Spring Break
International House takes SJSU around the world in two blocks
Ralph Warner
Issue date: 4/6/09 Section: Features
Despite having opportunities to learn about one another's culture at the I-House, Resident Adviser Nkemka Egbuho, a junior biochemistry major who has lived in the I-House for three years, said cultural understanding is essential in maintaining that bond.
"Some of the issues that may come up are because of cultural misinterpretations," Egbuho said. "But we just try to make it as welcoming as possible for everyone through events such as the cultural workshops. In this house it doesn't really matter what color you are or what background you have, we can all come together as a family."
Pendleton said the I-House has various activities to encourage residents to share and absorb aspects of each others' culture.
"We do quest cultural workshops for residents in the house so we'll pick a topic and bring everyone together to discuss the topic and learn more in depth about each other," Pendleton said.
The I-House hosted its annual Pancake Breakfast to begin International Week which is held from April 5 through April 10. At the breakfast on Sunday, residents dressed in traditional garments of their culture, cooked and served for the guests and provided entertainment by performing various talents such as dancing and singing.
"This was a wonderful day leading into a wonderful week," Cherkasky Makhni said. "I'm excited and I think it was a big success. I think it brings all of the community together."
Motamedi said recognizing those differences and respecting one another has caused him to discover more about his own culture and others such as his French roommate last year and his American roommate this year.
"You learn more about their viewpoint of the world through just simple conversation," he said. "One difference I noticed between my own culture, being back home in Iran and here in America, is the emphasis on family back home as opposed to individualism and independence here in America."
Mirjam Roelink, a senior business major from the Netherlands, said that the differences she noticed were sometimes quite simple such as the food.
"Some of the issues that may come up are because of cultural misinterpretations," Egbuho said. "But we just try to make it as welcoming as possible for everyone through events such as the cultural workshops. In this house it doesn't really matter what color you are or what background you have, we can all come together as a family."
Pendleton said the I-House has various activities to encourage residents to share and absorb aspects of each others' culture.
"We do quest cultural workshops for residents in the house so we'll pick a topic and bring everyone together to discuss the topic and learn more in depth about each other," Pendleton said.
The I-House hosted its annual Pancake Breakfast to begin International Week which is held from April 5 through April 10. At the breakfast on Sunday, residents dressed in traditional garments of their culture, cooked and served for the guests and provided entertainment by performing various talents such as dancing and singing.
"This was a wonderful day leading into a wonderful week," Cherkasky Makhni said. "I'm excited and I think it was a big success. I think it brings all of the community together."
Motamedi said recognizing those differences and respecting one another has caused him to discover more about his own culture and others such as his French roommate last year and his American roommate this year.
"You learn more about their viewpoint of the world through just simple conversation," he said. "One difference I noticed between my own culture, being back home in Iran and here in America, is the emphasis on family back home as opposed to individualism and independence here in America."
Mirjam Roelink, a senior business major from the Netherlands, said that the differences she noticed were sometimes quite simple such as the food.
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