to broaden the academic So you see, I am not so bright for a horizons of BA students and research opportunities of staff, Fulbrighter! I found welcome assistance from the then-Director of USIS (the U.S. Information Service) Dr. Michael Anderson, at the U.S. Embassy and his Cultural Affairs staff. NIE teaching staff such as Dr. Dudley DeSouza and Dr. Max LeBlond went to the US under the Fulbright and other exchange programmes, while we also hosted in succession, two Visiting Fulbright professors from the U.S., one of them being

62 63 the former Malaysian poet and now I include my full speech (reproduced U.S. citizen and academic, Professor in the section “Pages from the Past” Shirley Geok-lin Lim. American ) for two reasons. One, is that it LILY writers also visited and gave talks, provides an account of my experience sometimes through video-conference as a Fulbrighter at Cornell University KONGUniversity of Fulbright Affiliation: University of California, Berkeley links. Because of such cultural and in 1987. The other, perhaps more Year of programme: 1998 educational collaboration, and being importantly, is my quite independent “I am a social and cultural geographer, with wide research interests myself also a former Fulbrighter, I was proposal made in the speech that in the study of issues ranging from religion to cultural policy and approached by Dr. Anderson, to be the Singapore form its own chapter of the creative economies, nature and environment, and national and cultural master of ceremonies and deliver the Fulbright Association. This idea was identity.” welcome address at the celebration of sparked by the U.S-based Fulbright the 50th Anniversary of the Fulbright Association having recently sent me, Association Program (1946-1996) held never having ever contacted me before, inding accommodation in Berkeley is difficult in on December 7, 1996, at the Singapore a membership form and information Fthe best of times. Finding short-term affordable Art Museum. The Keynote Speaker leaflets. I believe this idea was taken accommodation is even more difficult. I therefore made was visiting Ambassador Julia Chang forward subsequently by Professor arrangements to stay with a friend and her family in Bloch, President of the U.S.-Japan Tommy Koh, and our own Fulbright San Francisco and commuted to Berkeley. I watched a Foundation in New York City and, as Association was formed on July 31, transnational family strengthen its roots and build a home U.S. Ambassador to Nepal, the first 1998. Victor Savage was the founding – Lilian, a Chinese Singaporean, trained lawyer-turned- Asian American Ambassador. Other President with myself as founding Vice- banker; Scott an American firefighter training to be a notable former Fulbrighters present President. Then-Minister for Education, paramedic and working shifts, and little Audrey, a product were the then-U.S. Ambassador to Rear-Admiral Teo Chee Hean, himself of a transnational marriage, growing up with a Cantonese- Singapore, Timothy A. Chorba; and a Fulbrighter, was Guest-of-Honour at speaking nanny, a Spanish-speaking weekly house help, Singapore’s Ambassador-at-Large, the inauguration of the Association. and a pariah dog, Max. It felt right, as I was writing about Professor Tommy Koh, who both also Chinese migration at that time. My best memories are made brief remarks before Ambassador Bloch’s keynote address. The evening’s that of coffee with Scott on a sidewalk of San Francisco celebration concluded with the opening discussing life and philosophy, Lilian’s comment about my of an Arthur Tress photo exhibition rolling out of bed and getting immediately to writing in and a reception at the Glass Hall of my pyjamas, and Audrey’s girlish voice piping up from her Singapore Art Museum. potty, shouting “Aunty Lily, I’m done!” Of course, it was good visiting the university too!

64 65 DEVADAS by train. I visited the pioneer New tussle noisily under the patronage of a England towns (Plymouth, Gloucestor, gifted Constitution. Nantucket), the battlefields of the Revolution (Concord, Lexington, Just as I felt the need to come to Bunker Hill) and the Civil War (the America, I was committed to bring KRISHNADAS Shenandoah, Virginia) , the homes my world to it. We celebrated all of University of Fulbright Affiliation: of the founding fathers – both grand Singapore’s major religious and cultural Year of programme: 2003 to 2005 (Monticello) and humble (the Adams’), events with friends, showed picture the commercial giant and proverbial books and enthusiastically circulated melting pot that is Manhattan, the links to websites on Singapore. throbbing administrative heart that is The Fulbright experience is not an ‘Welcome to the United States”, the immigration officer the Capitol, ran the divide between the education in academics but in life. declared at Logan International airport. Past the terminal eloquent, up to date North East to the The academic institutions we attend doors lay two years of study and play in Boston courtesy earthy deep South (Louisiana). are but vehicles of convenience, of the Fulbright Scholarship. I had been inspired to try and sometimes serendipity, leading for the Fulbright on my first visit to the United States as a I came to know people as friends that us to opportunities to gain the only participant in the International Visitors Programme (IVP). I could never have planned to meet. truly worthwhile knowledge – that During the one month of the IVP, I crossed the continent They took me into their homes and of ourselves and our fellows. The from East to West (and back again) and gained a sense their lives and asked for nothing in Fulbright experience for me has not of the vastness and variety which define the tapestry of return. I saw in their eyes a yearning to ended. It lives on in the many friends American geography and demography. The brief four weeks be understood and to understand and I have made and kept. Through them, were sufficient to infect me with that particular American in their hearts, a compulsion to help I have come to know a nation which ‘can-do’ spirit. Twelve months later, I had the scholarship everyone and anyone see the better possesses and has achieved great and was busy packing family and books for the East coast. rather than the worse of the grand ambitions. In these troubled times American experiment. This experiment I hope they keep alight the flame On reflection, I had already been welcomed to the United is paradoxical. It is more than the of their inspiration with the oil of States when I gained acceptance to the Fulbright Program. politics of democracy but is fully humility by recalling the old sailors’ The Program captures the essence of enlightened America. occupied by it, it transcends yet is also lament, ‘Oh Lord, protect me, my boat An essence which understands the value of education and defined by its geography, it loves its is so small and thy sea so wide’. of diversity and which places its faith in the multiplier effect tradition but thrives on its evolution, it of goodwill. looks for certainty but finds inspiration in an eternal questioning of purpose I was determined to spend the two years gaining a better and it finds equal strength in the understanding of the country and people. I traveled singularity of patriotism and the 15,000 miles by car and a further 3,000 by plane and 2,000 diversity of people and views which

66 67 AGNES S. L. extremes in America modulated in Hong Kong negligible on the Equator

but always petals half-open LAM I thrive University of Fulbright Affiliation: University of Pittsburgh on the spectrum Year of programme: 1986 of colours smells noises “I do research on language education in China, Asian poetry in temperatures humidities English and write poetry.” degrees of pollution in the pervading air

he Fulbright visit resulted in a joint research paper ready to be Tpublished with my host and several poems I wrote watered by droplets during my visit were later published in my first collection of pressed between a child’s poems entitled Woman to Woman and Other Poems. small fingers a gift for Father Petals without roots in three countries I grow I can grow if but a little with but the scent each time for a season I transplant even a moment translucent petals breathing in the air dancing in a raindrop spectrum pollen-dusted allergic to spring mere petals dripping with sodas of scent and light in the heat of summer dissipated and mangled a chlorine bath later in an afternoon storm smelling burnt and crackling as the traffic on autumn trees halts on the red light in the clear winter and pedestrians icicles break and bite cross in their umbrellas Agnes Lam, 28 June 1986, LRDC

68 69 ASAD-UL IQBAL What followed was a lesson in political economy that was intended to leave me in no doubt that the plight of chickens, workers, proletarian chicken farmers and proletarians generally in the age of advanced capitalism and consumerism LATIFUniversity of Fulbright Affiliation: Harvard University could be traced to the doors of KFC. Year of programme: 2006 “When asked whether I cook, my honest reply is: ‘I can cook, Eating there meant being on the wrong but can you eat?’” side of history.

I used to be a student at Presidency College, Kolkata, and Cambridge spent three months in 2006 as a Fulbright Visiting University, and had fancied myself I Scholar at Harvard University’s Weatherhead Center for as being on the right side of history. International Affairs. At the Center, I was struck by the (We usually are.) But after receiving degree of collegiate camaraderie amongst members from a my lesson in the political economy of variety of backgrounds, nationalities and ideologies. If the prolonging unconscionably the life of Center has any ideology, it is to let all ideologies have full late capitalism by eating KFC chicken, play. I barely managed to flee the radical’s presence while keeping my lefty The Harvard/Cambridge/Boston area is another matter, pretensions alive. however. I knew that I had stepped into the People’s Republic of Massachusetts two weeks after landing there I did not come across a KFC in my when I began to miss Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC). Not months at Harvard. May be there are being as smart as I should be, I made the mistake of asking some outlets, but I do not know where an acquaintance where I might find a KFC outlet. they are. I had my revenge. On a visit to Washington, I stumbled across a A hush fell on the room. It was as if I had confessed to KFC and ate my fill there. But, back at being a murderer in my youth. Her eyes narrowed, her lips Harvard, I did not tell anyone what I curled up in a contempt that was older than Kentucky, had done in Washington. fries or even chicken. “You surely don’t mean to ask that question seriously?” she hissed. I stammered that I did. The laws of a People’s Republic can be harsh.

70 71 JULIA One of the best memories I have simply because he or she shared the from my Fulbright stint was the Fulbright experience at one point. weekend seminar for new Fulbrighters LAU I attended in Phoenix, Arizona in The Fulbright ideals of fostering February 2004. There I met 120 exchange, debate and altruistic other Fulbrighters from 60 countries, contribution to society have informed who were all bursting with energy my personal life, my scholarship BERTRAND and promise, eager to do their in international relations and my University of Fulbright Affiliation: part for their own country and the professional attitude as a civil servant Year of programme: 2003 to 2004 world. The fellowship and sense of (albeit on no-pay leave!) in Singapore. I “I just married an American guy I met during my Fulbright accomplishment among that group believe I will someday return to where experience, and am now back in the U.S. pursuing my PhD. was more vibrant than anything I had I can best serve the two countries Back in Singapore this July!” experienced. closest to my heart – Singapore, my lifelong home – and the U.S., the I have made lifelong friends at behemoth I am still getting to know got married in Singapore on December 30, 2006. Half- Georgetown – fellow Fulbrighters even after more than a dozen trips I jokingly, one of my wedding guests wrote in our guest from Austria and Germany, as including a year’s stay as a Fulbrighter. book: “Dear Julia, I always knew you would contribute well as non-Fulbrighters from to our great-power relations!” Perhaps unwittingly, he Malaysia, various states in the U.S., I already know that for the rest of my aptly – but exaggeratedly – encapsulated how my personal and elsewhere. Upon returning to life, I will toggle between Singapore relationship with the United States of America has Singapore, I was delighted to find and the United States. In today’s deepened and become more complex since my Fulbright in the members of the Fulbright globalised world, that is perhaps one stint from August 2003 to August 2004. Association and the newly established of the best positions to be in. I have Georgetown Club of Singapore the Fulbright experience to thank for The Fulbright experience for me has truly been a like-minded individuals who cared it. And it is a certain thing that many remarkable one, and my life has been enriched by it in ways about the future of Singapore and its others after me will benefit from the I could not have imagined before I left Singapore more place in the world. While these latter intellectual expanse and opportunity a than three years ago. My husband, Stephen Bertrand, is an friendships are still new, the sense of Fulbright award can bring. American who was in the MBA programme at Georgetown belonging we all feel is indisputable and University, where we met. In the three years that we dated, I can only go from strength to strength. made many personal trips to the U.S. to visit him, his family, The Fulbright label opens doors and and my friends. Last Fall, I returned to Washington D.C. and hearts to you; many a stranger has Georgetown to pursue my PhD in International Relations. struck up a lively conversation with me

72 73 nights warming the bench. For me the how to speak with a “proper” Singlish basketball games serve two purposes. accent, which I must confess I have ANDREW They help me keep in shape. More not mastered. They have taken me to importantly, basketball games serve as the best hawker stands for chicken an opportunity to make friends with rice and kway teow. They have truly LEEUniversity of Fulbright Affiliation: Singapore Health Services the Singaporeans on my team, share a welcomed me to Singapore and we Year of programme: 2006 to 2007 “I recently graduated from Williams College with a BA in Chemistry laugh over a poor shot, and spur each have I hope that if they are ever in and Political Science. In my free time, I try to understand the nuances other on when the game is on the line. Texas, I can return the favour. Perhaps of Singlish.” I can teach them how to ride a horse... I have trouble understanding my if only I knew where to find one. teammates’ thick Singlish, and sometimes my American accent baffles ny illusions I had about becoming a star basketball them and elicits giggles from their Aplayer in Singapore vanished during my first game girlfriends. First, come the requisite when the man I was guarding sank a three-pointer over my questions asked of Texans, “Are there outstretched arm. “Welcome to Singapore,” he taunted. a lot of horses in Texas,” quickly I spent the rest of the game panting from the stifling followed by “How many horses do you humidity in the gym and badly missed the two shots that I own?” I pepper them with questions took. Was I wrong to expect that my jump shot would be of my own, “What do you think about as accurate in Singapore as it was in America? After all, a Americans” and “What’s national basketball goal is ten feet tall anywhere in the world. service like?” Like most Singaporean males they have plenty of national Every Tuesday I trek from the office to Anglo-Chinese service tales of hilarious hijinks tucked School for my recreational basketball league games. The away in their memories for these sorts players in the league are a mixed bunch with Aussies, of occasions. I listen eagerly, unfamiliar Americans, an odd Swede or German, and of course with military life, unlike a Singaporean Singaporeans to round out the mix. Partly by luck and partly female who might roll her eyes as such a result of my skill level, I joined the Breakers, a rookie team hackneyed stories. with mostly Singaporean players. What I will remember most about the It doesn’t matter that I can’t reply to that player who league is not our winning record but taunted me in early September with a jump shot of my rather the shared experiences with own. It doesn’t matter that I spend most of my Tuesday these friends. They have tutored me on

74 75 presentations. Nigeria was colourful KFC and flamboyant, Japan was demure in a kimono and Singapore dazzled with a An irrational urge to eat KFC wide array of food. The enthusiasm for chicken led a Nigerian classmate and JEREMY mutual understanding and friendship I to wander into the worst parts of LIMUniversity of Fulbright Affiliation:Johns Hopkins University stood out as did the school’s readiness Baltimore. I was amazed to see a Year of programme: 2002 to 2003 to support the ‘Show and Tell’ with restaurant with bullet proof windows “The hours never seem sufficient as I strive to balance work, nothing more convincing than a bunch and steel bars with reinforced counter community service and family. Still, I am grateful for the opportunities of students with a vision and a half- glass separating customers from to be useful, and the occasional “Good job, daddy!” makes it all page proposal. counter staff. We transacted dollars worthwhile.” for chicken via a lazy Suzy and I ate “Stupid Question” as fast as I could lest the teenage pyromaniac in the next table succeeded The teaching assistant had finished in burning down the restaurant before eeing the intense questioning of the man in front of me her explanation of the work at hand. we finished. Still, the American sense Sby the U.S. immigration officer, I was quite prepared for “Any questions?” She asked with a of community and concern persisted. an unpleasant start to my ‘Fulbright experience’. After all, it heavy accent that betrayed her African Stepping out of KFC, a middle- was post- 9/11… origins. aged woman urged us to get out of the area, saying, “This ain’t a good “What you coming here for, boy?”… “Studying? You “What is the…?” neighbourhood. It ain’t safe. My sons sure? You don’t look like no student!”… “What’s this?” are around.” he muttered, pulling out the letter from the U.S. Embassy “That is a stupid question. If you detailing the grant award. “You’re a Fulbrighter!” had bothered to read your notes, you My ‘Fulbright experience’ began five wouldn’t be asking it.” years ago and still continues. Senator The questioning ended. “Welcome to America!” The burly Fulbright’s vision of ‘a little more officer exclaimed as he came out from behind the counter I silently applauded her bravery in knowledge, a little more reason and a to escort me to ‘Baggage Claim’. “I hope you have a exposing the inane question for what it little more compassion’ and learning to wonderful time here.” was. It seemed that a small proportion ‘live in peace and friendship’ resonates of students could not resist the allure across national borders, cultures and I did have a wonderful time and three episodes in particular of their own voices. time. stand out that represent the paradox that is America. Still, in politically correct America, ‘Show and Tell’ I was not totally surprised that a complaint had surfaced to the Dean’s What started as a light-hearted attempt to get to know Office and the TA ‘counselled one’s classmates better grew into a fully-funded ongoing appropriately’. programme where students from different continents took turns to share their cultures and countries during lunch time

76 77 To the Slovakian Poet & Taichi Teacher in Iowa City

SUCHEN Can two persons perform poetry in motion, CHRISTINE And not have feelings for each other? It’s a question I ask only because I’m Singaporean, LIMUniversity of Fulbright Affiliation: University of Iowa And Singaporeans always want to know, Year of programme: 1997 Seeing everything in the white light of their noonday sun Even when things are better in the grey half light of a winter morn. Going West, Meeting East: My Fulbright Experience You ask me with a smile each morning, “Hello, who are you?” n the Fall of 1997 when a sudden cold snap frosted the “Don’t know,” I reply. “Who are you?” trees and blanketed Iowa City with several inches of I “The mad monk who got drunk last night.” snow, I was doing tai chi on the snow-covered banks of “How d’you know it was you who was drunk?” the Iowa River with a poet from Slovakia. We were both “Who cares?” You laugh. attending the International Writers’ Program (IWP) at the Knowing seems too easy. University of Iowa, in Iowa City in mid-west America. If it weren’t for the Fulbright Grant through the Council for the “It’s easy for a Chinese to do tai chi. International Exchange of Scholars, I wouldn’t have met my You’re born graceful.” Slovakian tai chi teacher, and through him discovered the “Concept. Just a concept,” I smile, Iowa City Zen Center where I had my first encounter with “No, not a concept. Five thousand years of culture.” an American Zen nun from whom I learnt zazen, sitting You mirror my move; perfect we stand meditation. The Iowa City Zen Center was a tiny apartment Motionless as cranes in a dream. above Willowwind School in South Johnson Street. It was “I don’t have it. I’m from Singapore.” opened at six o’clock every morning for sitting meditation. My words ripple through the morning’s calm. The American nun with shaved head and dressed in a black A flicker of shadow crosses your eyes. robe was in attendance. The people who came to meditate Can we stand still, perfect as cranes again? in the Soto Zen Buddhist tradition were Americans of I don’t know. European descent. Through sitting in silence with them, and later talking over a cup of coffee and bagels, I discovered the thin thread of Eastern spirituality running through that region of America that is sometimes derided as ‘corn-and- hog country.’ That encounter helped me to look at America, not through the eyes of the mass media but through my own eyes.

78 79 scholarship offer to continue my study on the subject. WILLIAM S. W. My one year stay included two months LIM hitch-hiking to the deep South and University of Fulbright Affiliation:Harvard University Year of Programme: 1956 to 1957 mid-West. It gave me direct experience “Currently, I write and lecture on a wide range of subjects relating of the warmth and friendliness of to architecture, urbanism and culture in Asia as well as on current the American people and as well as a issues relating to the postmodern, glocality and social justice. A recent book published is Asian Ethical Urbanism: A Radical Postmodern deeper insight into the complexities of Perspective (2005) and I am presently working on my new book Asian their political system and diversity in Alterity with special reference to Architecture & Urbanism through the their cultural values. lens of Cultural Studies.”

Decades on, I am still in touch with many of my top academic teachers and continue to obtain invaluable advice completed one academic year (1956-57) in the for my subsequent theoretical work. Department of City and Regional Planning at Harvard I Many of my classmates are very gifted University. in their own disciplines. One of them is architect, Frank Gehry, whose warm I benefited enormously through my exposure to excellent friendship continues to this day. graduate credit courses by great teachers such as Charles Haars and Kevin Lynch. The courses ranged from land and development economics, planning law, urban sociology, regional geography and public administration to urban spatial and transport strategies.

The library is an incredible and vast knowledge bank for graduate students. My research paper on the Relevance of Traditional Chinese Administration to the Establishment of the British Civil Service was exciting and very challenging especially when many of the documents were in Chinese. I was able to obtain a distinction on this paper with a

80 81 establish and build a good program I am indeed grateful for the wonderful for Children’s Dentistry at the Faculty opportunity to be a Fulbright Hayes of Dentistry which was lacking at that scholar, without which I would not SWEE TECK time. have been able to realise my dreams and potential and contribute back to LIMUniversity of Fulbright Affiliation: Ohio State University The knowledge acquired in doing society. Year of programme: 1969 -1971 “I am a pediatric dentist and author of the nine-book series “The research also helped me to explore Healthy Smile Series”. These books are specially written to help the and produce numerous papers in the child and parent to understand and be motivated about oral health various areas of children’s dentistry. care.” Not only was I able to contribute to the undergraduate but I was also able to add to the postgraduate programme.

he Fulbright scholarship helped to turn my life Immersion in an academic Taround and gave me the opportunity to realise my full environment of continuing education potential in life. Coming from a poor and impoverished in the States spurred me to continue background, it was the only means to allow me to go to the to achieve academic and professional States to pursue specialised training in children’s dentistry. excellence. It also helped to spark off At that time, the States had one of the best training my innate creative abilities. As a result programmes in this area of dentistry. I am now rounding up a most fruitful career by realising a dream through the The programme at the Ohio State University helped to train publication of the Healthy Smile Series me not only in clinical procedures but also in research and – a nine volume series of books on the teaching. It inculcated a tremendous confidence for the various aspect of oral health care for career ahead. My mentors at the university were excellent the child and parent. The books will and they spared no effort in guiding and spurring me on help to motivate both child and parent to serve my profession better on the completion of the and allow them to understand in a training. simple manner the various complexities of routine dental procedures. This Although the scholarship carried no bond, I was so grateful will help to ‘remove the unknown’ and for the opportunity and training provided that I came back avert the many common fears of the to Singapore to contribute to the local university. With dentist. the experiences garnered during my training, I helped to

82 83 classmate was Jonathan (Jay) Pollard, very playful, they were in fact very hard who after graduation joined the U.S. working and determined individuals. CHUNG YING Defense Dept and was later arrested The “Thank God It is Friday” parties for spying for Israel. He was convicted held in the dormitory were de-stressing

LINUniversity of Fulbright Affiliation: in 1986 and is still in jail. I did not sessions before every one got back Tufts University Year of programme: 1977 to 1978 realise then that the American students to their rooms or the Library to go “My main interest outside my work is the anti-drug cause. whom I mixed with in Fletcher were through the volumes of reading I have been a volunteer in the Singapore Anti-Narcotics mostly American Jews. One of them material we had to digest before classes Association since 1996.” joined the Anti-Defamation League started again on Monday. (ADL), a powerful Jewish lobby group, and she invited me to visit her was a young Foreign Service Officer in 1977 when I was at her office, which I did in 1986. I I told that I was selected for the Fulbright Scholarship was very impressed that a non-state to study for my Masters at the Fletcher School of Law organisation could have a much bigger and Diplomacy, Medford, Massachusetts. Coming just five and organised research outfit than our years after my nine-month post-graduate diploma course in own MFA. And the ADL was ‘just’ a international relations at the Institute of Social Studies, The lobby group! Hague, Netherlands, I felt I was fortunate to have received two study awards through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In those days, Fletcher was administered jointly by Tufts University The time I spent at Fletcher and the United States in and Harvard and Fletcher students 1977-1978 left a stronger and more lasting impression on could take courses in Harvard. It is me than my earlier study stint in Europe. Perhaps it was an arrangement which I understand because Fletcher was located in Boston, at that time a town no longer exists now. Because of this with many young university students in a post Vietnam arrangement, I had the chance to War environment. In The Hague, my classmates came make use of Harvard’s vast library and from all over the world; we had only one Dutch student other resources. My weekends were in my class. This contrasted with Fletcher where almost invariably spent at Harvard Square and all students were young Americans, and very bright ones the Harvard Cooperative. One lasting at that. I felt like I was joining a class filled with America’s impression was that while American best and the brightest. My most famous (or infamous) students appeared on the surface to be

84 85 JEREMIAH people who simply try to solve the a military man and lived in various nuts-and-bolts problems that go with places all over the world. Perhaps I trying to help their fellow human will learn from her in the next few TUCK SENG beings, even when this service is weeks how she ended up on the streets. LO sometimes taken for granted by those Some may never reintegrate into the University of Fulbright Affiliation:Johns Hopkins University they help. I will remember their faces, workforce. One of the guys told me Year of programme: 2006 to 2007 “I think G. K. Chesterton’s short story “The Secret of Father especially when I am tempted to look he had been homeless for 11 years. His Brown” contains a useful lesson for social scientists.” only at the negative press reporting current spot for sleeping is somewhere on American actions. I will remember near the Thomas Jefferson memorial. that they are part of a larger but largely They prefer that our Wednesday night Some Lovely Americans unreported trend of Americans who dinner-and-discussion sessions end by go out of their way to serve others. 7 pm. Why? Because if they arrive too More than anything else, I will return to Singapore with One U.S. government estimate puts late at the shelters, there may not be fond memories of two groups of people outside the volunteerism in the U.S. at around 25 a bed for them. Sleeping on the street Masters programme. Don’t get me wrong. The experiences per cent of the population. when it is three degrees Celsius can’t be at Johns Hopkins University’s School of Advanced much fun. One hopes that, given the International Studies have been enriching. But as I start Homeless, not Faceless right support, at least some of them thinking about my last four months in the U.S., there are will get back on their feet permanently. some faces that I am sure I will miss when June 2007 I will also remember that the homeless But I will remember, that each one is arrives. are not mere figures in some statistical a person with a face, and is not just a table. Some are mentally ill and it is number. Helping Others admittedly difficult to engage them. Others are trying to get back into I got involved with a small church group that gives out food the workforce. I chatted with one of and clothing to some of the homeless near Union Station. the men recently and realised he had The group is not made up of nice little religious old ladies a PhD in science. Unfortunately, he with time on their hands to do good. The group was not had gotten involved in drugs, which even started by the church leadership. It was started and started his downward spiral. He’s been continues to be run by lay members (that is, people who are gradually trying to get his life back on not full-staff from the church). They come from a variety track. Another had been a salesman in of backgrounds: civil engineering, investment banking, the mid-West; now he’s trying to rid academia, and the executive and legislative branches of his life of cocaine and alcohol. One the U.S. government. They are soft-spoken, down-to-earth of the ladies had been the spouse of

86 87 HAH WAH ELENA VERNONLOH LUI University of Fulbright Affiliation:University of California, Davis; University of Fulbright Affiliation:Michigan State University and University of San Francisco Year of programme: 1987 Year of programme: 2004 to 2005 “I have a passion for Lifelong Service Learning: ‘learn to serve’ “My interests lie in travel, learning about new cultures and and ‘serve to learn’.” photography.”

he Fulbright experience went beyond fostering mutual Tunderstanding between the people of the United States he Fulbright Association (Singapore) is going to and its global participants. Instead, many lasting friendships celebrate its 10th birthday on 26 April 2007. On were forged during my time in the programme. T this happy occasion, I would like express my gratitude to The Fulbright Spring Conference in Washington D.C. the United States Council of International Exchange for was memorable. Apart from the robust exchange on awarding me the scholarship, and the former Director global security issues between the American and Middle of Institute of Education, Dr. Sim Wong Kooi, for his Eastern participants, deeply etched in my memory is our blessings in my application for the Fulbright Program presentation to a classroom of high school students in Maryland who were really interested in learning more about in 1987. This six-month doctoral scholarship helped me matters such as what languages Singaporeans communicated sail through the last lap of my PhD study in Curriculum in and whether we could chew gum. This dynamic and Instruction (Affective Education) at Michigan American classroom environment was prevalent even in the State University (MSU) in East Lansing, the Capital of college classrooms, a forum where many creative ideas were Michigan. From the Spring of 1980 to the Fall of 1987, always being thrown up for discussion by all present. There is an undying curiosity and search for knowledge that makes I had an eight-year ‘long march’ of post-graduate studies for an excellent learning environment. for three degrees: Master of Arts (Education), Education specialist and PhD (Curriculum and Instruction). It was a I thoroughly enjoyed being a resident of San Francisco. combination of part-time “Education Overseas Studies” The hilly streets, liberalism, deep sense of diversity and in Singapore, Taipei and Hawaii, and full-time study in the community and Bay Area hospitality have left a strong, lasting impression on me. There was always a festive main campus (on sabbatical leave). The ‘Fulbright-ship’ mood in the air in this city of street parades, be it for the is the most significant landmark in my career and lifelong Chinese New Year, Veteran’s Day, Pride Parade, Filipino learning journey. In recognition of my services to more Independence Day, or Halloween. Lastly, how could I ever than 15 voluntary organisations in Singapore and beyond, I forget my classic American road trips up and down the “101” which was just two blocks away from my apartment? 88 89 was conferred the “MSU Distinguished learning, personal growth, and civic International Alumni” in 1994 and responsibility” (Service Learning: An “MSU Distinguished Alumni” in 1995. Overview, Corporation for National and STEPHAN Community Service, 1994, p. 12). Since There were bountiful opportunities the beginning of this century, I have MUENCHUniversity of Fulbright Affiliation:University of California, Irvine for my professional and personal been advocating a synergised notion Year of programme: 1997 to 1998 development as well as volunteer of Service-Learning, a cognitive circle: “I love cycling at East Coast and then having a rest at the seafood services for Singapore society, after I “Learn-to-Serve and Serve-to-Learn” hawker centre. Hopefully our daughter will appreciate it as much as obtained a basic degree in the Chinese for both personal growth and career I do.” University of Hong Kong. On 4 development. September 1974, I started my first Do You Need a Pick-up? job in Singapore. The appointment Looking ahead, my vision for the was Assistant Training Officer of Fulbright Association (Singapore) is My first Fulbright experience happened before my actual the Training & Research Section in that it may become a global hub of exchange year even started. This for me makes it so the then-Ministry of Social Affairs. ‘Fulbrighters’ who are distinguished memorable. On 20 October 1975, I joined the professionals and academics across When I received the approval for the University of then-Institute of Education as one disciplines. This association may California in Irvine in Summer 1997, I immediately of the two Social Work Lecturers provide an international forum (real contacted the national Fulbright organisation asking recruited by the late Dr. Ruth Wong. or virtual) for them to exchange whether there would be more “Fulbrighters” starting there In addition to the learning of affective expertise and also initiate community with me. I got one name – I tried to call him but apparently education, training & research, IT projects to engage them in ‘Lifelong that was his student home and he had moved already. So I applications, guidance, counseling Service Learning’. I wish to take this wrote an email: It turned out he had just arrived at Irvine and school social work, and so on, opportunity to congratulate the FA(S) and was about to settle down. Without having ever spoken I was also inducted into Service- President, Associate Professor Ang to him personally he offered to pick me up from the airport Learning (SL) when I resided in the Peng Hwa, and all committee members when I would be arriving some weeks later. That was more main campus of MSU. Actually SL for the resounding success of this very than an hour’s drive one way. Coming from my cultural has an important component: career memorable celebration. Three cheers! background I found that really exceptional and I thought exploration/education which is an what a strong bond the Fulbright Program gave us already! integral part of the total development You can imagine how relieved I felt knowing someone was of a person. Service Learning is “a picking me up. Everybody familiar with Los Angeles airport knows what a hassle public transport is there. So when I teaching and learning method that set my foot into this new life there was someone waiting to connects meaningful community welcome me. We spent the year together and are still good service experience with academic friends even up to today.

90 91 helped us immensely with generous Singapore. Having meals together, and warm American hospitality. In interacting with and getting to know TEE LIANG fact, he even had a part to play in the some of the residents there was delivery of my son. As we did not own also another meaningful part of my a car then, he volunteered to drive my American sojourn. I remember how, NGIAMUniversity of Fulbright Affiliation:University of California, Berkeley wife and I to a maternity hospital in near midnight, some of us would quite Year of programme: 1978 to 1981 “One of the founders of the Fulbright Association (Singapore).” Oakland in the middle of the night regularly go in one of the students’ when she went into labour. We had cars to the San Francisco Chinatown to drive to the hospital twice that day, in search of supper, such as wanton since the first round of labour pangs noodle soup and the like. Warmed by was too early for delivery and we were such comfort food, we would then he Fulbright years in Berkeley with my family were told to return home and go to the return to our dorms for a few more among the best years of my life. Not only did I T hospital again nearer the time. Jim and hours of study. have my wife, Kim and daughter, Su-Lin with me, but Maureen also introduced us to the joys our son, Kee-Min was born there, too. The educational and fun of outdoor camping at the Berkeley was a fascinating campus opportunity at the University of California, Berkeley (Cal) various national parks that California is to be in. I saw student activism was just exceptional. It was a rare privilege to have studied famous for. As my wife was a former championing a myriad of causes and at one of the finest and top schools of social work in Girl Guide and I was a former Boy saw the upside and downside of life one of the best universities in the world. I learnt so much Scout, we were thrilled at experiencing for ordinary folks, too, including from the professors that I first knew through textbooks camping life again. those at the People’s Park and along and journal articles I had previously read. Of course, the the pavements of Berkeley streets. fine California state and weather also contributed to the Another family we are fond of is a I also saw the indomitable spirit of wonderful experience of a lifetime. Coupled with the senior American-Chinese lady, Mary social capital at work among some wonderful friendship of fellow residents at the University Yee, her daughter Barbara and son-in- segments of society. In short, the Village in Albany where we stayed, or of students I studied law Wil. The older woman was working Fulbright experience enriched my with, my time, and that of my family in America remains as a part-time cashier at the Students’ education immensely both in and unforgettable and much cherished. Union building and we became friends outside the classroom, and one I would through my frequent visits there. enthusiastically encourage others to We have some close friends that we still stay very much experience. in touch with through all these years. Among them is the I also had a short spell of residence Lubben family consisting of Jim, his wife Maureen and at the International House (I-House) their children Steven and Kristen. When we were doctoral in UC Berkeley and got to know students studying social work together, Jim and Maureen more students, including some from

92 93 NOR CHYE HIN ONGUniversity of Fulbright Affiliation: University of Wisconsin-Madison Year of programme: 1990 to 1991 “I am addicted to physical activities and I run and work out in the gym whenever I can. Passed my half century mark last year and every HIDAYAH year now is a bonus.” BTE MOHD AMIN University of Fulbright Affiliation:Lehigh University Year of programme: 2006 to 2007 “An adventurous person, I travel widely from the hamlets of Morocco to the Everest region. I am also active in community work and going t was an unexpected bonus to be nominated for a on humanitarian expeditions.” IFulbright Scholarship besides having a dream come true for me to study overseas. Living in the States for my family and I was very memorable. We had the opportunity rom building houses for Hurricane Katrina survivors to experience American university life, meet and befriend to preparing breakfast for the homeless; from smiling F students from other countries as well as from Singapore. to terminally-ill patients at St Luke’s Hospital to mugging away in the wee hours of the night; from driving across Till today, we are still corresponding with friends we had nine states in winter to taking a slow boat ride in the Bayou; met and got to know in the church in Madison and we are from presenting papers to a class of intellectuals to listening still having annual gatherings among the Singaporeans we to the inspiring speech of a Nobel Peace Laureate; from met there. chilling at Red Robin to heating up a sorority meeting discussion; from solemn strangers to familiar friends…… Post graduate study in the States exposed me to a very different approach to learning. Case studies were plentiful What I value most about my Fulbright experience is the and these opened my mind to so many other perspectives. exchange of ideas and the engagement of minds. A social The chance to engage the professors during classes was psychologist once said that friendly and sustained contacts certainly very stimulating. Besides, my classes consisted erode prejudice. True to the spirit of Fulbright, the way of PhD students, Superintendents, Special Education to achieve understanding is to build bridges of friendship Specialists, school principals and many others. The rich between societies and cultures. And I am indeed privileged sharing among us and the collaboration in working in group to be able to build many wonderful bridges in the United projects added to the unforgettable experience. States of America.

94 95 The time we spent there also saw us lakes in Madison slowly freezing over. VINCENT experiencing one of the very rare Spring time was equally lovely with occasions, where the Chancellor had to whole trees sprouting flowers. Summer cancel classes because of a severe snow brought people out from all over lying storm. It was also my first experience, lazily over lawns in parks and around not knowing that it was a snow storm, the university campus bathing in the OOIUniversity of Fulbright Affiliation:University of California, Berkeley to trek all the way to the School of wonderful sun. It was truly a Fulbright Year of programme: 2001 Education for the morning lecture to experience. Praise the Lord! “My reading interests: linguistics, literature, philosophy, and those that tell us more about the meaning of life. My other interests: movies, some find out upon reaching that only the exercise routines, and hanging around Starbucks.” professor and one other student were there.

The time in the States also gave us y first encounter with the term “Fulbright” was the opportunity to drive to Niagara when I was in my Honours year at the National Falls and to Canada. We also took the M University of Singapore. My classmates and I were told opportunity to visit with my in-laws that there was a Visiting Fulbright Professor who would Disney World and Epcot Centre in be teaching us. Indeed, it was not difficult to make him Orlando and to attend a wedding in out at all when he first walked into class: he was full of Minnesota. I also took the opportunity intelligence, warmth, humour, and cultural understanding. to attend a one-week Christian Because of that one professor, I have always been in awe of Conference at the Trinity Evangelical anything remotely connected with the Fulbright experience. Divinity School in Chicago and listened to world renowned Christian My own Fulbright experience as a Visiting Scholar authors. My family and I took part in happened at a time when I was on a ten-month sabbatical the ski trip to Eagle River organised leave. It was my first time in the U.S., and I entered the by the Students’ Union for overseas country via the immigration checkpoint at Chicago’s O’Hare students and experienced the beautiful airport. It certainly seemed to me that, on learning that I snow and skiing, not forgetting the was sponsored by the Fulbright Program, the immigration sumptuous food provided. officer energetically stamped the necessary papers doubly fast and welcomed me to the U.S. with a wider than usual, Autumn in Wisconsin-Madison is really toothy grin. stunning with beautiful red, orange and gold leaves. Winter saw the numerous

96 97 I would have been happier then if I I did not intend to do any cultural had not arrived 11 days before a certain stereotyping, but kept an open mind Mr. Osama did his terrible work there. for these traits and more. Certainly, ANNE U.S. television during my three-month I found Americans and visiting stay there was not (to put it mildly) Fulbrighters of other nationalities PAKIRUniversity of Fulbright Affiliation: University of California, Berkeley; too exciting, with images of the World who were very warm by nature. Since and Cornell University Trade Centre building being replayed my period of stay coincided with Year of programme: 1977 to 1979; and 1990 to 1991 continually. Notwithstanding this, I had Thanksgiving Day, the eminent linguist “I am an associate professor with the NUS Faculty of Arts and a wonderful three months’ stay juggling Charles Fillmore invited me to my Social Sciences, in the Department of English Language and my time between Berkeley by day, at first U.S. Thanksgiving dinner. At the Literature and was a Director of the American Studies Centre at the International Computer Science dinner, his wife, Lily Wong Fillmore (a NUS. I serve on the TOEFL Board (ETS, Princeton, New Jersey) and visit the United States at least three times a year. I am the current Institute (where I was privileged well-known linguist and educator in her Vice-President of the Fulbright Association (Singapore).” to use a SparcStation and desktop own right) regaled everyone present space worth $50,000 a year), and San with her first-hand immersion in Red Francisco by night (since I was in a Indian and Inuit cultures. studio ‘space’ in expensive Nob Hill). It Once a Fulbrighter, Twice a Fulbrighter, Always a was an eye-opening experience, soaking At a time when 9/11 had just Fulbrighter in American culture and being told that happened, the Fulbright experience Whatever else Senator J. William Fulbright might have I spoke ‘English with an accent’ (of taught me the importance of not done, in my view, his vision of strengthening the bridges of the good type, I was reassured). The remaining trapped by one’s narrow understanding between the people of the United States and Director Emeritus of the Services for world and prejudice but to do what the people from the rest of the world is the singular most International Students and Scholars one can to foster genuine inter- important contribution of his life. at UC Berkeley orientated the whole cultural communication and global group of visiting Fulbrighters then understanding. A lucky recipient of two Fulbright awards (one to the University of California, Berkeley, 1977-1979, and the other by introducing six essential American to Cornell University, 1990-1991), I have built a treasure traits for us to recognise, which are trove of lovely memories of people, their languages and listed here without further elaboration: cultural orientations, and of places, especially two beautiful (1) self-reliance, (2) informality, (3) and vibrant American campuses. looking to the future, (4) believing in the goodness of human nature, (5) My first Fulbright for a Masters in the U.S. gave me the unbelievable opportunity to live in the International House using time efficiently, and 6) being along Piedmont Way, Berkeley: a very, very fine House of candid/direct. 300 American students, and 300 international students most of whom were enrolled in graduate studies at the

98 99 distinguished campus. Every breakfast, Linguistics where I was co-hosted, the lunch and dinner in the house that fact that I was a Fulbrighter opened Rockefeller built and luminaries like many doors to scholarship and to IRA John Kenneth Galbraith lived gave friendship. During the snowy weeks, access to brilliant minds, idiosyncratic the warm relationships with Americans habits, and cultural friendships. and fellow Singaporeans on the Cornel RENFREWUniversity of Fulbright Affiliation: National University of Singapore Today, I’m blessed with enduring campus also contributed towards my Year of programme: 2006 to 2007 contacts with friends of my Fulbright very fruitful and productive study leave “Originally from Maine, I studied International Relations at Stanford yesteryear, whether American, from NUS. University. Some of my interests and hobbies include Islamic Studies, Argentinean, Belgian, Canadian, photography, snowboarding, and travel.” Chinese, French, Iranian, Korean, The wonderful opportunities given German, Malaysian, Singaporean, by the Fulbright scholarships have Swedish or Swiss (and lots more), made me ever so appreciative of my many of whom have also become good fortune and I have tried to give university teachers and researchers. I something back. My forever Fulbright lthough my Fulbright research is focused on Islamic definitely learnt a great deal from my stance colours a lot of what I have banking, one of my overall goals in coming to Berkeley professors of English and been doing and have done at my A Singapore on an Islamic Civilization Initiative grant was to American literature and of linguistics, institution. As the former Director of interact with and attempt to understand the Singaporean enjoyed my classes with them, and the former American Studies Centre was inspired to pursue a PhD, but at NUS, I tried to forge friendships Muslim community. I think I learnt a great deal more and understanding between Fulbright from my fellow students (within as visiting professors and the Singaporean It was with this goal in mind that I decided to attempt to well as outside of my discipline). I community. In my current work as fast in recognition of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. remember especially the fine spirit Deputy Director of the International Though I wasn’t always successful, the decision to fast from of camaraderie that prevailed in our Relations Office at NUS, I have sunrise to sundown for a full month led to some of the collective activities whether it was a oversight of our Singapore-Americas visit to the wine country of Sonoma or exchange programs. most precious memories of my stay in Singapore. the Halloween pumpkin picking along the highways and byways of California Learning about America, its vastness One of the greatest things about my experience with fasting or the featured rich cultural evenings at and complexity, as well as its was the warmth and camaraderie with which I was greeted I-House. variety and verve, and having the by Muslim strangers and friends alike. A particular memory opportunities in America to learn that stands out was the dinner that I had one evening at the My next Fulbright at Cornell was a about other attractive cultures, peoples, beginning of Ramadan. I arrived at a local hawker center short-term foreign researcher award, a and their backgrounds, have been wonderful stint of four months during among the best years of my life which about 15 minutes before sundown and ordered a roti john the cold depths of winter in upstate I hope have provided useful lessons to from one of the Indian Muslim food stalls. My order came New York. Whether at the Southeast me on how life should be lived in our a few minutes before the maghrib azan1, and so I sat with my Asia Program or the Department of limited time on planet Earth. plate of food and a small bag of dates that I had brought2,

100 101 waiting for the last few minutes of interaction, less than half an hour, but the fast to pass. The workers and the the words, the smiles, and the offers of manager at the stall noticed that I was food had been as genuine and friendly ANIL sitting with my food untouched, and as could be. the manager soon walked over. SAMTANIUniversity of Fulbright Affiliation:University of California, Berkeley “Excuse me sir, are you The rest of the month was full of Year of programme: 2001 to 2002 Muslim?” similar moments of kindness – new “I am an Associate Professor of Law at the Nanyang Business “No, I’m not,” I replied. “But acquaintances would invite me for School, Nanyang Technological University and a Deputy-Director of I am fasting.” break-fast meals, families would ask me the Centre for Asia Pacific Technology Law & Policy (CAPTEL). “Alhamdulillah!3 You want to along for post-Ramadan celebrations, My research interests lie in the field of intellectual property and understand what it’s like for Muslims?” and numerous Muslims would react information technology law and policy.” “Yes, exactly. I want to know with happy curiosity when they how it feels to fast for Ramadan, so I learned that I was fasting. Through can understand more about Islam.” the course of the month and through my imperfect attempt to fast, I came have to say that upon my arrival at the University of Just then, the scratchy radio that been to know my new Muslim friends, the I California, Berkeley, I fell in love with the place almost playing pop songs went silent, and then Singaporean Muslim community, and instantly. The agreeable weather helped considerably and I the strains of the call to prayer hissed my own self much better than before. liked the fact that there were people from almost every part out. The manager and I lapsed into That was greatest gift of Ramadan of the globe at the university. silence as we listened to the azan. The and the reason that I remember with stall workers ceased their work and sat such fondness the experiences of that I thoroughly enjoyed my Fulbright stint and the down at the table beside me, casting month. opportunities to learn from the very best faculty in the friendly smiles in my direction. They field of intellectual property law and cyberspace law. These offered me dates from a plastic tub, Footnotes: included Professor Mark Lemley and Professor Pamela 1. The evening call to prayer that marks sunset. and we all dug into our food. Samuelson. It was also an opportunity for me to observe 2. It is customary to break the fast with dates. 3. Praise be to God! closely the workings of the Samuelson Law, Technology & After we finished eating, the manager Public Policy Clinic at the Boalt Hall School of Law which and I talked for a bit, and then he aims to provide opportunities for students to be involved in sent me off with a warm invitation to litigation as well as legislative reform that seeks to further return again soon. As I walked back the public interest. I was impressed by how academics to my apartment, I smiled to myself, as well as students at the university selflessly undertook thinking of the warmth with which I work of this nature to counter what they perceive to be had been greeted. It had been a quick an agenda in American technology law & policy that was

102 103 dominated mainly by lobbyists and the to be a recipient of this wonderful government. scholarship. VICTOR R. I was also fortunate to have lived at the International House during my SAVAGEUniversity of Fulbright Affiliation: University of California, Berkeley stint at the university. There were Year of programme: 1976 to 1980 ample opportunities to mingle at the “My interest is in listening to music, attending concerts, collecting I-House and the numerous debates and Southeast Asian art and antique maps, travelling and reading.” activities that took place almost every other day meant there was never a dull moment.

had a very enjoyable academic experience at University During the weekends, I made sure I I of California, Berkeley where I pursued my higher spent my time touring various parts degrees (MA and PhD). The campus was just so vibrant of San Francisco and the surrounding and the town of Berkeley was full of creative expressions. regions. I still remember vividly the There were numerous buskers, student demonstrations and gorgeously stunning Golden Gate street activities that really made Berkeley a unique learning experience. Given that there were so few Singaporeans Bridge, the breathtakingly beautiful and Malaysians when I was at Berkeley, we did not have Yosemite National Park and the an association compared to today and hence I was forced meandering valleys of Napa and to mingle and socialise with other students especially the Sonoma. How I wish I could return to American graduates. I felt this was a blessing because I got enjoy those sights once again. to learn a lot about American culture and social systems from my American friends. I feel that once a student national association is in place, students mix amongst Professionally, the Fulbright themselves and rarely socialise with Americans or other scholarship continues to open many nationalities. What I enjoyed also about Berkeley was a doors for me. The respect that is fantastic Doe graduate library. It was a treasure house of accorded to the Fulbright brand name so many interesting books and journals. You could even and the strong and fruitful network borrow books from the 18th and 19th centuries! Berkeley, and insights gained during my time in San Francisco and the Bay area were also vibrant places the U.S. have served me well these past for concerts and performances. I attended many great concerts in the Cow Palace (SF) and the Greek theatre years since my return to Singapore. (Berkeley) which included George Benson, Chicago, the Needless to say, I am forever grateful Bee Gees, Neil Diamond and Keith Jarrett. The Berkeley for having been given the opportunity Art Gallery was also a place I constantly visited and saw

104 105 some of America’s progressive and and traveling in the United States. I got avant-garde artistic expressions. Lastly, to see other areas of the U.S. which Berkeley was a great haven for second helped me understand the regional book shops. I spent countless hours in and cultural contrasts of America. KIM T. K. Moe’s, the premier second-hand book As a cultural geographer, seeing store. I still treasure the large collection America was the first introduction to SEAHUniversity of Fulbright Affiliation: Harvard University of second-hand books I bought as a an exercise in interesting fieldwork Year of programme: 1977 to 1978 student. lessons. Unfortunately the stipend I “Since leaving academia, life as a commercial lawyer has kept me busy, received was small so I stayed in very as have family and church activities. But I still have time for fellowship, The graduate seminars at Berkeley cheap motels and saw the underside of travel and food! And never too busy to catch up with friends, especially changed my whole perspective of American poverty. Many down town those from my Fulbright days.” education. The professors were cheap hotels were glorified old age erudite and passionate about their homes. It was an eye-opener. I took areas of interests. There was a wide the Grey Hound bus all over and got range of teaching styles and no one to hear the Mormon Tabernacle Choir conformed to a set system and style doing a dress rehearsal of Christmas was awarded the Fulbright Scholarship in early 1977, of lecturing and presentation. Each carols three days before Christmas free which allowed me to leave (just two days after receiving lecturer was individualistic in the way of charge in Salt Lake City. It is an I my undergraduate degree) for Harvard Law School in the they conducted their lectures and experience I will never forget. What a Fall of 1977. seminars. I realised how precise one choir – 375 strong singing with their needed to be in writing papers and philharmonic orchestra. I visited Taos what good research was all about. the home of many American artists My time at Harvard (and in Boston) opened many windows The lecturers guided and mentored us and centre of many art galleries. for me. I learnt a lot – certainly not confined to the law but they rarely tried to impose ideas – and shared many experiences with new friends from and structures on us. They gave us I am indeed grateful for being America and many other countries. There were many freedom of expression and encouraged given the opportunity of attending stirring discussions – within class and outside – as we independent thinking. I also liked the UC Berkeley under the Fulbright idea that every lecturer invited their scholarship. It was an education that debated contentious issues and policies with our professors graduate class to their home for at paved my career as an academic and and fellow students. We learnt of differences and of how least one dinner session. This is where my special interests in both cultural to understand them, if not resolve them. the department’s rich history and geography and environmental studies. past faculty members were a subject My fondest memory is of the eve of the Lunar New Year of interesting stories and gossip. We in February 1978. Several dorm mates accompanied me graduates relished such stories. on a long walk to a Chinese restaurant in Concord (the Throughout my four years in the U.S., venue chosen more by price than location) to celebrate I did not return to Singapore and the occasion. For a few, it was their first taste of Chinese hence spent time in summer school food. We feasted long and well and .. then had to make our

106 107 way home through snowdrifts as the look forward to our 30th Anniversary EUGENE Blizzard of ’78 dumped more than six next year. And I remain grateful to feet of the white stuff on us. It was a the Fulbright Program for making it cold and memorable walk back – and possible. KHENG BOON in the days which followed we had time TAN University of Fulbright Affiliation:Stanford University off classes to snow-ski off the steps of Year of programme: 2003 to 2004 Widener Library as Harvard cancelled “I teach at the Singapore Management University. classes for the first time since the Civil My research interests include the mutual interaction of law and public War! policy with particular reference to ethnic conflict regulation.”

Increasing mutual understanding among people – well, for me and I think some (now gray-haired) friends ne of the privileges of being part of the Fulbright of those days, we certainly got to OProgram is the opportunity of meeting and learning know better a certain (now prominent) from Fulbrighters from other parts of the world. Within fellow Asian (now a politician) and , I got to know Fulbrighters from one brilliant but small-sized young Ghana, Kenya and South Africa and other countries from American (now an appellate judge) … within Stanford itself (eg the first Mongolian Fulbrighter). after watching them wriggle out of What struck me was how determined these Fulbrighters their frozen jeans and compete to see were, in their own ways, in wanting to make a difference to whose pair of icy snow-caked jeans their societies. And many had impeccable records of being would remain standing longer in the change agents to begin with. dorm hallway that February night! The Fulbright experience provided me with the valuable privilege and opportunity to pursue graduate study in the Much of the substance of the law United States. The exposure to a different intellectual and which I studied then is no longer cultural environment is a critical intangible of education. relevant today. But the theory and It also gave me a good grounding and exposure in cutting principles behind them – how wise edge areas of law while interacting with some of the best laws serve as restraints to keep men legal minds from the U.S. and globally. (and women) free – remain important. And the human relationships made My time in the U.S. reinforced my view that legal then still count today. I still keep in scholarship should not remain within the confines of touch with my Class of ’78 as we academia and should reach out and benefit society whenever

108 109 possible. Being in an august academic We were able to compare and contrast institution like Stanford also exposed the American and Singaporean me to new ideas and intellectual systems and way of life. We not only MING JEN enterprises. I was encouraged to pursue appreciated what we have back home my inclination for multi-disciplinary but also where we could do better in TANUniversity of Fulbright Affiliation:University of California, Los approach in the study of law as well Singapore. What remain imprinted Angeles; and Northwestern University as to appreciate the intimate interface in our minds is the dynamicism, Year of programme: 2004 between the law, public policy and creativity, and beauty of the society. United States. It gave us a nuanced understanding of America. My Fulbright experience was enhanced as my family accompanied me for Being in the heart of Silicon Valley he experience enabled me to have a unique perspective my studies. Iain, my son, was just also meant that we were afforded a Tof the operations of two well-run universities, one four months old when my wife, Yoke ringside view of the developments which is state-funded and the other a private university. I of Google, E-Bay, and Paypal. Yoke Foong, and I left for the United States. was also able to participate in various academic activities, Foong was intrigued with internet staff recruitment seminars, meetings of alumni etc. and Yoke Foong and I set out to experience commerce and she participated in it share their challenges in keeping up in various scholastic and imbibe the best of American with a fair bit of rigour, with Iain as culture. We attended basketball, the ultimate beneficiary of the books, rankings. American football, and water-polo toys, and clothes purchased! matches and joined our American I was in America during the Democratic Party’s primaries friends in their Independence It’s been about three years since our and it was instructive to see American politics and policies American sojourn came to a rapid Day celebrations. Visits to Sunday at work, the multitude of media viewpoints, exchanges, the markets were a must-do as were conclusion but Yoke Foong and rigour and intensity of competition, and all that just to get visits to the railway station (with I have many fond memories. We nominated by the party! Iain’s budding interest in trains) near struggle to help Iain recall some of our campus home and participating his growing milestones in the U.S. toddler activities within the Palo Alto such as his taking his first steps, Being at two very different large cities, Los Angeles and community. uttering his first words, and the many Chicago also gave me unique insights and experiences. story time sessions at the Palo Alto There were also weekends at Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, children’s library. We travelled quite a bit within Malibu, Pasadena, Irvine and Anaheim, Hollywood California (such as San Diego, previews, Golden Globe and Oscar nights. Northwestern Yosemite, Disneyland) and other It has been both a privilege and an is located in Evanston, a leafy suburb of Chicago; north of major cities like Chicago, Philadelphia, honour being a Fulbrighter. Washington, DC, and New York City. it is the “Orange County of Middle America” an area of

110 111 about ten exclusive and picturesque suburbs along Lake Michigan, including Wilmette, Glenview, TARN HOW Winnetka, Glencoe, Highland Park and Lake Forest. Some highlights TANUniversity Of Fulbright Affiliation: Boston University included a visit (organised by the local Year Of Programme: 1993 Fulbright Association) to the home of “I am also a playwright and scriptwriter.” Ernest Hemingway’s childhood in Oak Park, which is also where numerous Frank Lloyd Wright designed houses are located, and being mesmerised y most memorable experience in the three months by the architecture geniuses of Rem Min Boston was talking to the late Jim Thomson and Koolhaas and Helmut Jahn around attending his tutorials on journalism. He resigned from the the downtown Illinois Institute of Johnson administration in opposition to the Vietnam War Technology campus, and Robie House and urged for U.S.-China reconciliation at a time when such located within the University of views were radical. The occasion reminded me again that it Chicago. is not just ideas but also the commitment and courage of individuals that change the world.

112 113 TEE HOW CLARENCE

TAN TANGUniversity of Fulbright Affiliation: University of Fulbright Affiliation:Harvard University University of Michigan, Ann Arbor Year of programme: 1989 to 1990 Year of programme: 2005 to 2006 “I spend my weekends mainly with my family, attending church service, catching up on reading and taking long walks in the nature reserves.”

y one-year Fulbright stint was a great educational Mexperience. The Master of Public Administration ack in the 1980s, all I knew about the U.S. and the programme at the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy BAmerican people were mainly what I read or heard provided me with new lenses for policy analysis and allowed about as well as from images over the television screen. me to explore unfamiliar but interesting policy areas, such My one-year Cambridge MA sojourn in 1989-90, while as healthcare, environmental regulation and international attending the Kennedy School MPA Program on a Fulbright relations. I also learnt a lot from my classmates, who were grant, was therefore an eye-opening learning experience for mostly American or Asian and came from a wide range of me. It gave me a good first-hand understanding of the U.S., professional backgrounds. The diversity of perspectives through living, studying and playing with many Americans. made for many interesting discussions during meals, walks One aspect of American culture which left a deep across Central Campus and rides on the Michigan blue bus. impression on me was the spirit of giving that permeated the different strata of society, as seen from how the average My year in the U.S. allowed me to see a side of the U.S. I American responded to appeals for funds, whether it was had never seen before: as a union of states with unique for the homeless, keeping a heritage or animal welfare. identities and interests, and how these interacted in the formulation of American policy. The vibrant social and Through my course of study, I was constantly challenged to non-profit sector in the U.S. also left a deep impression on think about the nature of societies and economies and why me. In Detroit, I visited several non-profit organisations certain policies worked in some countries and not in others. that were in the business of revitalising derelict I also benefited tremendously from the many conversations neighbourhoods, and saw for myself how they transformed I had on the development experience of other countries, the urban landscape by taking over run-down houses street with fellow international students, many of whom remain by street, refurbishing them, and then renting or selling my good friends till today. them to low-income families. My visit to Philadelphia also

114 115 gave me the opportunity to learn about a non-profit programme that got young graffiti writers off the street, put them SING HAI through a training programme in mural painting and placed them in mural art TANG projects to enliven neighbourhoods. University of Fulbright Affiliation:State University of New York, Stony Brook For me, these projects were an Year of programme: 1967 to 1972 inspiring demonstration of a spirit of “I was Deputy Head of the Department of Physics, NUS, from enterprise in local communities. 2000 to 2004. I am a keen sculptor and like to spend time on gardening in the weekends.” Among the fondest memories I have of Ann Arbor are its beautiful fall colours, the cosy Thanksgiving dinner I had with a family from church and my t was nearly forty years ago that I was awarded the introduction to the game of whirlyball, IFulbright Scholarship to study physics at the State a combination of basketball and University of New York at Stony Brook. It was my first lacrosse played on bumper cars. But trip to the U.S. and in those days a one-month orientation perhaps what I will treasure most from program at the University of Texas, Austin, was included. my time there are the friendships that It was an intensive program, where activities went beyond were formed, both with American and the scheduled daily study of various aspects of American international students. Many of them cultures. It provided a wonderful opportunity to meet fellow are still in contact through e-mail, and Fulbright scholars from other nations and enabled me to have been extended an open invitation observe and interact with participants all over the world to visit Singapore. and hear their touching stories. Participants were engaged in stimulating scholarly presentations which mirrored their domestic matters. Such in-depth discussions over lunch breaks, during outings and over many evenings not only fostered lasting friendships but also successful academic collaboration later on.

My study at Stony Brook was a memorable experience that left indelible marks on my scholarly and executive

116 117 career. Stony Brook had just recruited My experience as a recipient of SIMON S. C. Professor C. N. Yang to be its Director Fulbright Scholarship was very of the Institute of Theoretical Physics rewarding, providing lasting bonds and was then a center for high energy with colleagues from other nations and physics. It was situated near the gaining research and teaching insights. TAY University of Fulbright Affiliation:Harvard University Brookhaven National Lab, where In the forty years since my time, the Year of programme: 1993 to 1994 later on I was attached to for carrying program has impressively established “I am an associate professor with the NUS Faculty of Law and out a part of my interdisciplinary successful academic and cultural have taught as a visiting professor at Harvard Law School (2003). experimental research. Beyond formal diplomacy through the world, without I am also chairman of the National Environment Agency, a major physics training, it was certainly a which such physical and cultural government statutory board, as well as the non-governmental think blessing that by chance I attended a interactions would not have been tank, the Singapore Institute of International Affairs. I served as a Nominated Member of Parliament from 1997-2001 and chair public sculpture workshop in the evenings, possible. I am grateful to the Fulbright consultations on Singapore 21, the Concept Plan and Green Plan.” which was a part of Stony Brook extra- Program for the opportunities it has curricular activities. Even though it given me. turned out to be only a short interlude, it produced a lasting impression; in my later life I have become an avid Opportunities for a Start amateur sculptor. I would never have won a Singaporean scholarship. In any My Fulbright scholarship officially application to a Singaporean panel, my undistinguished “O” ended after my post-doctoral and “A” levels would be an immediate disqualification, no assignment at the Michigan State matter what I had done subsequently in university, or in my University (MSU). At MSU I was career, or as a writer of stories and poems. This fact wore pleasantly surprised to have met a heavily on me when I decided to pursue a Masters in the fellow Fulbright scholar from Texas. U.S. in the early 1990s. She was also doing her post-doctoral study. The encounter was a timely I was motivated by three factors. First, I had left legal reminder of the great number of practice to help start the Singapore International people that come under the Fulbright Foundation and pioneer its Singapore Volunteers Overseas Program. Since then I have returned to programme, and the Masters for me (like for so many visit Stony Brook and MSU on several people) represented an opportunity to both increase my occasions, and the connections have knowledge and reflect on my future directions. Secondly, I been uninterrupted until today. wanted to know the U.S. better as the society had emerged

118 119 as the dominant power after the end Secondly, the Fulbright gave me the of the Cold War, projecting its model opportunity to be in the U.S. and I did of values and democracy. Lastly, a my best to learn about America, in its CHEE HEAN Minister I respected had said to me great complexity and variety. I wrote that most who did well in Singapore columns on these experiences in The TEO University of Fulbright Affiliation:Harvard University had studied abroad and, while I was Straits Times, and later reworked the Year of programme: 1986 to 1987 proud of my NUS degree, this was a articles into a book, Alien Asian. While gap in my experience. this book was released in 1996 and many things have since changed, it is If the Americans had not given me a pleasant surprise that some young a Fulbright scholarship, and taken a Singaporeans studying in the U.S. have ttending the mid-career Masters in Public chance on me that no Singaporean read the book and still report similar AAdministration Programme (Class of ’87) at the scholarship would have, I am not sure experiences. Kennedy School of Government in Harvard opened up a what else I would have done. new range of perspectives for me. I met classmates from In the ten or more years since my many countries, from all the continents. We discussed the I can only tell you what I did with the Fulbright scholarship ended, I have issues and problems faced by our respective countries and opportunities given by the Fulbright returned for short working visits to regions, and shared our experiences in economic, social and scholarship. the U.S., as well as longer sojourns, security policy to address them. We learnt together about including a semester teaching at my decision making and negotiations, and good government. First, while Fulbright does not old law school. For me, the Fulbright I learnt much from my classmates, especially those from guarantee admission into any particular scholarship gave me opportunities countries which I knew little about, such as Somalia, or university, it cannot but have helped my for a new career as a professor, for Ecuador. These were valuable lessons, for the problems we admission into Harvard Law School. a book of essays, and to begin a faced had many similarities, though the individual contexts The Scholarship just about covered continuing engagement with the U.S. might be different. school fees, and I did my best to make and Americans, a country and a people the most of studies, specialising in who so profoundly impact the world international law. At the end of the and Singapore. The opportunity to watch at close hand the dynamics of year, I was awarded the School’s Laylin U.S. politics and policy making was also a valuable one. All Prize for the best thesis in international politics are local, and it was educational to understand how law. As the first Singaporean to win a local issues in the U.S. affect its foreign and especially its prize at the law school, it spurred me trade policy. The approach that the U.S. takes has a major to return to Singapore to teach at our impact on how the world deals with a whole plethora of university. issues ranging from a new trade round, to environmental

120 121 issues and terrorism, and affects EDWIN smaller countries like Singapore. No doubt the exchange of views with our U.S. classmates has also contributed to the objective of the Fulbright Program which is to “increase mutual THUMBOO University of Fulbright Affiliation:Pennsylvania State University understanding between the people of Year of programme: 1979 to 1980 the United States and the people of other countries.” espite the wide and valuable achievements of These experiences, and the friendships DAmerican academia, up to the late sixties the made while on the Fulbright Program University of Singapore’s overseas links in the humanities have left an indelible impression on and social sciences were mainly with UK and other Commonwealth institutions. We started to change this me. I have found myself drawing on soon after. Stanley Weintraub of the State University of these experiences, both consciously Pennsylvania was our first American external examiner in and unconsciously, in my work through English. As a follow up, I went as a Fulbright Professor to the years. his institution, the Institute for the Arts and Humanistic Studies. The course I taught paired novels, one by an ‘insider’ and the other by an ‘outsider’. There were eight texts in all, set in Brazil, Nigeria, India and the Philippines. Drawn chiefly from Carey Eckhardt’s Department of Comparative Literature, students had a choice, which meant they took courses which really interested them. They had a strong desire to explore and were driven by a strong inquiring spirit resulting in very positive classes which led me to encourage my colleagues at home to ‘open’ up their courses. Our explorations took us to Brazil, Nigeria, India, and Indonesia. It was a learning experience for both class and instructor, enriching cross-cultural understanding and a realisation that the goodness of man – and woman – is both local as universal, and that right answers depend on right questions and that as circumstances change so do answers and questions.

122 123 The American system was notably visit to the Columbus Family Chapel malleable in contrast to the – the European discoverer of the Commonwealth one in which both “United States of Columbus” if we approach and content were cast in must. Through marriage it ended up concrete. The American instructor in Boalsburg, PA a few miles from the KIMBERLY TRAGERUniversity of Fulbright Affiliation: shaped his course, how it was taught Weintraub home. National University of Singapore – through lectures, seminars, discussion Year of programme: 2005 to 2006 groups, or a combination thereof My stay was cut short. I had been “Reading is a passion of mine. It is the broad topic of my – and examined. Moreover, there were appointed Dean of the Faculty of Arts dissertation. And it is certainly one of my favourite leisure activities.” hardly any compulsory courses in the and Social Sciences of the National large number the department offered. University of Singapore, which started have so many wonderful memories of my Fulbright life on the 8 August 1980. There was I experience. It is difficult to choose which ones to share. Colleagues in the Department were a new vision; we had to reach new But I think my interviews with young Singaporean writers friendly and giving. Being a university horizons. Lau Teik Soon, then-Member (the 3rd generation of Singaporean poets and novelists) town, bookshops, especially the of Parliament and Head, Department inspired me the most. I found their desire and motivation to be heard on “the global stage” moving. And, as a whole, second-hand ones, took you in of Political Science, Ong Jin Hui, I found their writings to be thoughtful and provoking. and embraced you. The best of Head, Department of Sociology, Through interviewing (and reading works by) Alvin Pang, these was run by a Mr. Horner, a himself a Fulbrighter and I took every Felix Cheong, Hwee Hwee Tan and many others, I felt Mennonite. We drove around small chance to strengthen and extend more connected to Singaporean culture. These writers were towns and villages in the area on contact with American universities also exceptionally gracious and made my stay in Singapore weekends, visiting country book through the American Embassy. The delightful. All in all, I would have to say that the 2005 fairs. I found an eighteenth-century USIS (United States Information Writers Festival (“Text in the City”) was the most interesting print of Shakespeare, based on the Service) played a key role. Mr. Jerry and enjoyable event that I attended in Singapore. It was thrilling to meet so many great writers who were willing to Chandos portrait, which Charlie Stryker, its Director, was a first-rate talk about their work. Mann, a Professor of English with diplomat and mover. Opportunities whom I spent a fair amount of time, multiplied. An increasing number of I also have fond memories of various individuals whom I authenticated. And there was John staff had the challenge and benefit of met in book clubs and writing clubs in Singapore. Initially, Balaban, a poet and critic who had the American academic experience. I had planned to be an observer of these clubs, not an strong Vietnamese interests, making Thanks to Senator Fulbright, they were actual participant. But that soon proved not to be the case. the poetry accessible to the English- being prepared for the fundamental One club meeting that really stands out for me was when I speaking world through sensitive and changes to come in NUS and other was asked to read my fiction aloud in front of all the other powerful translations. The Weintraubs enterprising universities in Asia. members of my writing club. Since I don’t consider myself a fiction writer, I was very nervous to do so. But I found the were perfect hosts, having me with experience liberating and exciting. That incident definitely them during Pesach Seder and other encouraged me to submit one of my stories to a literary special occasions. These included a journal – I would never have done this on my own.

124 125 these wonderful gifts of hospitality allowed me to appreciate and share the helped me feel at home, even though vision of Senator J. William Fulbright I was thousands of miles away from to make the world a better place by ALLEN Singapore. The friendship extended to “increasing mutual understanding” me by various families there inspired among the people of various nations. WANGUniversity of Fulbright Affiliation:John Hopkins University me to reach out to several international Year of programme: 2004 to 2005 “I love reading, sketching and make pretty good kimchi fried rice.” students by volunteering my time to help arriving international students adjust to a new environment. The various weekend hiking trips and excursions allowed us to form strong y Fulbright experience showed me a wonderful side bonds of friendship and in turn of America that I was not able to appreciate on my M generate ongoing communities of previous short visits there. Besides experiencing first hand support so that this important work the wonderful fall colors in Vermont, cherry blossoms in could continue for subsequent student Washington D.C., the flat fields in Kansas, I also managed cohorts. to alpine ski in Colorado and Vermont. Eating Ben & Jerry’s ice cream at their Vermont factory during winter was simply The memories spent with fellow unforgettable. Fulbrighters roaming the French quarter in New Orleans having café- At the Bloomberg School of Public Health, I made many au-lait and beignets took on greater wonderful friends from various parts of the world and had significance for me after Hurricane the privilege to imbibe a small bit of their culture, and in Katrina struck many months later. The turn share Singapore with them. I also got to interact with picture of devastation, pain and sorrow several luminaries in the field of public health and draw left by Katrina sparked off tremendous inspiration from their fiery passion to “change lives, millions positive energy in the form of many at a time”. individuals working together to help the victims. Seeing the American Baltimore, Maryland held many surprises ranging from the people step up to the plate to help cozy, romantic Fells Point to the majestic Inner Harbor. My their fellow citizens rebuild their lives church family made every weekend a time to look forward left an indelible impression on me as a to, with several families opening their homes to me during testament to the power of the human Thanksgiving, Christmas and many other occasions. All spirit. The Fulbright experience has

126 127 Park and Sake Lake City), and Idaho. It changed our perspective on (in) was indeed the greatest “geographical security and peace in today’s globalising HENRY treat” we ever had. We even drove by world economy. Living through the the headquarters of a leading American entire period of major combats in semiconductor firm in Singapore in Iraq (March to May), we simply could YEUNGUniversity of Fulbright Affiliation: University of Washington which my sister-in-law works – Micron not ignore the massive media images Year of programme: 2002 to 2003 “I love badminton and have been playing for NUS since Technology in Boise, Idaho. The trip and embedded videos of military undergraduate days. Since Fulbright days during 2002-2003, I have clocked 21,000 miles and our used car operations and confrontations. Being picked up a new exciting hobby – being a good father to our two young didn’t collapse. Thank God! in the U.S. at that moment did teach children!” us a great deal about how Americans Meanwhile, I forged incredible view peace and security and how friendships and collegial relationships we, Singaporeans, should be more during my many academic visits concerned with international affairs y family and I arrived in Seattle on 16 December at Cornell University, Ohio State – even though they might appear to M2002 and were well greeted by the sunny but University, University of Wisconsin, be far and remote from our everyday cool weather – a treat indeed if you know what Seattle is Madison, University of California, life. The War has also taught us an normally like during that time of the year. We quickly settled Los Angeles and Davis, and University important lesson of appreciating our into a temporary stay with a married couple who were both of Washington, Tacoma. I gained relative peace and stability back at faculty members at the host Department of Geography, much deeper understanding of the home. Coincidentally, we gave SARS in University of Washington. Our Fulbright journey had everyday life of friends (old and new), Singapore a miss by taking “refuge” in started! colleagues, and students in these the United States! institutions. It was indeed an eye- Throughout the six months of stay in the U.S., we certainly opener for me to appreciate the diverse experienced much increased mutual understanding with realities of life in these places; this is our colleagues and friends in America. We visited many the most fascinating part of American places, some as far as the Midwest (Chicago and Madison) geography to me. and the South (New Orleans). But the most memorable event must be our 21-day drive in late May from Seattle all Of course, it would be difficult for us the way down to Los Angeles, cruising along the famous to forget one of the defining moments Highway 101 that passes through the incredible coastlines of history in the new millennium of Washington, Oregon, and California states. The return during our stay – the 19 March War on trip went through inland states such as Nevada (Las Vegas), Terror in Iraq. The Iraq War, as it is Arizona (Grand and Bryce Canyons), Utah (Zion National commonly known, has fundamentally

128 129 WING KONG JEAN WAN HONG YIPUniversity of Fulbright Affiliation: Indiana University YONG University of Fulbright Affiliation:Brown University Year of programme: 1969 to 1971 Year of programme: 2003 to 2004 “My interest is in organising international dental education “I love plants and travelling.” programmes, especially in developing countries of the Asia Pacific region. My other interests are reading, photography and computers.”

(Written in the third person narrative)

t a time when it was relatively uncommon for ean Yong, assistant professor of natural sciences at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, made a Singaporeans to pursue post-graduate education J A contribution towards the development of environmental in the United States, especially in the fields of medicine policy (climate change) during his three-month Fulbright and dentistry, I was fortunate that the Fulbright Program sojourn. An environmental sciences grantee to the United opened doors for me. It not only enabled me to gain entry States, Jean did his fellowship at the Watson Institute into a very prestigious program at Indiana University but of International Studies, Brown University. He held also gave me the opportunity to work with the latest and many collaborative discussions with his colleagues from Brown University, Harvard University, World Resource most advanced dental equipment and techniques and to Institute, Smithsonian Museum, University of California study under some of the most renowned dental clinicians at Los Angeles (UCLA), California State University (San and scientists of that time. I remembered not being selected Bernardino) and others, to help develop an environmental for the electron microscopy course, which in those days was policy for Singapore and her neighbouring South East a very exclusive course, because the Professor of Anatomy Asian countries. thought we didn’t have an electron microscope in Singapore. Indeed, he was right. We really didn’t have an electron Besides devoting his time to research projects and lecturing schedules, Jean also found time to participate in Fulbright microscope in Singapore in the early sixties. Fortunately activities and enrichment programs (Occasional Lecture I managed to get in ultimately. I’m not sure whether it’s Program, and OLP [minority initiative]) and field-site because I worked with a famous professor or because I was visits. These included the Florida Everglades National a Fulbrighter, or both. To our younger colleagues, my advice Park, Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), Teikyo Post is not to underestimate the Fulbright advantage. University, California State University (San Bernardino) and Los Angeles Valley College.

130 131 Given Singapore’s experience in “bridge” to improve Muslim and non- PUTRA handling delicate multi-racial and Muslim relationship by using Singapore AHMAD religious issues, Jean often provided as a model. ALI an inter-racial and/or inter-religious perspectives in most of his non- Perhaps, this is one lesson the United ZALMAN scientific talks to emphasise the States could learn from “tiny” University of Fulbright Affiliation:Hartford Seminary Year of programme: 2006 to 2008 importance of mutual respect, Singapore. “I have always enjoyed engaging with youth. Outside my work, I understanding, and real action in volunteered actively in youth development programs particularly within the increasingly globalised world. the Muslim community.” For example, many Americans were surprised that in Singapore, many fast-food restaurants (MacDonald, arvard professor, Diana L. Eck described the U.S. Burger King, and KFC) have adopted as the “World’s Most Religiously Diverse Nation”. This the use of “halal” meat (meats H is indeed what I have discovered in the course of my prepared according to the Islamic Fulbright experience. Based in New England, I have come dietary requirements) in their standard to appreciate the ever changing religious landscape from menu. This allows the majority of the early years when Puritans landed in Massachusetts Singaporeans (Buddhists, Taoists, to present day richly diverse America. Living in a “blue Christians, Hindus, and free-thinkers) state”, I am mainly in the company of New York Times- to have a meal with their Muslim reading and Democrat-voting liberals but that did not counterparts, without the complication stop me from being in conversation with a plethora of of dietary restrictions. Such sensitivity religious types. I have encountered people from various shown by the majority of non-muslim denominations within the Abrahamic faiths, Muslims of Singaporeans to their fellow Muslim various nationalities as well as unique ones like a Non- countrymen contributes to the realist Eco-Christian Humanist, a Gay Panentheistic building and maintenance of racial and Unitarian Universalist Mystic with Buddhist inclinations, religious cohesion of contemporary a Reconstructionist Jewish Feminist, an Arabic-speaking Singaporean society. neo-Marxist Roman Catholic Dominican priest, an African American Pentecostal Evangelical and many others. Such At the present time when the world is rare experience of diversity and the open intellectual so endangered by the lack of mutual environment provided very fertile ground for the free understanding, the Fulbright Scholar exchange of ideas. I cherish the space which allowed me Program is a beacon of hope. In the to explore what the contemporary French Muslim thinker, spirit of J. William Fulbright, Jean Mohammed Arkoun called the “Unthought” within my has indeed given the United States a religious worldview.

132 133 PAGES FROM THE PAST

In Appreciation of Senator Fulbright

In honor of Senator J. William Fulbright’s receipt of the Presidential Medal of Freedom on May 5, 1993, and of the Fulbright Association’s establishment of the J. William Fulbright Prize for International Understanding, the Fulbright Association (U.S.) published the following collection of quotations, compiled by Executive Director Jane L. Anderson, in the Spring 1993 issue of the Association’s newsletter.

Peace

Many people have assumed that because the House of Representatives, the Senate and the President have declared for collective security, the job is done. But the establishing of order and the making of peace does not consist merely of a solemn declaration or a well drafted constitution. The making of peace is a continuing process that must go on from day to day, from year to year, so long as our civilization shall last. Our participation in this process is not just the signing of a charter with a big red seal. It is a daily task, a positive participation in all the details and decisions which together constitute a living and growing policy. [From a Senate address, March 28, 1945]

Peace is not a negative, static concept. It is not a tranquil state of felicity and blessedness. It is a positive method of adjusting the endless conflicts inherent in the nature

134 135 of restless and energetic men. The of meeting the desperate needs toward a single, universal community International Educational and institution of law based on justice and of people elsewhere for economic of humankind with common Cultural Exchange adaptable to the ever changing life of and social programs, we have been values and common institutions.... man has been such a method in the pinch-penny in our approach. But The rapprochement of people is International educational exchange is history of mankind. [From a Senate when it has been a question of aid for only possible when differences of the most significant current project address, July 23, 1945] the military establishments of other culture and outlook are respected designed to continue the process of countries, the hand has gone deep and appreciated rather than feared or humanizing mankind to the point, we The shipment of arms to any and unhesitatingly into the pocket of condemned, when the common bond would hope, that men can learn to live nation not practiced in the art of the American people. We have on a of human dignity is recognized as the in peace – eventually even to cooperate democratic self-government promotes grandiose scale provided peoples of essential bond for a peaceful world. in constructive activities rather than maintenance of the status quo. Military the underdeveloped nations with the [From remarks upon receiving the compete in a mindless contest of aid to non-representative governments weapons of destructive warfare, and Athinai International Prize awarded by mutual destruction....We must try to means the use of that equipment have been miserly in providing them the Alexander S. Onassis Foundation, expand the boundaries of human to maintain non-representative weapons to wage war on their own Athens, April 1989] wisdom, empathy and perception, and government. That aid has a tendency to poverty, economic ills, and internal there is no way of doing that except pit the United States against the rising weaknesses. [From a Senate address, When all is said and done, when the through education. [From remarks on tide of self determination and fertilizes August 6, 1958] subtleties and abstractions of strategy the occasion of the 30th anniversary foreign soil for the Communists to till. and power have all been explained, of the Fulbright Program, 1976] [From a Senate address, June 20, 1958] Professors have an influence that we remain confronted with the most is hard to identify or to measure. fundamental questions about war To continue to build more When it has been a question of But I think it’s there, and eventually and peace, and why we contest the weapons, especially more exotic and spending on anti-Communist their students, or in some cases the issues we do, and why we even care unpredictable machines of war, will not propaganda through the blatant professors themselves, are in positions about them. Why, after all, is it that so build trust and confidence. The most information program, the tens of to influence government policy, which much of the energy and intelligence sensible way to do that is to engage the millions of dollars have poured out, is the final pay-off. They influence the of nations is used to make life painful parties in joint ventures for mutually willingly and without much critical policy to find a way of conciliation and difficult for other peoples and constructive and beneficial purposes, judgement. But when it has been a and compromise rather than warfare. nations, rather than to make life better such as trade, medical research, and question of exchanging students, of That’s the ultimate objective....I think for all? Why are we willing to fight development of cheaper energy interchanging the best of cultural (the Fulbright program) is a very and die over ideological questions and sources. To formulate and negotiate achievements between nations, there specific, concrete way to approach it sacrifice so much for abstractions so agreements of this kind requires well- has been much rending of hair over – to DO something, as people say, remote from personal satisfactions educated people leading or advising economy and a parsimonious doling- about peace. [From a Voice of America that bring fulfillment to our lives? our government. To this purpose out of the shekels. For this particular interview on the occasion of the 40th [From The Price of Empire] the Fulbright Program is dedicated. policy, the Congress must bear a large anniversary of the Fulbright Program, [Remarks on the occasion of the 40th part of the responsibility. 1986] anniversary of the Fulbright Program, 1986] Ever since the end of the Marshall It is altogether unrealistic – and Plan, when it has been a question probably undesirable as well – to aspire

136 137 Our future is not in the stars but in I have thought of everything I can should – impose our design for living rules. Such a program lacks the drama our own minds and hearts. Creative think of, and the one thing that on the uncertain but aspirant societies and romance of a global crusade. Its leadership and liberal education, gives me some hope is the ethos that of the world. This assumption is also virtue is that it represents a realistic which in fact go together, are the first underlies the educational exchange illogical. However admirable our design accommodation between our highest requirements for a hopeful future program. That ethos, in sum, is the may be, it cannot be imposed. [From a purposes and the limitations of human for humankind. Fostering these belief that international relations can Senate address, June 29, 1961] capacity. Its ultimate objective is indeed – leadership, learning, and empathy be improved, and the danger of war total victory, not alone for our arms between cultures – was and remains significantly reduced, by producing It is not our affluence or our plumbing in a nuclear war or for the goal of a the purpose of the international generations of leaders, especially in or our clogged freeways that grip the world forcibly recast in our image, but scholarship program that I was the big counties, who through the imagination of others. Rather, it is the rather for a process – a process of privileged to sponsor in the U.S. Senate experience of educational exchange, values upon which our system is built. civilizing international relations and over forty years ago. It is a modest will have acquired some feeling and These values imply our adherence not of bringing them gradually under a program with an immodest aim – the understanding of other peoples’ only to liberty and individual freedom worldwide regime of law and order and achievement in international affairs of cultures – why they operate as they but also to international peace, law and peaceful procedures for the redress of a regime more civilized, rational and do, why they think as they do, why order, and constructive social purpose. legitimate grievances. [From a Senate humane than the empty system of they react as they do – and of the When we depart from these values, we address, July 24, 1961] power of the past. I believed in that differences among these cultures. do so at our peril. The world, as we possibility when I began. I still do. It is possible – not very probable, have come to realize, also recognizes If ever [a universal victory for [From The Price of Empire] but possible – that people can find the double standard and demands democratic values] comes within reach, in themselves, through intercultural from the United States a higher it will come, I believe, not through acts Of all the joint ventures in which we education, the ways and means of order of conduct than is expected of foreign policy, and certainly not might engage, the most productive, living together in peace. [From The Price from others....If we are faithful to of military policy, but rather through in my view, is educational exchange. of Empire] our own values, while following an the magnetism of freedom itself. I have always had great difficulty intelligent, courageous, and consistent The prospects for freedom depend – since the initiation of the Fulbright line of policy, we are likely to find ultimately on how it is practiced in free scholarships in 1946 – in trying to Foreign Policy a high measure of the support we societies. [From Prospects for the West] find the words that would persuasively seek abroad. But if we fail our own explain that educational exchange It may be that the time has come values and ideals, ultimately we shall We make policy apart from the image is not merely one of those nice but to reappraise some of our basic have failed ourselves. [From a Senate of what our world would be like after a marginal activities in which we engage assumptions. Throughout much of address, June 29, 1961] war – or, as in the case of Vietnam or in international affairs, but rather, this century many Americans assumed Nicaragua, apart from any awareness from the standpoint of future world – wrongly – that the transgressions There are limitations to foreign of the piles of decomposing bodies, peace and order, probably the most and affronts to world order committed policy. We are neither omniscient nor the mutilated children the cemeteries, important and potentially rewarding of by aggressive forces were none of our omnipotent, and we cannot aspire to and the broken lives that are always our foreign policy activities. [From The business. With the collapse of that make the world over in our image. the tangible human results of any war. Price of Empire] assumption, a good many of us have Our proper objective is a continuing [From The Price of Empire] swung in the other direction and to the effort to limit the world struggle for opposite conclusion that we can – and power and to bring it under civilized

138 139 Ethics & Morality enlighten, to civilize those citizens to Leadership is followership, elevated to a science, whose hands is entrusted the ultimate for the purpose of self-advancement. Much of the evil of the world is power in our society. The writer is the I return to the thought with which [From The Price of Empire] beyond the reach of the law. The natural teacher of the people. I began that the leadership of the law cannot prevent gossip. It cannot President, of any President, is not We must dare to think “unthinkable” restrain men from avarice and gluttony. In this hurried mechanical age, the enough in the democratic, pluralistic thoughts. We must learn to explore It cannot restrain a man from betraying artist and intellectual are among the society which we have created on all the options and possibilities that his friends. In short, it cannot prevent few who have the serenity and sense of this continent. His leadership can be confront us in a complex and rapidly much of the evil to which men are, perspective which may help us to find effective only if he is able to bring changing world. We must learn to unfortunately, too prone. The law a way out of the fevered confusion about, with the help of all of us, a welcome and not to fear the voices of being inadequate, men long ago which presently afflicts us. consensus among our people. Since dissent. We must dare to think about supplemented the law courts with we are not an authoritarian society, “unthinkable things” because when courts of equity, where the spirit of the Through you, the political community this can be accomplished only by an things become unthinkable, thinking law, rather than its letter, is paramount. needs to be taught how and what to unparalleled effort on the part of stops and action becomes mindless.” Underlying the law are the codes laugh at, how and what to scorn or to everyone, to understand and to work [From a Senate address, March 27, of ethics promulgated by the great pity; needs to be taught continuously as never before, for the restoration 1964] religions and recognized by all civilized that honor is not the same as fame or of an appreciation of quality, of men as being essential to a humane and notoriety, that physical bravery is not beauty, of intelligence and integrity Courtesy of Fulbright Association (U.S.) enlightened existence. [From a Senate the only form of courage. It needs in our national sense of values. address, March 27, 1951] to be taught the proper objects of [From the Penrose Lecture, American anger of love. It needs to be taught Philosophical Society, Philadelphia, One of the most disturbing aspects the nature of justice. And above all, April 20, 1961] of this problem of moral conduct is the political community needs to be the revelation that, among so many taught that the capacity of the human Today our elected representatives, influential people, morality has become mind has yet to be explored, that and the “communications” experts identical with legality. We are certainly there can be new possibilities for men they employ, study and analyze public in a tragic plight if the accepted themselves. [From the National Book attitudes by sophisticated new polling standard by which we measure the Award Luncheon Address, New York techniques. But their purpose has little integrity of a man in public life is that City, January 25, 1955] to do with leadership, still less with he keeps within the letter of the law. education in any area of our national [From a Senate address, March 27, Our capacity for decent behavior life. Their purpose seems to consist 1951] seems to vary directly with our largely in discovering what people perception of others as individual want and feel and dislike, and then And finally what of the writer? You humans with human motives and in associating themselves with those have a unique responsibility to the feelings, whereas man’s capacity of feelings. They seek to discover which political community of which you are barbaric acts seems to increase with the issues can be safely emphasized and a part. That responsibility arises from perception of adversaries in abstract which are more prudently avoided. your talent, from your capacity to terms. [From The Price of Empire] This is the opposite of leadership; it

140 141 50th Anniversary of the Fulbright library which helped me in my research to the UN, ; into and study of the literature and my former university tutor, now Program history of my own region. At the Singapore’s Ambassador to the Saturday, December 7, 1996, same time, being at Cornell helped U.S., Professor Chan; and the then Singapore Art Museum me widen my academic network of junior Law Lecturer, whom we all those working in my field, both at hero-worshipped as students, now Cornell (such as the distinguished Ambassador Tommy Koh – I should Welcome speech by Professor Koh Tai Ann Benedict Anderson, Director of the like to express our collective gratitude Southeast Asian Studies Program to the begetter and the sponsors of We are gathered here not only to commemorate a significant and author of the much-cited book, this visionary Program. milestone, but also to celebrate the goodwill, international Imagined Communities, and the famed understanding and mutual transfer of knowledge made Southeast Asia historian, O.W. Wolters) Finally, as I am not likely to ever possible by the Fulbright Program. Just imagine the and through my participation in find again together in one room, multiplier effect of the Program on the U.S. and other seminars and conferences at other U.S. so many Fulbrighters both from societies it has touched through the lives and influence of universities. Moreover, apart from my Singapore and the U.S., may I also thousands of Fulbrighters cumulatively over half a century! academic activities, simply by living take the opportunity, to urge those The Fulbright Program is a shining instance of what an among the people and traveling around of you who have not as yet done so, individual of far-sighted vision can achieve with the support the U.S. I also became acquainted with to join the Fulbright Association, an of like-minded leaders and the people of his country, in a American society and with Americans independent, self-funding alumni body spirit of enlightened self-interest. It has, moreover, inspired from all walks of life. As I am sure with worldwide membership. Based by example, the support of participating countries all over it has done for other Fulbrighters, in Washington, its founding Honorary the world, including for the past 46 years, Singapore. the experience banished forever any Chairman was no less than the late lingering preconceptions of American Senator Fulbright himself. Through this generous and visionary Program, I was able to academe and socio-cultural life that I transport myself gratefully to what the locals of Ithaca call may have harboured ... preconceptions Or, we could form a local chapter “the gilded Siberia” of Cornell University. There, in 1987, that for instance, had led me earlier in to support and further his aim of I spent a hot summer and fruitful spell labouring in the my salad days, not to take up an offer fostering mutual understanding basement of the University Library where was housed the of a scholarship to Brandeis University. between the peoples of this world wonderful Wason-Echols collection of Asian and Southeast At the time, Cambridge, U.K. (a legacy thereby ensuring that support for the Asian literature, itself the product of another American of our British colonial education) Fulbright Program continues and visionary whose collection helped to make Cornell’s loomed larger in our ambitions for spreads. But that is subject for another Southeast Asian Programme a leader in its field. further education than say, Cambridge, occasion. Massachusetts. In a way, my Fulbright experience illustrates the complex And now, may I invite Dr. Mike direct and indirect benefits of the Program to both On behalf of the 180 Singaporean Anderson, Director of the U.S. individuals and the larger life of their societies. On the one Fulbrighters – among whom I count Information Service to tell us hand, I was given time and means to access a rare, unique many friends and also former students something about the history of the collection of mostly out-of-print textual material in a U. S. such as our current Ambassador Fulbright Program in Singapore.

142 143 Remarks by USIS Director Dr. people from other countries who have Straits Times or some other publication Thank you all for coming. Michael H. Anderson done the same in the United States. about yet another Singaporean ex- Fulbrighter who has a new important Professor Koh Tai Ann, Ambassador Included in those impressive figures job, been honored by his or her Bloch, Ambassador Koh, Ambassador are Singaporean Fulbrighters. The first community or profession, written a Chorba, and Fulbright alumni and Fulbright awards here were granted new book or a play or floated some friends: in 1951 when study and research interesting idea. opportunities were quite limited and On behalf of the U.S. Information few Singaporeans even dreamed of Unlike larger programs in countries Service (USIS), which administers venturing all the way over the U.S. to like Japan and Germany, the Singapore the Fulbright Program in Singapore, obtain an American higher education. Program historically has been let me welcome all of you to today’s Those early Fulbrighters were pioneers. essentially a U.S. Government-funded observance of the 50th anniversary of Today the flow of people coming and and -run Program, but a number of the Fulbright Program internationally going between the U.S. and Singapore Singaporean institutions have shown and the 46th anniversary of the is a torrent which serves to constantly their strong commitment to Fulbright Program in Singapore. reinforce the importance of our by some cost-sharing. dynamic bilateral relationship. Today we are all surrounded by good Contributions from these Singapore friends of the Fulbright Program. Singapore’s Fulbright Program still partners have been greatly appreciated Each of this afternoon’s speakers remains small, but it is dynamic. Our and have stretched our resources and everyone else in this room are alumni total about 180 Singaporeans at a time of tight budgets. I want supporters of the Fulbright vision. and an equal number of Americans. personally to thank the Singaporean We all share the belief that leadership, In recent years, about five Fulbright educational and other institutions learning and empathy between grants annually have been awarded which have opened their doors to cultures can be fostered through the to Singaporean academics and American Fulbrighters or encouraged international exchange of people. professionals. About the same Singaporeans to compete for a number of awards have been given to Fulbright award. The hospitality and Our emcee and our three other Americans who come to Singapore to the cooperation have been great. speakers are all Fulbright alumni, study, lecture or conduct research. and each, through their respective In closing, let me thank Ambassador distinguished careers, has supported Despite its modest size, the Singapore Chorba for his strong support of the Fulbright Program and projected Program is, – and always has been Fulbright and other USIS exchange its humanizing values. Since 1946, – prestigious. Fulbright awards have programs. Let me also thank three the Fulbright Program has exchanged always been highly competitive and other very busy, productive people nearly a quarter of a million people eagerly sought after by some of – Professor Koh, Ambassador Koh – more than 90,000 Americans who Singapore’s best and brightest. Hardly and Ambassador Bloch. Thanks to all have studied, taught or engaged in a week seems to go by that I don’t get of you for making time to grace this research abroad and more than 120,000 inquiries about Fulbright or read in The occasion.

144 145 Genesis of a Fulbright Association in I remember that everyone at the Best wishes for the future! initial meeting had to weigh his/her Singapore (1996-1998) current professional commitments Tracy K. Thiele, Branch Chief against the needs of starting a new American Institute in Taiwan, Kaohsiung Branch Office high profile organisation. Yet, gladly people stepped up to the plate and the new Association began. Although In 1996, Gloria Chandy and Celin Leung, both former I left soon after the initiation of the cultural affairs colleagues at the U.S. Embassy, spent long Fulbright Association, I understand hours culling the United States Information Agency’s from former colleagues that the exchange visitors files of Singapore’s Fulbright program, Association has had a good first decade which stretched back to 1969. An amazing array of names and is looking forward to even greater appeared, almost all with impressive lifelong achievements progress in the coming years. in Singapore’s fields of education and public administration, art and theatre, journalism and television, as well as Being present to share discussions diplomacy. about all the high ideals surrounding exchanges to foster mutual It happened that year that the U.S. Embassy in Singapore understanding that accompanied the sponsored an exhibit of photographs by New York formation of the Fulbright Association photographer Arthur Tress. We decided to have that exhibit (Singapore) was a satisfying moment. as part and parcel of the worldwide 50th anniversary of I’m proud that even from its early the Fulbright Program. Kicking off the opening of the beginnings the Fulbright Association exhibit, a private reception was held for all Singapore has kept up the spirit and ideals that Fulbrighters, including past and present students, scholars, Senator Fulbright set out so long ago. and researchers. The afternoon of the exhibit opening we As such, the Fulbright Association of were all so excited to have a chance to celebrate together the Singapore honors not only Senator 50th anniversary as well as to renew acquaintances with so Fulbright, but honors its own nation. many good friends. It stands as living proof that Singapore shares an international commitment to During that reception it became apparent to all associated and actively participates in the dynamic with the Fulbright Program that it was high time for world of public and private educational Singapore to join the list of countries that proudly exchange that binds the U.S. people sponsored Fulbright Alumni associations. Separate and the Singapore people so closely meetings of USIS officers and former and current together. Embassy staff with a variety of Singapore Fulbrighters generated enthusiasm for the idea, which resulted in the Thanks to all of you for keeping alive very first meeting of parties interested in seeing such an the spirit of Fulbright exchanges in organisation take shape. As with any start-up organisation, Singapore and throughout the world.

146 147 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Fulbright Association (Singapore) expresses its deepest gratitude to:

Minister Teo Chee Hean for agreeing to be our Guest- of-Honour for the 10th Fulbright Annual Dinner, and his gracious endorsement of this compilation by being the first to send in an account of his Fulbright experience;

Our distinguished Patrons – Ambassador Chan Heng Chee, Ambassador Patricia L. Herbold and Ambassador Tommy Koh – for their well-wishes and opening messages;

The American Embassy in Singapore for its generous sponsorship towards the production of this book;

Valerie Fowler, Goh Hwee Lian, and Kathleen Guerra of the American Embassy in Singapore for their constant encouragement and unstinting support for all our initiatives;

Associate Professor Victor R. Savage and Tracy K. Thiele for sharing their reminiscences of the founding of Fulbright Association (Singapore);

Jane L. Anderson of Fulbright Association (U.S.) for sharing her insights in honour of Senator Fulbright;

Assistant Professor Yeoh Kok Cheow (K. C. Yeoh) of the Nanyang Technological University’s Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information, for his creativity in designing this publication; and

All the 62 Fulbrighters who took their time to pen their Fulbright experiences to make this publication possible.

148 149 “The Fulbright Program aims to bring a little more knowledge, a little more reason, and a little more compassion into world affairs and thereby to www.fulbright.org.sg increase the chance that nations will learn at last to live in peace and friendship”

Senator J. William Fulbright

ISBN 978-981-05-7996-8