AUK celebrates 8th Annual International Week

The 8th Annual International Week at the American University of Kuwait (AUK) was a great success among students, faculty and staff, with several events being held on March 24, 25, and 26, in celebration of the diversity of nationalities that are present at the university and in Kuwait.

International Week is organized each year by the Office of Student Life, which seeks to promote the social engagement and welfare of the students...and to enhance global and social awareness. Student Life strive[s] to engage students in creating a positive attitude towards self, the community, and the world. International Week, then, has become a space to bring these ideals of global and social awareness into existence through a variety of cultural activities and events that foster international understanding and multiculturalism.

The first day of International Week kicked off with the commencement of a two-day Sporcle Country Quiz, which tested students' knowledge of different countries around the world, and their food, language, custom, and culture through an exciting and fast paced computer game. The day continued with an "Amazing Race" modeled after the American television show, with students racing around "the world," or the campus, to answer questions and complete challenges about different countries and continents. The first day also included the kickoff of a three-day soccer tournament designed to get students moving and competing to be in the finals. The Indian street food booth helped energize event participants throughout the day with a sampling of tacos and other Indian "street foods."

Day two of the festivities was predominated by the global diwaniya, which was held outside and included an Arabic barbeque, a face painting stand where students could get different flags painted on their faces, and a henna booth. At night, students and faculty had the opportunity to listen to a lecture and panel discussion organized by the International Relations Club, entitled "Obstacles Facing Human Rights." Through their discussion, the panelists - Maryam Shah, a human rights activist; Bibi Al-Sabah, a representative of the Social Work Society of Kuwait; and Mariam Al Khawaja, the acting president of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights - helped attendees consider how they themselves play a role in creating a world where essential human rights are accessible to all.

Photo from the Amazing Race

The final day of multicultural celebration at AUK began with a "Global Village" set up in the main corridor of AUK's campus. There, students worked at tables and booths that represented their nations' cultures - from clothes to food to books to music, students beautifully presented mini cultural showcases of what they find to be the cultural gems of their respective countries. Pakistan won the prize for best student booth based on the students' knowledge of the country, culture, history, etc. as well as their ability to relate their depiction of their country (based on what was on their table) to how they viewed their country.

The Parade of Nations was also a highlight of this last day, as students proudly carried the flags of various countries in a celebratory parade around campus. Students could choose to carry the flag of a nation with which they personally identified, or that of any other nation. This parade culminated in the cultural showcase; as the capstone of the week, the cultural showcase presented the AUK community with performances by students, faculty, and staff meant to show off particular cultures and nationalities. Armenia, Palestine, Syria, Pakistan and Egypt were all represented in this final event.

International Week also included Iranian students' celebration of the Persian New Year "Norooz", which marks the arrival of the spring season. The name "Norooz" denotes "New Day," referring to a new start to the year. Students arranged a decorative table displaying seven specific "Haft Seen" items, a symbolic illustration of the celebration. The Haft Seen table included items starting with the letter "S," and each item corresponded to a specific meaning, such as rebirth, affluence, love, medicine, beauty and health, sunrise, old-age and patience. The ritual is generally celebrated on the day of the astronomical Northward equinox, which usually falls on March 21st. At the moment the sun crosses the celestial equator, night and day become of approximately equal length, signaling the start of spring and the New Year.

Clearly, a variety of events and activities meant to promote multicultural understanding and internationalism took place during AUK's 8th Annual International Week, and the programming was certainly considered a success by the faculty, staff, and students who took part in it. The flags representing the nations of AUK students - 46 in all - served as an excellent symbol of the level of diversity on AUK's campus, and the fun festivities of the week also reminded the community how privileged it is to have such a level of diversity and multiculturalism within it.

Released by the Office of Public Affairs on the 3rd April 2013

Photography by the Office of Public Affairs (C) 2013