2021 IEW Highlights
Curious about International Education Week? Our FLEX, YES, and HSA students used this annual celebration to share their countries and cultures with their US host communities!
After much hard work on the part of all of our students, with support from their host families and local coordinators, International Education Week was a resounding success! We’ve rounded up some thoughts and photos from IEW that we think exemplify what International Education Week is all about!
“Sharing my culture and religion, Druze, which is not known for Americans was so precious and beautiful to me. I proudly shared and enjoyed hearing that people were curious about it and want to know more!!
- Liran from Israel placed in Oregon
“IEW made me even prouder of my country. It enabled me to reconsider my identity. It was a great pleasure to present my country and see that people are actually fascinated by my homeland.”
- Julia from Poland placed in Tennessee
“The IEW is very important because I was able to present my country and make the first impressions about it. It made me more responsible, and I understood the real role of an Ambassador. One of my most memorable moments was doing a traditional dance with my chemistry teacher and classmates”
- Teodor from Romania placed in North Carolina
“One of my most memorable moments was during my presentation I remember the reaction of students when I told them that Armenians congratulate each other when they get out of the shower. Yep, it is strange but we do it. We laughed a lot even with our teacher. IEW is important because It enlarges your world view and helps to make a better world.”
- Silva from Armenia placed in Iowa
“IEW was a great time to share a perspective and culture that are completely different than what I am experiencing right now. I brought some of my country's snacks to school, talked to more people about how I've never had Christmas before while starting a whole conversation about our countries’ differences. People that attended my presentation were so enthusiastic, to the point that they said there is nothing odd we're just different. I love how everyone is very open minded.
- Ni Putu from Indonesia placed in Wisconsin
“I think the best part of my presentations was the curiosity and enthusiasm that people showed in learning about my country. A lot of students told me that Pakistan is on their bucket list now. Sharing my national food, applying beautiful henna designs on their hands and teaching them some of my national language, Urdu, were all very memorable moments of my presentations. By giving presentations about my homeland and sharing a part of its culture with Americans, I felt myself one step closer to becoming an ambassador of my country Pakistan. IEW is a week when beautiful cultures of the world come together. It’s a week of enhancing mutual understanding and building meaningful friendships. It’s a week that teaches us to embrace the differences that makes each of us unique.”
- Farheen from Pakistan placed in Maryland
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