A cultural gala

If you are looking to celebrate International Education Week, there is certainly a lot to choose from at Dalhousie. One event that promises to be diverse and entertaining is the International Student Gala.

The International Student Exchange and Services has put a call out for international students to display a traditional outfit from their culture during the gala on Friday, Nov. 21 at 5 p.m. in the McInnes room in the SUB.

“I think this is one of the things that will really help Dalhousie University grow to show that they do possess a diverse culture. I want all international students to be comfortable enough at Dalhousie to still be themselves, even when they are not home,” says Kewoba Carter, a student volunteer coordinator at ISES who has helped organize the event.

The night will include displays of colourful and unique international fashions, food and any other tradition that a student would like to share.

“It’s important to me because I want international students to really show off their culture. I think that diversity is amazing,” says Ms. Carter. 

Teresa Inacio, the Program and Project Coordinator at ISES says: “I think there’s some sort of impact there when you see this presence of individuals all together as one, who are all, yes, unique and different, but at the same time very much the same.”

This fits in perfectly with the theme of this year’s International Education Week: the global citizen.

Along with international students sharing their cultures, Mufaro Chakabuda of Maritime African Dance will be performing dances from a range of African tribes at the gala.

The gala is not just for admiring each other’s traditional outfits and culture though.

“We are [also] acknowledging and awarding students in societies who have participated in internationalizing this campus through various ways,” says Ms. Inacio. “That recognition is much needed.” For information regarding other International Education Week events on campus, you can check out the ISES webpage at www.dal.ca/ises.