This year’s annual International Education Week (IEW), which takes place Nov. 13 to 17, will center around the elements of earth, wind, water and fire.
“International Education Week is a celebration of cultural awareness where we learn to appreciate similarities and differences of cultures and education, which will hopefully increase appreciation for ourselves and others,” said Audrey Badua, International Education Week coordinator.
International Education Week is an organization that promotes cultural awareness worldwide.
Many schools in other cities, states and countries participate and hold their own celebrations.
Former IEW coordinator Toshihiko Ikagawa said that WCC’s IEW events started in 2009 with a small-scale screening of foreign films.
Then in 2012, IEW was awarded a grant from the Honda Institutional Opportunity Fund, which allowed it to expand to a one-day event with ethnic food, a tea ceremony demonstration, calligraphy class and flower arrangement class.
Since then, IEW at Windward has grown into a week-long celebration open to all.
This year’s theme of the elements is reflected in some of the events such as a lecture series on the mythology of earth, wind, water and fire in other cultures, a glass wind chime making workshop and a bagua zhang demonstration.
Bagua zhang is a kind of energy martial art that focuses on harmony with and drawing power from the natural elements.
There will be plenty of activities and opportunities to learn.
The main goal of International Education Week is to encourage participation.
“This is the most participation from faculty that we’ve had in four years and what they have to say is fascinating,” Badua said.
“I am most excited to be able to understand other cultures in a fun way,” said WCC student Chelsea Wong. “I feel like the best way to learn something is just to have fun and be immersed in it.”
Badua said her favorite part of IEW is getting her students involved.
“That’s tons of fun because they actually learn as they get involved, as they participate in these events,” she said.
To get involved, volunteer or for more information about IEW this year, contact Audrey Badua at amendoza@hawaii.edu or 236-9221.
by Susannah Shores, Ka ‘Ohana Staff Reporter
IEW Schedule of Events
Monday 11/13
9:00 – 10:00 a.m. “Taste the Elements” with Jane Uyetake & Dorene Niibu
10:00 – 11:00 a.m. “Yoga: The Art of Prana” with Sarah Hadmack
11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. “Swimming Dragon Bagua: Eight Trigram Palm” with Jeff Ho
11:30 a.m. – 12:45 p.m. “Talk Story” with Speech students (mythology or horoscopes)
12:00 – 1:00 p.m. “Playing with Fire” with Chris Guay
1:00 – 2:30 p.m. “Panel Discussions on Culture and Interpersonal Communication” with Jeff Ho’s speech class
Tuesday 11/14
10:00 – 11:30 a.m. “Chili Cook- Off.” Faculty, staff, and students compete to see who has the best chili.
10:00 – 11:30 a.m. “The Elements of Music” with the Garage Band
11:30 a.m. – 12:45 p.m. “Origami” with Audrey Badua’s SP 151 class
1:00 – 2:30 p.m. “Culture, the Elements & International Education: Four Policy Speeches” with Jeff Ho
Wednesday 11/15
9:00 – 11:15 a.m. “Pokemon Go Amazing Race” hosted by SP 151 & IS 103
10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. “Glass Wind Chimes” with Annette Priesman – donation of $5
11:30 a.m. – 12:45 p.m. “Talk Story” with speech students regarding survival, mythology or horoscopes
1:00 – 2:30 p.m. “Panel Discussions on Culture & Interpersonal Communication” with Jeff Ho
Thursday 11/16
9:30 – 10:30 a.m. “Surf” with Ian Masterson
10:00 – 11:00 a.m. “Ancient Skies” Imaginarium showing
11:30 a.m. – 12:45 p.m. “Calligraphy” with Audrey Badua’s SP 151 class
12:30 – 1:30 p.m. “The World Terrestrial and Aquatic Plants Used In Vegan Dishes” with Inge White, Hongwei Li and students
1:00 – 2:30 p.m. “Culture, the Elements & International Education: Four Policy Speeches” with Jeff Ho
Friday 11/17
WorldQuest: Time and place TBA
