Kicking off International Week on Monday, the Eastern Michigan University College of Arts and Sciences and the Department of World Languages hosted an international fair in the Student Center.
Naomi Palosaari, international project manager, for the College of Arts and Sciences, said there is an annual study abroad fair, but the international fair is new this year.
“Most of the organizations here are student organizations,” Palosaari said. “They are the ones really driving the event and shaping it to what they want.”
The fair represented EMU Academic Programs Abroad, the Department of World Languages, German Club, Hansori, the Indian Student Organization, the International Students Association, the Latino Student Association, the Japanese Student Association, the Office of International Students, the Saudi Student Association and the Spanish Club.
In addition to the student organizations and university departments represented, there were other boards discussing a wide range of topics including the natural resources of Saudi Arabia, the differences in dress and housing between China and Saudi Arabia, housing in Japan, Japanese universities and the foods of the Czech Republic.
Sangeun Lee is a computer information systems major and member of Hansori. “Hansori: Beat of Korea” is a student organization that plays traditional Korean drum music. This year is Lee’s second year with Hansori. The group performs four times a semester and practices three to five times a week for four hours per session.
“I want to spread out Korean culture to American students,” Lee said.
Of the 21 members of Hansori, Lee said only five are Korean international students. She said despite the different backgrounds of the members, the group comes together to make a beautiful harmony.
Hansori performed for the international fair at 11:30 a.m. and they will be holding a concert on Nov. 23 at 7 p.m. in the Student Center Auditorium.
Yi-hui Chi, clinical mental health counseling major, said she has been working with the Office of International Students for two years.
“Overall, international students want to find ways to know more American students,” Chi said.
“I like to talk to American students,” Yuka Ryu, an education major, said. “They are more outgoing than Japanese people.”
Ryu said it’s hard for her to talk to American students.
“It’s hard to speak up, to say my idea or speech in class,” Ryu said.
The Office of International Students (OIS) has several programs to help international students connect with other students at EMU. The conversation partner program, for example, pairs a domestic student with an international student. The pair meets at least once a week to bond doing whatever they agree on.
The OIS offers some more broad activities as well. They take international students on excursions, for example, to events like the North American International Auto Show. The OIS will also host a traditional Thanksgiving dinner to give international students a taste of the American holiday.
Additionally the office offers several forms of assistance to international students including immigration assistance and helping international students get a driver’s license.
According to Dr. Naomi Palosaari, EMU held its annual study abroad fair two weeks ago.
“I would like to see more students take advantage and seek out opportunities to study abroad,” said Palosaari.
Gabriel Stephen, 19, is a communications major. He studied abroad in South Korea.
“I learned how to learn from everyday life,” said Stephen. Stephen represented Academic Programs Abroad for EMU at the fair.
“The biggest strength of the organizations is how closely they work together and embrace each other,” said Palosaari.
Priya Chidambaram, 19, a health administration major, is president and co-founder of the Diversity Council, a student organization dedicated to bringing out diversity on campus and bringing together international and domestic students at EMU.
“We need those connections to help each other out,” said Chidambaram.
