NU to host first international education exchange

By Dana Harris
Norwich Guidon Staff Writer

On Nov. 18-22 Norwich University will be sponsoring the International Education and Exchange as part of the International Education Week, which will be hosted by the International Student Organization (ISO).

"It's a Norwich event that'll only be here at Norwich. It's the first time we've had it, and the idea of it was just started last year," said Hristina Slavova, 20, a junior math major from Bulgaria, and ISO president.

With this kind of event at the university, the International Education Week will bring with it a lot of diversity and allow people to know where the international students are from, according to Slavova.

The international students want to be recognized, because American students do not really interact with international students, and do not know much about them.

"It's cool to get to know where other students are from and their countries, but at the same time it's more important for us to feel appreciated from your own country," said Slavova.

Slavova said that it would be interesting for Americans to learn what other countries the international students are from. The international students would "get to know the Americans, and they get to know us," said Slavova.

According to the International Education Week website (http://exchanges.state.gov/iew), U.S. President George W. Bush said, "When students get to know each other, they learn the universality of many values. That's going to be important for peace in the world."

ISO is something fairly new; the Department of State and the Department of Education started it a couple of years ago.

Norwich officials decided to participate in the event because it fits well with what the university is trying to do, which is to bring more international students into the university.

"I work with about 50 international students from 20 different countries and 40 international students from just about every continent in the world," said Jenifer Atwood Hasenfus, international student advisor.

"I also have the (ISO), which is open to all students at Norwich, in particular international students just as well as students who come from the Department of Defense schools abroad or American high schools overseas," Hasenfus said.

The concept behind this particular celebration is to talk about the history and international students of Norwich, according to Hasenfus.

The university is trying to promote the International Student Organization for "Americans to learn about other cultures and other cultures to learn about Americans," said Hasenfus.

"With the first Chinese students in the United States coming to Norwich, it opened doors to other countries around the world, such as Greece, Australia, Canada, South Africa, England, Ireland, Italy, France, Asia, South Asia, Middle East, Europe, Pacifica, Central and South America, Canada, Mexico, Germany, and many other countries we have a great tremendous opportunity of learning from," Hasenfus explained.

According to Hasenfus, international students were intrigued by Col. Alden Partridge's vision and what he was trying to accomplish in citizen soldiers uniting Americans and international students to learn from each other.

According to the website (http://exchanges.state.gov/iew), First Lady Laura Bush said "The most important gift we can give the world's children is the gift most likely to lead to future peace and prosperity. That is the gift of a good education."

Part of International Education Week is giving students an opportunity to understand other cultures and to find resources which are available. Some influential international alumni, as well as United Nations (UN) staff, will come to campus to participate, according to Hasenfus.

"We also have a political science program that models the (United Nations), and students that go to visit the (UN). That's a part of independent class study, and for this we have a great opportunity to show off our students and their abilities," said Hasenfus.

The first international Norwich student arrived in 1831, which is significant, considering the vast majority of exchange programs did not begin until after WWI.

On Friday, Nov. 15, the Corps of Cadets will honor the visiting diplomats and representatives with a parade and a review

"We'll have several ambassadors there, as well as cultural officials from several different countries, to tour the university to broaden their perspective by meeting staff, students and faculty," Hasenfus said.

Hasenfus explained that international students have a very unique life and "we can all learn from them, and maybe we will all be so excited about learning about the students and people that we will start studying abroad, ourselves."

The ISO meets every Monday to talk about an event that would be good for the university and the program.

"We're international students and participate in the International Education Week, and we plan on sending someone to London, where our tickets will be bought for this special event," said Krenar Komoni, 18, a junior from Kosova majoring in international studies.

ISO has been calling all of the embassies from different nations here in the United States to come to Norwich.

The expense will largely be covered by the diplomats and alumni, themselves, because ISO is a non-profit organization, according to Komoni.

All of the representatives are welcomed to come and see how Norwich is getting better with international students each year and how "the university will have more every year, and our main reason is to let the world know that Norwich University is one of the first places in America that had international students," said Komoni.

"I like the idea, because it's one way to get a variety here at Norwich, and another thing that is good for the university is to strive for variety, not quantity," Komoni said.

Komoni said the door is open and welcomes everyone who wants to "come and join the International Education Week in America, and the main point of this event is to tell the world we are representing international students."

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