Whisked away to India at the International Dinner Dance
April 8, 2019
The 28th International Dinner Dance proved to be an evening of excitement and beauty. Once students stepped into the field house, they were transported to a beautiful scene where the theme was a Taste of India. Students had the opportunity to eat Indian food, see multiple ethnic dances performed by students, and pose for photos before a marigold backdrop.
Ruth Lopez, the Assistant Vice President of the International Center & Diversity, said that the very first of these events happened 28 years ago when international students gathered in dorms for a simple potluck.
Now the event is semi-formal with visits from the UNF President and his wife and from Student Body President DuPilka. And the International Center may have found an ally in UNF’s first lady, Maria Szymanski.
Szymanski herself was once an international student, and said that hosting such an event was a really great thing to do. In a speech President Szymanski pressed the importance of diversity. “This is a phenomenal gathering…the kinds of things we want to do at this institution. Which is bring people together from different backgrounds, diverse cultures, diverse religions, diverse perspectives, and bringing people together as one.”
Such students that excel in going out of their comfort zones would include Anita Llubani and Kaitlynn Himmelreich, who won the International and Study Abroad Student of the Year award respectively. Llubani is a Master’s student from Italy, and has worked with refugees in Venice. Himmelreich, a double major in Deaf Education and International Studies, has studied abroad three times and researched Cambodian sign language.
The evening proved to be one full of applause: for these accomplished students, for the dancers, and for the progress of the international community at UNF.
In case you missed it, or in case you want to relive the magical night, check out photos in the gallery below.
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lance johnson • Apr 9, 2019 at 12:10 pm
Events like this are important because being an international student away from home IS difficult, compounded by our complex culture and language problems. Welcoming and assimilation assistance must come from numerous sources, including the White House, to aid these young people embarking on life’s journey.
Most struggle in their efforts and need guidance from schools’ international departments, immigration protection, host families, concerned neighbors and fellow students, and even informative books to extend a cultural helping hand.
Something that might help anyone coming to the US is the award-winning worldwide book/ebook “What Foreigners Need To Know About America From A To Z: How to Understand Crazy American Culture, People, Government, Business, Language and More.”
Used in foreign Fulbright student programs and endorsed worldwide by ambassadors, educators, and editors, it identifies how “foreigners” have become successful in the US, including students.
It explains how to cope with a confusing new culture and friendship process, and daunting classroom differences. It explains how US businesses operate and how to get a job (which differs from most countries), a must for those who want to work with/for an American firm here or overseas.
It also identifies the most common English grammar and speech problems foreigners have and tips for easily overcoming them, the number one stumbling block they say they have to succeeding here.
Good luck to all at UNF or wherever you study or wherever you come from, because that is the TRUE spirit of the American PEOPLE, not a few in government who shout the loudest! Supporters of int’l students must shout louder.