UW-Whitewater celebrates International Education Week Nov. 9-13

November 4, 2009

One jammed packed week of international movies, dance lessons, global lectures, henna hand-painting, international bakery and more can only mean one thing: it's International Education Week.

The University of Wisconsin- Whitewater will celebrate International Education Week November 9 to 13. The full week of activities are designed to educate, enlighten and entertain. The International Student Association and the Center for Global Education sponsor the event.

From 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 11, there will be a Travel Study Fair where students can get information about faculty-led international travel study courses.

There will be two lectures given by UW-Whitewater professors Yamin Ahmad and Barbara Penington. Ahmad will speak about global business and Penington will speak about cross-cultural communication in her interactive lecture.

Jessica Harmatys, international student adviser for the Center for Global Education, encourages all students to participate in the events. "They are all worthwhile and fun, and embracing diversity is an important part of life."

"Having events like this can expose students to the world," said Harmatys. "We encourage students to study abroad, but for various reasons not all students can, so this week is a great way to learn about other cultures at home."

The event also gives international students and others who have experienced international cultures a chance to share their culture and experiences.

A full list of the events are:

Monday, Nov. 9

• 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at tables in the concourse of the James R. Connor University Center, “Mehendi Stall” will provide hand painting with henna
• Noon to 4 p.m. in the Hamilton Center of the James. R. Connor University Center, an informational and interactive activity on the “Fall of the Berlin Wall in Germany,” sponsored by UW- Whitewater’s German Club
• 5 to 6:30 p.m. in the Timmerman Auditorium in Hyland Hall, Yamin Ahmad, professor of economics, will speak on “Financial Stability in the Wake of a Global Economic Crisis”

• 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at tables in the concourse of the James R. Connor University Center, international students will be selling Chinese moon cakes, Sri Lankan cup cakes and Long Island cookies.
• Noon to 4 p.m. in the Hamilton Center of the James. R. Connor University Center, “Experience Japan” with Kabuki demonstrations, Japanese stories and Origami tables. Sponsored by UW- Whitewater’s Japanese Language Club.
• 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. in the Timmerman Auditorium in Hyland Hall, the documentary “Etre et Avoir (To Be and To Have)” will show a dedicated teacher in a one-room school in rural France. Sponsored by the College of Education.

• 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at tables outside of the Hamilton Center of the James R. Connor University Center, the Travel Study Fair will provide students with information about faculty-led international travel study courses.
• 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at tables in the concourse of the James R. Connor University Center, “Mehendi Stall” will provide hand painting with henna.
• Noon to 1 p.m. in room UC68 by the UW-Whitewater’s Credit Unit in the James R. Connor University Center, international and study abroad students will give presentations about the country of their choice.
• 5 to 6 p.m. in the Timmerman Auditorium in Hyland Hall, Barbara Penington, professor and chair of the Department of Communication, will speak on “Cross-Cultural Communication: What’s the Problem?”
• 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. in the Timmerman Auditorium in Hyland Hall, the film “L’auberge Espagnole (The Spanish Apartment)” will show a serious French student who goes on an exchange program to Barcelona and moves into an apartment with six others from all over Europe.

• Noon to 4 p.m. in the Hamilton Center of the James R. Connor University Center, “Experience Japan” with Kabuki demonstrations, Japanese stories and Origami tables. Sponsored by UW- Whitewater’s Japanese Language Club.
• 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. in the Timmerman Auditorium in Hyland Hall, the film “Ong Bak: Thai Warrior” will introduced audiences to a traditional form of Thai boxing. When the head of a cared village statue is stolen, a young martial artist must go to the big city to retrieve it.

• At 8 p.m. in Jitters Coffee House on the first floor of Wells Hall, there will be an international dance.

For more information contact Jessica Harmatys at 262-472-4992 or harmatyj@uww.edu.