American Corner Skopje

Professor Smith, a former Fulbright and a professor who has taught for 35 years opened his presentation by discussing the roles that the Government, citizens and press play in a free society. This was the initial input that he gave, preparing the 13 people that were present (mostly journalists and law or journalism students) for the discussion that followed, asking the atendees what the press should do in cases involving national security, partisan mud-slinging and bad actions by government ministers. Different opinions were offered for each of these which contributed to the discussion even more! Professor Smith was impressed with the suggestions and in the end gave his own views on what the most ethical answers would be, not centered on dishonest journalism.

Architecture students from three different universities (FON, American College and the University of Architecture in Skopje) participate in the interactive sessions on Chicago architecture and sights.

Chicago architecture and sights

With Rolf Achilles, Architecture Prof. from Chicago
May 12th, 2009

Architecture students from 3 different universities- FON, American College and the University of Architecture; members who would one day like to visit Chicago or that have already been there, a total of 40 attendees were present at Professor Rolf Achilles presentation. The presentation seemed like a tour of Chicago filled with many fascinating facts about the city itself. Prof. Achilles gave some statistical data on how the city expanded through history and the architectural changes that occurred. What was most interesting to the architecture students was to find out that aluminum was used in architecture for the first time in the Monadnock building; Pre-Art Nouveau started in Chicago as well, or the new window style, i.e. the so called “Chicago” or “picture window. Mr. Achilles explained the significance of the bean in the Millennium Park, floor mosaics, and iron ornamentation, all in reference to specific architectural works built in Chicago. The works of Frank Lloyd Wright were also mentioned in this presentation and the way he changed the world with his innovations. Prof. Achilles addressed the problems of urban planning of the City of Skopje. His presentation was recorded by an architecture student to be used for his final paper and the 3 other professors that were present all agreed that their students had a lot to learn by attending this event.

Barry Hillenbrand discusses the differences between the new and old media

“New media versus old media”

By Barry Hillenbrand
May 5, 2009

Media representatives from different publishing houses, magazine reporters, journalists, students, Peace Corps Volunteers and members of the American Corner, a total of 36 attendees, attended Barry Hillenbrand’s presentation. The speed, pace and delivery of reporting in journalism has changed and now Instant Journalism is taking over. In the past only the elite could read newspapers, listen to the radio or watch TV, and all of these media affected the news one way or the other, and the same thing is happening today as reporting is done even faster, every day being Election Day and the “trivial tempest of the moment” is what is reported. All is done easier with the help of citizen journalists, but the questions that remains is how do you bring quality (objectivity and professionalism) to new media when so much information is available that fast? This is what the attendees wanted to know as well as which leader was the most inspiring that Mr. Hillenbrand interviewed to which he replied Tony Blair, however he was also very much fascinated by the Fashion Designer, Issey Miyake. He concluded his presentation by saying that it is good that we now have a faster access to the latest news, but it all needs to be shifted first or as he put it “If your mother tells you she loves you, check!”

 

APAO/Amy Storrow discusses the Interna- tional Education and US Government Scholarships Programs

International Education and US Government Scholarships

With Dr. David McGaffey, Assistant Public Affairs Officer Amy Storrow and Fulbright Alumni Shpetim Latifi

Whenever there is a presentation about scholarships offered by the U.S. Government, the American Corner Skopje becomes a venue too small to accommodate the great number of attendees. In front of 44 attendees, Dr. David McGaffey, who has worked in the Fulbright Commission in 5 other countries, opened the presentation in an unusual way, comparing studying abroad to an entrepreneurial activity, similar to starting your own business...more.

Kids are drawing unusual animals from the stories

Kids’ Club With Peace Corps volunteers Elizabeth Hanely and Jordan Calhoun

Another very popular Kids’ Club was held on Saturday, April 25th, with 22 children attending. Elizabeth read the story “One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish” by Dr. Seuss. Because there are a lot of unusual animals in this story, the creative activity for today was for the children to draw their own unusual animal or a monster. The children were divided in two groups, enjoyed themselves and laughed while they drew hideous creatures with several heads, wings and quills. At the ends, few rounds of the game “memory” were played and there were also drawing pages available.

Colonel Christopher Benya speaks about his life in the U.S. military

Colonel Christopher Benya Speaks at American Corner Skopje about Life in the U.S. Military

March 19, 2009

In a wide-ranging talk that covered, among other topics, his own personal history in the military, the role of Army chaplains, the ways that the U.S. military trains officers, and how green card holders can join the military, Colonel Christopher Benya gave an insider’s view of his life as an American Army officer. The audience asked many questions after the informal presentation, and Col. Benya gave each participant a lapel pin featuring the American and Macedonian flags. To see upcoming events at American Corner Skopje, please click here.

U.S. Fulbright Scholar and Poet Dougherty knelt down cleaning the floor in front of him with his bare hands to mark the start of his poetry reading

U.S. Fulbright Scholar and Poet Sean Thomas Dougherty Reads at American Corner Skopje

March 12, 2009

Little did the attendees of the poetry reading at the American Corner Skopje know what they were going to experience when they signed up to attend Fulbrighter Sean Thomas Dougherty’s poetry reading. Many of them were shocked when he took off not only his shoes, but his socks as well, and knelt down to clean the floor in front of him with his bare hands. When he stood up, he rubbed his palms and banged his foot several times, thus marking the official beginning of his performance. Most of the poems he read were from his book entitled Broken Hallelujahs. To bring his poems closer to the many literature students and professors who were present in the audience, he spoke about the poems’ structure, explaining what it was that made him decide to write poems. Dougherty concluded his performance in a shocking way as he had started it, by reading a poem he jokingly claimed might get him deported out of the country; yet by the end, his audience appreciated his poetry even more. Please check this website soon for information about Sean’s next performances.  Please click here for more information about the Fulbright program.