Exciting News from the International Student and Scholar Services Office
The International Student and Scholar Services Office serves over 1300 internationals from 92 countries. The following are some upcoming events:
International Lens– a film series with a global perspective, uses film screenings as a forum to promote conversation among Vanderbilt’s diverse community of students, faculty, and staff. International Lens strives to transcend geographic, ethnic, religious, linguistic, and political boundaries by facilitating conversation and greater cross-cultural understanding through cinema. All films are in the native language with English subtitles. All films are free and open to the public. Our first 2 films this semester are:
Jan. 20 “Yacoubian Building” (EGYPT) The epic tale of the troubled lives and secret loves of the Egyptian upper class portrays this luxury apartment building and its inhabitants as having seen better days. Yet they still desperately attempt to hold onto their elegant reputations.
Jan. 27 “Harvest Time” (RUSSIA) Set in 1950s Russia, this meditation on family unity uses nostalgia to explore a dark period in Soviet history. The film’s intimate portrait of the daily life of a hardship-wracked collective farming family depicts the destruction of rural life and beliefs by an implacable state system.
WOW– Our weekly “World on Wednesdays” program is designed to educate through an expansive spectrum of interesting, new, classic, and specialized topics that lie in relation to global affairs. WOWs are held at the Student Life Center at noon each Wednesday, most of the time lunch or snacks are provided.
Jan. 20 “Global Summer Fellows, Greece” Learn about the Global Education Office’s Global Summer Fellows program. GEO director, Ara Pachmayer will discuss application and scholarship details. Alyia Parker Smith, one of last year’s recipients, will share her experience in Greece, which was made possible by the fellowship. A light lunch of Mediterranean food will be served.
Jan. 27 “In Love But Worlds Apart: Insights into intercultural relationships” Author, educator, and counselor Grete Shelling will discuss the joys and challenges in uniting those with diverse cultural backgrounds. Grete has many years of experience counseling couples and individuals in multicultural settings in both USA and Europe, has authored several articles on cross-cultural issues, and has hosted hundreds of young adults from many countries.