When I went to the United State in the 1950s and studied law at Yale, I was one of the first Indonesian able to go to the U.S. on a Fulbright grant — and the very first to get a Masters in law from an American university.

At that time, going to America was really something special. It was far different there in those days, compared to the way it is at present. Everything seemed cheap and abundant. Coffee cost only a nickel and reffils were free! But the most memorable part for me was the city of New Haven. It was a typical small university town and people were very friendly.

The Fulbright program provided me with an education. It broadened my horizons and made me less narrow, minded. It allowed me to experience another world far different from the one I’d come from. I saw that there were lots of people out there with opinions much different from my own. For me, it was a kind of exercise in greater tolerance.

Being a Fulbrighter provided background that has been valuable in my work with Indonesia – US. relations and my involvement in the Festival of Indonesia. Living and studying there for extended periods (I was back again for three more years in the 1960s) certainly made me aware of how little many Americans know about the world around them. There were few courses in the schools about foreigners — or give them much awareness of the world outside. Eventually, this let me to become involved with programs that help to create greater awareness about Indonesia.

Anyone with a chance to take part in the Fulbright program should do so. I believe it’s the best possible program for developing mutual understanding between Americans and people in othe nations. And I think we must honor Senator Fulbright. His understanding of problems in other countries, especially developing ones, demands great respect. In my opinion, the program he conceived has benefited America far more than the amount of money the U.S. has committed to it.