The Known Strangers

Yesterday was quite a long day. The airplane that was supposed to fly us from Arkansas to Cincinnati experienced a technical fault, which caused a delay in its departure. As a result, we had to change our flight and route to Arkansas - Charlotte - Durham at the last minute. Unfortunately, the bags that had already been checked in were not transferred to the new flight in time, leading to a commotion. By the time I got home in Durham, it was 12:30 a.m. Perhaps this was a test of my adaptability in the U.S.A. After returning home from school during the mid-session, I slept for a long time. Now, I am perfectly fine. The regional meeting has concluded, and I may not have the opportunity to meet most of the Fulbrighters I met here again in my life. We all face similar professional challenges, difficulties, emotions, and feelings. We are sailing in the same boat. We shared our experiences, learned from each other, and then departed for our respective places. The Fulbright program created a bond and relationship among us, the "known strangers." It’s a wonderful feeling to connect with people from different corners of the world and develop an emotional relationship with them. I was given an Arkansas traveler memento and a Little Rock diamond by Dr. Walter Nunn, affectionately known as "The Daddy" due to his hospitality. He was the coordinator of this successful regional meeting.