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International Education Week – a week, in part, focused on educating students about the diverse cultures on campus – will take place from Nov. 12 – 16 at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh.

The week will also focus on encouraging students to study abroad.

“International week is a great way to broaden someone’s perspective on diversity and really get hands-on application of interacting with people of different backgrounds,” said Naly Yang, a junior studying communication and co-vice president of the campus International Student Association (ISA). “It’s always an interesting experience to learn about different cultures or learn something new about a culture.”

International Education Week is prepared by ISA and includes events that are informative, dialogue-driven and educational.

“The overall goal of International Education Week is to educate the campus community about important topics in international education,” said Sarah Christensen, UW Oshkosh international student adviser. “We want to increase awareness of our international students and to create global connections.”

International Education Week will start with a Tunnel of Oppression, which will help the campus community simulate what it is like being an international student. The Tunnel of Oppression will be held in Reeve Memorial Union on Nov. 12 – 14 from 3–5 p.m. and 6 – 8:30 p.m.

“This is the first year that the International Student Association is participating in the Tunnel of Oppression,” Christensen said.  “We are excited about the opportunity to participate this year and hope to increase awareness about what it’s like to be an international student in the U.S.”

On Nov. 13, ISA will host a Culture Café in Reeve MiTaza from 6 – 7:30 p.m. Current UW Oshkosh international students will discuss their native culture and their experiences since coming to the U.S., cookies and hot beverages will be provided.

A Study Abroad Information session will let students know about the opportunities they have to study abroad.

“The Study Abroad Information session is a general explore session to teach students about the options they have to study abroad as a UW Oshkosh student,” Christensen said.  “This includes studying on programs through other UW schools which really opens the door to so many opportunities.”

The session will take place in Sage Hall 4215 from 4 – 5 p.m. UWO human services professor Alfred Kisubi and assistant professor of geography Angela Subulwa will present Myths about Africa with international students to debunk what life is really like in Africa. The discussion will be held Nov. 14 in Sage 1216 from 6 – 7:30 p.m.

A similar discussion, Myths about Islam, will be held Nov. 15 in Reeve 213 from 4:40 – 6 p.m. Ahmed Khan, community opinion columnist with the Oshkosh Northwestern and member of the Muslim Writers Guild of America, will be a guest lecturer at the event.

UW Oshkosh international students from Germany will prepare German cuisine for the campus community in Gruenhagen Conference Center on Nov. 16 from 6-7:30 p.m.

International students will also be traveling to Washington, Webster Stanley and Greenville elementary schools to talk to students about their customs.

“Generally, the international students share traditional cultures of the country they are from,” said Jean Hwang, an international student service intern. “For instance, last year one of the Japanese students taught how to bow, which is common courtesy in Japan.”

Yang said she has attended events for International Education Week in the past and is excited to get opportunity to bring global cultures closer to UW Oshkosh.

“I’ll be attending these events because I love learning about different cultures,” Yang said. “The best part about these kinds of events is getting to experience new things, and I’m the type of person who always wants to do something different.”

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