UTRGV Edinburg and Brownsville campuses were filled with music and food that made International Education Week a fun experience for students.
International Education Week is a series of events that seek to display various cultures around the world to the UTRGV community. The event is hosted by the Office of Global Engagement, International Admissions and Student Services, International Programs and Partnerships and the Language Institute.
The event began with the International Education Week Opening Ceremony on Nov. 18 in the Ballroom in Edinburg. Students and staff were offered food while the guest speakers took the podium.
“I would highly encourage students to participate in these important events because they will get to meet new friends from other parts of the world,” said Samantha Lopez, director of International Admissions and Student Services. “We want for them to get culturally enriched by the events that we do and for them to enjoy their student life but at the same time be a world citizen.”
On Nov. 19, the Brownsville campus hosted the International Food Festival: A Taste of La Frontera in the Student Union’s PlainsCapital Bank El Gran Salón. The festival featured a wide range of food that consisted of Mexican and American gastronomy, including tacos de rajas, bistec, arroz con leche, burgers, banana pudding and cheesecakes.
At the same time in the Salón, students learned about the opportunity to continue their education in another part of the world at the Study Abroad Fair.
On the Edinburg campus, the Study Abroad Fair took place Nov. 20 in the Student Union Commons. Student organizations sold food and clothes. Students also visited booths that displayed information on Study Abroad programs in England, Spain, China, South Korea, among others, and interacted with the people in charge of the programs.
“It is very important [for UTRGV students to study abroad] because by … studying in other countries and living in other countries they can have a more … broader perspective,” said Dongkyu Kim, an assistant professor of political science.
Kim and political science Professor Mi-son Kim encourage students to travel with them to South Korea through the Study Abroad program to learn about politics.
“South Korea is an interesting place, culturally and politically and socially,” Mi-son Kim said. “It’s very different from the United States. … If you go to Korea, you will learn a whole lot of different cultural aspects.”
The International Food Festival: Bangladesh/India was held Nov. 21 in the Ballroom on the Edinburg campus. Students were provided with different foods such as Tandoori Chicken, white rice and samosas, a savory fried or baked pastry. Students enjoyed the South Asian atmosphere as they ate with their friends.
On the same day, the Academic Panel Study Abroad Ambassador Network presented students with their different study abroad experiences. The students informed the audience about their involvement in the country where they continued their academics. They spoke about countries such as Peru, Germany, Spain, South Korea and others.
Mechanical engineering senior Alexandra Salinas went to study abroad in Ireland and encourages other students to participate as well.
“I am also part Irish, so that’s a part of myself that I actually never got to learn about or experience,” Salinas said. “So, the opportunity came up … and I was able to discover another part of myself. The beauty of studying abroad is that it opens so many doors, and it opens so many different connections all across the world.”
