On November 27, Cultural Attaché Dan Hastings spoke during the Thanksgiving with FLEXers webinar, organized by an amazing group of young alumni of the U.S. Department of State’s Future Leaders Exchange (FLEX) program.  The purpose of the virtual gathering was to talk about Thanksgiving traditions, the importance of this day in American culture, and the culinary delights Americans love to prepare for this special holiday.  During the webinar, the FLEX alumni told about their personal experiences of celebrating Thanksgiving during their exchange program in the United States. The hosts of the Thanksgiving with FLEXers webinar also prepared a presentation to talk about the virtue of gratitude and how practicing it can change our everyday life — and those of others.

The FLEX exchange program was approved by the U.S. Congress in 1992 and is fully-funded by the U.S. Department of State.  It is a yearlong exchange program for high school students who travel to the United States for an entire school year. The program aims to strengthen ties between U.S. citizens and representatives of other countries. It is thanks to the participants of the program that Americans in return learn more about the culture and national heritage other nations.