Fulbright scholars share culture through poetry

SKANEATELES | Famous or original poems and short stories served as a jumping off point for conversations regarding culture, the concept of masculinity in society and the changing roles of women around the world.

Past and current Fulbright scholars studying in the region met at the John. D. Barrow Art Gallery Saturday morning to speak about their experiences and read poetry, mostly from artists who represent their native countries. The CNY Fulbright Chapter welcomed people from around the world who are participating in the cultural program that sends Americans to distant lands and welcomes visitors from other nations.

Shirley Xue, a Fulbright scholar from China who studied American literature, wrote a poem about her experience meeting her role model, Joyce Carol Oates. She also thanked the program that supports her work here.

"Literature is a magnet connecting strangers of different cultures," Xue read from her poem "To Joyce, a Light in my Life."

CNY Fulbright Chapter President Elane Granger said the program was a chance to bring alumni of the program and current participants together in the spirit of Fulbright, which is to spread peace and cultural understanding.

The Syracuse University professor added that American students may apply to the program to teach English around the world.

Local Janie Darovskikh, a Fulbright alumna, created and organized the poetry exchange.

Saturday morning, many of the participants shared the history of the authors they read, and some read the work in the original language before reading an English translation.

Jordan student Lara Marto and Soufien Jarraya, of Tunsia, both read love poems by the Syrian diplomat Nizar Qabbani. This sparked a conversation about the inspiration of poetry and writing throughout the ages — love and heartbreak.

"Arab men don't share their feelings so this is a breakthrough. It makes him more human," Marto said of Qabbani. "That's why women love him."

As she read Qabbani's poem "Choose," she made hand gestures to punctuate points and emphasize the rhythm.

Jarraya pointed to the fact that the desperation and tortured feelings of love Qabbani expresses is interesting in the context of coming from a patriarchal culture.

Ithaca College professor Kathleen Mulligan and her husband, David Studwell, spoke about their travels in India and Pakistan. Mulligan received a Fulbright grant in 2010 and 2012 for her project "Finding Women's Voices."

While in India, they started a program called Wheels for Women to provide domestic shelters with auto-rickshaws to give women a source of income, a theme of the short story they read by Saadat Hasan Manto called "The License."

The 1930 story about an Indian widow who drives a coach until the government puts a stop to that because of her gender has a clear connection to their program. The couple hopes to bring this short story to the theater.

"When we dramatize this, we can say, 'That was Manto's ending. We can change that ending,' We can change this," David said, referencing women's inequality.

Progress can take a long time, though. Muligan referred to the recent Violence Toward Women Act New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo championed earlier this year.

"And we're supposedly a progressive country," she said, pointing to the gap in time between the women's rights movement and the recent law.