Foreign students highlighted during ENMU International Week

Eastern New Mexico University celebrated cultures around the world this week with International Week.

International Week highlights international and foreign exchange students and their cultures across the U.S.

Danni Luo, a graduate student at ENMU and director of International Affairs, led efforts to organize events at ENMU.

“Overall, it’s been a great experience,” said Luo. “Because I am an international student, I think it has made it easier for me to communicate with other international students. Communication between cultures is difficult, but I think dealing with so many different cultures has made me a more diverse person.”

Luo, originally from Chengdu, China, was in ENMU’s 1-2-1 program for Chinese students as an undergraduate, then returned came back for graduate school in 2009. She also works as a graduate assistant.

Luo said she worked in an integrated marketing communications internship when she went back to China from 2008 to 2009 and she feels her ENMU education helped prepare her for jobs in “the real world.”

Luo said being the director for ENMU’s International Affairs is rewarding and International Week was fun and successful.

“We’ve had a lot of participation from foreign and American students,” said Luo. “A lot of American students come to our events to learn about culture and I think that’s great.”

Kevin Xu, a senior and an assistant in the International Affairs department, said he has enjoyed being an international student at ENMU and had fun participating in International Week.

“I didn’t speak English very well when I first got here,” said Xu. “But students and teachers are a lot of help and will tell you how to find things and do things. Things are a lot better now.”

Xu said he has participated in the International Flag Parade for the last three years.

Dileep Janagam, a graduate student from India, also participated in the Flag parade. Janagam said he was excited about participating because his experience at ENMU has been enjoyable and exciting.

“Before coming here, I was tense and nervous,” said Janagam. “But after I came, everyone was nice and helpful. I don’t feel so homesick anymore. ENMU is like a second home.”

International Week events included:

Monday: Incredible India, a presentation and dance performance for the Indian culture.

Tuesday: 3-Day Tour in Nepal, a presentation on the sites and experiences of Nepal.

Wednesday: Baila con Mexico, a dance class on Mexican style dancing.

Thursday: International Flag Parade, marching across campus with various national flags.

The last event of International week, “Eat, Share, Learn,” noon today in the Sandia room of the Campus Union Building. It’s open to students of all nationalities to learn different cultures.