Hip Hop and Popcorn Take Ben-Gurion University by Storm during "America Day"
Channel: U.S. Embassy Jerusalem
Date: 2012-03-22

Huge red, white, and blue, ballooned arches, patriotic bunting, American flags, a poster show of USAID's overseas programs, and popcorn-on-tap provided a festive backdrop to an events-packed "America Day," organized by the Embassy and Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, to coincide with Ambassador Daniel Shapiro's official visit to Beersheva and the university.  The Rennie Harris Puremovement hip hop troupe, in Israel as part of the State Department's DanceMotion USA cultural exchange program, gave three dynamic performances, wowing the students with their expert moves and the various hip hop styles.  Fulbright's  EducationUSA office gave a presentation on graduate studies and manned a well-attended booth providing information on studying in the United States.  Hundreds of students crowded around booths, manned by representatives of the Consular Section, USAID, the U.S. Commercial Section, U.S. Foreign Agricultural Service, the Public Affairs Office, and the American Center Jerusalem's Information Resources Center.  The representatives provided explanations on travel to the United States and promoted U.S. overseas programs, bilateral trade, U.S. agricultural products abroad, and the Embassy's outreach programs.  The American Center Jerusalem's Information Resources Center distributed brochures and pamphlets on a wide variety of U.S. topics, including this year's U.S. elections.  Wide-screen TVs with rolling clips promoted the best of American dance, music, and song and promoted State Department-sponsored cultural highlights.  A good time was had by all!!