Hopefully useful info for next year Fulbrighters

After being matched:
I recommend communicating with your partner as much as possible . You have to learn as much info about where you are going as possible. It depends on the relationship but it is recommended to have a mutual agreement between the partners on the things like utility payments, housework duties, car exchange, etc. You can also exchange the photos of the school, classroom, houses or apartments, neighborhood, etc. Then arrange possible requirements from your partner, e.g. Internet connection, cell phone, etc.
Air ticket and insurance:
As you probably know, the Fulbright Commission pays for the grantee's ticket and also insurance. Dependants have to provide themselves with both. Don't forget that you start your stay with a "5 day orientation" in DC which makes the tickets for your family more expensive. The thing I did was, I flew to DC and then to Los Angeles where my family joined me. They flew directly to LA. Obviously it depends on the financial situation of each family. The Fulbright Commission was very helpful and booked the tickets. As for the insurance for my daughter and wife, I learnt after I came here that my employer (LAUSD) also includes medical insurance for my dependants. We had to cancel the insurance we bought in CZ, with cancellation fees. Therefore I recommend to contact your host school and find out whether it covers also the rest of your family.
The grant:
Your stay will be supported by a grant. You will be paid three times during the course of the year. I have to say it is enough money for the year. It, of course, depends on where you will be placed, as different cities and states have different costs of living; in any case it is enough money to travel, go to restaurants once in a while, pay for the utilities, gas, etc. The first three months will be the most difficult because you will be learning the value of the dollar and finding out the costs of things. Also you will probably have more expenses in the first three months (mostly car and different deposits). Here are some examples of regular expenses: car insurance 50 $/mo., phone bill ( dish network, Internet conn.,cell phone, land phone incl.) $300/mo., gas bill $40 /mo., water and power $20 /mo., gas $30/full, one week grocery shopping $100, dinner in a restaurant $30-70/2 adults (ordinary restaurants),etc.
Car and driving in US:
It obviously depends on the mutual agreement between the partners, however Fulbright doesn't recommend car transfers. We did it anyway. We transfered the car, I paid for the transfer, smog check, and the insurance (these are the expenses you have at the beginning of the stay) and at the end of my stay here I will transfer the car back to Kylowna. Anyway, if you decide to buy your own car, prices of a used car start at about $2000. I believe and you know what car dealers are like all over the world:-). Then in depends on the particular state again but it is required to have a local driving licence when one works there. You will go to DMV, go over a vision test, fill out some paper work, get the brochure and set an appointment for the written test, and the on-road driving test (only after the written test is passed), which is in your own (insured) car with an instructor (very brave men, btw). It is not that difficult. I myself took it twice as I underestimated the written part the first time. You will have to spend some time and read the manual carefully because some questions are really tricky and will get you if you aren't careful with word meanings. Driving here is really easy, even in large cities.
School and teaching in US:
It's completely different to what we are used to in CZ. Which is a good thing of course, for one can learn so many new things: activities, approaches, methods, etc. The schools are bigger; the classrooms are more crowded: students are of all possible levels in one classroom. It is a combination of all our secondary education varieties under one roof. It obviously takes some time to get used to the system. The most difficult thing for me were the abreviations. Americans are abreviations lovers and seem to assume that everybody will understand. So when you hear: TA, LEP, LAUSD, PA, MPR, etc you are completely lost. What the hell is TA? And what's more, I should have one?? Now I know it is a teacher's assistant who helps you in the classroom, but it took some days to figure it out. I didn't want to look silly so I didn't want to ask all the time because I figured everybody had enough to do with his or her own problems. After all the first days and some obstacles, you will naturally become a regular staff memeber. It requires a lot of commitment and adjustments, but you will love your kids and enjoy the teaching. I already know I will miss them tremendously.
Orientation in Washington DC:
Five days in the capital city of the USA: very informative, very tiring, very overwhelming. I understand it is a must and it can help you to get prepared for your own stay but it will never prepare you 100% as nobody knows what the year will be like. The meetings in Prague where we had the chance to talk to former Fulbrighters were much more helpful, I think. However you will definitely meet so many interesting people here in DC and will have so many such interesting discussions and will hear so many stories like never in your life. You become a part of such a big family of Fulbrighters right there in the capital. They will make you feel special right there and the feeling will stay with you the whole exchange. The most important thing is you will meet your exchange partner for the first time!!! You will also aplly for a social security number, you will get A LOT of informational material, etc. It is a very pleasant 5 days when you also will have chance to participate in a tour of DC, which is short but informative and worth going.
It depends on the place of your exchange again but I believe everywhere you will have the chance to take parts in so many organizations which will make your stay so much enjoyable. I was very lucky to have Southern California Overseas Teachers (SCOT), SOKOL and Fulbright Visiting Scholars Enrichment Program at UCLA here to join.
Hopefully the text above is informative a little at least. Don't forget I am describing my own situation in California. Yours may be completely different. If you have any other questions, please contact me.