Crossing Oceans, Bridging Worlds and Being Bright in Uncertain Times

Moving to the United States as a Fulbright scholar is an incredibly exciting step in ones professional and personal journey. 

As with many Finns especially those with a foreign background, embarking on a Fulbright journey goes beyond carrying just suitcases; you and your family carry unique stories, preserved traditions, rich culture and perspectives. For us, it was exciting to think how we could share all that with people on the other side of the Atlantic — and how much we could learn in return.

Finding our place and sharing our roots

From the moment we arrived, people were curious about Finland — and even more intrigued when they learned about our Ghanaian-Finnish background. 

In Michigan, this cultural diversity became a bridge. Conversations often began with Finland’s education system, the beauty of Finnish nature or being the happiest country in the world, but soon expanded into stories about Ghanaian warmth, family traditions, and how these two worlds shaped who we are.

Our children became natural cultural ambassadors. At school, on soccer fields, and at the parks and gardens, they proudly shared Finnish words and greetings. They shared with their friends about Finnish education system, and even convinced their teammates to try salmiakki, a popular Nordic confection featuring black liquorice flavoured with ammonium chloride.

Watching them embrace this ambassadorial role so naturally reminded me what cross-cultural exchange and global citizen truly looks like: it’s lived, not lectured.

Growing as a scholar and as a person

On whether it is worth it to study or go for exchange in the States. I will definitely encourage anyone to grab such a rare opportunity. Professionally, the Fulbright year was nothing but transformative. Being exposed to the U.S. research environment pushed me to step outside my familiar framework. 

The openness, collaboration, and curiosity of professors, colleagues and friends at the University of Michigan, Erb Institute and School for Environment and Sustainability inspired me to think differently and reimagine how research can connect with society. 

But beyond the academic progress, it was the human connections such as the weekly dissertation writing and group discussions, the weekend soccer games, the evening gym with friends, the shared meals, the volunteering and meaningful community events that stayed with me.

Lessons and tips for grantees travelling with families

Fulbright gave us a year of discovery — of others and of ourselves. And for that, I am forever grateful.

Despite the excitement, embarking on an exchange with family to a country for the first time can be daunting and overwhelming. As your host university and community is destined to keep you busy both academically and socially, having strategies in place to ensure you Fulbright term stays memorable is a good idea. Below are a few tips and lessons learned from my journey and time at the University of Michigan, Erb Institute.

• Plan early and involve everyone in the adventure. Talk openly with your family about expectations, interests, and possible challenges. Preparation reduces uncertainty. Let your children and partner feel part of the planning. It helps them embrace the change with excitement rather than uncertainty.
• Budgeting, Logistics, Housing and schools/daycare for family. It is important to apply for additional grants from other Foundations to complement your Fulbright grant.
  
  Make sure to have physical files to keep copies of important documents such as passports, marriage certificate, kids birth certificate, DS2019, Fulbright grant decision, and completed medical forms, for each family member traveling with you in addition to having scanned copies.
  
  Housing can be challenging and expensive. Make sure to tap into your network, Fulbright alumni, your host university or Friends of Fulbright Finland (FoFF) network to help you handle accommodation issues before you go. Alternative is to book AirBnB while you go and sort out your accommodation in person. Never pay any money to strangers for housing.
  
  If you already know where you will be staying, it is advisable to engage with the school your child will be going to know the medical requirements. Do all the medicals in Finland if possible and have the documents translated in English before and certified before starting your journey
• Connect early with people and local communities. Schools, local libraries, sports clubs and the Fulbright alumni network are great ways to make friends and settle in quickly. Join community centres, parent and spouse networks, or local clubs — they’re invaluable sources of support and friendship.
• Be kind to yourselves. Adjustment takes time. Each family member adapts differently, and that’s perfectly normal. Give space and time for that process.
• Keep Finland close and share your culture openly. Celebrate Finnish traditions, whether through food, music, or everyday conversation, cultural exchange is at the heart of the Fulbright experience. It strengthens your identity while enriching your host community.
• Find an activity to do with the family. Be it through attending local sports events, participating in seasonal traditions, hosting potluck or volunteering. For example, I participated in a county challenge to visit all 160 parks in Ann Arbor with my family. Not only did we just visit those parks, we volunteered to clean each of the park we visited, embodying the true spirit of Fulbright values of community engagement, public diplomacy and leadership in action
• Stay curious and open-hearted. The most rewarding experiences often come from unexpected invitations or conversations. Say “yes” often but don’t lose focus on why you are there.
• Document the journey and share your Fulbright experience. Keep a family journal or photo diary. It turns memories into shared treasures long after you return home.