Rachel’s Fulbright Blog Series

There is much you learn about a place when you travel on public transport.

The users of public transport, for instance, are an interesting study. On my regular commuter travel through Virginia and DC, some of these impressions – very speculative, I might add – emerge. The professional dapper commuters on the morning metro contrasts sharply with the exhausted-looking, minority women on the late evening local bus clutching numerous and over-filled shopping bags. I have been told to be wary of public transport generally here in the US but each time I have been on it, the diversity of languages – Spanish, Arabic, South and East Asian as much as English – is a remarkable reminder of multicultural richness of this country. I have not had reason to be wary thus far…

The run-off for the Georgia Senate seat last week completed the mid-term elections that started on November 6th. I’ve been meaning to write some reflection on the elections especially as it was one of the drawcards that brought me on this Fulbright at this time of the year to Washington DC.

There’s much that’s been said about the recent mid-terms – about the red wave that turned into a trickle; the surprise at pundits’ predictions that failed, Trumpism flailing, and calls for the GOP to reconstitute itself without Trump. There’s also the understated victories for diversity: record number elected officials who are women, ethnic minorities, and LGBTQI, historic gains by Muslim Americans, Gretchen Witmer back in Michigan after awful attacks against her during the Covid response, among others…

On October 12th, I attended the half-day conference Delegation of the European Union to the United States, entitled ‘Women in Power’  held in downtown Washington DC.The conference was divided into three sessions. The opening address was by Professor Pippa Norris noted political scientist whose presentation focused on emerging challenges in women’s political participation. These challenges are especially concerning in light of the gains made by populist parties and politics globally, the weakening of rights-based institutions, the rise of anti-gender movements and the threats of violence to women in the public spheres…

I will start my Fulbright blog with a photo of the Potomac river on my walk to Georgetown my first day in Washington DC. Looking over the bridge at the seemingly unending ribbon of cobalt blue, my first impression was of the ‘mighty Waikato’ and home in Kirikiriroa/Hamilton, a touchstone of belonging for me in Aotearoa New Zealand.  Where there is a river, there is a call to home…