International Week shows IU's diversity

A worldwide celebration dedicated to the appreciation of international education and exchange takes center stage at IU this week. International Education Week, sponsored by the U.S. departments of Education and State, aims to cultivate understanding of education across borders.\nSandra Britton, assistant director of the Office of International Services and coordinator of the Leo R. Dowling International Center, said international students enhance campus life and are an integral part of campus culture. In an increasingly small world, international education and exchange are playing a growing role, she said.\n"Learning is about more than just academics, though," said Ruthmae Sears, a graduate student from the Bahamas. "It's interaction and exposure to other cultures. It gives you a different perspective on how to view life." \nJoseph Board is a part-time student who, though American, is friends with many international students. \n"The international education program gives everybody an opportunity to learn new things that they wouldn't otherwise learn by just talking with Americans," he said. "I incorporate the cultures and languages I've come across into my daily life here."\nThere is always room for improvement, though, said Auden Sandberg, a visiting professor from Norway. \n"The exposure to overseas students could be bigger than it is here," Sandberg said. "They should use the students' expertise of other cultures more in programs."\nOn a campus of nearly 38,000 students, it's easy to miss the 3,300 international students. \n"Everybody is occupied with their different academic responsibilities. International students may feel somewhat isolated because of it," Britton said. "IEW gives us the opportunity to tell them that they are important to IU."\nIEW 2005 kicked off Monday with a reception with IU-Bloomington Interim Chancellor Ken Gros Louis and staff from the Office of International Programs.\nThe entire campus is involved in the IEW spectacle, with various venues hosting events and exhibitions ranging from ranging from music, art and dance to language, cooking and ancient games the fine arts, to ancient games, to dance, to music, to language and cooking. \nTuesday is the day for those looking for fun and games. From 5 to 7 p.m., the Asian Culture Center at 807 E. 10th St. is hosting games of Go, and starting at 6:30 p.m. Mah-Jong will be the game of the night. Also Tuesday, the International Center is hosting a free belly dancing class from 6 to 7 p.m. A Chinese dance class will be held at the same place, same time, Wednesday. The Latin Dance Club meets from 8 to 10 p.m. Thursday in the Georgian Room of the Indiana Memorial Union.\n"Learning the language is the hardest part of moving to a different country," Sears said. This week, Tibetan, Hindi, Spanish, Japanese, Mongolian and more conversation clubs are offered on different days at the International Center. An Intensive English Program, complete with coffee, will take place there from 10:10 to 11:30 p.m. Wednesday. Practical English Tutorials, where native English speakers are available to chat, are weekly occurrences at the Center, from noon to 1 p.m. Saturdays. \nSpecial guest Victor Villasenor, author of "Rain of Gold," will be speaking about finding common ground between the culture of his Mexican-Indian-European ancestors and his family's new home in America. He will present at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center.\nFree music performances Thursday feature Brazilian performer Angela Jardim and the Bloomington Chinese Artist Performance Group from 7 to 9 p.m. On Friday, the weekly Noon Concert Series will present soloist Daniel Pasoe, who will perform Mexican songs, to be followed by a light lunch. \n"Food makes culture unique," Sears said. "I'm from the Bahamas, where the food had real flavor. I can't do the food here."\nThis week, though, students will have the opportunity to learn how to spice up their dinners with the Indian and Puerto Rican cooking demonstrations to be held Thursday and Friday at the Asian Culture and Latino culture centers, respectively.\nA complete listing of the IEW's events can be found at the International Center's Web site at www.indiana.edu/~intlserv.\nBut in the end, it is all of these things -- food, language, music and dance -- which students from foreign countries bring to the University, said Christopher Viers, associate dean and director of International Services.\n"The international students contribute to the overall quality of the educational experience here at IU," Viers said. "They bring the world to our doorstep here in Bloomington"