What do Asian dancers, Salvadoran papusas, and a documentary about South African street soccer have in common? They’re all part of International Education Week (IEW) 2010, presented by International Student Services and Activities (ISSA) at the University of Notre Dame. IEW is a national event coordinated by the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Education to celebrate and promote global exchange between the United States and other countries. IEW is taking place now through Friday, November 19.

Last night, ISSA kicked-off IEW with a free dessert reception  followed by a screening of the documentary film Streetball at 6:30 p.m. in Geddes Hall. The film follows eight South African homeless men – former convicts, gangsters, orphans, and recovering drug and alcohol addicts – who win the chance to represent their home country at the Homeless World Cup finals in Australia and Italy. After years of neglect, abuse, and rejection by society, these players seize the opportunity for a better future and defy the odds. Mike Mastrocinque, associate producer and operations manager of the non-profit From Us With Love (FUWL) that created the film, as well as George Alexander, fundraiser for the Homeless World Cup, hosted a question and answer session after the screening.

Tonight, local international restaurants will showcase their cuisines in the LaFortune Student Center Ballroom from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. There is no cost to attend this event.

On Thursday, November 18, students will have the opportunity to participate in an international cooking class presented by Notre Dame Food Services’ Chef Miller. Chef Miller will teach students how to prepare a traditional Tuscan meal.

The Asian Association of Notre Dame will celebrate various cultures with song, dance, and other performances on Friday, Nov. 19 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, Nov. 20 at 4:00 p.m. at Asian Allure. Cost: $7.

ISSA is sponsoring a sale of goods and handicrafts from the fair trade retailer Ten Thousand Villages, which provides vital, fair income to Third World people by marketing their handicrafts and telling their stories in North America. Ten Thousand Villages, which is a non-profit program of the Mennonite Central Committee, works with artisans who would otherwise be unemployed or underemployed, providing sustainable income that pays for food, education, health care and housing. Today through Friday, Ten Thousand Villages will sell products in the Hesburgh Library Atrium from 10 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. In addition, the Department of Art, Art History, and Design is hosting a sale of handicrafts to benefit disadvantaged artisans in Nepal from November 15-19 in the LaFortune Dooley Room between 11:30 and 1:30 p.m.. All proceeds will be donated to the HOPE Initiative.

On Friday, November 19, students can learn how to salsa to a live Latin band from Chicago at the Legend’s of Notre Dame Late Night ND Salsa Nightclub.

All International Education Week events are supporting the American Red Cross, St. Joseph County Chapter, which became an authorized refugee resettlement agency in 2010. Between Oct. 1, 2010, and Sept. 30, 2011, the American Red Cross, St. Joseph County Chapter expects to resettle 80 displaced refugees from around the world. Although the local Chapter has assisted refugees since 2007, the federal government deemed it an official resettlement agency in 2010. Many of these refugees, who have been displaced from their home countries due to persecution for religion, race, nationality or political opinion, arrive in the United States with only the clothes on their backs. As a result, the Refugee Resettlement Program is in need of everyday household items to provide the refugees, including furnishings, linens and unused, unopened toiletries. ISSA will host donation collection boxes at all IEW events.

IEW co-sponsors include the Center for Social Concerns (CSC), Department of Art, Art History & Design, Graduate Student Union (GSU), La Alianza, Legends of Notre Dame, Multicultural Programs and Services (MSPS), Office of International Studies (OIS), and Spanish Club.

By International Ambassador Lauren Elliott

Entering into the International Ambassador (IA) weekend retreat, I’ll be honest, I wasn’t too excited.  Between missing my final day of work, traveling alone with baggage that weighed more than my entirety, and completely lacking in sleep, I found it difficult to muster up any great level of enthusiasm.

Once we had settled in at the retreat center, it was clear that the ISSA staff had one goal to attain by lunchtime: have everyone learn each others’ names.  Three name-games later, we were finally allowed to sit down for lunch.  That is the first time all the IAs united as a team.  As cliché as it may be, the opportunity to sit down for a meal provided more than just physical sustenance, it truly united us as a team for the first time.  The barriers of nationality, language, age, etc. were all broken down by one commonality – we were all hungry and exhausted.

Following that first meal, the International Ambassadors continued to increasingly become closer over the weekend.  According to Robert Jackson, president of Magnovo Training Group, LLC, “Studies show time and time again that employees involved in corporate team building events come back to work noticeably more productive, enthusiastic, and overall happier.”  In my experience, this mantra proved true.  The IA retreat truly enhanced the experience of International Orientation by allowing the IAs to communicate more effectively, improving team morale, and improving our problem solving skills.  The weekend provided each IA with the opportunity to trust other ambassadors and understand that the best way to work was to work together.

Beyond a successful orientation, the effects of the IA retreat will extend into the rest of the academic year.  This sense of unity will allow for the IA program to grow into a strong one – the program itself is only two years old; it is still developing and defining itself and its role here at Notre Dame.  Looking back, I can’t believe that I was so unsure going into the retreat experience – it truly was one of my best here at Notre Dame.  I came out of the weekend having gained so much: new friends, a more unified IA team, and a stronger (and yet more global) connection to the Notre Dame family.

Welcome to International Student Services & Activities’ (ISSA’s) new blog, Culture Shock. This blog will serve as a platform for international students to reflect on their experiences in the United States, as well as discuss ISSA’s various programs and services.

For more information about ISSA, please visit our website.