International Education Week Celebrates Diversity at A&M-Corpus Christi
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Despite the lingering chill in the November air, hearts were warm as Islanders gathered together in the University Center to kick off International Education Week (Nov. 12-16) at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. At the celebration, the delicious aroma of food from India, Jamaica, Brazil and more was accompanied by the sound of cheerful chatter as the campus community celebrated international students.
Along with food from around the world, the kickoff event included crafts, presentations from University administration, music, and other displays of culture celebrating the impact and importance of international students on the Island campus. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi currently has 513 international students representing 52 countries.
“The number of international students present at A&M-Corpus Christi makes a significant contribution to the internationalization and personality of the university,” said Derek Yu, director of the Office of International Education. “The domestic students who actively interact with them are not only learning about different cultures but also enhancing their own self-confidence, leadership, professional skills, and other abilities. The importance of international student presence at A&M-Corpus Christi cannot be underscored.”
On day two of International Education Week, Islanders gathered in the University Center Rotunda for music, dancing, and performances from various countries. One performer, Lien Doan, senior nursing major, sang a song dedicated to her home country of Vietnam.
“America is a multi-racial country, so I think it is good for us to show where we’re from and who we are,” said Doan. “This week is a great way for us to express ourselves and introduce our countries to each other.”
Later in the week, the Vietnamese Student Association held a Vietnamese Culture Fest that captivated students with food, dancing, cultural showcases, and live performances.
“We believe that Vietnamese culture – and Asian culture in general – is very beautiful and colorful,” said Cao Nguyen, Master of Business Administration student and president of the Vietnamese Student Association. “We want to share a little bit of our culture and that we appreciate the diversity on this campus.”
Islanders also participated in
“While speaking a second language helps you, it’s not everything,” said Nasreen. “Often we forget that there is immense cultural diversity within our own borders. History is important when learning about a culture because it also gives us an authentic sense of place, time and community.”
The latter-half of International Education Week held even more offerings for inquisitive Islanders. Dr. Ari Sherris,
