I immigrated to the United States from Macedonia in 2005. The first 10 years, my family and I lived in South Carolina. When my kids started to get older, we wanted them to be exposed to a more diverse population. Therefore, the family decided to move to Northern Virginia. After moving to Virginia, I started my career in the federal government working for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Although, the Northern Virginia and DC area boast a wide spectrum of cultures, I have never experienced an opportunity to connect with the Macedonian community in the United States – making it difficult to be a part of the Macedonian Diaspora.
However, this changed dramatically when I was offered an internship with the Foreign Service Institute in September 2021. Frankly, I had no real interest in becoming an intern – an unpaid position that required me to commit to hours of effort – hours away from my family and my academic pursuits at George Mason. My perspective on the benefits of serving as an intern changed when I attended one of the Speakers series at American University where one of the speakers explained the Virtual Student Federal Services (VSFS) program. The VSFS program piqued my interest immediately. I monitored all the positions available and was very pleased to find an opening for the Macedonian Language Internship at FSI (Foreign Service Institute). Never did I think an opportunity like this would be offered! I immediately applied and was very happy to be accepted for the role.
I had no concept of what this internship would entail, nor did I have high expectations for it. I assumed I would be kept busy doing administrative work with limited interaction with people in the diplomatic field. My highest hope was to get a better perspective of diplomatic service and their work overseas. I quickly discovered my expectations were far too limited! From the beginning, I was treated as a member of the FSI team, enjoying a real sense of being part of the process. My language skills were seen as a real asset mainly because of the few people in the area that speak the Macedonian language.
This internship has given me the opportunity to see the world of diplomatic service, even if it is only over Zoom. The diplomats that I teach seek to understand the culture of my native country, and to develop a more complete picture of the Macedonian people. The diplomats also want to know more about my perspective on the current situation in Macedonia. My internship experience with FSI makes me feel useful, respected and part of the U.S. diplomatic effort.
My internship runs through May 2022. Currently, I meet with diplomats through Zoom three to five times a week, and our conversations can go beyond the 10 hours/week design of the program. We discuss history, culture, politics, current and future trends in North Macedonia, while speaking only Macedonian. The students use their time with me to practice their language skills and to get familiar with the Macedonian culture. I enjoy forming real relationships with future representatives of the United States to North Macedonia, and I am happy to be part of the process.
January 20, 2022