Page 3
Crossing international boundaries
ISA sets out
to showcase
diversity
By Paul Neale
The Battalion
While planning Texas A&M's
15th Annual International Week,
organizers had more to contend
with than students' busy class
schedules.
Just putting together Friday's
International Talent Show and
Fashion Parade included vari
ables such as religious beliefs and
differing concepts of time, said In
ternational Student Association
advisor Suzanne Droleskey. Two
religious holidays, Ramadan and
Lent, also came into play while
scheduling rehearsals.
Cultural diversities such as
these epitomize the ISA's Interna
tional Week.
But when international student
groups work together, the resul
tant teamwork gives new mean
ing to the old adage "strength
through diversity."
Harsh Jaggi, an industrial engi
neering major and member of the
India Club, said International
Week is a free ticket to visit 40
countries, hear new languages
and see new people. Jaggi, who
oversees the cultural displays in
the MSC, said friendships are the
main benefit to such "travel"
through the halls of the MSC,
however.
Students meet friends as they
Kyle Bumett/THE Battalion
Harsh Jaggi, a sophomore industrial engineering major and member of the India Club, oversees the
cultural exhibits that line the halls of the MSC behind him.
wander through the cultural dis
plays, Jaggi said, that they might
not meet under different circum
stances.
"The world is a much smaller
place than we think it is," he said.
In addition to introducing stu
dents to each other. International
Week introduces students to the
way things really are in other
countries.
Caribbean Club president
Rowland Mackenzie said Interna
tional Week breaks misconcep
tions students have about other
countries.
"Most people don't even know
that we speak English in
Trinidad," he said.
International Week provides
the international student organi
zations with a chance to showcase
their cultural backgrounds.
Many countries want to partic
ipate because they want to make
sure that their country is repre
sented, Droleskey said.
"These students have a
tremendous pride in who they are
and where they're from and love
to share it," she said.
See International/Page 4
Student’s life abroad
sparks global interest
By Traci Travis
The Battalion
Not every family adventure
results in a "lousy t-shirt."
Kingsley Ross, a junior jour
nalism major from New Or
leans, prides herself in being a
world traveler minus the tacky
hats, naive criticisms and Ko
dak moments.
By living abroad, Ross has
discovered more than cultures
and souvenirs galore; she has
discovered a desire for a career
in international government.
Because of her father's job
with Exxon, Ross has called
such countries as Canada, Scot
land and Malaysia home.
"For an international stu
dent, home is wherever you are
at the moment," Ross said.
Important U.S. issues such
as multiculturalism, she said,
are a given to an individual
who has grown up internation
ally.
Ross considers the issue of
multiculturalism to be some
thing that should be under
stood in every country.
"Many times I was the only
American student in my class
es," Ross said. "At my school
alone, there were 106 different
nationalities."
Ross said she spent a majori
ty of her childhood in
Malaysia, and because of this,
was able to learn the values
that she holds today.
Each international student at
her school was required to take
a course in Malaysian cultures.
This course taught children
Malaysian games as well as tra
ditional holidays.
The country is composed of
a number of different races,
Ross said.
Besides learning Malaysian
traditions, students were also
required to study the Chinese
and Indian cultures.
"There was always a school
holiday," Ross said. "They ob
served every culture's tradi
tions."
After returning to America,
Ross said she and her brother
felt somewhat "un-American."
It was hard to get used to
things like chili cheese Fritos
after nine years of getting excit
ed over stale Ruffles in
Malaysia, Ross said.
"People would wait in long
lines just to get a Pop Tart,"
Ross said. "We were eating ce
real with weevils in it, but it
didn't matter. We were just
lucky to get it."
The greatest culture shock,
Ross said, was at the central
market in Malaysia. This is
where citizens would go to get
See Interests/Page 5
> '4 *•'' t> W
.j 1
AND THE ENVIRONMENT
CURRENT ISSUES AND FUTURE TRENDS
March 2, 1994 - Rudder Theatre
1-2 p.m. Current Issues and Future Trends
Dr. Margaret N. Maxey, director, Clint W. Murchison, Sr.,
Chair of Free Enterprise and professor of bioethics,
University of Texas at Austin
2:30-4 p.m. Energy Development vs. the Environment
Moderator: Dr. Ronald L. McMahan, president,
Resource Data International
Panelists: Mr. Thomas Baker, TU Electric
Ms. Barbara Grannell, founder,
Western States Public Land Coalition
Dr. John F. Griffiths, professor of meteorology,
Texas A&M, and Texas state climatologist
Dr. Ken Kramer, director, Lone Star Chapter, Sierra Club
4:15-5:15 p.m. Energy Security and U.S. Dependence on Foreign Energy Sources
Mr. Richard L. Lawson, president,
National Coal Association
7:30-8:30 p.m. The Challenges
Mr. Michel T. Flalbouty, CEO and chairman of the board,
Halbouty Energy Company
NATIONAL
ASSOCIATION
Reception follows
Please call (409) 845-1515 if you require special assistance.
Box J-l, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77844 • (409) 862-1350
CAREER CENTER PRESENTATIONS
March 1 Thru March 7
March 1, 1994
Successful Interviewing Workshop, 3:30 p.m. VI0 Koldus Bldg.
March 2, 1994
2nd Interview-Company Visit Seminar, 2:00 p.m.,
110 Koldus Bldg.
March 3, 1994
Placement Orientation, 2:00 p.m., 4 I0 Rudder
Reality 101 Seminar, 5:00 p.m., 110 & 111 Koldus Bldg.
March 4, 1994
Co-op Orientation, 2:00 p.m., 510 Rudder
March 7, 1994
Job Preparation for Juniors Seminar, 5:30 p.m., 144 Koldus Bldg.
Career Education Office, John j. Koldus Building,
Suite 209, Phone 845-5139, Fax 845-2979
SENIORS
COME GIVE US YOUR
OPINION ON:
RING DANCE
SENIOR BASH
SR. BANQUET
CLASS GIFT
CLASS MEETING
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2
8:30 PM 292AMSC
LAST CHANCE!