Week of Celebrations Puts Spotlight on International Education

Christine Clark | November 23, 2009

UCSD’s fifth annual International Education Week (IEW) kicked off with a flag parade down Library Walk.

They donned the flags of Brazil, China, Palestine, Canada, Sweden, and Chile and marched down Library Walk with the UCSD pep band, all in the name of international education. UCSD’s fifth annual International Education Week (IEW) kicked off with a flag parade, the first of a series of events dedicated to enhancing international awareness across campus.

More than 40 events, including lectures, internationally-themed meals, cultural presentations, workshops and an international student festival, took place last week to celebrate the benefits of international education and worldwide exchange.

The celebration came to a close Friday afternoon at the International Center with a Thanksgiving style lunch and dynamic performances from the UCSD Hawaii Club, Tango Concepts and San Diego French-American School. Their performances were preceded by Chancellor Marye Anne Fox's closing remarks. “It is our goal to enhance international awareness all across campus and provide students with access to international experiences,” Fox said.  “UCSD is ranked seventh in the nation for the number of students we send abroad for a full academic year. And participation in short-term study abroad programs has more than doubled in the last 10 years.”

The celebration came to a close Friday afternoon at the International Center with a Thanksgiving style lunch and dynamic performances from the UCSD Hawaii Club, Tango Concepts and San Diego French-American School. Their performances were preceded by Chancellor Marye Anne Fox's closing remarks.

Fox added that students who don’t go abroad can gain international experience at UCSD through the universities’ programs and initiatives. “We host international film screenings across campus,” she said. “Our student organizations celebrate their culture, music, food and dance every year during the International Festival. We continue to hold lectures covering a variety of pertinent international topics and students can engage in cross-cultural dialogue through the English in Action Tutor Program, I-House Language Tables, Sunday Supper, International Club, and many other activities.”

Wednesday’s events included the International Student Festival on Library Walk, where students from more than 50 countries celebrated and showcased their culture and talents through artistic displays, music, ethnic clothing, dance and food. Groups such as the Chinese Music Ensemble, Teja Kondapalli, Ballet Folklorica La Joya De Mexico gave vivacious performances in the Price Center.

The Korean Student Cultural Awareness club had more than 20 members on Library Walk. The students passed out rice cakes and rice water and played Korean musical instruments.

In addition, student organizations such as International House Cares (I-Cares) tabled on Library Walk to recruit new members. Cat Townson, an exchange student from England, signed up new volunteers for I-Cares upcoming charitable events. “It’s been wonderful,” she said. “I’ve also met people who are involved in similar projects so this have given us a great opportunity to collaborate.”

The Korean Student Cultural Awareness club had more than 20 members  passing out rice cakes and rice water and playing Korean musical instruments on Library Walk. Also, exchange students such as Patrik Kilmartin of Dublin, Ireland encouraged students to study abroad. “I have had the opportunity to come here,” he said. "So, I feel like others should be able to have the same learning experience and see the great aspects of Ireland.”

Among the more than 40 events planned for IEW was the Student Festival which brought together students from more than 50 countries including Australia and the United Kingdom.

Throughout the week, students attended events at the Career Services Center and International Center that helped students learn about a variety of study abroad opportunities and how these experiences can be used to pursue international careers in law and development, teaching, academia, Peace Corps, federal government, and more.

On Tuesday, students listened to the IEW keynote speech delivered by  Robert Sanchez a UCSD alumni and CEO and president of Globaltel Media, Inc. Also on Tuesday, Etan Doronne shared his story with more than 60 members of the UCSD community about how he began a yearlong solitary backpack journey through rural India. Some of the villages he visited had never had a foreign visitor, let alone the opportunity to build a friendship with one. "It was a really inspiring talk," Kevin Delmastro, UCSD International Scholar Advisor, said. "It made me want to go on a similar journey." 

Dancers from the UCSD Hawaii Club performed to the music of White Christmas.

Thursday afternoon, international and American students competed in there International Soccer Game, where members all wore T-shirts representing their culture and country. Following the game, hundreds of students, staff and members of the community attended a Thanksgiving dinner hosted by International House and Slow Food Urban San Diego. The cuisine featured local pastured turkeys and local produce and ingredients, which were cooked communally by Slow Food volunteers and students. Proceeds from the dinner went to the UCSD student Slow Food chapter and the Art Institute.

"It's a great evening and opportunity to celebrate with community members, alumni and UCSD students," said senior Melissa Brouwer. "It’s also wonderful to see international students experience their first Thanksgiving meal."