English Professor Awarded
Fulbright Scholarship to Lithuania
English Professor returns to her native
country to teach American literature
January 5, 2005 :: No. 110.
As a child, Irena Praitis’ parents
didn’t speak Lithuanian very frequently to their youngest
daughter. As immigrants, they never expected to return to
their native country, and they wanted to ensure that their
children spoke English fluently. They believed that a firm
grasp of the language was a key to success in America.
Today, Praitis, a Fullerton resident and an
assistant professor of English, comparative literature and
linguistics, wishes her parents had spoken to her in their
native tongue a little more often. As a Fulbright scholar,
she will be departing Jan. 15 to spend a semester in Lithuania,
teaching American literature to students at Vilnius Pedagogical
University.
At Cal State Fullerton, Praitis teaches modern
and contemporary poetry, 19th-century poetry, with a particular
focus on Whitman and Dickinson, as well as a variety of other
courses.
“Although many Lithuanians
don’t speak English, like many Europeans, they are quite
familiar with American culture through movies, music and books.
“I know enough Lithuanian
to get around a bit, and I’m trying to learn more very
quickly,” she said with a laugh. “I always wanted
to live in Lithuania to better understand the culture and
people. With this Fulbright, I will have the opportunity to
observe and learn about their daily lives and their hopes.
“I’m also curious
about how they interpret U.S. literature,” she said.
“So often we learn about the world through numbers and
statistics. I also want to learn about the world through emotion
and understanding and telling stories. The Fulbright provides
a wonderful opportunity for me to do that.”
Her parents, she notes, are amused at her
interest in a country they left decades ago. “My parents
never expected to return to Lithuania, and they certainly
never expected that their children would go there,”
she said. Interestingly, her 72-year-old father will accompany
her initially, visiting with relatives and helping his daughter
get settled before he returns to America.
“I am a bit nervous,”
she admits. “When I arrive, it will be winter, and it’s
often dark and cold. There are many unknowns about how I will
adapt, but overall, I think it will be an incredible experience.”
While in Lithuania, Praitis also hopes to
translate Lithuanian poetry into English. She admits that
may be a challenge.
“With poetry, there
is often rhyme and meter and metaphor and sometimes those
elements don’t always translate well,” she admitted.
“You need to look at the tone of the language. Lithuanian
is a very old language —an Indo-European language related
to Sanskrit— and it hasn’t changed a lot. The
challenge will be to translate the meaning while keeping the
rhythm of the language.”
Praitis knows firsthand about the language
of poetry. She recently had her first book of poems, “Touch,”
published by Finishing Line Press.
“It’s been
a fulfilling year,” she said. “With teaching,
the publication of my first book and preparing to live abroad
for five months, I can see how my life continues to change.
It’s truly an exciting time.”
Praitis joined the university faculty in 2001
and earned her doctorate at Arizona State University.
Media Contacts: |
Irena Praitis, ipraitis@fullerton.edu
or 657-278-2453
Valerie Orleans, Public Affairs, vorleans@fullerton.edu
or 657-278-4540.
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