When Nickolas Khimerik traveled to Moldova for the first time in summer 2019, the trip left him wanting more.

The graduating senior—who is majoring in anthropology and history with a double-minor in Russian and religion—traveled there as a freshman as part of an archaeological dig in the northern part of the country. Alongside students from Moldova State University, he unearthed artifacts related to the ancient Getae tribes who lived in what is today northern Bulgaria and southern Romania. The old animal bones, arrowheads, and spindle whorls they found helped paint a picture of what life was like for an obscure culture lost to time.

While the experience was rewarding, Khimerik had trouble communicating with some of his colleagues, particularly those who spoke Romanian and other dialects. Having been born to parents from the former Soviet Union, he was well versed in the Russian language and customs, but he was surprised to find that relatively few students on that trip shared this heritage.

“Moldova is a very small country that borders Ukraine and Romania, maybe the size of New Jersey, but it has such an ethnically diverse population. Much of it is Romanian speaking, so connecting with some people there was difficult. There were some people who spoke Russian, but not many. It left me feeling a little isolated and disconnected.”

Now, Khimerik will get the chance to close that gap as part of a Fulbright Scholarship that he was awarded for the 2022–23 academic year. Working as an English teaching assistant, he will be tasked with helping Moldavian students learn the language and customs, bridging the two worlds and learning even more about their culture.

Another part of the trip that intrigues Khimerik is a potential visit to the separatist region of Transnistria in eastern Moldova. While it is considered by the United Nations as a legal part of the Republic of Moldova, it has its own currency and tax system—even its own flag, which itself yearns nostalgically for the “Soviet glory days.” Its predominantly Russian-speaking demographic appeals to Khimerik, who finds fascination in this territory, which seems to still be living in the past.

As for his career plans, Khimerik says he wants to incorporate his interest in teaching, history, and culture to serve as a U.S. Foreign Service Officer, possibly as an ambassador or diplomat. He plans on taking his Foreign Service Officer exam when he returns.

“This Fulbright program will not only allow me to help Moldovans communicate better in English, but it will also let me absorb our shared Soviet culture and heritage,” the 21-year-old New York City native said. “It will give me an opportunity to serve as a cultural ambassador for the Western customs I grew up with, and ultimately help bring our cultures closer together.”