All posts tagged: culture week

Culture Week – Here We Go Again | Und wieder einmal ist Kulturfest

Published by Sula H.

EnglishEvery year in early November our school celebrates the different cultures of the world. Normally, this is a big affair, where for three days the foreign faculty has to put on shows and activities representing the various (non-)Asian continents of the world. (We have enough Asians around to represent their own continent.) This year the foreign faculty are so few, we only have to set up activities for the afternoons. Obviously, I come out for Europe Day, and I don my German dirndl – a traditional Bavarian dress. DeutschJedes Jahr Anfang November feiert die Uni die verschiedenen Kulturen der Welt. Normalerweise ist das eine große Sache, wo die ausländische Fakultät für drei Tage Halligalli macht mit Shows und Aktivitäten, die die verschienen (nicht-)asiatischen Kontinente repräsentieren. (Es gibt genug Asiaten, die ihren eigenen Kontinent vertreten können). Dies Jahr ist die ausländische Fakultät so klein, dass es nur Nachmittags Programm gibt. Keine Frage, dass ich am Europatag beteiligt bin. Und dann wird das Dirndl hervorgekramt und fleissig repräsentiert.

A Culture Week of Firsts

Published by Sula H.

Eine Kulturwoche der Neuheiten   So, here I am, talking of how there’s nothing really new to share with you, when in fact it’s actually a culture week of firsts. Like today. It’s been raining. And while rain really isn’t anything new, that it pours down on culture week IS! So, for the first time, culture week, which actually is an outdoor event more than anything, has been taken inside, into the big gym on campus.   Da bin ich also, und rede davon, dass es eigentlich nichts Neues über die Kulturwoche zu berichten gibt, während diese Woche tatsächlich eigentlich eine Woche voller Neuerungen ist. Wie z. B. heute. Es regnet. Und während Regen an sich nichts Neues ist – dass es während der Kulturwoche wie aus Strömen gießt, hat es in der Tat noch nicht gegeben. So wurden zum ersten Mal alle Aktivitäten, die eigentlich Open Air stattfinden sollen, nach drinnen, in die große Sporthalle verlegt.   And since it’s Africa Day, here are a couple of pics … Und weil heute Afrika Tag …

Of the Representation (and Misrepresentation) of the World

Published by Sula H.

Ok, though I’ve shared about culture week in previous years, this one’s something new in all the events: Instead of the foreign faculty (who’ve been involved with Asia day in the previous years), this year the foreign students are mainly involved with hosting today’s activities and events. So, if anything, it’s nice to see native people represent their own countries, and not a bunch of foreigners trying to show-off what they think is interesting but what might not at all be representative of the place. Like my age old battle with my colleagues trying to get them to understand that we don’t have Vikings running around in Europe any more, nor Roman soldiers wielding javelins and conquering archaic queens (the way my non-European, or should I say, American, colleagues love to portray Europe, and each year I’m thinking: you show off all of America’s modern, fashionable ways, so why can’t you do that with Europe, too? But I have to concede that one of the arguments one of my friends is giving me is right: …

Culture Week 2012: International DayCulture Week 2012: International Day

Published by Sula H.

Culture week concluded today, and like every year, it happened with a grand finale. The best performances throughout the week get to participate in the show, and it’s a rainbow of different dances, songs, acts, and performances. It’s definitely a highlight each year, and probably one of the shows around here you don’t want to miss, if you can help it. I did help myself to an entertaining morning, and lots of internationality. And that’s the end of it!

Culture Week 2012: North America Day

Published by Sula H.

I found myself at the main square again. To watch my friends play street hockey together. And trying to keep myself from being hit by any out-of-control ball that would come my way. Because remember: not everyone is as adept at playing hockey as my Canadian friends. And I assure you, not all who played today were Canadians. I survived, however, as did everyone else involved, and so I’d say that’s good news in itself. Isn’t it?

Culture Week 2012: Europe Day

Published by Sula H.

Fright night is over, and I’m really glad we made it through a couple of days with skeletons hanging in our (new) lobby, and skulls welcoming visitors as they enter our building. Not being from a country where Halloween is a big event, I can never understand why people would want to scare each other with ghostly activities, when it’s so much better to share life and joy with one another. Anyhow, fright night is over, and Europe Day commenced today. Of course, being from Europe, every year, Europe Day upsets me, because my dear American colleagues never think of Europe as anything but ancient and medieval (a perspective, which is neither shared by the Chinese, nor can it be appreciated by a true European!). Luckily, I was so busy with other things today, that I didn’t even have the time to go and take pictures of the events in the square (must have missed that one Viking which has survived through the centuries and annually makes his appearance at Culture Week). I didn’t even get …

Culture Week 2012: Africa & Latin America Day

Published by Sula H.

Things around culture week seem to be little more low-key compared to previous years. Anyhow, nothing can compete with China day, when it comes to drawing the crowds to the main square each day. This year I missed the little African hut, which was replaced by one only half as authentic. But it’s just as much a photogenic spot as the old one. In fact, I had to wait in line quite a bit to get at least one decent shot without any people around. I was sneaky, though. I waited for that split second when one student had just gone inside that little hut for her picture, and couldn’t be seen from the angle where I was standing. There’s always a way to get your shot – if you know how to …