American Jets Begin Baltic Air Policing

On Friday, January 3rd, the U.S. Air Force took over the +NATO Baltic Air Policing mission from the Belgian Air Force at Zokniai Air Base. The Belgian air commander handed over a symbolic key to the Baltic airspace to the Americans. A detachment of more than 150 troops will police Lithuanian, Latvian and Estonian skies for the next four months. Lithuanian Air Force air base commander Major Gintautas Slovikas welcomed his American colleagues in Zokniai and presented them with a loaf of bread as a sign of hospitality. Read more here.

Air Policing is a purely defensive mission. Since the 1970s, NATO has established a comprehensive system of air surveillance and airspace management means, provided by its member nations. The Alliance ensures constant surveillance and control of its assigned airspace 24 hours a day and 365 days a year.
NATO members without their own Air Policing assets are assisted by other NATO members. Luxembourg is covered by interceptors from Belgium, while Slovenia and Albania by Italian aircraft.
Since March 2004, when the Baltic States joined NATO, the 24/7 task to police the airspace of the Baltic States was conducted on three-month rotation from Lithuania's First Air Base in Zokniai/Šiauliai International Airport, near the northern city of Šiauliai. Starting with the Turkish deployment, rotations changed to a four-month basis. Usual deployments consist of four fighter aircraft with between 50 and 100 support personnel. 

Lithuanian Fulbright Scholar Discovers San Diego--from Mindaugas Briedis

Our today's dispatch is from Professor Mindaugas Briedis from Mykolas Romeris University who is currently finishing his Fulbright Visiting Scholar stay at National University in San Diego, California. 

My Fulbright stay in San Diego lasted for four months and it is hard to grasp the entirety of experience that I’ve got. Perhaps the easier way to tell about it is to divide my story according to Fulbright goals.

The basic goal of the Fulbright was twofold: to get academic experience while being a cultural ambassador for my country. It is amazing how those two modes of stay worked perfectly in my case. As I lived in the very heart of San Diego (downtown), every day after my work I was able to enjoy countless outdoor activities – sports, beaches, hikes, etc. Evenings were dedicated to movies, books, glimpses of the night life of San Diego and, of course, reflection.

At National University I met many friendly colleagues who helped me during my first steps in online education. Surprisingly, I was able not only to watch others working, ask questions and get information, but actually to design an online class and teach it under the great supervision of prof. Paul Majkut. It is true that I have got compliment letters from all (!) of my students. This was certainly a great encouragement for my ambition to learn how to teach online.

Although the first month of my stay was pretty tough (perhaps because of all the paperwork that needed taking care of--banking, lease, social security number, etc.), later I got into a rhythm and found time for my next academic goal – research. National university provided me with all resources needed, thus I could work on my research on online education in humanities. I will present the results of the research at a conference in March and eventually publish the presentation in English.

These were my formal academic goals, but I also want to tell you how much I loved being amongst the people of San Diego in many creative ways. As I am an avid guitarist, I looked to continue playing in California, and we formed a temporary band with other professors at National and played three gigs at a retirement home, Christmas carol at the university and at the gathering of San Diego musicians. Great pleasure! Another great event was organized by San Diego Fulbright panel – we had a nice dinner, music and warm talking in one of the +Balboa Park venues

During all those events I was able to share my experiences with many great friends (students, professor as well as city folks) who also gave me a lot of excellent advice. Thanks to them. I visited most interesting areas and museums in San Diego and travelled California (six national parks – from the desert sands to mountain ice!) for a week. I lived downtown, so always felt the pulse of the city, but also found my solitary refuge with great books and movies as well. I can confidently say I am happy and looking forward to the future – I have determined to tie my life with Fulbright opportunities.

New Year, New Library

Well, we've had a great year, and to celebrate, the Public Affairs team at the U.S. Embassy in Vilnius has given itself a present: A brand new Facebook page for the American Center Library.

The page features the latest and greatest news from the library: new acquisitions, program announcements, events etc. We're also running a series on English language and another one on essential American food recipes. Of course, we welcome your suggestions and comments, and please, help us spread the word!

Ambassador McCarthy now on Twitter!

Did you know #Ambassador McCarthy is now on Twitter? Help us spread the word and follow today: https://twitter.com/AMB_DMcCarthy

Embassy Celebrates 20 Years of Lithuanian-Pennsylvanian Partnership

This year, Lithuania and Pennsylvania are celebrating their 20th anniversary of successful collaboration through the +National Guard State Partnership Program.  More than 500 exchanges between Lithuania and the Pennsylvania National Guard have taken place since the partnership began April 27, 1993.
Connections between Pennsylvania and Lithuania, however, extend even further in time. During the United States’ colonial period, an influential Lithuanian military officer, General Tadeusz Kosciuszko, played a key role in helping the American Revolutionaries win the Battle of Saratoga, which historians regard as a turning point in the war.  Many Lithuanians also settled in Pennsylvania more than a century ago; they were among the first wave of Europeans who came to America at the time.

Read more about the celebration at 20 Years of Lithuanian-Pennsylvanian Partnership | Embassy of the United States Vilnius, Lithuania.

Reflections of American Culture at Janina Monkute-Marks Museum: The Creative-Educational Children Camp

In early June, a two-week Creative-Educational Children’s Camp for the pupils of Kedainiai Foster Home “Saulute” took place at Janina Monkute-Marks Museum. During this time, children and youth had the unique opportunity to try out a variety of artistic techniques. Their works were then exhibited at the museum until 30 June, and are now on display at Kedainiai Foster Home “Saulute,” where they will remain until 30 November.

The project “Reflections of American Culture at Janina Monkute-Marks Museum:  The Creative-Educational Children’s Camp” was primarily designed to introduce students from Kedainiai Foster Home “Saulute” to American culture and its manifestations in the works of Lithuanian diaspora artists while also providing them with a rewarding pastime. It further aimed to develop cultural consciousness and initiative, and create conditions for self-expression and realization. To achieve these objectives, three art branches—pop art, graphics and stained glass – were taught.

Over the course of the two weeks, the students painted on water, carved linoleum, created graphic works, made collages, and produced stained glass works and mosaics. The children then visited Kaunas, where they toured the M.Zilinskas Art Gallery, the Kaunas Ceramics Museum, T.Ivanauskas Museum of Zoology, as well as a graphics gallery of well-known Kaunas artist Egidijus Rudinskas, who himself introduced youngsters to his own artwork and etching technology. Afterwards, participants flew kites near Kaunas Castle!

Special thanks to the director’s assistant—Jovita Buineviciene of Kedainiai Art School and her four volunteers—all alumnae of the Kedainiai district municipality project “Future Museum Open for Youth,” who assisted children with the day-to-day camp activities. The success of the project is due, in large part, to their contribution.

Having experienced its debut at Janina Monkute-Marks Museum on 15 June with an accompanying concert, the gallery, which features selected works by the students, has since been moved to Kedainia Foster Home “Saulute” and will continue to be exhibited there until 30 November. Two Kedainia region televisions made reportages and almost all Foster Home children took part in the opening!