Inside the Fulbright ETA Experience in Kosovo: Mary Kate Cashman
Mary Kate Cashman teaches at the American Advising Center in Prishtina, where she works closely with students pursuing higher education opportunities in the United States. Since arriving in Kosovo at the end of September, she has been deeply moved by the warmth and hospitality of the people she has met and has grown to appreciate the country’s strong sense of community and “go with the flow” mentality. She values the work‑life balance in Kosovo, which has allowed her to engage meaningfully both in her teaching and in cultural and volunteer activities beyond her placement.
The Fulbright English Teaching Assistant (ETA) Program places U.S. students in classrooms in Kosovo to support local English teaching staff while teaching the language and serving as cultural ambassadors for the United States.
This program is jointly funded by the U.S. Department of State and the Government of Kosovo.
Please introduce yourself by briefly sharing who you are, where you are currently teaching, and the name of your host institution: My name is Mary Kate Cashman, and I am teaching at the American Advising Center in Prishtina. I arrived in Kosovo at the end of September in 2025 and love it more every day.
What was your very first impression when you arrived in Kosovo? A few days after my arrival, my new landlord and his family went above and beyond to help me move in and make sure I had everything I needed. I was so touched by how they seemed to drop everything in their lives for a few days to help a complete stranger. I later learned that this was not an isolated experience, but rather an example of Kosovar hospitality that I’ve been fortunate to experience over and over again.
What’s one thing about life here that you’ve really grown to love? I love the work-life balance here in Kosovo. I feel that I’ve been able to do very fulfilling work at my teaching placement while also having time to engage with the culture and volunteer with organizations outside of my placement.
How would you describe your students in one word – and why? My students are eager. They have gone out of their way to pursue higher education in the United States, and it is such a privilege to support them in this endeavor. They approach their learning with such dedication that our conversations always lead me to learn something from them, too!
What’s been your favorite classroom moment so far? Although it was outside of a traditional “classroom” setting, my favorite moment with students had to be celebrating Thanksgiving with a group of teenagers from the Mitrovica area. It was fun to see how excited they were to experience something new.
What’s one cultural difference that surprised you - in a good way? I really value moments of spontaneity, and I find that those can be hard to experience regularly in hyper-structured American culture. I appreciate how many people here also have a “go with the flow” mentality.
Is there a word, phrase, or tradition from Kosova you’ve picked up and use often? As a beginner Albanian speaker, I appreciate the many different contexts in which I can use the word hajde.