Today I went to the Global Village event held by AIESEC.
Once inside the multipurpose room I discovered that the Global Village consisted of lots of tables representing different countries. There was also a DJ in the middle of the room playing music from different cultures. When we entered we received “passports” with blank pages, and as we went to each country’s table they gave us a sticker of their flag. Many people at the tables were dressed up in regional clothing–one girl at the Japanese table, for example, was wearing a pink kimono. Some tables asked us to answer questions before we got stickers, while others told us facts. It was very relaxed and I enjoyed myself because it was a fun way to learn about other cultures. Many tables had free food that represented their countries, so I got to try Indian sweets, Colombian cookies, and a lot of other interesting snacks. It definitely took me out of my comfort zone because I knew little about most of the countries and had to guess many questions to get my sticker.
This event only happens once a year, but I recommend it to anyone who is interested in other countries and global culture. It was a good experience because it reminded me that American culture is not ubiquitous, and other countries have very different cultures.
For more about the organization that put on the event and also facilitates internships abroad see http://www.aiesec.org!
Great post! Sounds like you had an awesome time!