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December Issue Summary

Message from our Director

Dear friends,

Our fourth and last 2007 Newsletter should include a reflection on this year’s activities. In the first place, as always it has been a privilege working for the Fulbright Program. We have to thank a lot of people. First, Ambassador Frank E. Baxter and the wonderful staff at the U.S. Embassy. Without their help and support we would not have been able to accomplish our educational goals. We are pleased to welcome PAO Robert Zimmerman as the new President of the Fulbright Board. Robert has not been long in Uruguay but already he has become involved in our Program and we are looking forward to working with him in 2008. We are also happy to welcome our new Board Members: on the Uruguayan side, along with Nicolas Herrera, Rodolfo Oppenheimer, Felipe Michelini and Pedro Nicolas Baridon, new members are Ignacio de Posadas and Horacio Hughes; on the U.S. side, along with Robert Zimmerman and Stephanie Shellman, new members include Roger Aberth, Raul G. Mairata, Yannis Karmis and Leigh Miller.

I also want to acknowledge the extraordinary support from the Department of State. Our thanks to Cindy Wolloch, Thomas Ingalls, and Deb Shetler from ECA/WHA, and to Jennifer Gibson and Michelle Garren from Teacher Exchange. Also a big “Thank you” to the agencies: CIES, IIE and LASPAU, for their help, their commitment and their creative input.

Patricia Vargas writes about the U.S. Program and Fanny del Rio about the Uruguayan Program.

In the U.S. Program I want to highlight the impact of the programs for U.S. Fulbrighters. Dr. Paul Hepperly (Organic Agriculture), Dr. Peter Winn (History) and Dr. Mengxiong Liu (Library Science), are example of the valuable contribution of knowledge and experience that their visits mean for the host academic institutions and for the country as a whole. This impact is also present at the personal level. So shows the letter that ETA 2007 Dustin Saldarriaga received from one of the teachers who hosted him and that says “… we do not have to be sad when we get to know people that leave a mark on us because there lays the secret. If they leave a mark on us that is because they will stay with us in our thoughts, and I also told them that the world is not so big and that with the technology available now the world has become smaller and we will be in touch through the e-mail forever.” The impact goes beyond the stay in our country. Every day we receive news from grantees that have returned to the United States and that are still connected to Uruguay through their work, the academic institutions that hosted them and through the many friendships that started here. Among these, I would like to highlight Daniel Renfrew’s work. This year he defended his PhD dissertation: “We are all contaminated: Lead Poisoning and Urban Environmental Politics in Uruguay” at Binghamton University, the State University of New York and became a Doctor of Philosophy in Anthropology. Similarly, Rachel Lears Ph.D. Student in Anthropology at NYU is finalizing her documentary “Birds of Passage” the production of which started with her Fulbright grant to Uruguay. This documentary, which will soon be exhibited in Uruguay and in the United Status, is about three young Uruguayan emerging songwriters. Another example is that of the teacher Emily Mann that came to Uruguay with the Fulbright Teacher Exchange program and is now teaching about our country to her students in Tucson, Arizona.

In the Uruguayan Program we had many satisfactions: the Teacher Exchange Program again has grown, due to the support of the State Department, the U.S. Embassy and, most importantly, to Ambassador Frank E. Baxter’s initiative to help us organize a fund-raising event to build on the future of Uruguayan education. Several CEOs of the most important companies provided funds to provide an exchange experience in the U.S. to Uruguayan teachers and students from the most underprivileged sectors of society. On the other hand, we were very glad to have a representative of Uruguay for the second time in the prestigious New Century Scholar Program (CIES administered): Dr. Claudio Rama is an international expert in higher education who has worked extensively in Uruguay in this area. As usual, our group of Fulbright candidates for graduate studies is outstanding. Nevertheless, we are starting to open up the educational opportunities to younger, undergrad students as well. In this sense, we recruited six exceptional applicants to the Study of the United States Institutes for Student Leaders that will take place in January-February. In addition, we applied to become a participant of the Fulbright FLTA Program, which will begin next year. We are aiming at reaching out even more to include students with less opportunities of their own in the Fulbright Program and our activities are a reflection of that goal.

I hope you will enjoy this Newsletter as much as we have enjoyed it too.

Have a wonderful Christmas Holiday and the best for 2008!

Mercedes Jimenez de Arechaga

Uruguayan Program

 

Open Applications

FULBRIGHT FLTA

The Fulbright Foreign Language Teacher Assistant Program provides teachers with provides an opportunity for young, international teachers of English to refine their teaching skills, increase their English language proficiency and extend their knowledge of the cultures and customs of the United States while engaging in non-degree studies. Deadline to apply is January 18, 2008 at the Fulbright Commission.

STUDY OF THE U.S. INSTITUTES

The Study of the U.S. Institutes Program Institutes are intensive post-graduate level academic programs with integrated study tours whose purpose is to provide foreign university faculty and other scholars the opportunity to deepen their understanding of American society, culture and institutions. The institutes will take place at various colleges and universities throughout the United States over the course of six weeks beginning in June 2008. There are seven Studies of the United States Institutes (SUSI): SUSI on American Civilization SUSI on American Politics and Political Thought SUSI on Contemporary American Literature SUSI on U.S. Foreign Policy SUSI on Journalism and Media SUSI on Religious Pluralism in the United States Study of the United States Institutes (SUSI) for Secondary Educators. Deadline to apply is February 1, 2008 at the Fulbright Commission.
 

Events and News

 

End of the year trip to "Salto del Penitente"

In November we had an end of year trip with our Fulbright U.S. Students and English Teaching Assistants. We travelled to Villa Serrana, in the Province of Lavalleja, where the “Salto del Penitente” is located.

The Salto del Penitente (the Penitent’s Waterfall) is a singular waterfall which cascades for more than 20 meters and is located over a rocky background covered by wild vegetation.

The day started with an hour and a half horse ride enjoying the beautiful landscape of the hills and its native flora and fauna. We then had lunch at the “Parador” where we tasted autoctonous food.

After lunch we had a chance to practice canopy and had an amazing opportunity to experience this beautiful wilderness from a unique perspective as we travelled along the zip lines, 70 meters above the waterfall floor. To finalize this adventure, we had a bath in the waterfall.
 
 

Fulbright Senior Specialist Dr. Mengxiong Liu

Dr. Mengxiong Liu is Chair of Library Faculty and Professor of Library and Information Science at the San Jose State University Library. She came to Uruguay under the Fulbright Senior Specialists Program to conduct a series of activities in the Library Science field, related to the development and management of digital resources, documentation and information literacy programs.

Her visit was requested by two institutions: the CLAEH (Latin American Center for Human Economy) and The British Schools

At CLAEH, Dr. Liu evaluated the curricular design and structure of it’s postgraduate degree in Management of Digital Resources and Documentation in a Digital Environment, and made suggestions and recommendations for improvement; met with and gave presentations to the faculty and postgraduate students of this degree program; and evaluated the digital resources of the library to maximize its potential use.

At the British Schools, Dr. Liu evaluated, advised and made recommendations on the design of a proposed library information literacy pilot program directed at secondary school students, teachers, parents and the schools extended community. She also evaluated the digital resources of the library to maximize its potential use.

Dr. Mengxiong Liu gave two conferences directed to an audience of librarians, information technology specialists, and educators at the secondary and tertiary level within the community.  These were: “Information literacy in Higher Education” and “Information Literacy at Secondary Schools”.

In addition, she met with the director and assistant director of the School of Library Sciences of the University of the Republic, and gave a presentation to its faculty on curriculum design and evaluation.

She visited several Libraries, including: the Library of Congress, the National Library, the Library of the University of the Republic’sSchool of Law, the Library of the University of Montevideo and the Library of the CLAEH’s School of Medicine in the Province of Maldonado, where she travelled to visit and to make a presentation. She also visited the Information Resource Center at the U.S. Embassy.
 
 

Dinner at Mercedes’ House with Fulbright Grantees


In October, the Executive Director held a dinner reception at her home for our Fulbright U.S. Students, ETA’s, Scholars, and Senior Specialists; as well as Fulbright Uruguayan grantees. Board members were also invited.
 
 

Dr. Claudio Rama, Second Uruguayan New Century Scholar

Uruguayan New Century Scholar, Dr. Claudio Rama, had a busy year. Apart from taking part in the NCS program, he was awarded an Honorary Degree from the Universidad Mayor de San Marcos and he lectured at several universitiesin Puerto Rico, Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Spain, Mexico, Panama, Peru and Venezuela. Dr. Rama has a truly international profile for he has served at UNESCO and he has taught as professor in universities around the world. In Uruguay where he graduated in Economy at the University of the Republic, he worked as Vice-President of the National Broadcast Television and as Director of the National Book Institute.
 
 

46 Uruguayan Teachers prepare for departure

This is a Program that keeps growing. In February 2008, 46 teachers from the Uruguayan educational primary and secondary system will visit a U.S. leading school. The teachers will be hosted by a U.S. family so the shadow experience with a U.S. colleague will be complemented by a deeper knowledge of the community. Four national education authorities will travel with the group: Norma Quijano from the office of the Director of the National Board of Education, Nicolas Brian from the Second Language Program, and Superintendents Griselda DiNatale and Gabriela Casal.

Also with the group are Principal Gonzalo Aemilius from the Jubilar High School and Nancy Garcia, Teacher at Obra Banneux, both schools located in the underprivileged neighborhood of Casavalle in Montevideo; other Principals are: Lucia Yanibelli, Annabel Dibot, Carmen Trindade, Graciela Fuentes, Graciela Sosa, Grisel Pritsch, Alicia Lavin, Maria Martinicorena, Gisel Rodriguez, Nancy Gonzalez, Raquel Casartelli, Elizabeth Diaz, Susana Balian and Stella Maris Vallarino, who is principal at the School for Deaf. The teachers in the group are: Ana Rodriguez, Blanca Rodriguez, Daniela Peña, Evangelina Rodriguez, Inah Montero, Jorge Luis Souto, Cristina Alvez, Marcela Silva, Fernanda Bonilla, Elizabeth Martins, Monica Barreiro, Virginia Pirez, Yoselin Romero. The Teachers of English are: Laura Diz, Leticia Franco, Marcela Perez, Leticia Telagorry, Manuela del Pino, Monica Arambillety, Valeria Morodo, Andrea Musso, Leticia Viera, Laura Ortiz, Paola Garcia, Blanca Ribeiro, Maria Luisa Mendez.
 
 

Tango lessons at Gardner-Webb University in North Carolina

It takes two to tango! Lourdes Lopez, FLTA participant at Gardner-Webb University in North Carolina and apart from her daily work as a teacher assistant she visited Shelby High School by request of a U.S. colleague. She talked about her native Uruguay and of course took the opportunity to engage in tango lessons for the kids.
 
 

U.S Fulbrighters presented their research proyects, uruguayan Fulbrighters received their fulbright certificates and uruguayan teachers received their certificates of the building the Fulbright future program

On Tuesday 18th December the Fulbright Commission organized anevent in which Fulbright U.S and Uruguayan fellows from diverse programs gave testimony of the impact that both on a personal and a professional level this program has had in their lives.

The day started with Dr. Paul Hepperly´s presentation.
Dr. Hepperly serves as The Rodale Institute’s® Research and Training Manager. He is an specialist on Organic Agriculture and he isin Uruguay finishing his Fulbright U.S Scholar grant during which he collaborated with Dr. Roberto Zoppolo, who is the Director of Organic and Fruit Research at the Canelones station of the National Agriculture Research Institute. The areas of concentration included:
1) reviewing organic vegetable research programs,
2) talking to researchers, educators, farmers, and consumers on organic agriculture topics,
3) researching mycorrhizal fungi and
4) working with organic farmer groups regionally in the country.

Then we listened to the presentations by  Fulbright U.S. Students ManuelSomoza and Andrew Orihuela. They are finishing their 9 month scholarship in Uruguay. Manuel, who has an M.A in Environmental Studies from Yale University, told us about his research project about Uruguay's environmental law system Andrew, who has a B.A on Latin American Studies from the University of Southern California, told us about his project about rock music and perceptions of America in Uruguay

Alter this presentations, PAO Robert Zimmerman and the Commission’s Executive Director, Dr. Mercedes Jiménez de Aréchaga, handed Fulbright certificates to two Uruguayan Fellows who have just returned to the country after completing their graduate studies in the United States: Fiorella Haim (XXX) y Roque Gagliano (XXX) doubtlessly we are very proud of this two talented students who came back to share their Fulbright experience.  

Finally, Dr Claudia Brovetto, Coordinator of the Office of Second Languages of ANEP and former Fulbrighter talked about the importance that the Building the Fulbright Future program had for the training of the Uruguayan public schools English teachers.  Certificates were handed to those who successfully completed the on-line English course, organized and sponsored by the Fulbright Commission. This program was designed to support the English teacher’s training on 3 areas: language,math and science; and its on-line condition made the course accessible for participants from all over the country.  41 teachers received the certificate.

Fulbright Mail

 

“Uruguay and Montevideo Have Old World Charm”, by Fulbright U.S. Scholar Paul Hepperly

“Montevideo, the capital of Uruguay, may be one of South America’s best held secrets. Sandwiched between Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay, Uruguay is South America’s smallest country. One of Uruguay’s great resources is the good nature of its sociable people. They are really and genuinely nice.

Yet for the small size of the country, Montevideo has giant helping of old world colonial charm. It is the home to about half of Uruguay’s 3 million inhabitants. The town abounds with squares and parks and impressive arrays of churches government buildings and private residences. Many of the thoroughfares are lines with stately sycamore trees.

A natural harbor, Montevideo, reaches the southern most point of Uruguay and is the center of an almost 400 kilometer stretch of South Atlantic Coast.

Although we usually associate mate and gauchos with their Argentine neighbors, Uruguay has equal claims on these cultural hallmarks and even is a prime practioner of the tango. Move around the city and you will see small shops and open air cafes bring up memories of Old World style and flair.

For a city the size of Montevideo it is amazing the ease of the rhythm of life here. After leaving the city limits the land stretches out in all directions. The biggest portion of these plains are devoted to beef cattle mostly Herefords and Angus with a good share of crossbreeds.

In the Department of Canelones, the Uruguay equivalent of our states orchards abound. Apples and peaches and a proliferation of vineyards heavy with the growing vines. These grapes are fueling a growing wine Industry.

During my first week in Montevideo the city was celebrating the (“Dia de Patimonio”) in English this would translate into Heritage Days. The Museums and historical building were open to public free of charge.

Dr. Hepperly was interviewed for the Agricultural Supplement of the daily newspaper El Observador  (right)

This year the theme was celebrating the Indian and Black African influences in the Country. Uruguay is usually singled out as the only South American country with surviving Indian tribes and Africans represent a very small component nbsp;    . But I will tell you they were really excited with
celebrating these almost hidden sectors of their society.

Maybe it is just that our Latin neighors just like a good celebration and they do but I think it is much deeper than that.  I do believe it is a real respect and love for heritage and legacy something that is not always center place in North Americans from our country.

Before coming here a friend commented “You Know Paul you are an Old World Soul for all your trapping of modernisms”. I was a little taken aback. I quickly replied “So what doe mean by that!!” After the sharp reply my friend gathered her wits and said, “First I consider it a compliment. You know the importance traditional values. This is important.”

Uruguay is the leader in South American in software and computers yet it retains a love for its unique history and culture. So when I say Uruguay is Old World do not get aroused as I did. “It is a complement to value and preserve what is important!”  And when I think about it I guess that is pretty hard to argue with.”

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Dr. Paul Hepperly serves as The Rodale Institute’s® Research and Training Manager, with over 27 years of professional experience in crop research and project management. Paul received a Ph.D. in Plant Pathology and a Master’s Degree in Agronomy from the University of Illinois Champaign Urbana and has authored over 150 scholarly articles on agronomy, crop breeding, crop protection, plant pathology and weed science. He received a Fulbright U.S. Scholar Award to conduct lecture and research activities on Compost, Compost Tea and Organic Farming Research Systems at the National Institute of Agricultural Research.
 
 

My arrival in NYC was the beginning o fan enriching experience", by Uruguayan Fulbrighter Ines Carrera

“Dear Mercedes,

I hope you are doing well. Soon I will defend my PhD thesis and so I wanted to make a briefing of my Fulbright experience until now and to try and make a projection of my future plans.
My arrival in New York City in September 2001 was the beginning of a enriching experience both personally and professionally speaking. (…) It was not easy, particularly because I witnessed one of the events that most definitely marked the entire world: 9/11.
Learning about other cultures has been one of the highlights of this exchange. Diversity in my class with people from other continents was very interesting and I learned to see the world through other eyes and at the same time to share more about Uruguay. (…) Another exciting experience was the ING New York City Marathon, for which I trained 7 months while keeping up with my studies and the lab work. Forty-two awesome kilometers after one does not have energy to finish but one gets it from the people from around the world who are there cheering you up.
During my second academic year I decided to join the Developmental Genetics Program, one of the top and most competitive in the Institute. Specifically I resolved to study the basic development of the Drosophila, at Dr. Jessica Treisman’s lab. In my thesis I have studied two genes necessary for the correct regulation of the gene expression. One hundred years in research of this fly have not only helped to understand the basic biologic processes (genetics, embryonic development, etc.) but the paper of genes responsible for human diseases. My project thesis was not easy. In fact, sometimes it was very frustrating, as is research often. But at the same time, it’s fascinating. Having the opportunity of working in this state of the art center is something I am very grateful form and I thank the Commission for having given me this chance. I have updated my knowledge to a degree that will undoubtedly help me face any future challenge, no matter how defying it may be.  (…)
I will apply to an Academic Training (AT) in May and if all turns out as planned I will begin my post doc starting June.”