Q. How did you plan on coming to the U.S from Hungary?
A. I was introduced to a senator, Fulbright, who organized a Teacher Exchange Program. I’m living in the U.S on a grant while Mrs. Tomisato is living in Hungary.
Q. How does the exchange program work?
A. Mrs. Tomisato and I completely exchanged jobs and homes. I am living in her house while she is living in my apartment in Hungary.
Q. What made you interested in the exchange program?
A. I’ve always wanted to visit the U.S because in other countries you always get to hear about what the U.S is like and all it has to give, but it’s really amazing when you get to experience it firsthand.
Q. As a teacher in AHS, what do you like or dislike?
A. The systems from Hungary to here are very different. I have to drive to work where otherwise in Hungary I take public transportation to get from one place to another. I have to be at school by 7am and it’s so early for me since in Hungary I don’t have to be in school until 8:15 am. Each class here is 90 minutes as opposed to Hungary, it’s 45 minutes. I think shorter classes are a lot better because it keeps a student interested in what they are learning. It gets hard for me to try and keep a student focused and interested in what we’re learning. Students in Hungary have 15 minute breaks and the most students get here is the 7 minute they use to transition from one class to the other.
Q. How long are you staying in the U.S?
A. I’m only here for as long as one academic school year
Q. What are some challenges you had to overcome on your stay here?
A. My flight was canceled so it took me a while to get here in the first place. Once I landed in the JFK airport, my luggage had been missing for three days so I did not really have anything on me. Working at AHS does get a little stressful because it’s such a huge school and I have so many more colleagues than I’m use to, but the staff has been very helpful and warming.
Q. What are some exciting things you’ve been able to do while you’ve been here?
A. One of my dreams has come true since my stay here which was to visit the Grand Canyon. I also went to Seattle, Washington for a conference. This weekend I’m going to a theater to watch Candide in Washington.