8-12 October Native American Week 15 Oct - 9 Nov American Roadside Architecture - Photo Exhibition 18 October INTO - about study exchanges for high school students 18 October Listening and Looking with H. W. Auden: a talk and readingto celebrate the Auden centenary 26 October American Citizen Service Day 30-31 October Halloween 6 November The Tortilla Curtain: The US and Mexico - a talk by Frank N. Schubert 7 November The European Union: The Movable Schengen Frontier - a talk by Frank N. Schubert 8 November Firewalls and Other Barriers Around the World - a talk by Frank N. Schubert 12-16 November International Education Week 22 November Thanksgiving
8-12 October Native American Week
The second week of October was dedicated to the Native American Culture in the American Corner Debrecen. We tried to bring closer this far away culture and its people through an exhibition of Sioux drawings, various presentations in English and Hungarian, a Poetry Evening, movies and handicraft activities.
In the mornings we groups visiting from local elementary and high schools. An overview was given to students in the form of a 30-minute Power Point presenation about the Native American cultures in North America. Afterwards the students could...
• fill out a quiz about Native Americans • watch a short scene from one of our documentary movies (Canyon Country or Alaska) • try out handcraft activities
The special topic for the week was the Native Americans. What do we know about them? Who read The Last of the Mohicans? What is a powwow? Why is number 4 so important for these people? How did they get to the continent? What do and did they eat? etc.
Language: English Length: 1.5 hour No admission fee
7 pm Movie Nights
A Native American-related movie in English with English subtitles.
No admission fee.
10 October, Wednesday
6 pm Native American Religions: An Overview
This presentation was a comprehensive overview touching upon recent problems concerning Native American religions. The speaker was Dr. Katalin Birone Nagy, Instructor at the North American Department, Institute of English and American Studies, University of Debrecen.
Language: English Length: 60 min plus Question time No admission fee.
11 October, Thursday
4 pm What Does It Mean To Be a Native American?!
Péter Kun's presentation in Hungarian showed the audience the Native American lifestyles and traditions that have been kept for hundreds of years.
Language: Hungarian Lenght: 60 min. No admission fee.
6 pm Contemporary Native American Women Poets
A Reading with music. The speaker was Dr. Gabriella Varro, Assistant Professor at the North American Department, Institute of English and American Studies, University of Debrecen.
7.30 pm Native Americans in the Southwest. A Talk in Slides
Professor Murry Nelson, Laszlo Orszagh Chair for 2007-08, provided a visual and oral explanation of the Native peoples of the Southwest, specifically the Navaho and their earlier descendants from the area of Mesa Verde. This area, located in Southwestern Colorado, has over 200 communities, but was abandoned in the 1500s. Slides of Mesa Verde will detail its appearance today and discussion of the Pueblos of Acoma in New Mexico and the Navaho region of the four corners (Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Utah) were presented.
Language: English Length: 60 min plus question time No admission fee.
On 15 October, 2007, political and economic counselor Eric V. Gaudiosi opens a traveling exhibition at the Life Science Gallery (University of Debrecen) titled "American Roadside Architecture".The exhibit is comprised of 56 photos by architectural historian John Margolies.
"This is done by an architectural photographer, John Margolies, over 25 years, going all the way across the country looking at places where Americans stopped for food, for gasoline, and for accommodation, for hotels."
Venue: Life Science Building, University of Debrecen The exhibition can be viewed between 15 October and 9 November. No admission fee.
18 October, 4 pm INTO– Academic Exchange Opportunities for high school students
An orientation in Hungarian by Éva Gottweld, INTO director on the academic student exchange opportunities to the USA.Students who are planning to study in the USA for a year or half year and their parents are advised to come and listen to this presentation.
You get an insight of what it is like to be an international student and you get ideas how to get by in a foreign country.
Language: Hungarian Length: 45 min No admission fee.
18 October, 6 pm Listening and Looking with W. H. Auden – a talk and reading to celebrate the Auden centenary
Venue: Room 121 Institute of English and American Studies University of Debrecen
Come enjoy a taste of the beauty, mastery and insight of W. H. Auden with this evening introductory talk followed by a reading of some of Auden’s finest poetry.
Andrew Singer is a poet, university instructor, translator, and cultural journalist living in Budapest since 1991. He has an advanced degree in Poetry from Boston University, where his main teacher won the Nobel Prize in Literature, and he has taught electives in English poetry at ELTE and literary translation workshops at Pázmány Univerisity. He has written, translated, and guest-edited for such publications as Hungarian Quarterly, Magyar Napló, Trafika, Pilvax, Budapest Sun, Budapest Week, Budapest Style, Where Budapest, caboodle.hu, and Business Hungary, and he also hosts a cultural interview show on internet radio. Mr. Singer has just co-organized and hosted the official Auden Centenary event at Auden’s old house in Austria, and he has been endorsed by the Auden Society of England, Auden’s literary executor in New York, the Professor of Poetry of Oxford University, and The British Council among others.
30-31 OctoberHALLOWEEN
Halloween originated from the Pagan festival Samhain, celebrated among the Celts of Ireland and Great Britain. Irish and Scottish immigrants carried versions of the tradition to North America in the nineteenth century. Other western countries embraced the holiday in the late twentieth century. Halloween is celebrated on the night of October 31.
In the American Corner you will have two days to find out more about this holiday through games, competitions and chats. See the detailed schedule below:
30 October, 3-6 pm Pumpkin carving competition
We provide pumpkins, knives and spoons, but you you can use your own tools too to make a Jack O'Lantern! Those particiapating in Halloween costumes will get extra points! The most creative Jack O' Lanterns' makers will be awarded Halloween prizes!
Please, register for the competition until noon on 30 October (at debrecen@americancorner.hu) !
30 October, 5 pm Halloween Conversation Club
30 October, 7 pm Movie Nights - To find out which scary movie we show, sign up to our newsletter!
31 October, 4 pm Halloween Quiz and Games
A fun competition that will include apple-bobbing and other traditional games too. Those participating in Halloween costumes will get extra points!
31 October, 7.30 pm The Origin and Traditionsof Halloween in the USA
Venue: Studio 111, University of Debrecen
A short presentation in English about the background of this popular holiday.
31 October, 8 pm "Grab-the-Jack-O'Lantern"
Venue: IEAS Corridor, University of Debrecen
A scary corridor contest in the Institute of English and American Studies.The volunteers will have to walk through the dark institute corridor packed with ghosts and monsters and find the Jack O'Lantern. The quickest person to grab it, will be the winner!
31 October, 10 pm Halloween Party
Venue: Babalu in Gambrinusz koz
Organized by the Heroes. Entrance in Halloween costumes is free of charge!!!
The North American Department (IEAS) and the American Corner invites you to three lectures
by
Prof. Frank N. Schubert
Office of the Historian, Pentagon (Ret.)
1. The Tortilla Curtain: The US and Mexico
Time: 6:00 p.m., Tuesday, 6th November Venue: American Corner
2. The European Union: The Movable Schengen Frontier
