UMass Boston’s Office of Global Programs kicked off International Education Week on Monday, Nov. 13—a week designed to open the eyes of UMass Boston students to the world’s cultures and the opportunities that are available for studying abroad. Starting with the topic of study abroad itself, the Office of Global Programs held a Q&A on their Instagram, @umb_studyabroad, open to anyone with questions about studying abroad. With questions pertaining to the application process, what it is like living in a foreign country, how to avoid culture shock and more, students currently abroad and previously abroad—including one of the office’s Global Ambassadors, Valerie Rivera!—answered with their own experiences and knowledge.
The week also began with displaying the finalists of the International Photo Contest on the second floor of Campus Center, displaying beautiful pictures taken by both students and faculty while they were abroad. The winners were announced Nov. 20, including stunning photos from New York City to Mumbai. The top three student winners were Soundharya Kandur, Muqing Li and Chirag Nemani; the faculty/staff winner was Bill Doncaster.
Many other events were held around campus during the week, including the Global Food Festival. Held in both the Dining Commons and Campus Center Food Court, every day offered students the opportunity to try popular dishes from different countries around the world. The Dining Hall served foods from Africa, Jamaica, India and more! Additionally, on Tuesday, Nov. 14, the Of All For All Cultural Festival was held at the Campus Center First Floor Terrace, highlighting different countries’ cultures and foods. The event gave people a chance to get an inside view of the different places represented, and it was exciting to hear about what aspects those tabling loved about their countries and what their favorite foods are. This event truly displayed how culturally diverse UMass Boston is, and it was a great way to show appreciation for all the beautiful countries our students come from.
On Thursday, Nov. 16, the Office of Global Programs hosted the Fiesta Hispana event. Organized by the UNAM Center for Mexican Studies and UMass Boston’s Spanish Club, the event included a Spanish language table to help people improve their Spanish speaking skills. There were also traditional Mexican pastries and games for all to enjoy!
Friday, Nov. 17, was the celebration of Diwali Night, and it was an exciting event! There was food, music and lots of dancing. The students wore cultural dress such as saree, lehenga, and kurtas, which added more authenticity to the festival. The event started off by painting the diyo, which means lamps. The UMass Boston Art Club took part in the event, providing students with paints to color diyo, as well other activities like henna. After that, they brought in delicious-smelling, amazing tasting food, such as rice, chicken, chutney, naan, kheer and much more. The line for food was long but it was worth the wait! After that, students danced to Bollywood songs. Overall, it was a really fun experience. It gave students who do not know the culture well the opportunity to explore and learn more about the different cultures that celebrate Diwali.
Overall, International Education Week was a smash hit with UMass Boston students. It introduced so many people to the large number of cultures we have represented by our students and was a great way to show appreciation for everyone coming from different backgrounds! The Office of Global Programs will keep celebrating these strengths for years to come.
Students interested in learning more can do so by visiting the Office of Global Programs website at https://www.umb.edu/academics/global-programs/, or visit them at Campus Center in Room 2100.