International week this year will be six days of activities from fair trade sales and international awareness to karaoke in almost any language. For more than five years, Pacific has been involved in the U.S. government official International Week, which this year is the week of Nov. 11.
This year, adviser Megan Serenco and the International Club along with ACE Board have set up almost a whole week of activities. Serenco said the activities are set up to make sure everyone can have a good time, not just international students or members of the International Club.
The week will start off with an International Bizarre from Sunday, Nov. 11 to Tuesday, Nov. 13 in the U.C. The bizarre is put on with help from Ten Thousand Villages, a fair trade retailer.
“They are the middle-man with local producers,” said Serenco.
Products such as jewelry, art and textiles will be sold through fair trade. Serenco said most people don’t actually know what fair trade is, but that it is an ecologically sound way of trade. It is when producers from developing countries are paid fair prices for their goods and are then sold in North America giving them the opportunity for recognition. Ten Thousand Villages has been around since 1946.
The next event during International Week is a talk about success stories with pediatric HIV in southeast Africa. Makaria Reynolds of the Elisabeth Glaser Pediatric Foundation will be speaking on Nov. 15 from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. in the Taylor Auditorium in Marsh Hall. Serenco said this event will help raise awareness of things bigger than Pacific University.
The last day of International week will be a Karaoke Night in the PULSE from 9:30 p.m. to midnight. Students are encouraged to bring their own CDs and friends. Snacks will be provided, as well as a multi-lingual karaoke machine.
Serenco said the goal for International Week is to help students become more aware and to create opportunities for students to become more involved with the events set up throughout the week.
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