We were two of the lucky Uruguayan students to be selected to participate in one of the seminars which
Fulbright organizes every year for its new grantees. The main topic of this seminar was understanding
and tolerance between different cultures, which is a very controversial issue in American society after
the events of September 11.
Grantees from all over the world (who are currently studying at different US universities) met with US
alumni of the Fulbright program, government officials, religious personalities and other experts, to
share experiences, exchange points of view, meet different cultures and, in general, to enjoy the Fulbright
experience. The host city in our case was picturesque but rainy Seattle, which was looking its best and gave
us two wonderful and unexpected days of sunshine. Seattle is does not have an IIE Regional Center, so it
doesn't usually have seminars, but we all hope will continue to host them.
The airplane trip was quite an experience, not only because it took over five hours and several time
changes, but because of the spectacular view when we approached the city. On the first day we had a
bus tour, during which we began to meet the other Fulbrighters and to know some more of the home of
"Sleepless in Seattle".
During the first dinner, a presentation by Dr. Anita Ramasastry, University of Washington, School of Law)
put forth the topic of individual rights and how the events of September 11 have affected them, particularly
for the Muslim community. This opinion, far from echoing what is traditionally conveyed by the press, was a
very critical, honest and open questioning of the government's actions in the "war against terrorism"
and how it has affected the Muslim community. It was one of the best lectures of the seminar, and gave way to
ample discussion among students and experts.
The second day started with presentations by three religious leaders (Methodist, Jewish and Muslim), who
explained the points of view of their different religions and communities, explaining how these were affected
by the terrorist attacks, and answering questions from a very lively audience.
Verónica Melián and Guillermo Tolosa in The Fulbright
Seminar at Seattle
During the following days, other experts spoke about community support, internal security, and other topics which
also made for very interesting discussions in small groups which also helped us to meet other students and make an
effort to understand those very different perspectives.
Smaller discussion groups allowed us to meet all the other people and although we didn't always reach an agreement
on the points under discussion, we did make a sincere effort to be open to and try to understand the experiences and
religious beliefs of other students So the discussions were, in themselves, an important step to promoting mutual
understanding between cultures. It is important to underline that although the topics we dealt with were serious and
of great concern, nonetheless the general tone of the meeting was one of enthusiasm and joy.
The event which best reflected this open attitude, and indeed one of the high points of the seminar, was the Talent
Show. Each of over 100 students sang and clapped their hands for over two hours to bamba, charango, songs in German,
Arabic and Turkish, plus other displays of greater or lesser artistic talent. Neither the language, the religious
differences or the diversity of cultures were a barrier to enjoying this unforgettable moment in which integration
and tolerance were expressed through songs and dance.
Finally, we want to mention the careful and detailed organization by the Institute of International Education and the
Department of State, and extend our special thanks to them for all the above, and also for being able to take a break
from our grantee diet and eat "like at home", and also enjoy a big bed for a few days.
We hope that other Uruguayan students will be able to participate soon in similar experiences.
Verónica Melián, Guillermo Tolosa
