Colourful culture on campus as International Week begins

Sep 01, 2005

A vibrant celebration of cultural harmony and diversity will begin next week (September 5-9) at the University of Wollongong when the annual International Week takes place. Staff, students and the general community can all participate in this week-long festival of multicultural programs and activities.

Highlights of the week will include:

Monday 5 September - Monday will see the launch of the 'International Recipe Book' boasting scrumptious sweet, sour and spicy dishes from all over the world. There will be a Persian Art and Handcraft Exhibition and an Indonesian pop band will perform on the duckpond lawn.

Tuesday 6 September - Tuesday will give international students the chance to go one step further than just calling friends and family back home. UOW will give students the opportunity to send a 'video postcard' which will involve recording a short video message for their loved ones which can be viewed from anywhere in the world via the International Week website.

Wednesday 7 September - On Wednesday the melodic sounds of the world will resonate around campus with an acoustic performance on the duck pond lawn and an African Drumming and DJ session and Thai Festival at the UniBar. Flags of the world will decorate the foyer in the Administration Building with students invited to place a pin on the city/town of their origin on a world map.

Thursday 8 September - On Thursday the campus will be transformed into a 'Global Highway'. International House is celebrating 25 years and will be demonstrating this symbolically through a colourful series of 'stations' along the highway including a Parisian Café, Eiffel Tower, African Animals, a Malaysian Wedding, Singaporean Military Uniforms and Henna Tattoos. Visitors will receive a 'passport' for their journey along the Global Highway and free t-shirts will be distributed to those who visit six or more stations.

Friday 9 September - Friday will allow the campus to learn more about Australia's oldest living culture. Elders from the local Aboriginal community will be available to share their experiences of bushcraft, dance and song and there will be traditional didgeridoo players and dancers on campus. The winner of the Interface photograph competition will also be announced. Interface is a photography competition and exhibition where staff and students have submitted photographs representing international culture in one of six categories.

* RUNNING ALL WEEK: A World Map Installation will be on display on the McKinnon Lawn as well as an International Food and Film Festival. All activities are FREE.

For further information and program details visit: International Week 05 or contact Sue Rejske on 4221 5655

-RP