A Match Made by Fulbright
Celebrating Valentine’s Day 2020
Both at the age of twelve- Alona Volinsky made aliyah from Uzbekistan to Israel and Roee Messinger left Jerusalem, where he was born, and moved to Mexico.
More than a decade later, their paths would meet in Israel, as they both applied for the Fulbright MA fellowship. By then Roee had returned to Israel to complete his military service, finished his BA at Tel Aviv University in Film and Philosophy and was living in Herzliya. Settled in Tel Aviv, Alona had completed her BA at the IDC’s Honors Program in Diplomacy and Leadership.
They first laid eyes on each other at the new Fulbright fellows gathering in the summer of 2012. The group of fresh, excited grantees exchanged contact info, promising to stay in touch throughout the placement process. It was the perfect chance- and Roee took it. He contacted Alona and asked her out.
They clicked instantly and spent the entire year prior to their departure to America as a couple. But they kept it casual, knowing that most likely they would end up on different sides of the U.S. Alona was applying to east coast schools only and Roee to two west coast schools.
But fate stepped in, and Alona ended up in D.C. and Roee in New York. They continued their relationship throughout their Fulbright years, traveling to see each other and spending the schools breaks together. During Alona’s internship at the UN's Development Program in the summer of 2014, they spent the summer together in New York.
After graduating, Alona and Roee landed positions in New York for their Optional Practical Training (OPT) year, and moved in together. Alona then got a job offer from the U.N. and they resettled in NY. Two years ago they were married in New York, where they’ve been living since. Alona continues working for the U.N. and the circumstances provided a golden opportunity for Roee to develop and shoot his first independent movie. Roee and Alona love to travel and discover and have visited Mexico, Iceland and many destinations in the US.
Alona and Roee at the Fulbright reception, just prior to their departure to the U.S. in 2013.
Together in the capital- Roee’s first visit to see Alona in D.C.
Fulbright fellows, Roee and Alona, at a Fulbright Association event.
Discovering Mexico together- Roee and Alona.
