Showcasing Missouri Baptist University’s 2022 International Education Week
This year Missouri Baptist University’s International Education Week took place Nov. 14-18. There are currently 45+ countries represented in the MBU community. This includes traditional F-1 student visa holders (international students) and people born outside of the U.S. who have other visa types or now have permanent residency or citizenship. The purpose of the week was to showcase the wide range of diversity to which MBU caters. With opportunities to try different international foods, play unique sports from other countries and partake in international festivities, International Education Week is a great way for the MBU community to learn new aspects about food, culture and traditions from all around the world. Many MBU students, staff and faculty showed up each day and engaged in the events hosted by the Office of International Experiences, showing their appreciation for the different countries represented at Missouri Baptist University.
With the International Festival being the staple of International Education Week, there is always an assortment of booths to partake in. One table in particular had Korean calligraphy. Junior Jacob Simmons watches Dr. John Han translate his name into Korean during the International Festival. All photos by Jessica Kunkel
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The entire week was a blast, filled with fun activities and events that not only educated the MBU community on different cultures and countries but also fully immersed those in attendance into the atmospheres of different nations. With the variety of events and activities that took place during this week, it’s hard to pick a favorite. Monday, Nov. 14, offered the opportunity to try many different foods from different countries. The food I most enjoyed at this event was stroopwafel, which is a thin, round waffle cookie made from two layers of sweet baked dough held together by caramel filling. This sweet treat is popular in the Netherlands. MBU senior Liz van Houwelingen, who is a Breda, Netherlands native and MBU volleyball player, mentioned to me that she likes eating stroopwafel after warming it up for about 10 seconds. I appreciated this interaction because I always like to try new foods, so I was glad to learn more about stroopwafel from Liz. Graphic created by Jessica Kunkel Graphic Courtesy of Marie Tudor I personally leaned toward the chicken and pork, but I did still try the tofu. While the flavor of the tofu was excellent, I didn’t care much for the texture, but I was happy to have at least tried it. The main event of the week, the International Festival, took place on Thursday, Nov. 17, in the Great Hall. The International Festival is the pinnacle event of International Education Week, consisting of live demonstrations of Kung-Fu and Irish dancing to Henna tattoos. The food offered during this festival was immaculate. This event offered another opportunity for me to try more international cuisine, which I thought was awesome. For me, the best and most unique offering of the festival was getting my name translated into Korean calligraphy by Dr. John Han, who is a professor of English and creative writing at MBU. Due to other commitments and classes, I never had the chance in the past to attend all the events that take place during International Education Week, but I was able to experience and capture the beautiful sights, sounds and tastes of all the events this year through my own lens. Everyone should definitely try to attend International Education Week if they can because this week is a great opportunity for the MBU community to appreciate the diverse world, cultures and experiences God has created.
— Experience below all the fun activities of MBU’s 2022 International Education Week —
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- From Canada to Latin America, there were many different foods from all over the globe for the MBU community to try during Taste of the World.
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- Marie Tudor hands out International Education Week passports to students, explaining that they can get stickers for each event they attend throughout the week.
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- Kaylee Ascher pours herself a beverage at the Taste of the World event in the Art Gallery located in the Chapel building.
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- Jessalynn Scheltens and Cortez Mack can’t wait to dig into their delicious Seoul Tacos.
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- Emma Eaton enjoys eating the unique flavors of Seoul Taco during the international lunch catered by Seoul Taco in Spartan Hall located in the SRC.
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- According to their website, “Seoul Taco was started more than a decade ago as a food truck in St. Louis by chef David Choi. Choi has expanded the business into nine restaurant locations in Missouri and the Chicago area, plus two food trucks. … Seoul Taco’s menu showcases the recipes and flavors of Choi’s childhood in an innovative way.”
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- Professors Alan Blize, Dr. Mark Duerr and Penny Edward dress up their tacos with a variety of toppings provided by Seoul Taco.
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- Many students were excited to try Seoul Taco as they stopped by the SRC for a free catered lunch.
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- According to online sources, “Cricket was introduced to North America via the English colonies as early as the 17th century, and in the 18th century it arrived in other parts of the globe.” Presently, “cricket is now played throughout the world, particularly in Australia, India, Pakistan, the West Indies and the British Isles.”
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- Originally from India, Ephraim Oscar Konki, who works in MBU’s Office of Spiritual Life, shares with a group of students his knowledge of the game of cricket during Activities Around the World.
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- Senior Maeve Coulter, who is proficient in Irish dancing, showcases traditional Irish choreography during a performance at the International Festival in the Great Hall.
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- During the Activities Around the World event, Rachelle Brandel, who works in MBU’s Jung-Kellogg Learning Center, helps MBU students and faculty learn new skills in the art of origami.
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- Madison Meyer, Meredith Spratt and Danielle Eckhardt smile together in traditional clothing from India as they were excited to be representatives at one of the booths at the International Festival.
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- According to sources online, “The art of Henna has been practiced in Pakistan, India, Africa and the Middle East for over 5,000 years. It was originally used for its natural cooling properties for the people living in hot desert climates. Today, Henna is mainly used in celebration of special occasions such as weddings and birthdays in the joyous gathering of people. The Henna paste symbolizes good health and prosperity in marriage, and in some cultures, the darker the Henna stain, the deeper the love between two individuals.”
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- Trentin Helton, a student at MBU, works alongside Professor Mark Kimzey in preparation for the Kung-Fu demonstrations that occurred at the International Festival.
Students Youssef Mokhles, Madison Meyer and Danielle Eckhardt, volunteer their time to help with passing out food during the Taste of the World.
{Thank you to, Marie Tudor, the Office of International Experiences, and co-sponsors (of the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Spartan Athletics and the Student Success Center) for all their hard work and time for putting on a fantastic 2022 International Education Week.}
Tags: Alan Blize, Arts & Entertainment, Danielle Eckhardt, David Choi, Dr. John Han, Dr. Mark Duerr, Emma Eaton, Ephraim Oscar Konki, Great Hall, Henna, International Education Week, Jacob Simmons, Jessalynn Scheltens, Jessica Kunkel, Kaylee Ascher, Liz van Houwelingen, Madison Meyer, Marie Tudor, MBU Art Gallery, MBU Timeline, Meredith Spratt, Missouri Baptist University, Penny Edward, Seoul Taco, Trentin Helton, Youssef Mokhles
