It’s not often that schoolchildren get to experience other cultures and countries beyond the second dimension of glossy textbook photos and dry statistics.
But the University’s International Cultural Service Program is helping to change that. The Office of International Programs organizes the program, which brings international students from the University into local classrooms to bring their cultures to life.
“We share more than that,” said Veronica Sanchez, a graduate student from Ecuador. “We share our dance; we do activities … so (the students) get to practice what we do in our country.”
The program trains select international students to give presentations about their countries to elementary schools, middle schools, high schools and retirement homes. The group of
30 students represents more than 20 countries and an even wider range of cultures.
The students engage their audiences, young and old, in a variety of activities, from arts and crafts to cooking.
Other students specialize in storytelling, capoeira, calligraphy, music meditation and origami. Outside of cultural activities, students also discuss marriage traditions, immigration patterns and the contemporary history of their countries.
The students work about 80 hours per year and receive a scholarship as compensation. Being in the program has other perks as well.
“It’s really an honor and a privilege to represent my country,” junior Alishiya Halaney of
India said. “We’re clearing up stereotypes and misunderstandings about our culture.”
Senior Mireille Makambo of Democratic Republic of Congo said some of the students she’s encountered have gross misperceptions of Africa.
“When people talk about Africa they talk about what they see in the media, and that’s not the whole picture,” she said. “I feel like it’s my duty to share my culture.”
Halaney said that students have responded positively to the presentations and have become intrigued about the cultures.
“When we write people’s names in Hindi, they’re fascinated,” she said. “They’re really appreciative of our time. They’re very embracing and accepting of other cultures.”
In addition to educating the community, the students said they also learn from each other. On Thursday, as ICSP students gathered in the EMU to publicize the program, a casual conversation about flirting turned into an intercultural dialogue.
Sophomore Miloje Cekerevac of Serbia said that during a recent trip to Mexico, men on the street catcalled and whistled at his girlfriend.
“In the U.S., if you’re walking around with your girlfriend, no one will flirt with her,” he said. “It’s like an offense.”
But sophomore Ingrid Irina Ioan of Romania said that in some Latin countries, flirtation is far more informal.
“If you go in a (Latin American) country, … it’s a normal thing for guys to flirt. It’s more like a game,” she said. “Some cultures are more direct and expressive.”
Sanchez said cultural exchange is one of the most appealing aspects of the program. The students have to take a class together in which they share their presentations.
“It’s always nice to share our thoughts when we’re from different countries,” Sanchez said. “There’s always different traditions that you don’t know about.”
Ioan added that unless cultural differences are discussed, certain behaviors can be misunderstood. For instance, her American boyfriend once got frustrated because she wouldn’t eat dinner until he got home. He assumed it was because she didn’t want to cook for herself.
“Here, people are very individualistic. In my country, you wait until everyone gets home before you eat,” she said. “It could have been very easily misinterpreted.”
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