News>Americans team up to share cultural awareness
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A child bobs for apples July 12, 2011, during an "American Corner" cultural event hosted by members of the Peace Corps and the U.S. Embassy in Kant, Kyrgyzstan. The children participated in games throughout the afternoon and had the opportunity to ask Americans about U.S. culture. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Tammie Moore)
Master Sgt. Clay Gobin ties a balloon to a child's ankle July 12, 2011, during an "American Corner" cultural event hosted by members of the Peace Corps and the U.S. Embassy in Kant, Kyrgyzstan. Gobin is the Theater Security Cooperation Humanitarian Assistance Flight superintendent. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Tammie Moore)
Senior Airman Kelly Tims and a Kyrgyz boy play catch with a water balloon July 12, 2011, during an "American Corner" cultural event hosted by members of the Peace Corps and the U.S. Embassy in Kant, Kyrgyzstan. Tims is a warehouse operations craftsman assigned to the 376th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Tammie Moore)
Children run a three-legged race July 12, 2011, during an "American Corner" cultural event hosted by members of the Peace Corps and the U.S. Embassy in Kant, Kyrgyzstan. The children participated in games throughout the afternoon and had the opportunity to ask Americans about U.S. culture. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Tammie Moore)
A group of women examine books and magazines about American culture July 12, 2011, during an "American Corner" cultural event hosted by members of the Peace Corps and the U.S. Embassy in Kant, Kyrgyzstan. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Tammie Moore)
by Tech. Sgt. Tammie Moore
376th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
7/18/2011 - TRANSIT CENTER AT MANAS, Kyrgyzstan (AFNS) -- Americans from the U.S. Embassy, the Peace Corps and the Transit Center at Manas teamed together to share their culture with residents of Kant, Kyrgyzstan, during an "American Corner" information fair July 12.
The group spent the afternoon in the park playing games like bobbing for apples and three-legged races. In addition, group members were on hand to answer any questions the residents had about U.S. culture and language.
"The purpose of this fair is to advertise the American Corner and promote greater participation from the local population," said Anna Laird, a Peace Corps volunteer. "American Corners are spread throughout the country."
This particular American Corner is a resource center located mere blocks away from the community park where the information fair was held. The Kant American Corner houses a library with Russian and English books, a computer lab, a video club, an area to socialize and play games, and is a place where students can improve their English.
The U.S. Embassy-led program also provides opportunities for Americans to visit local schools and villages, said Capt. Laila Saed, the Theater Security Cooperation Office Humanitarian Assistance program manager deployed here from Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
The American Corner staff also hosts community events, like the information fair, three or four times a year.
"The kids love to meet new Americans; they get so excited," Laird said. "We were really only expecting students who usually come to the American Corner to be here, but there were a lot of people from the community, and people brought their kids and siblings, so it was a really good turnout."
Master Sgt. Sharon Reeder, the 376th Air Expeditionary Wing law office superintendent, traveled from the Transit Center at Manas to participate in the information fair, and joined other Transit Center volunteers in playing games with the children.
"I decided to participate in the event because I thought it would be interesting to interact with the children and because I'm a kid at heart," Reeder said. "I had a lot of fun."
