On Friday, February 27, 2009, the U.S. Embassy and Cyprus Fulbright Commission convened a Socrates Café for scholars and alumni of the Cyprus Fulbright Program.

On Friday, February 27, 2009, the U.S. Embassy and Cyprus Fulbright Commission convened a Socrates Café for scholars and alumni of the Cyprus Fulbright Program. Fulbright alumni Ms. Maro Kazepi and Mr. Ulas Gunduzler moderated an open-ended discussion, which led to a profound and philosophical exploration of the meaning of beauty.

In the full spirit of the Socrates Café, in which participants work together to choose topics for discussion in a safe and trusting environment, the group explored both the universal and subjective natures of beauty as a concept, beauty as a cultural construct, and how beauty sometimes reflects past experiences.

But the evening did not only revolve around deep philosophical discussions. Along with staff from the Embassy and Fulbright Commission, the past and present Fulbright scholars, representing both the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities, also enjoyed some more informal conversation over wine and cheese.