Every week, the International Student Center at San Diego State hosts a free International Coffee Hour, in which a culture or country is presented through music, dance and food, allowing international and domestic students a chance to learn about one another. Last Friday’s Coffee Hour, organized by Australian international students, was a full house.
“It’s a good way for them to show their culture to other students and a good way for them to feel connected to the campus,” ISC program coordinator Luísa Orticelli said.
The event landed on Jan. 25, the day before Australia Day. Australia day, a national Australian holiday celebrated on Jan. 26, where Australian history and accomplishments are celebrated. While no formal presentations were made, Australian music was played throughout the ISC as students socialized and ate traditional Australian pastries, such as Anzac biscuits made of oats, flour, sugar and syrup, and fairy bread, a white bread covered in butter and sprinkles. Aside from the pastries, flyers advertising the study abroad programs in Australia were handed out at the meeting.
“It’s a good exchange where students are not very culture-shocked, since Australia is very influenced by the states,” one of the organizers Laura Mckell said. “A lot of the music, media and television shows are similar to the ones in the United States. Even barbecues are a very popular part of Australian culture.”
One of the biggest culture shocks for Australians is usually the American college life, says Mckell.
“It’s not common to stay on campus and eat the same food all the time,” she said.
Most attendees of the weekly Coffee Hour rave about the new information they obtain through these events. Vietnamese international student Steve Nguyen said he learns news things about new countries every time he attends the Coffee Hour.
The next Coffee Hour will be hosted at noon on Friday at the ISC by the International Student Association. ISA is a club that coordinates a variety of programs and activities with the end goal of enhancing international understanding and friendship.
