ISSUE YEAR VOLUME

CIPA focus

CEN TER F OR I N TE RNA TI ON AL PR O GRA MS A ND A C TIV I T I ES

FALL , 2011

On behalf of Shawnee State University, the Center for International

Programs and Activities (CIPA), under the guidance of Director Rita

Haider, fosters and promotes international understanding and global

perspective to the university community and the region served by

Shawnee State.

Welcome New and

Returning Students

CIPA would like to welcome all our new international students attending SSU for their first semester this fall. Our study abroad program here at Shawnee is as vibrant as it has ever been. This semester we have 22 new students from every corner of the world. They are ready to leave their mark on SSU, and perhaps SSU will leave a lasting impression on them. We also

want to welcome back all our returning international students who have decided to stay at Shawnee for their college educa-tion. The diversity of cultures, ethnicities, and thought that our international students bring to SSU makes them one of the most important segments of the student body. We at CIPA want to wish them all the best of luck for the fall semester.

Crop Hunger Walk CIPA will once again be supporting the annual Crop Walk on October 16th at 2:30 pm. The walk will begin in Tracy Park and walkers can choose to walk either a 1-mile or a 3.5-mile course. Admission is one can of food, and walkers look for sponsors who will also donate to the organization. The money that is raised will go to support local food pantries, as well as provide food and growing supplies to the poor and hungry of the world. Over 1 bil-lion people are hungry in the world today and the goal of the Crop Walk this year is to raise $30,000, which would help thousands of hungry families.

This fall semester we have three Shawnee students who are studying abroad at our sister universities. Jasmine Tilford (pictured right), and Ryan O’Donnell are studying this semester in Morocco. Our Moroccan sister university is called Al Akhawayn University, in the city of Ifrane, and is one of the most prestigious universities in Morocco. We also have 1 student studying in Germany this semester. Audrey Howard is studying at the University of

Ludwigsburg. Until 1918, Ludwigsburg was

part of the kingdom of Wurttemburg. The principal royal palace of Wurttemburg is still in the heart of Ludwigsburg and is said to be one of the most beautiful palaces

in Europe. We want to wish all our SSU students abroad a fun and safe semester.

Trust me, the memories

you make while abroad

will stay with you

forever.

KARLA BROWN, MOROCCO

2008

MEET THE

INTERNATIONALS

From left bottom. El Mehdi Rahoui from

Morocco, Eric Allou from Ivory Coast,

Alina Dashkevich from Russia, Cemil

Guezel from Germany, Lusine

Tovmasyan from Armenia, Nida Zafar

from Pakistan, Rita Haider CIPA Director,

Alexandra Martinez from Honduras,

Huang Xueping and Li Jingxuan from

China, Ellen Berry CIPA Associate, Maria

Sanz-Taus from Spain, Anna Shchetinina

from Russia, Ali Noordin from Kenya,

Hala Akoushli from Syria, Marina Garcia

Marcos from Spain, Julia Schirholz, from

Germany, Eugenia Neaga from Spain,

Emma Sun from China, Clement Allou

from Ivory Coast, Raffaele Tufano from

Italy, Joseph Webster from England,

Sam Garcia from Philippines, Inna

Tarzhinskaya from Turkmenistan,

Oleksandr Vovk from Ukraine.

Sending SSU Out Into the World

International Mentor Program

Here at SSU we do our best to make sure that our international stu-

dents are well adjusted to this new environment. The International

Mentor Program has become one of our most successful efforts to-

ward that goal. All of our international students are paired with a lo-

cal student, who shows them the ropes around here. The pair work

together and plan trips, events, and all types of activities. The local

student also gets to have the experience of spending time with some-

one from a different culture who may have a totally different way of

thinking. The International Mentor Program helps both students to

learn new things about each other, and usually they end up learning

more about themselves.

Internationals Learn about “Real” Football

The Portsmouth High School Spartans football program gave a lesson to several

international students, teaching them about American football. In the internation-

al world their football is our soccer and our football is called American football.

Soccer is the dominant sport in almost every nation in the world, and most of our

international students have never even seen an American football game. The

coaches at PHS took the students out on the field and taught them the basics of

America’s game. The next day many students went to the PHS Spartans game

and got to see our sport in action.

International Week

On November 14th through the 18th, we will be having our annual International Week. We have

a great deal of activities and fun planned for that week—all with an international theme. Come

and experience the different cultures and ideas that make our world go round. You will have an

opportunity to meet all the international students and other people who are interested in all things

international. You’ll find games, an international meal, poetry and much more. So come and

experience the world right here in Portsmouth, Ohio.

Tecumseh

The SSU international students enjoyed another unique experience of

American and Southern Ohio culture when they traveled to Chillicothe to

see the outdoor drama Tecumseh. These students had no exposure to Na-

tive American culture prior to their coming to the states, and this show

was certainly something they will remember. Tecumseh was a great hero

to all Native Americans and his contribution to the history of the United

States and to Ohio was vast. Being able to learn about his life and impact

was a great insight to some of our rich local culture.