Students learn and have fun with culture
By: Zuo Yang
Issue date: 11/23/09 Section: News
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All of those were part of the fun and games presented during the International Cultural Festival which was held on Nov. 18, Wednesday in the Campus Union Building lobby of Eastern New Mexico University.
This was an important part of the Celebration of Differences held by International Student Affairs and the International Students Club of ENMU. For American students, this was a great opportunity to experience diverse cultures without having to leave the campus. For hundreds of International students, this was a place for them to demonstrate their cultures.
In this special evening, students from different countries wore their traditional clothes from their culture, attracting some American students to take photos with them. Prajma Kavmachavya, an Eastern student from Nepal, dressed up and wore her traditional Nepal wardrobe called a "Sazee".
"It's worn by married women actually, but girls would wear them in occasions like parties," Kavmachavya said.
Keven Xu, a Chinese student whose major is Broadcast Journalism, dressed up in his traditional Chinese Jacket. In the middle of the jacket, there was a Chinese character surrounded by a dragon, which means fortune. Xu said that the Chinese usually wear this kind of jacket in during special festivals or events.
For some of the Native American students, the tattooing and belly dancing attracted some of them.
Juana Garcia, a belly dancing teacher from Clovis dressed in a special custom and performed traditional Middle East dances for the audience accompanied by traditional Middle East music. Belly dancing obviously was very attractive for girls. Inspired by the belly dancing teacher, three Eastern students danced with Garcia, and tried to learn this traditional form of dance.
"It is great fun, however it's a bit difficult," Racquel Torres, one of the belly dancing learners said.
At the table for henna tattooing, students could translate any words into a foreign language and use it as their tattoo design.
Kyle Spotts, a business major student in Eastern tried the henna tattoo. He had his back tattooed "WEILI", a Chinese character which means strength. Caleb Whitefield, a pre-medicine major, who had already gotten a henna tattoo on his back, had Chinese characters tattooed on his back.
The ENMU International Club and International Affairs organized this festival. Jian Zheng, the president of the International Club said that this festival was to demonstrate the diverse international culture at Eastern. He wanted to show the spirit of international students in Eastern through these foreign cultures. At the same time, the International Club also aims to strengthen American students' understanding of other cultures.
Danni Luo, the director of International Affairs of Eastern said that this event was a part of the International Education week held by the U.S. Department of Education.
"Every year at this time, there will be an International Education week. Eastern New Mexico University actively participated in this event and demonstrates the spirit of its International cultures," Luo said. "By holding these activities, we want to make international students feel that Eastern is their home."