'Cultural ambassador': Palmetto Ridge grad headed to Mongolia to teach English

With warm clothes, e-books and family just a phone call away, Wi-Fi willing, Alex Suarez is ready to venture off to Mongolia and teach what he knows best – the English language.

Suarez, 21, earned an English Teaching Assistantship (ETA) via the Fulbright U.S. Student Program and plans to spend a year teaching halfway around the world at Khovd University, situated more than 800 miles west of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia’s capital.

As a Fulbright scholar, Suarez gets the opportunity to learn about another culture and teach students about his.

“I guess part of the Fulbright mission is for each Fulbright scholar to be sort of a cultural ambassador. We’re there to teach English or do research depending on the grant we got, and also represent the United States a little bit,” he said.

Suarez is no stranger to living in a foreign place.

He and his family left Cuba when he was only 5 and moved to Canada before calling Naples home five years later. He graduated from Palmetto Ridge High School prior to receiving a full ride to Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut, as a QuestBridge scholar. In May 2016, he graduated with a bachelor’s in neuroscience.

During his college years, Suarez didn’t stay in one place for long. He lived in Argentina and Trinidad during two separate study abroad programs.

While in Argentina, he researched memory and learning impairments at La Universidad de Buenos Aires. In Trinidad, Suarez shadowed an herbal medicine man and shaman named Cristo Adonis, and spent weeks learning about herbal medicine and the indigenous people.

Back in Trinity, he co-founded Project PACKS, which stands for Providing Academic Change for Kindling Students. He started it up with fellow student, Julia Duggan, to help feed disadvantaged children in the Hartford area.

“While I attended (Trinity), I also did research with Dr. Susan Masino and Dr. Dave Ruskin on autism and epilepsy,” he added.

Fulbright scholar

Months before graduation, Suarez thought long and hard about what his

next step in life would be and soon discovered the Fulbright ETA program.

“I didn’t really know much about (Fulbright). It was one of those things where all my friends knew about it and some of them were applying for it, so from them talking about it…I decided to apply,” Suarez said.

He also felt like it was his way to pay it forward.

“That’s why I want to be a doctor and want to do Fulbright because knowing English is one of those ultimate opportunities…so many things require English and when you don’t know it you kind of shut yourself off from that world,” he added. “And just like becoming a doctor, if you can make someone healthy, I guess that’s the biggest opportunity of all.”

When he chose to apply, he didn’t realize how long he’d have to wait to learn his fate.

Suarez began the process last summer and submitted the application in October. He was notified that he was accepted around three months later.

The Fulbright U.S. Student program is “the largest U.S. exchange program offering opportunities for students and young professionals to undertake international graduate study, advanced research, university teaching and primary school teaching worldwide,” according to a press release from Trinity College.

On an annual basis, the program awards 1,900 grants in all fields of study and operates in more than 140 countries. The goal of the program is to increase mutual understanding between the United States and other countries, according to the release.

Journey ahead

While the competition was stiff and the application process was tedious at times, Suarez is eagerly anticipating his departure date — July 26.

Once the plane’s wheels touch down on Mongolian soil, he’ll no doubt experience culture shock and a bit of jet lag.

Khovd, Mongolia, is 12 hours behind Eastern Standard Time. And the mountainous terrain is unlike the sawgrass prairie found in Florida.

Before traveling to Khovd to begin his assistantship, Suarez, along with other scholars assigned to Mongolia, will spend a month in orientation; two weeks at Ulaanbaatar, one week in another city and the last week in a Mongolian ger camp, where scholars will undergo intensive language training and cultural lessons.

Once Suarez steps inside the classroom, he’ll teach around 20 hours per week.

“Outside of that we’re encouraged to take up projects. And I think with my time I’m definitely going to apply for more funding and learn a little bit more of the language. I want to maybe do some research on health over there and some gender stuff,” Suarez said.

He also wants to host Latin dance classes in hopes of introducing Mongolian students to his culture.

Preparing mentally, physically and emotionally

While Suarez has experience living abroad, Mongolia might be his biggest challenge yet.

During both study abroad programs, he was able to communicate with locals in English and Spanish.

“So going to Mongolia is like this whole new world. I don’t know the language. I’ve never been to that side of the world,” Suarez said.

His new home, Mongolia, is a landlocked sovereign state in East Asia, wedged between Russia and China. The Mongolian language uses Cyrillic script, so he’s been practicing the Russian alphabet in his spare time.

Besides learning some of the language, Suarez heard first-hand accounts from former Fulbright scholars. In June, he flew to Washington, D.C., for a Fulbright orientation session, where he met former and current scholars.

“There was alum there, so they gave us helpful tips. The main thing they said to worry about is it can be isolating and lonely, especially in the winter, when it gets so cold,” he said.

Suarez plans to keep himself busy with e-books, music, games and television shows.

As far as packing goes, he said, “It’s tough dwindling things down. I want to look professional.” He added that packing winter wear is a priority, although he plans to purchase most of it while in Mongolia.

Even though he’s excited to embark on this new journey, it’s somewhat bittersweet. This move means he’ll have to say goodbye to his family and friends for a year.

“My family, I think, was a little more distraught,” he said, describing how they reacted to the news. “My mom was like, 'You just graduated, I wanted to spend time with you and now you’re leaving again,' but I think everyone is happy for the most part.”

Belkis Casas said she’s extremely proud of her son even though this will be his longest time away from home.

“He has always been a very dedicated student and has put a lot of effort into his academic career, which helped him get a scholarship for college. He has sacrificed a lot and worked really hard in school since he was really young,” Casas wrote in an email. “I'm happy to have been able to come to this country, which has provided so many opportunities for my children. Alex is going to be able to go to Mongolia and hopefully end up in medical school, while my daughter, Brenda, is serving in the Army. I feel blessed for everything that both my kids have accomplished and hope that they continue to do great things."

Suarez said his mom has supported him unconditionally, and he has no doubt that her love and sacrifices have played a vital role in his success.

“I think definitely my background has made me the person I am today. Especially the sacrifices my family has made; they endured a lot of things to get me to where I am. And because of that they’ve kind of afforded me these opportunities that I never would have had,” he said.

Just because Suarez is far from home doesn’t mean Casas won’t use any means necessary to communicate with him regularly.

“I'll definitely be sending him some letters and packages through the mail. We'll probably try to Facetime or Skype a lot whenever possible. It might be a little hard though with the time difference," Casas wrote.

In order to feel more at home in Mongolia, Suarez plans to stuff several mementos into his suitcase, including cooking spices and palm tree socks inspired by Florida.

After he completes the year abroad, he hopes to take a gap year to spend time at home before starting medical school.