Onondaga Community College student Noel Ponthuit is proud of his home country. That's why he represented Rwanda at OCC's World Languages & Cultural Fair. As students stopped by to learn more about his culture, he shared that he was wearing traditional wedding clothing. The color black represented darkness and the white represented moving into the light. "I enjoyed doing this a lot. I want people to know our culture. I want to represent my country. It's a good country, a peaceful country, and they welcome everyone."
Rwanda was one of more than a dozen countries represented at the World Languages & Cultural Fair, which was held November 20 in the Gordon Student Center Great Room. "It's important for students to realize that right here at OCC we have students and faculty representing many different cultures and languages. I think it's important for students to see who they are with in class," said Kelly Kaminski, an American Sign Language Professor who organized the event.
The event included food from different cultures, and live music performed by OCC's Latin Ensemble under the direction of Professor Rob Bridge. Each student who participated in the Cultural Fair was given a passport which they had stamped each time they visited the table of another country. The first 50 travelers who had their passports stamped received goody bags.
"It's really important to emphasize being welcoming and accepting of students and faculty here from a wide variety of backgrounds, and to find common ground and learn about each other. Breaking down those barriers is the key to making connections," said Professor Kaminski.
Pic of Kocechvmpv Emarahle playing flute at Tuscarora Language table.
