News from the Intercultural Centre

The 5th Japan Festival on January 24th 2009 at the University of Iceland

The Embassy of Japan and the Japanese Studies in the School of Humanities at the University of Iceland bring to you the Japan Festival on Saturday the 24th of January 2009 from 13:00 - 17:00 in and around the Function Room of the main university building (Hátíðasalur, Aðalbygging).

The Japan Festival has been brought together by the efforts of not only the students and their enthusiasm for Japanese language and culture, but also by individuals in the Japanese community here in Iceland. Guests will be invited to experience Japan through various activities and presentations. On stage there will be Budo demonstrations and a big quiz event, ´Quiz Japan´, where we invite the guests to discover all kinds of interesting facts about Japanese culture.

In addition the Festival will include open booths containing many attractions. Guests will, for example, be invited to sample different tastes of Japan at the food booth, in the Japanese calligraphy booth guests can have their names written in kanji and katakana characters, or they can visit the Origami paper-folding booth. All booths will be on a first come, first served basis

Classrooms will also contain various exhibitions and entertainment. including the tea ceremony demonstration, students' original presentations of various topics from Japanese culture. There will also be a presentation of popular music from Japan, a chance to learn and play the Japanese board game Go, to try out Japanese computer games, and a (non-alcoholic) karaoke bar will be open.

The Japanese Studies course, which began in September 2003 at the University of Iceland, was the first course to offer a language and societal study programme for any Asian country at the university. A second year programme was added to the course in 2007, making it possible for students to study 2 years of Japanese language and society in Iceland before taking a final year of study for a full Bachelors degree through foreign exchange programs.

General information about the Japanese Studies course and the various scholarship and exchange programs to Japanese Universities will also be available for the duration of the Festival.

Admission to the Festival is free and open to the general public.


The English-Speaking Union invites you to a lecture

The English-Speaking Union of Iceland invites you to attend its inaugural event:
BBC Correspondent Brian Hanrahan:

“THE POWER OF THE MEDIA IN TIMES OF CHANGE”

Tuesday, 27 January, 17.00 - 19.00
Bratti Lecture Theatre, School of Education, University of Iceland (enter from Háteigsvegur)
Moderator: Bogi Ágústsson

Drinks and light refreshments, co-sponsored by the embassies of Canada, India and the United States, will be served following the lecture.

The English-Speaking Union (ESU) is an international charity whose purpose is to create international understanding and friendship through the use of the English language. Founded in 1918, ESU Iceland was launched in the autumn of 2008. See www.esu.is


Registration started for new Frístundir Ísland afsláttarkort

Register Online for the new Frístundir Ísland Afsláttarkort for 2009. Only 1000 kr for a whole year! Don´t miss out!

Visit www.fristundir.is for details on how to register for the Frístundir Ísland Afsláttarkort. Full instructions of how to register and use the card are online now.

See our website for Clients offering Discounts Now!

See our Afsláttarkort promotions on www.Mbl.is/fólkið. Frístundir Ísland can also be seen at Sambíoin at Álfabakki and Kringlan. Listen out for our adverts on the radio at FM957, x-ið 977 as well as Bylgjan, Gullbylgjan and Léttbylgjan,

www.ahus.is