Lily Wright (she/her) was a 2023-24 Fulbright English Teaching Assistant to Belgium. After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in English and French, Lily spent a year serving her home state of West Virginia as an AmeriCorps VISTA member. In addition to her work inside the classroom as an ETA in Brussels, Lily explored the culture of Brussels and shared her Appalachian culture with students.
Q: “Describe your role as an ETA”
I am an ETA to two different secondary schools in Brussels, Athénée Adolphe Max (French-speaking) and Atheneum Brussel (Dutch-speaking). I split my time evenly between the two schools, so 6 hours each. Initially, deciding on a schedule was difficult because there were a lot of classes overlapping between the schools, so I eventually had to prioritize the schedule of one school (the one that gave me their schedule first) and then give the rest of my availability to the other school. Usually I work five days a week, but the hours aren’t super long! As a teaching assistant in both schools, my role differs a little bit depending on the class. At Adolphe Max, I work with several different teachers and many different grade levels, and at Atheneum I work with only one English teacher and two grade levels plus a theater class. In general, I help proctor and grade tests, I lecture and co-lecture on various topics, lead discussions, work with students individually on homework, and design presentations and games for the class.
Q: “What inspired you to apply to the Fulbright Program in Belgium?”
I wanted the ability to immerse myself in a different culture and different languages. Brussels is such a multicultural city that is very much at the heart of Europe, so I knew I would gain exposure to a lot of different perspectives and backgrounds during my grant. I got to teach kids who hail from all corners of the world here in Brussels, and it made teaching enriching for me not just to see their English improve, but also to learn more about them and build those connections. Being able to use my French was quite handy, and I’m glad that it’s helped my language acquisition. I am also grateful to have been exposed to the Dutch language and Flemish culture in my school systems.
Q:”What has been the most interesting topic you have been able to share with your students?”
The topic that most of my older students were most interested in was learning about gun violence in the U.S. I thought it was important to do more than just tell them about the truly dire situation we face in the U.S., but also to explain how we got here and what the barriers are to lasting change. I did a presentation for my 5th and 6th years on just that: Challenges & Solutions to Solving Gun Violence in America. I talked about the pro-gun lobbyists and their influence, state law vs. federal law, and the 2nd Amendment. They were extremely receptive to this presentation in all classes and they had a lot of follow-up questions to ask, as this is such a different system than what exists in Europe. My hope is that if they are ever confronted with this argument, they would be able to explain to their peers or others the complex system that distinguishes U.S. politics.
Q: “Describe a typical day in your life”
My day starts by making breakfast and feeding my cat, Leo! He is a stray that showed up at our flat, and my roommates and I fostered him for the year before we found him a forever home! Depending on the day, my work starts either in the early morning, mid-morning, or the afternoon. It can be hard to find a routine as an ETA because we typically have much more varied schedules, so I really recommend committing to trying something new after work at least twice a week. In the beginning I would be so tired from teaching and the bad weather that I would want to go home and sit in my apartment, but I really challenge you to make the most of your extra time. That can mean volunteering, seeing a film or show (Cinema Palace is my favorite in Brussels!) going to museums (I recommend the Horta Museum and the Belgian Royal Museum of Fine Arts!), or even trying out a new cafe or going on a walk with a friend in a new neighborhood. It’s these moments that have really made me appreciate living in Brussels, and that also make me feel like a local!
Q: “In what ways have you engaged with your host community in Belgium?”
Although I’ve learned from this grant that engaging in the community can manifest in a myriad of ways, one of ways I engaged the most was through extending my education endeavors through tutoring. I had two separate tutoring assignments independent of my institutions this year — one at the secondary level and one master’s level — and getting to know my students on a more informal level is a great privilege. I get to tailor the lessons/conversations to whatever I want, and that makes it fun in the process! Although I’ve discovered that teaching isn’t where I see myself pursuing a career, I think that volunteering as a tutor can definitely be part of my future plans, even back in the United States, as it’s made me feel incredibly connected to the community.
Q: “Can you tell us the story of a particular memorable moment from your time in Belgium?”
One of the most memorable times of my grant was during a time when I was struggling a bit mentally. Due to various reasons, I did not travel back to the U.S. during the Christmas holiday, and I didn’t leave Belgium either. I was spending the majority of my time studying for an entrance exam, and it was pitch black outside from around 5 in the evening until almost 9 in the morning. I was feeling isolated and lonely. Seeing that I had no one to celebrate Christmas with, Pauline, my wonderful co-teacher at Atheneum Brussel, invited me over to her place for a Christmas Eve meal. I had the best time with Pauline, her partner, and her Belgian friends. I’m so grateful that they invited me to their table for some yummy food and Christmas cheer. This was in many ways for me a turning point in the outlook of how I viewed my grant — I realized that every moment here is important to experience fully.
Q: “In what ways has life in Belgium surprised you, either for its similarities to or differences from your own culture?”
Living in Brussels is in many ways a lot different from living in West Virginia, which is where I’m from. The politics, the people, and the landscape feel very distinct. However, the similarities exist in how I’ve been treated during my time here. I consider West Virginia to contain some of the kindest people in the world, and now the same goes for Brussels. Defying the big city stereotype in many ways, I find people here to be patient and generous once they get to know you.
Q; “What advice would you give to someone who is considering applying to the Fulbright Program?”
My advice is to be optimistic and authentic during every step of the process. Avoid comparing yourself to others during the grant. I find the Fulbright community to be an essential support system during the grant period here — especially in the beginning — but don’t be discouraged if others are adjusting differently or connecting differently than you. This is YOUR journey, and you will be able to do things and be things that are meant for your timeline and will make Belgium feel like home!
