Suzan Al-Ajjawi is a technical coordinator at the Environment and Wildlife Directorate in the Kingdom of Bahrain, off the coast of Saudi Arabia. She is also the single mother of four children ages 6 to 13 and is currently separated from her children by 11 time zones and almost 8,000 miles.
Being away is hard. But in the end, it will be worth it, says Al-Ajjawi, one of nine accomplished professionals from around the world studying at UC Davis as part of the Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program. The visiting scholars -- now more than halfway through the program -- are gearing up for some of their biggest challenges yet in a year that has been particularly rewarding, even by Humphrey standards, says program director Paul Marcotte.
The Humphrey Program brings approximately 140 foreign professionals dedicated to public service to 14 American universities each year to enhance their professional development and foster cultural exchanges. Funded through the U.S. Department of State, the program was started during President Jimmy Carter's administration.
The program was hosted by UC Davis from 1986 until 1996, and again since 2001. Its purpose is to provide one year of graduate study and professional experience for the fellows, who will then apply their newly acquired knowledge and skills to their professions at home.
"These are our future contacts and leaders in other countries. And it's better than the United Nations, because we don't have a political agenda," said Marcotte, who also is associate director of international programs for the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.
Fellows visiting UC Davis this year share common interests in agricultural development and environmental science. Still, they come from diverse professional backgrounds, including the National Electric Utility Company in Senegal, Turkey's Ministry of Irrigation, and the Environmental Protection Agency in Ghana.
The group arrived in September and, after a three-week orientation, began their studies. Each fellow has been working under a faculty mentor, while attending classes and weekly seminars on topics relevant to his or her field of study. Fellows also work with local agencies and organizations and offer presentations to the professional and academic community.
Perhaps their most challenging experience starts in the spring, when they begin their professional internships. Fellows work with U.S. professionals in private or public organizations related to their professional fields and are introduced to U.S. approaches to their areas of expertise. Meanwhile, the fellows share new perspectives with U.S. colleagues and specialists.
"The internships aim to give fellows practical experience in their field that they can take back and apply at home, while also creating lasting ties between U.S. citizens and their counterparts in other countries," Marcotte said.
The fellows know this is a wonderful opportunity, but it also comes with great sacrifice. Many, like Al-Ajjawi, have experienced a wealth of personal growth and professional development, but have also left family and friends at home.
"It's hard," said Al-Ajjawi, who left her children with her parents. "I'm counting the days until I can see them."
"Focusing your concentration is very difficult," added Yaw Amoyaw-Osei, whose wife came to visit, but their two children remain in Ghana.
The fellows agree some personal discomfort is necessary if they wish to contribute to the development of their countries. "This is not only for me, it's for them," said Al-Ajjawi of her children. "It's their future, too."
"If you want to eat an omelet, you have to break the egg," said Afiavi Agboh-Noahmeshie, the national coordinator of Farming Systems Research and Technology Transfer in Togo. "We knew there would be some sacrifice."
Fellows further faced the task of adapting to a new culture. Before September, only a couple of them had ever traveled to the United States before.
Some were taken aback by the same-sex marriages being performed in San Francisco or the open discussion of such taboo topics as sexual harassment. Others were pleasantly surprised by the courtesy of Davis drivers and the allowance for eating in the classroom. Luis Roberto Proença, an environmental attorney from Brazil, was astonished by Americans' fixation with pets.
Fellows were also surprised by the relationships between American students and their professors. They said professors at UC Davis are more approachable and seem to put themselves on the same level as the students.
"In my country, we look at the lecturer like they're the boss," said Al-Ajjawi.
For many fellows, adjustment to American culture was slow. Even after orientation, many were uncertain at first. "You wonder if what you're saying or the way you're saying it is the right way," said Amoyaw-Osei.
A close-knit group
If some homesickness is inevitable, then at least the 2003-04 Humphrey Fellows group is oriented in such a way to help deal with the problem, said Marcotte, noting a somewhat unique aspect of this year's group -- the palpable accord they have shared from very early on.
Each year has its own dynamic, it's own personality, Marcotte said. "This year the fellows really congealed as a group," he said. "They do everything together."
It's not the norm, Marcotte said, noting the tension that can exist between international scholars. "But this year we immediately got past all of that."
So it's not just a two-way, back-and-forth exchange between each scholar and U.S. citizens, he said. This year, the interaction is greatly enhanced as scholars strike "cross-regional understandings."
"It's wonderful," Marcotte said.
In spite of facing some culture shock, the nine fellows have not lost sight of their purpose: acquiring applicable knowledge and skills.
Al-Ajjawi and Amoyaw-Osei have spent their time on environmental policy. Falilou Seye of Senegal and Tuncer Dincergok of Turkey are focusing on renewable energy. Yao Nguessan of Cote d'Ivoire in Northern Africa, and Helda Ishaq of Syria are learning about managing natural resources. Agboh-Noameshie is working to improve her skills in managing the adoption of agricultural technology. Ricardo Contreras of Ecuador is studying agricultural marketing, while Proença is expanding his knowledge of environmental law.
They are now preparing for their six-week professional affiliations. Some fellows will remain on campus studying organic farming, though not all fellows will stay in Davis. Proença will be off to the EPA office in San Francisco, and Amoyaw-Osei will work in Sacramento with Jones and Stokes, an environmental consulting firm.
The fellows will return home in June, when the real work will begin. They will finally have an opportunity to put everything they've learned during the year to use.
"I believe that I have gained a lot of knowledge that I'll be able to apply," said Nguessan.
The U.S. Department of State provides about $50,000 per fellow per year -- which provides money for tuition and other course fees, field trips, travel, supplies, seminars and more, Marcotte said.
For instance, this year, in addition to their individual areas of study, fellows attended a leadership retreat at Lake Tahoe focusing on Stephen Covey's "Seven Effective Habits," took coursework in proposal writing and traveled to San Francisco for a cultural tour. The itinerary has also included visits to UCLA as well as Washington, D.C., for professional conferences and to build professional ties.
Fellows also receive a monthly $1,550 stipend for living expenses while they are in Davis. And the campus contributes faculty mentors, program coordination, and work and meeting facilities. UC Davis faculty mentors, meanwhile, receive $1,000 each to help offset lab and other costs associated with hosting a fellow.
Educating Americans
Fellows come hoping to gain knowledge and experience, but their presence also contributes to the education of Americans they come in contact with.
"You have a perspective from someone who's had a completely different set of life experiences," said Richard Plant, professor of agronomy and range science and a faculty mentor for the Humphrey Program. "Yao has a civil war going on right now in his country. It's very hard to appreciate what that's like."
Program assistant Sasha Ferreira agreed with Plant. "I've learned so much about many different cultures," Ferreira said. "The program creates a culture of understanding and appreciation within our community."
Vice Provost for University Outreach and International Programs William Lacy said the program is, indeed, mutually advantageous. "It greatly strengthens their ability to contribute to the needs of their own country," he said. "At the same time, the program enriches our campus's education and research efforts. We all benefit."