On Nov. 20, during Kirkwood Community College’s International Education Week, a yearly tradition at Kirkwood with a number of events and gatherings throughout the week, tables spanned across the second floor of Iowa Hall for the Global Expo.
These tables caught attention with paperboards displaying country flags, names, photos, graphs and pieces of information visualizing details about each represented country. On the tables were trinkets, small snacks, figurines and other cultural expressions.
There were stands for Brazil, Japan, Germany, Spain, the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Colombia and even one for Iowa. Another table represented the study abroad program and offered information about upcoming opportunities.
A common theme across the displays was the use of sticky notes inviting participation from anyone walking by, along with small paper passports that visitors could take and have stamped by each country.
Elizabeth O’Brien, the international student services specialist at Kirkwood, represented the stand for Spain by wearing a Deportivo La Coruña soccer jersey, as she lived in Spain for three years.
When asked how many students are currently studying at Kirkwood through the abroad program, she said there are 130.
When asked how meaningful it is for American colleges to celebrate international cultures, she said International Education Week is a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the impact of global perspectives and learn about diverse cultures.
The event offered a striking opportunity for students to talk about their homelands and cultures, give input, educate others and connect. One example was a woman who gathered a crowd as she spoke about Germany. Minutes later, she and a man were having a fluent German conversation with each other.
In a post-event statement, O’Brien said she wished more people had attended the Global Expo, but she still considered it a success and noted that students enjoyed sharing information about their countries and traditions.
Categories: Campus News, News
