Culture Week is here – are you in?
You can taste and see the world on campus February 8-12 as part of Culture Week. The event, formerly International Week, is now “Culture Week” to emphasize that everyone is included, not just international students. Everyone has a culture to share. The week is kicked off with the International Banquet on Monday, a feast of tastes, entertainment and colorful decor.
Tuesday is the International Games night, and Wednesday marks the brand new Amazing/Mediocre Race which is sure to draw a big crowd.
International Students’ Chapels will be held on Wednesday and Thursday. Each day during the week, an international student will host a Culture Café. This is a chance for fellowship, stories, and cuisine from China, India, Israel, Ecuador and more. Sign up ahead in the Globe for Culture Cafés, $8.
Thursday afternoon is Culture Expo in the atrium. There will be booths representing TWU’s array of cultures. Walk through, sample exotic tastes, and hear stories of our vast and varied world. This is not to be missed.
In the Globe, you can also sign up for a cooking lesson and learn to cook a traditional Chinese, Russian, American, Japanese, German or Indian dish.
Culture Week is organized by TWU’s International Student Programs (ISP). ISP team member Adriana Salcedo is originally from Venezuela. She believes ISP and Culture Week is important because it “bridges the gap between North Americans and international students.” ISP aims to help international students feel comfortable in Canada and to expose North Americans to another country’s way of life.
Culture Week is one of ISP’s biggest events of the year. This year, because there are more ESLI students than past years, they expect it to be even bigger. Adriana encourages people to take part in Culture Week because we can learn about other cultures. She stresses the importance of “sharing stories” because “people are excited to share their culture.”
Adriana will be hosting Latin-American dance lessons in Robson, Thursday at 7pm.
Jump into Culture Week! For a detailed schedule, click here. Or stop by the Globe to find out how you can take part.
Story by Gwendolen Gower. Photo by Andrea Ribey.