Thanksgiving 2006
November 2006
For the first time, the Fulbright Commission, the Checkpoint Charlie Foundation and the Government of Berlin invited to a special Thanksgiving event at the Rote Rathaus. More than 300 former program participants of the inviting institutions and current American Fulbrighters and many prominent friends and sponsors of the programs followed the invitation and shared a happy Thanksgiving. Typical American style, many guests came with food, enriching the traditional turkey dinner. After the welcoming addresses prominent Fulbright Alumnus Heiko Engelkes spoke about the impact of his Fulbright year 1954/55 in the United States -- a truly life-changing experience for him as it lay the foundation for his future career as a journalist. Ersan Aygün, a Checkpoint Charlie Foundation program participant, then gave a multimedia summary of the impact of his stay in the United States -- also a life-changing experience for this promising young high school student. Over the traditional dinner many discussions took place, many new contacts were made and proved that Thanksgiving and networking work well in the most American city of Germany: in Berlin.
