Students get a taste of other cultures during International Education Week

University of North Georgia (UNG) students will have the opportunity to feast on Polish fare such as pierogi, cabbage roll and Polish doughnuts during the Polish Culture Celebration, which is one of a few events scheduled from Nov. 12-18 during International Education Week.

The Polish food will accompany a photo exhibit titled "Fall in Love with Poland by Night" from photographer Krzyszt Masiuk and a concert featuring pianists, Eliza and Emilia Folkert, from the Chopin Society of Atlanta. Frederic Chopin was a Polish composer and virtuoso pianist who lived from 1810 to 1849.

Dr. Dobrusia Bialonska, assistant professor of environmental microbiology at UNG, is hosting the Polish Culture Celebration from 6-8 p.m. Nov. 13 in Hoag Student Center on the Dahlonega Campus to introduce students to her home country's culture.

"I can't take all of my students to Poland, but I can show them a little bit of Poland," said Bialonska, who is in her fourth year at UNG.

An exhibit titled "Fall in Love with Poland by Night" from photographer Krzyszt Masiuk will be on display during the Polish Culture Celebration, which is one of the events scheduled from International Education Week. The annual weeklong event will feature several cultures from Nov. 12-18 on UNG's Cumming, Dahlonega and Gainesville campuses.

Experiencing a different culture while remaining in your local culture is the main purpose of International Education Week, said Sheila Schulte, associate vice president of international programs at UNG.

"We take time to celebrate the different aspects of different cultures from around the world," she said, adding the weeklong event is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Education. "It is also how UNG promotes global learning on campus."

A few UNG campuses have various events ranging from an International Dessert Tasting from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 12 on UNG's Cumming Campus to an African Uhuru dance performance from noon to 1 p.m. Nov. 14 on the Gainesville Campus.

Dr. Jiyoung Daniel plans to share part of her culture with a Taste of Korean Coffee from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Nov. 14 on the second floor of the Hoag Student Center on the Dahlonega Campus.

"A lot of people associate tea with Asia," the assistant professor of Korean said. "But for Koreans, the most popular drink after alcoholic beverages is coffee."

Of course, Daniel does see some odd looks when she serves the Korean coffee, because it is instant coffee inside of a long, slender stick. Daniel explained the drink is a mix of coffee, cream and sugar all in an easy-to-open package that can double as a straw. All tasters have to do is pour the mix into hot water.

"After the students taste it, they say it has the perfect ratio of coffee, cream and sugar," Daniel said.

This isn't the only culture from East Asia receiving attention. "Experience China through Music and Art" will be from noon to 1 p.m. Nov. 14 on the second floor lobby of Dunlap on the Dahlonega Campus. A western Asian country will be in the limelight, too. "Rush into Russian!" will be from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 12 on the patio at Dunlap on the Dahlonega Campus.

UNG's International Education Week will run from Nov. 12-16, giving students time to ask questions and talk to the faculty and staff about study abroad opportunities.

"We are recruiting right now for our summer 2019 study abroad programs," Schulte said. "These events are a nice way for students to think about where they might want to study internationally."

Schulte invites students to stop by the Center for Global Engagement offices  or make an appointment with an advisor to ask about education abroad opportunities

For more information, visit the International Education Week webpage or CGE website.