Grantee Events
Fulbright Iceland
Our U.S. grantees arrive throughout the academic year, but twelve arrived in time for the fall orientation session in early September. It was a day-long event where the grantees were prepared for their stay in Iceland with a variety of sessions and activities which covered Icelandic culture and language, survival tips, and much more.
In mid-October, the Commission hosted an Icelandic literature talk with Fulbright alumna Meg Matich, which focused mainly on Icelandic women writers Meg has translated from Icelandic into English, with a feminist perspective. It was a packed house, with every seat taken, including many friends who came to Iceland for the Arctic Circle Assembly.
The grantees visited Alþingi, the Parliament of Iceland, in November. They got a guided tour of the historic building and valuable insights into both the history and modern operation of the parliament. After the tour, they met with Member of Parliament Ingvar Þóroddsson from the Liberal Reform Party (Viðreisn). A lively discussion ensued, with our Fulbrighters living up to their reputation as an inquisitive, knowledgable bunch who had lots of questions, which Ingvar, who himself studied in the United States, was eager to answer.
December enrichment involved a cultural outing to the Reykjavik City Theater for a performance of Puccini’s La Bohème by the Icelandic Opera ensemble Óður, which has been making a name for itself over the past few years with innovative performances. It was a unique experience, as the opera was performed in Icelandic, much to everyone´s enjoyment.
