International Prom bridges cultures
April 7, 2019
The sunset beamed across the bayou giving an amazing view from the terrace of the seventh floor of the library. Wearing styles that reflected their different cultures, ULM students lined up to take prom pictures—some for the very first time.
Global Ambassadors hosted their first International Prom last Thursday. It brought together not only international students, but also domestic students.
ULM students from across the globe got the chance to dance, socialize and have a great time together at the prom.
Prom is a huge part of American culture that isn’t celebrated in every country. Because of this, Global Ambassadors saw this event as the perfect opportunity to reach out to ULM’s international students and create a sense of community between all students, domestic or international alike.
“We had several international students who asked for us to bring an international prom to campus,” said Luke Arsement, president of Global Ambassadors.
At one point during the night, a line of chairs was pulled to the center of the dance floor and an impromptu game of musical chairs broke out.
The game brought back nostalgia from many American childhoods as students danced from chair to chair.
“It was nice to bond with all the international students because we were able to learn some of their cultural dances, and they were able to pick up on a few of our own,” said Shania Lewis, a sophomore social work major.
One international student, Prachanda Adhikari, is thankful for the American friends he has made at ULM, some through Global Ambassadors.
“American friends have helped me blend with their culture with equal respect,” said Adhikari, an international student from Nepal.
Global Ambassadors event planner, Jamariuana Thomas, said she feels hopeful about the future of International Prom.
“Global Ambassadors is hoping to make this an annual event,” Thomas said. “We try to do one event per semester, and hopefully the International Prom will live on through the next couple of years.”
Many international students also want International Prom to become an annual event.
“ULM Global Ambassadors have been playing a role of a strong bridge between national and international students and even between the international students as well,” Adhikari said.
ULM Global Ambassadors was formed in 2016. Before then, very few international students were active in both the Student Government Association and Campus Activities Board. But now, not even three years after the start of Global Ambassadors, four out of five members of the executive board on CAB are international students.
Many of those, including president of CAB Sarthak Neupane, were the founders of Global Ambassadors.
As of now, International Prom is projected to return next year and hopes to outgrow the seventh floor of the library to an even bigger scene.
lance johnson • Apr 8, 2019 at 2:16 pm
Congrats to the Ambassadors and their work, because being an international student away from home IS difficult, compounded by our complex culture and language problems. Welcoming and assimilation assistance must come from numerous sources, including the White House, to aid these young people embarking on life’s journey.
Most struggle in their efforts and need guidance from schools’ international departments, immigration protection, host families, concerned neighbors and fellow students, and even informative books to extend a cultural helping hand.
Something that might help anyone coming to the US is the award-winning worldwide book/ebook “What Foreigners Need To Know About America From A To Z: How to Understand Crazy American Culture, People, Government, Business, Language and More.”
Used in foreign Fulbright student programs and endorsed worldwide by ambassadors, educators, and editors, it identifies how “foreigners” have become successful in the US, including students.
It explains how to cope with a confusing new culture and friendship process, and daunting classroom differences. It explains how US businesses operate and how to get a job (which differs from most countries), a must for those who want to work with/for an American firm here or overseas.
It also identifies the most common English grammar and speech problems foreigners have and tips for easily overcoming them, the number one stumbling block they say they have to succeeding here.
Good luck to all at ULM or wherever you study or wherever you come from, because that is the TRUE spirit of the American PEOPLE, not a few in government who shout the loudest! Supporters of int’l students must shout louder.