International Students to Visit Nursing Home
The International Culture Team will send 30 student volunteers to a Springdale retirement home to visit with the elderly at the Arkanshire Dinner Oct. 20 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
The ICT includes students from 50 different countries. The students gather and make presentations about their country and culture. At the Arkanshire Dinner, a yearly event, 10 students talk about their countries and how they differ from the U.S.
“Our main reason for going is to give the elderly company, and have someone to socialize and be with,” said Bonifacio Lopez Torres, ICT member and a sophomore hospitality and restaurant management major. “We like entertaining them with some facts about our culture and countries, and they are always very welcoming.”
During the 2010-2011 academic year, ICT members provided cultural presentations and performances for 7,500 children and adults.
“It is my first year in ICT and [so far], it has been great,” said Emna Ghariani, senior ICT member. “To become a member you need training, help and attend our monthly meetings and participate in at least one event per semester. The Arkanshire dinner is still being planned out, but I know it will work out great.”
The organizers, Cynthia Smith, outreach coordinator, Massiel Rodriguez, outreach graduate assistant, Hannah Howard, programming assistant, Joseph Gerke, programming assistant and Stephen Fiser, design and webmaster, encourage students to join ICT, in order to meet and work with other international students as members of an effective and visible team.
“My first year at U of A I volunteered many times for ICT, it helped me a lot to get to know people and their diversity, it’s a great experience, and I feel like everyone should get a chance to join in,” said Juan Javier Torres Goitia, senior civil engineering major.
The ICT meets monthly at the Holcombe Residence Hall living room. The meeting is a time for members and those interested in joining to connect with each other, socialize and learn about upcoming events and opportunities to share their culture with the Fayetteville community, said the ICT officers.
