The world is coming to Athens for a week of events showcasing the different cultures present in the city.
International Week is kicking off its list of events Friday afternoon with the International Student Union (ISU) World Cup, in which teams sign up to play soccer against each other.
The week is lined up with events covering many different aspects of the international world, said Nihal Said, president of ISU and a master’s student studying communication and development.
“People should attend to celebrate the global nature of OU’s campus life, to play soccer, to attend the panels about how OU contributes to international students’ experiences and learn about how international students bring the world to Athens,” Said said.
Most of the events this year are the same, such as the Street Fair, the Global Scoop, Talent Show and World Cup, but a new addition is the opening ceremony to replace the keynote speaker that usually opens the week, said Emily Weaver, a programming director for ISU and a junior studying history and global studies: Asia.
“It's going to feature panelists, a fashion show and more involvement from the Athens community,” she said. “It's intended to show just how internationally-minded Athens has become.”
The experiences people can have at International Week are never the same, but they are free, said Omar Kurdi, incoming vice-president of ISU and junior studying political science and global studies.
“A lot of work went into this, I mean at least one year of planning, and so it's just so amazing seeing everything come together,” he said.
This week is also the transitional week for ISU executive members, Kurdi said.
“We help organize and set the events up, so we can learn for next year,” he said. “The old executive members will pass the responsibility onto us at the street fair.”
The goal is to get everyone to see a different side of OU and Athens, Weaver said.
“International students are an important part of the OU community and contribute a lot to the university, so American students should take the opportunity to get to know this side of Athens,” she said. “Even if it's as simple as walking down Court Street during the Street Fair, everyone should try to come out and support the events of this week.”
A full list of all events can be found at www.ohio.edu/internationalweek.
If you go:
All events are free
What: ISU World Cup
When: 4:30 p.m., Friday, 3 p.m., Sunday (Finals)
Where: Peden Stadium
What: Opening Celebration: Discover the World in Athens
When: 6 p.m., Monday
Where: Baker Theater
What: Global Scoop: International Student Union
When: 2 p.m., Tuesday
Where: Baker Bobcat Lounge
What: Talent Show: International Student Union
When: 7 p.m., Friday, April 18
Where: Baker Theater
What: International Street Fair
When: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., Saturday, April 19
Where: Court Street
(food and items for sale)
This article originally appeared in print under the headline, "Athens’ got the whole wide world in its streets."
@thisisjeli
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