While voting has been on the minds of many across the country, a global ambience has set in on campus as ETSU is celebrating International Education Week. International Education Week is a weeklong event that is celebrated to promote international education and exchange. The event was first celebrated 10 years ago in 2000, and has since grown into an event that is celebrated at schools worldwide.

“International Education Week is a great opportunity to display and learn more about the many cultures represented at ETSU,” says Kelly Hill, ETSU study abroad adviser. “It also provides awareness to ETSU students (about) international opportunities that are available through ETSU.”

The week kicked off on Monday with the International Embassy Fair, held in the Atrium of the D.P. Culp Center from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Exchange students from their respective countries, such as China, France, Ghana, Russia, Korea and Japan, had tables on display for students to come and check out.

Students got a taste of foreign food and were able to receive information about the universities that participate in ETSU’s exchange program.

“We had games and snacks, and we also had up facts and information about Korea,” said SuEun Baek, a political science major from Keimyung University in South Korea. “When students would come by, we would write their name in Korean for them.”

Tuesday’s activities included a “Lunch and Learn Seminar” from Dr. Richard Kortum, associate professor of philosophy and humanities. “The Back of Beyond: Explorations in Western Mongolia” was the title of the seminar and the event was held in the East Tennessee Room on the third floor of the D.P. Culp Center from noon to 1 p.m.

On Wednesday, Beau Gerarde, ETSU dining and catering executive chef, treated students with a cooking demo and also prepared African lamb curry over rice.

Today’s events will include the “Study Abroad Fair,” which will be held in the Atrium area of D.P. Culp Center from 10 p.m to 1 p.m. The tables will be set up and ran by exchange students with information on participating universities in the exchange program.

“We will be representing our university and have information about our school,” said Baek.

Students attending the fair who are interested in studying abroad can receive information about the various programs. The Honors College will be offering free passport photos, and the staff present will be supplying information on how to acquire a passport.

Other events on today’s agenda include a seminar titled “China: Geological Past and Modern Economy Today” from Dr. Chris Liu of biological sciences. The event will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the East Tennessee Room of the D.P. Culp Center on the third floor.

The International Student Employment Seminar will be held today in Room 109 of Yoakley Hall for international students to come and find out about possible employment opportunities.

Friday’s events include the “Study Abroad Workshop,” an event for faculty interested in teaching or developing a program abroad. Pre-registration is required, and teachers can do so by e-mailing Erin Butler at butlere@etsu.edu.

The winner of the annual student essay competition will also be decided Friday at 1:30 p.m. in room 109 of Yoakley Hall.

The week-long event is something that participating students and faculty work on for an entire year.

“International Education Week is in conjunction with the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Education and is celebrated by colleges and universities nationwide,” said Hill. “ETSU International Programs and the ETSU Honors College start working on the following years IEW right after the current IEW concludes. So a year’s worth of planning goes into the event.”

Even though the event has so much time put into it, students who have taken up the program and decided to study abroad hope that the events will help students look into participating in the exchange program themselves.

“To live in another place and get new experiences – it was important to me,” said SuEun Baek. “Even though it can be difficult, you get comfortable and you enjoy it. I feel like I’ve grown up so much.

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