International Week takes students and faculty across the globe minus the culture shock

Written by Shambhu Sharan, Contributor to The Shorthorn   

Thursday, 02 April 2009 09:14 PM

From food to fashion, international culture will be displayed throughout International Week from April 3 to 10.

International Student Organization is organizing the week, with 20 participating international student organizations, ISO adviser Julie Holmer said. She said ISO plans a weeklong festival every April, it has been a campus tradition for the past 31 years.

“It is an educational event that serves to inform and acknowledge cultural diversity,” Holmer said.

This is the opportunity for the university to showcase the more than 2,500 students on campus with nationality and cultural student organizations and to allow the thousands of internationally-minded students, faculty, staff and community members to participate and enjoy diversity on the campus, Holmer said.

The week’s schedule includes a parade, an indoor soccer tournament, a grand opening ceremony, nationality and cultural exhibits, food fair, fashion show, school visits and global extravaganza, she said. Students will carry their country’s banner during the opening parade.

She said the parade will end in the University Center Bluebonnet Ballroom with performances by the UTA Dance Ensemble and the Filipino Student Association.

There will be a Global Extravaganza on Friday, which will provide an array of cultural performances, ranging from song, dance, drama and comedy, Holmer said.

She said the fashion show is a fun, cultural night of ethnic outfits and costumes. Students will dress in traditional countries dress during the fashion show.

Student organizations will sell their countries’ food for anyone to taste on the Food Fair day, she said.

Exhibition day students will visit to learn their cultures, she said. Friday’s talent show will include singing, dancing and a comedy act, Holmer said. Area schools have been invited to visit the different cultural exhibits set up by the student organizations, she said.

International Week 2009 event schedule

What: Movies Without Borders presents Slumdog Millionaire followed by a student panel discussion
When: 8 tonight
Where: Maverick Activities Center Lone Star Auditorium

What: Soccer/Cricket demonstration match and pingpong tournaments,
When: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday
Where: The Maverick Activity Center indoor soccer gymnasium and second floor

What: Parade of Banners and grand opening ceremony
When: noon-1 p.m. Monday
Where: Nedderman Hall to Library mall and the University Center Bluebonnet Ballroom

What: Food fair
When: 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Tuesday
Where: University Center mall, Rain Site: University Center Palo Duro Lounge

What: Fashion show and exhibits
When: 7 p.m.-9 p.m. Wednesday
Where: University Center Bluebonnet Ballroom

What: School visits to cultural exhibits
When: 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Thursday
When: University Center Bluebonnet Ballroom

What: Global Extravaganza
When: 7 p.m.–9 p.m. Friday
Where: University Center Bluebonnet Ballroom

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