With a bit of practice a person can make a box out of paper, or calculate math in a new way.
Thursday, Nov. 14 the Office of Multicultural and International Student Affairs held Abacus, Origami and Brush Writing workshops to help students to learn and dive into  Japanese culture as part of International Education week.
Focusing on the Japanese culture throughout the week was brought up by physics instructor, Dr. Sanichiro Yoshida.  
“We just wanted to introduce everybody to Japanese culture, and I’ve been doing origami for about 10 years,” said Connie Graves, origami instructor for the day who is originally from Japan and sells her pieces every year at the Japanese Fair in New Orleans.  “It’s relaxing. It works your fingers. Folding is very complicated.”
Graves began learning origami 10 years ago from a friend.  She invited Graves to her house and began teaching her over lunch.  
According to Graves, one piece can take days to make depending on the level of difficulty.  These pieces sell from $5-$10 at the Japanese Fair.
“It takes a lot of patience,” explained Graves about origami specifically.  “You can’t just fold it.  You have to fold it corner to corner.  Make sure your corner is straight.  Otherwise you mess up, and  it won’t come out right.”
Several international students and a few local students made their way to the workshops to learn more about a different culture than their own.  Many succeeded, taking home their own piece of Japanese culture.
“The boxes are easy.  You just do the same thing over and over again and you get it,” said Taylor Triche, senior math major who helped instruct other students in making boxes.
Most enjoyed the relaxing task of creating something out of simple sheets of paper.  The Japanese pieces did not only represent another culture, but represented a style of art.
“I look at everybody’s stuff, and it’s totally art to me,” said Seth Hebert, senior physics major.  “I think I want to start doing it more.  I want to go out and buy some more paper and see what I can make.  I think I’m going to  make ornaments for a tree.”
Hebert spent the previous summer in Japan doing research with fatigue analysis.  After experiencing Japanese culture first-hand, Hebert enjoyed learning even more of the culture back in America.
“We have a lot of things to learn about Japanese culture. Japan has a lot to learn about the American culture,” said Hebert.  “But what’s most interesting about the Japanese culture is they’re very honorable.  It was so nice to me especially with such a large language barrier.”
Hebert brought a small origami set with him on the plane ride to Japan, but did not have the opportunity to really learn the craft until now. Taking the origami workshop allowed him the opportunity to practice the art of origami.
International Week concluded last night. For more information, contact [email protected].