Southeastern Louisiana University’s International Night Festival
A buffet that brings the world to your taste buds, entertainment to make you feel like a traveler, and a night you would not want to miss are all things you will find at the International Night Festival sponsored by the Department of World Languages and Cultures at Southeastern Louisiana University. The event brings together an abundance of cultures that allows the community to experience and enjoy some cultures different from their own.
International Night reaches many in the community from faculty, high school teachers and even students of other universities.
The festival is traditionally on a Monday in November. Dr. Lucia Harrison, Department Head of the Department of World Languages and Cultures and Interim-Department Head of Communication and Media Studies, oversees the festival along with the International Initiatives week. Harrison commented, “The festival is a kick-off for the International Initiatives week here on campus in November.”
Students from all over the University System are invited to go stretching from first-time freshies, to graduate students and even the high school students who participate in the dual enrollment program. Laura Capadona, an alum of Ponchatoula High School, attended the very first International Night as a sophomore in high school with her dual enrollment French class.
Capadona attends Louisiana State University but she has not forgotten what International Night gave to her. Capadona said “I enjoyed International Night! It was so much fun! I got to enjoy food from other countries and even learned how to belly dance.”
International Night has several student groups from around, such as a dance group of Panamanian students who perform a beautiful native Panamanian dance. Jeanie Hawkins, the French teacher and French dual enrollment instructor at Ponchatoula High School, recalled the dance saying “I especially enjoyed the girls who performed dances from their country. They weren’t studying to be professionals, but their presentation was great.”
The event is put on mostly by students for students. It allows the student to experience so much for no cost to them. The buffet and entertainment are completely free! Harrison commented that “International Night is free to everyone who wishes to enjoy because of a grant allotted by the Student Government Association.”
Since the event is free all the department ask is for donations to the event. The donations make their way back to the community. Harrison said, “The money that is collected from the donations comes together to make scholarships for students who participate in our study abroad program on campus.”
International Night allows students to create memories while learning about something more than themselves. Capadona said, “I learned how to belly dance from International Night. I loved seeing my teacher Mrs. Hawkins try to belly dance. It was hilarious!”
Hawkins spoke of how she enjoyed the first time she went to International Night even when her students laughed at her dancing. “My students loved the entertainment that was provided and even loved how I belly danced or at least attempted to, but nevertheless it is a night that is almost necessary for anyone who wants to learn about other cultures,” she said.
International Night 2019 will be announced this coming fall semester.
