Aimee Howarth brings you an interview with The Yorker directors on the final day of the advent articles
Aimee Howarth speaks to YUSU's sabbatical officers about their Christmas Day routine for day 17 of the advent calendar
For the final time this term, Vicky Morris updates you on this weeks film news
50 years after the publication of 'James and the Giant Peach', the works of Roald Dahl continue to celebrate success.
Most of you will probably have noticed the array of flags hanging from Central Hall and mused over how much it looks like some pseudo-international conference centre.
Indeed, watching the organisers from the Overseas Students’ Association (OSA) shout frantically “Do we have Tajikistan? Is the Tajikistan representative here?” at one of the preparatory briefings, I could not help but conjure up a mental image of a United Nations parody.
I could not help but conjure up a mental image of a United Nations parody.
Jokes aside however, this is exactly what International Week aspires to be: a platform for all the countries represented in York, be it within Europe or on the other side of the world, to come together under one roof.
The organisers aim to encourage cultural exchange and raise awareness on issues concerning international students through a wide variety of activities that will hopefully cater to everyone, student or staff, in the university.
Compared to London’s metropolitan universities, the international community in York is admittedly less diverse and constitutes a smaller proportion of the overall demographic. However, this is probably a blessing in disguise: the relatively small number of people from each country limits the extent to which people can form factions, unless you can be contented with a universe of five.
This setting forces many people to step out of their comfort zones and interact with fellows from a more global community, creating (to borrow the slogan from Carlsberg) a Carlsberg World of Friends.
Nevertheless, while this challenge may be precisely what many international students set out to do when they decide to pursue studies overseas, integration into a totally different culture is no mean feat. One has to learn to adjust to baked beans for breakfast, bad beer and a worship of the holy queue while dealing with the nostalgia of familiar food, good weather and idiosyncrasies unique to home.
Now most international students will agree that at an individual level, it is one’s own responsibility to take the initiative and step out of his comfort zone. But, on a larger scale, one still needs a sort of organisational framework to work within; in order to reach out and bring their cultures in to a wider population, beyond personal friends.
After all, isn’t that what university is ultimately about: an experience? Therefore it is the role of the OSA, through events such as International Week, to bring a multi-cultural experience to life for as many people as possible.
In spite of working with a brand new committee; swimming through an ocean of red tape; and juggling multiple essay deadlines, the many parties involved have finally managed to pull it together. I’m sure most of you have at least one friend or acquaintance who has contributed to International Week in one way or another.
Therefore, if you have not participated in anything this week, it is still not too late to show your support and get to know your friends all over again from a different perspective. For the remaining events see the Student Support Office website. Also, definitely do not miss Fiesta, the gastronomic conclusion to a fantastic week.
You must log in to submit a comment.
