International students teach about the world

One of the biggest surprises international students might find when they come to the United States is that American citizens generally have little knowledge of countries outside North America.\nBecause Americans have been known to be unappreciative of other cultures, international students often struggle to make new friendships at IU.\nAware of this fact, the Leo R. Dowling International Center has developed a program that gives international students the opportunity to share information about their home countries with other students.\nKnown as the International Student Invite Series, the program features a one-hour presentation every other week by an international student about the student's native country. \nThe program began over the summer and its success carried over to this semester, said Gonzalo Isidro-Bruno, coordinator of the International Center.\n"We usually advertise this program with the name of the presenter and their country," Isidro-Bruno said. "It makes it easier for students to relate to the presentation. The people who attend these sessions have been happy about that."\nPresentations are free and open to students, staff and community members. Following the presentation, audience members have the opportunity to meet and interact with the presenting international student.\nGraduate student Nelson Manga, from Cameroon, will be giving the next presentation noon Wednesday at the International Center. A light lunch will follow the presentation.\nManga said the main goal of his presentation is to inform people about his home country.\n"My project is about bilingualism in Cameroon," Manga said. "I will be giving general information about Cameroon. I will be talking about the social life of Cameroon people."\nBesides providing cultural information, the program helps the presenting international student forge new relationships with other students.\n"This is an individual with a life and a history," Isidro-Bruno said. "We want to provide a space where people can talk and get to know each other."\nAna Baratta, a graduate student who presented her native country, El Salvador, Oct. 15, said the program is a great way to give international students a voice at IU.\n"I found out coming here not many people know what is going on outside the U.S.," she said. "I was very excited about (my presentation), and just to be able to give information about my country."\nManga said the presentations show the University's concern for the international students who attend IU.\n"Knowing IU is so much into promoting diversity, the relationship between IU and international students is very encouraging."\n-- Contact staff writer Matt Lahr at mjlahr@indiana.edu.