Cultural connection

Clarence Richardson didn’t know what to expect Monday evening when he
showed up for International Night.

The Milan junior wasn’t disappointed.

“It was all pretty interesting,” Richardson said. “My favorite part
was the cultural differences (skit). That was so funny.”

 Richardson was one of several hundred people who attended the
annual event hosted by CMU’s International Club in Warriner Hall’s
Plachta Auditorium.

The night included songs, dancing, skits and a fashion show
performed by CMU students from various multicultural backgrounds and
ethnicities. A food taster followed the performances.

Nobody was more impressed with the turnout for International Night
than the man who organized the event.

“I’m really amazed because we did very little advertising,” said
Richmond Otoo, International Club president and Ghana junior.

People from CMU’s English Language Institute performed the cultural
differences skit, and humorously observed differences between Asian and
American manners at a dinner table.

Mount Pleasant resident Rachel Gamache, whose mother works for the
Office of International Education, said she has attended International
Night every year for the past five years.

“I think it’s better (this year),” Gamache said. “A lot more people
showed up and the performances were great.”

The evening’s festivities came to an emotional end as people sang
closing songs dedicated to those affected by the current civil conflict
in Oaxaca, Mexico.

The effort to further educate CMU students on international cultures
and beliefs continues all week as the Office of International Education
at CMU celebrates International Education Week.

Chinese presentations will take place from 7:30 to 10 p.m. today in
the Office of International Education Conference Room. The African
Student Association also is hosting a panel at 7 p.m. today in the
Bovee University Center Auditorium.