International Education Week Brings Community, Support, and Connection to Princeton Students
International Education Week went chill on campus from November 17 to 21. This I.E. was a series of relaxed gatherings with a focus on local and international students of the different backgrounds which were co-hosted by the Davis International Center. Connecting, being curious and feeling supported were the main aims of these activities.
On Monday, the hectic week of I.E. auto-renewed with karaoke and open mic night. Playa Bowls was on hand to take care of the food, and students really used the event to relax, sing or even just watch and encourage the friends who were performing. Tuesday was a career day, and the shift in focus was obvious. Students were led through their thought processes by the workshop, and Maman took care of the food and drinks.
On Wednesday one could find humorous conversations, delicious snacks, and henna tattooing at the Tea and Tattoos event. Students mingled from chat to art and to eat without a break. The theme of Thursday was a world culture trivia night. Trivia questions were on world societies and the evening featured empanadas and small steins of beer as prizes for the winning teams.
The last event of the series was Pies and Postcards. There students wrote postcards to their family or friends and shared tasty slices of pie. The event was intended for both international and domestic students and this added up to great vibes in the room for everyone who came as there was no feeling of being apart due to their backgrounds.
The Davis International Center arranges all these events not only to make international students comfortable but also to give them a feeling of being part of a community especially at the time they consider difficult. Students who have been at such programs mostly say that the center is an easy place to meet new people and it gives you a feeling of being grounded. One first-year student, for example, said the meetings were of great help to them in building a circle of trusted friends. A student also pointed out that the center’s presence is particularly useful during the first year as it brings together faces familiar to him and provides a continuous flow of new meets.
The need for these kinds of events is huge as international students are living in uncertain times. The visa rules have become more strict and some students even worry about whether their online activities or social media presence can affect their status. Some others are not quite sure how these regulations would impact their job search and internships. A lot of students think that the present political situation adds to their stress and at the same time impacts their daily decisions thus, they may not experience what domestic students do.
Despite these difficulties, students speak of the university and the Davis International Center as a great source of support and reassurance. They are usually referring to the caring staff and the steady stream of events which make the students feel acknowledged and included. The week’s activities served as a reminder that engagement is initiated through simple gatherings where students can come, share a moment and feel they belong to a greater whole.