Monday, Nov. 14 will start off International Education Week here at Southeastern.  From Nov. 14-18, there will be a week of events for all students to enjoy. The week is, however, geared toward all international students enrolled at Southeastern. Sponsored by the Department of Languages and Communications and Multicultural & International Student Affairs, students will have the chance to celebrate all cultures on campus.

“It’s an educational week celebrated nationally, and goes for a week every November,” said Brendan Daigle, Administrative Assistant of Multicultural & International Student Affairs. “This is an opportunity for schools to celebrate different national cultures.”

“We have over 200 international students enrolled from many different countries, and after Nepalese students in number are Chinese students,” said Daigle.

A fashion show titled “Around the World and Back,” will be taking place on Nov.15 at 11a.m. in the Student Union Mall, but the main attraction of International Week is International Night. It will take place on Nov. 14 in the Student Union Ballroom, starting at 5 p.m. This is the “kick off event for that week,” said French Instructor Aileen Mootoo.

“We will have an international buffet catered by ARAMARK. There will be foods like couscous, pasta, jerk chicken and Greek salad,” said Mootoo. “And foreign language students will donate international deserts.”

There is no charge for this event, but donations are accepted. Each year the donations go to a fund scholarships for study abroad programs in the Department of Languages and Communication, according to Mootoo.

The night will have other attractions, like a variety show created by foreign language students and faculty.

“Students and teachers will be performing songs in various international languages, and we let the audience choose the winning performance,” said Mootoo.

This year’s week will differ in many ways from the previous International Education Weeks.  

“Last year, we had a zumba competition, and three years ago, we did a desert competition,” Mootoo said.

Along with the fashion show and cultural fair, they will also induct new members into Phi Beta Delta on Nov. 17 in the Student Union Ballroom at 6p.m.

“It is a student organization that our office helped get chartered here on campus, and it’s the Honor Society for International Students,” Daigle said.

As for the whole week of events, they vary from year to year to keep students coming back to partake in the activities.

“Every year, it’s different. International Night is really the only consistent event, and other than that, year to year, events change to accommodate who is participating and what that organization wants to put it on,” said Daigle.

According to Mootoo, they try to change up the activities to keep students coming back.

“We always try to have different elements every year because we have returning students who come back year after year, so we try to keep it interesting,” said Mootoo.

The international students on campus will have a whole week dedicated to them and their respective cultures.

“We have international students, so we want to celebrate that and honor them. We are doing this to be a part of their lives and extend ourselves to them,” said Mootoo.

According to Daigle, the events of international week “help bridge the gap and get international students more involved with getting the students to meet each other.”

To find out more information about International Education Week, contact Brendan Daigle at 985-549-3850, or via email at [email protected], and if you’re interested in learning more about the Department of Languages and Communications visit room 219 in D Vickers.