As a child, Dr. Alvaro Torres-Calderon watched his grandmother cook in their home in Lima, Peru. The associate professor of Spanish at UNG will share his version of the Peruvian national dish of ceviche during International Education Week.
“I have researched Peruvian cuisine and their cultural aspects,” said, Torres-Calderon, who is associate department chair of Spanish. “So, I decided to prepare and give demonstration of how to cook ceviche.”
Sheila Schulte, associate vice president of international programs, said this is an example of how the UNG community will share different cultures.
“It’s also a great way to learn from each other and learn about the different communities and campuses at UNG,” she said.
International Education Week is an opportunity for academic departments and student groups to provide an array of cultural events that promote global learning, Schulte said. It is a collaboration among UNG’s Center for Global Engagement, the U.S. Department of State and U.S. Department of Education.
Scheduled for Nov. 16-20, the weeklong celebration features five virtual activities and one in-person event at UNG. The switch to mostly virtual events was to follow health and safety guidelines necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Even though student mobility such as study abroad programs have declined, it is still important to celebrate the cultural exchange and acknowledge the relevance of global connectivity,” Schulte said. “Our students, faculty and staff have produced some wonderful ideas to help celebrate the week.”
Kicking off the celebration will be the photo contest featuring the impact of international education. Any Nighthawk may submit up to two photos in the following categories on the International Education Week photo contest webpage:
- #TheWorldIsMyClassroom: Reflects the traditions, customs or culture of a country other than where the applicant was born.
- #NighthawksAbroad: One or more current UNG students abroad.
- #NighthawksInternational: One or more current international students studying at UNG experiencing American culture.
- #NighthawksRewind: One or more current UNG staff or faculty members participating in an education abroad experience.
Submissions will be accepted until Sunday, Nov. 15. Winners will be announced Monday, Nov. 16 on the International Education Week website.
“It is a great opportunity for all UNG students, staff and faculty to share their photos from education abroad experiences whether those experiences took place outside of the US or here. Schulte said. Other events during International Education Week are:
- Chinese Night: 7-8 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 11, on Zoom. It will include a cooking demonstration, handcraft, a trivia game, finger dance and prizes. For more information, email huang@ung.edu.
- Diwali: noon to 2 p.m. Friday, Nov. 13, in the Robinson Ballroom at the Student Center on UNG’s Gainesville Campus. Students will learn about the holiday and eat authentic Indian snacks and sweets. For more information, email Murphy@ung.edu.
- What’s Hot? Flavors of Peru: noon to 1:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 16, on Zoom. The program will demonstrate the making of Peru’s national dish, ceviche. For more information, email TorresCalderon@ung.edu.
- Evolution of Japanese Entertainment: 1-2 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 17, on Zoom. The virtual, interactive experience will focus on the changes and transitions of types of entertainment popular in three eras in Japan. For more information, email Nishio@ung.edu.
- An Education Abroad Re-Entry Workshop with Career Services: Articulating Your Experience: 12:30-1:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 19, on Microsoft Teams. Explore the skills you gained overseas and articulate them on your resume and during interviews. For more information, email Jarema@ung.edu.
Schulte said because the events are mostly virtual this year, the knowledge may reach more students on all five UNG campuses.
“The best part about the majority of this year’s programs is you don’t have to drive to a campus to attend. You can tune in from wherever you are,” she said. “To me, it is about sharing the culture in a way that is accessible to everyone.”
For more information about the events and Zoom links, visit UNG’s International Education Week webpage.
