The DU Lounge
Related: Culture Forums, Support ForumsSo proud I could bust! My son has been awarded a 10 month Fulbright Scholarship
to do a research project in Berlin, Germany for the 2013-14 academic year!
Hubby and I plan to visit him...hopefully both in the fall and next spring.
This is my son with a vision impairment due to a juvenile genetic disease
that causes macular degeneration. He is legally blind--and has been since
he had major vision loss when he was nine. He never let his disability
prevent him from anything he wanted to do. He sees with his peripheral vision.
He was a double major in college: German and Comparative Lit.
Studied abroad in Berlin for summer session prior to his senior year.
We're just so proud of him!
Tuesday Afternoon
(56,912 posts)for Good News!!
mnhtnbb
(31,381 posts)and it was so WONDERFUL to get the good news!
CONGRATULATIONS ! As an ex-fulbright scholar ( from Berlin to Minneapolis ) I know what a thrill this is . Berlin is such a wonderful city , and the universities are great . For me , this was a long time ago (1955 to 1956) . I hope he will enjoy his time there .
Alles Gute für das naechste Jahr !
nolabear
(41,959 posts)Nothing, nothing like having one's kid do well.
csziggy
(34,135 posts)Congratulations to him.
HipChick
(25,485 posts)you must be so proud
MinneapolisMatt
(1,550 posts)Congratulations!!!!!!!!!!!
tavalon
(27,985 posts)The aside about his vision problems aside, that is very prestigious for anyone. It's great that he didn't let his disability get in his way and kudos to his parents for supporting that POV.
vanlassie
(5,668 posts)mnhtnbb
(31,381 posts)When he was in high school his German teacher ran an exchange program every other year.
We hosted a German student for 3 weeks and our son lived with that boy's family in Germany for
3 weeks. So we hope to see our German 'son'.
Years ago...in fact the year this son was born, we hosted a French exchange
student for a year when we lived in St. Joseph, MO. We've stayed in touch with
her all these years (son will be 23 next month) and she visited us three years
ago. When our son was on his summer study abroad, he spent a weekend in
Paris and our French 'daughter' picked him up at the airport and arranged
for him to stay at her brother's apartment in Paris! So we are also hoping
to arrange to visit her!
vanlassie
(5,668 posts)TexasTowelie
(112,070 posts)Congratulations on your son's achievements and I wish everyone a fun time. Stay smart--stay safe!
tblue37
(65,273 posts)Fulbright year. It was great!
That is so impressive!
Congratulations.
snacker
(3,619 posts)I'm VERY impressed...so excited for all of you!
abelenkpe
(9,933 posts)Congratulations! Hope he has a fabulous year.
onestepforward
(3,691 posts)What an exciting time!
Congratulations!
Omaha Steve
(99,570 posts)Once won a raffle.
K&R!
mnhtnbb
(31,381 posts)for recognizing his vision problem.
She called me one day and said she didn't think he could see the chalkboard.
I had just had him in for an eye exam and all was fine! But, she convinced
me that I should take him again.
I sat in on it and watched him completely unable to see the eye chart.
The optometrist asked him to go out of the room and told me it was one
of three things: he's faking; he has a brain tumor; he has this juvenile genetic
disease--Stargardt's--which results in sudden loss of vision.
No history in either of our families but both his dad and I turned out to be carriers.
It was confirmed at U of Iowa --regional eye center for NE/IA--
that it was Stargardt's.
Our son had not said one word about his vision changing. The teacher
could have not noticed it--or not paid attention--and all of a sudden
his grades would have taken a nose dive or even worse, he could have
lost interest in school.
I have kept that teacher updated all through his high school and college
years. Now I have another reason to let her know just how much we appreciated
her attentiveness to her student's needs.
renate
(13,776 posts)Congratulations to your son! His achievement is truly extraordinary--no wonder you're bursting with pride!
joesdaughter
(243 posts)A testament to a lot of hard work. Way to go !
Sekhmets Daughter
(7,515 posts)your son is a remarkable young man and he's been gifted with remarkable parents. Congratulations to all of you!
Samantha
(9,314 posts)CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU AND YOUR SON.
Sam
hrmjustin
(71,265 posts)You guys must be very proud.
elleng
(130,857 posts)abq e streeter
(7,658 posts)pnwmom
(108,973 posts)secondwind
(16,903 posts)Lil Missy
(17,865 posts)CoffeeCat
(24,411 posts)...and as you should!
This is just wonderful. I am sure that he will go on to do great things and make a meaningful
impact on the world.
defacto7
(13,485 posts)That's an accomplishment to be proud of!
midnight
(26,624 posts)juajen
(8,515 posts)SunSeeker
(51,550 posts)flygal
(3,231 posts)First congrats to you and your son! Wow, what an accomplishment!
And he gets a whole year in Berlin! Great city! I live in Germany and LOVE it here! We get by with one car, the land is so beautiful and there is so much to do besides shopping!! We love that the stores are closed on Sundays because we get out with all the people walking around and taking in the beauty.
Look forward to hearing about your visits!
Bertha Venation
(21,484 posts)What a wonderful honor and opportunity!
talkingmime
(2,173 posts)tblue37
(65,273 posts)for the 2005-2006 academic year. During her Fulbright year she took a master's in public health and social policy at University College in Dublin, then returned to Georgetown to finish med school. A Fulbright is, as Biden would say, a Big F****** Deal. You should be over the moon proud!
On edit: remember the Redbull Stratos Project, where the guy parachuted from the edge of space? Well, my daughter was the lead field doctor for that project. Because the selection process is so competitive, Fulbright Fellows are incredibly smart go-getters, and they tend to burn up the tarmac in their future professional lives! Your kid has an incredible future ahead of him!
mnhtnbb
(31,381 posts)for a Ph.D. in Dramaturgy as his next step after the Fulbright in Berlin.
I have to say he is stacking up the credits. (He did graduate
with highest honors and Phi Beta Kappa. Also was given
the undergraduate award for most distinguished academic record
in German language and literature in his senior year.)
On top of all his academic achievements, he is a very witty and personable
guy. He was able to engage all kinds of friends to help him throughout
high school and college because of his social skills.
We are over the moon proud--and very optimistic for his next
choice.
NewJeffCT
(56,828 posts)You should be proud of him.
redwitch
(14,944 posts)That's some wonderful kid you have! Congratulations to all!
grantcart
(53,061 posts)Just look at the parents.
olddots
(10,237 posts)and you get to visit------remember give him a few hours notice before showing up ----he is still a boy .
Moondog
(4,833 posts)He, and you, and your husband have every reason to be proud.
Well done, Mom!
mnhtnbb
(31,381 posts)DU has been an on/off home for me for many, many years.
I have to give DU credit for being my 'go to' place to find
out what is happening in the world--and to know that I'm
not alone in how I feel about the events.
DU is the source for my optimism. There are so many
kind and caring people here. I love you all!
blm
(113,039 posts)Looks like ALL of DU is proud for you, too. ; )
IrishEyes
(3,275 posts)Congratulations.
peacebird
(14,195 posts)harmonicon
(12,008 posts)I applied for a Fulbright, but, alas, I a don't have your son's skills. I have friends who did them though, and I from the little I know, it should be a great experience for him - and KILLER on a resume.
idwiyo
(5,113 posts)Denis 11
(280 posts)GREAT JOB BY YOUR SON. GOOD LUCK in all his future endeavors!
In_The_Wind
(72,300 posts)oldandhappy
(6,719 posts)and a big WOW to all of you. He is great. And you are also because you have been there every step of the way.
Have a great time visiting. Be safe. Best wishes.
MiddleFingerMom
(25,163 posts).
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I was in Berlin in 1975 or -76, when The Wall was still up.
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It was an EXCITING island in the middle of a dull-grey Communist ocean.
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Best zoo that I've ever been in -- the smells and sounds would still probably be fun (it wouldn't hurt
to check and see if they have any kind of "Hands-On" program -- that would be EXCEPTIONAL.
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I came THIS close to being arrested as a spy -- a relief that I wasn't at the time... the loss of one
of the potentially COOLEST stories in MFM's past is the disappointing thing about it now.
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I stayed at the internationally-known Hotel Kempinski. The jerk-jerk-JERK of a concierge didn't ask
me until I was checking out if I had enjoyed their co-ed nude sauna.
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Did I mention that he was a jerk?
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Congratulations!!! Admirably well-played!!!!!
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mnhtnbb
(31,381 posts)and learned that he interned in Senator Fulbright's office
while he was an undergrad student at Georgetown.
Hubby was in Berlin while it was divided, too. What is it with
guys almost getting arrested there back in the day?!?
MiddleFingerMom
(25,163 posts).
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German beer.
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And silly me for not looking farther -- I Googled Clinton and Fulbright and saw hits without looking
at the details.
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oldandhappy
(6,719 posts)sometimes my computer reprints something I typed at an earlier time. So Congratulations and forget the 10,000 post thing. Yikes.
LisaL
(44,973 posts)JohnnyLib2
(11,211 posts)Congratulations to the whole family!
Rowdyboy
(22,057 posts)a fabulous time (also in Germany). Wish your kid an equal experience!
mnhtnbb
(31,381 posts)to celebrate the achievements of someone you love who
had to struggle to get there and NEVER complained about
the struggle.
mnhtnbb
(31,381 posts)So this is a kid who can't recognize Mom (me) on the street
until we're practically at arms length. He learned how to use
vision aids to get around--but refused to use them. He would
just engage people to help him.
After he came home from his summer study in Berlin almost
three years ago, he told me that people were 'mean' in the subway.
When I asked him why, what did they do, he said he would ask
for directions on which way to go--platform, etc--and they would
respond "read the sign!". Well, of course he can't read the signs
because he can't see them. Of course he asked in perfect
German. I told him that he has to tell people he can't SEE the signs,
would they please tell him which way to go.
He has always refused to pull the "I can't" card when asking for help.
On that same trip--coming home--he got in the wrong line for clearing
immigration/customs. He waited all through the non-US citizen line
to have the agent ask him why was he there? Well, he can't SEE
the signs to read which line to get in!
So, you can imagine what he's accomplished on his own with this attitude.
Loryn
(943 posts)Congratulations