International students share their traditions during Celebration of Culture at Mississippi College

Celebration of Culture attendees can "travel the world" and learn about the cultural diversity represented in the MC student body

International students from over 40 countries contribute to the diverse tapestry of campus life at Mississippi College, sharing their traditions and educating their peers about their respective customs.

MC’s Office of Global Education and the International Student Association will showcase the wide array of cultures represented at MC at the annual Celebration of Culture from 4:30-7 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 18, in Anderson Hall on the second floor of the B.C. Rogers Student Center. There is no cost to attend, and the public is invited.

Attendees will be able to “travel the world” and learn about the cultural diversity represented in the student body. International students will wear the traditional attire of their home countries while offering food, art and other products from their respective homelands.

Mei-Chi Piletz, executive director of the Office of Global Education, has organized the event for more than a decade. She describes the celebration as a rich educational experience for anyone interested in learning about different ways of life from throughout the world.

“For 12 years, this celebration has served as a vital bridge, allowing our international students to share their heritage through music, food and other methods while enabling domestic students to gain essential cross-cultural understanding,” Piletz said.

“Beyond our campus, it also strengthens community bonds when our international students invite their host families and friends to the event, and showcases MC’s dedication to preparing globally minded citizens,” Piletz added.

Attendees grow in their knowledge of different cultures from hearing descriptions and seeing artifacts, but they also learn from tasting different foods. At the event, guests can sample a range of traditional food items, from Vietnamese dumplings to Cuban sandwiches prepared by their international peers.

“Students should take advantage of every opportunity they have to expand their worldview,” said Richard Ladner, director of MC’s International Institute. “The need for cross-cultural knowledge and understanding is critical in the workplace and our personal lives. What better place to jumpstart that learning than here at MC?

“This is a fun and exciting event to gain a better understanding of the countries our international students come from and maybe even get a spark to study abroad with one of MC’s educational programs through the McMillan Center.”

Rachel Dusenberry, administrative assistant in the Office of Global Education, said the celebration gives students from different countries an idea of how much they have in common.

“The world is so much bigger than we realize, yet it is also small enough that we can relate on a common ground,” Dusenberry said. “During the Celebration of Culture, international students at MC share their countries’ food and culture, but most importantly, they share themselves.”