America Day a Success in Rural Hungary

April 8, 2009

Ms. Glassman speaks at America Day celebrations in Balassagyarmat

On April 8, 2009, Cultural Attaché Carolyn Glassman and Regional English Language Officer Lisa Harshbarger visited the rural city of Balassagyarmat to participate in an "America Day" program, organized by Szent-Györgyi Albert High school, in cooperation with the Hungarian Ministry of Education and Culture.

Ms. Glassman delivered a presentation in Hungarian on the new Obama administration to an audience of over 400 students, teachers and community leaders. Following her remarks, she also answered questions on topics such as political transition in the U.S., race, and the impact of financial recovery measures on the average American. As part of the day-long program, Ms. Harshbarger met with teachers to discuss English language programs and summer camp opportunities for local children. Fulbright Educational Adviser Kornélia Litkei led a seminar for students on resume writing, and Cultural Affairs Assistant Katalin Bíró met with local librarians to inform them about English and Hungarian language resources on the United States. Students also joined a screening of the American film "Akeelah and the Bee."

In addition to the school events, the Embassy delegation met with Mayor Lajos Medvácz and visited the only remaining local Jewish prayer house and cemetery in the city, which was once home to a large Jewish community before the Holocaust.