ENG 263 Studies in the US Culture, Spring 2010: II

Welcome to the ENG 263 Course Blog

Welcome to the ENG 263 Studies in the American Culture, Spring 2010 course blog.

Please feel free to express your impressions, views and opinions based on what has been happening during class.

The Blog is open to all who wish to participate in a respectful exchange of thoughts, ideas, positions, proposals, and anything else that comes up as long as the subject is about the issues that concern the U.S. culture as a whole.

Nevertheless, I must ask the authors to identify themselves at all times.

I hope you enjoy this education experience.

E. Prifti, Course Instructor

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Dear students,

I have compiled a list of questions, just to give you a few ideas. Please feel free to copy and paste them in your slot in the Field trip spreadsheet, if you like to use them with the Ambassador.

Also, please think of a symbolic gift we could give the Ambassador.

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* Ambasador Withers, does the Obama Administration consider Albania an Islamic, Christian, or an atheist state?

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* What are the main foreign policy concerns of the Obama administration?

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* What do you think of the Albanian-US relationship today?

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* In your role as Ambassador to Albania, did you find any difficulties having to do with the Albanian culture?

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* What city did you enjoy the most in Albania, and are there any areas you liked in particular?

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* Many Americans do not speak a foreign language. How do you think this could be changed, and is the US Embassy in Albania involved in any language programs?

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* How do you think the Albanians view President Obama, and vice versa for Americans’ opinion of President Topi?

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* Does the US Embassy keep up regular contact with all of the major Albanian political parties?

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* What do you like most about Albania?

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* If students are interested in diplomatic careers, what advice would you give them?

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* You hold a PhD in Modern Chinese History. Do you see any similarities between China and Albania, considering the common communist background of the two countries?

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* For two years you were a Political Officer in Moscow, Russia. What was similar and what was different in your experience in living in these two countries?

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* Ambasador Withers, for the last 25 years you have been living in the Netherlands, in Nigeria, in Russia, in Albania, but not in the US. What do you consider to be your personal culture?

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* How often do you make use of an interpreter in your everyday interactions?

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* Do you require that interpreters be formally trained in interpreting skills before hiring them?

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* What do you value most in an interpreter?

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E. Prifti