We regret the passing, on April 11, 2024, of the distinguished Romanian author and critic Dan Cristea, who served as the editor in chief of the Luceafărul de Dimineață cultural monthly. In addition to being an alum of the 1985 Fall Residency, Cristea received his PhD in Comparative Literature at the University of Iowa.
This year marked the debut of BTL Russia, in which Russian and American students came together to experience the literary culture of Iowa City while stretching their own writing and reading muscles in new ways. In addition, they went on field trips to the Quad Cities as well as to a working farm, where they enjoyed a hayride and a dinner with dishes from both Russia and the US. Our fifth BTL Arabic session welcomed students from Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia, and the Palestinian Territories (Gaza and West Bank) along with students from the US and Canada. Some of their activities included trips to Des Moines and Cedar Rapids, where they participated in an Iftar meal held at the Islamic Center of Cedar Rapids. We did our best to make it a great experience for all involved!
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