Bringing the world to Ohio State

            John Greisberger, director of International Education at Ohio State, said International Week is important for everyone at Ohio State.

            “International Week provides students, who may be considering traveling or studying abroad, an opportunity to learn more about another country,” Greisberger said. “It also allows our international students the opportunity to share their cultures, food and entertainment with the entire community.”

Events include:

APRIL 30 -- 2^nd Annual Wolfe Study Abroad Scholar Luncheon, 11:45 to 1:15 p.m., Faculty Club Grand Lounge, 181 S. Oval Mall. This event is by invitation only.

            -- Global Health Forum brown bag lunch, noon to 1:30 p.m., Frank W. Hale Black Cultural Center, 153 W. 12^th Ave. Speakers include: Walter Hull, professor in Ohio State’s College of Medicine and Public Health; M. Moneim El-Zawahry, consultant on medicine and public health and former World Health Organization Senior Health Advisor; and Sophia Kamp, former Peace Corps Health Volunteer in Niger. The event will be moderated by Frank Banks, faculty emeritus of the College of Medicine and Public Health.

            -- Travel Smart, 2:30 to 4 p.m., 122 Oxley Hall, 1712 Neil Ave. The event focuses on travel safety, the best ways to travel for less and more. Each student who attends will receive a coupon for $5 off the purchase of a EURAIL Pass.

            -- International Recognition and Awards Program, 4 to 5 p.m., 101A Oxley Hall. Faculty, staff, students and community volunteers will be recognized for their significant contributions to the university’s international activities.

            -- Turkish Women from a Business Perspective, 4:30 to 5:30 p.m., 309 Campbell Hall, 1787 Neil Ave. 

MAY 1 -- International Studies open house for prospective majors, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., 3086 Derby Hall, 154 N. Oval Mall. Students with an interest in pursuing a major, minor or certificate of study in International Studies can learn more about courses offered in this area.

            -- Emerging Markets in China brown bag lunch, noon to 1:30 p.m., Hale Center. Stephen Hills, associate professor in the Fisher College of Business and coordinator of the Peace Corps Masters International Program, and the MBA student team will talk about their recent research trip to China.

            -- Survival to Surplus: Creating Livelihood Strategies Among Women in Porto Novo, Benin brown bag lunch, 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m., 101A Oxley Hall. Jennifer Mandel, Ohio State’s Department of Geography, will lead the discussion.

            -- Chinese Lion Dance and Martial Arts Demonstration, 12:15 to 12:45 p.m. on the Oval. Wah Lum Kung Fu & Tai Chai of USA in cooperation with Ohio State’s East Asian Studies Center will perform. In the event of rain, the demonstration will be moved to 12:15 to 12:45 p.m., May 3 on the Oval.

            -- Travel Europe on a budget, 3 to 5 p.m., Hale Center. Learn how to find inexpensive flights to Europe and how to use the European Rail Pass system. A rail pass and backpack will be raffled off.

            -- Coming to America: U.S. 101, 7:30 to 8:30 p.m., Blackburn Lobby, 120 W. Woodruff Ave. A cultural exchange between Ohio State’s international and American students, this will be a panel/audience discussion moderated by the Blackburn Complex Resident Advisers. Refreshments will be served.

MAY 2 -- Cultural Diversity in International Development through the Peace Corps, noon to 1:30 p.m., Hale Center. John Fleming, former Peace Corps volunteer and director of the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center in Cincinnati will lead a discussion along with other returned Peace Corps volunteers. Soul Food Luncheon will be served. Lunch tickets are $5 and can be purchased at the Hale Center from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on May 1.

            -- U.S. Student Fulbright Program overview, 3 to 3:30 p.m., 122 Oxley Hall. Students will learn about the program and can get application materials and have questions answered. The program is open to graduating seniors (June 2002) and graduate students.

            -- U.S. Fulbright application writing workshop, 3:30 to 5 p.m., 122 Oxley Hall.

            -- Book reading and discussion, 4:30 to 6 p.m., Kuhn Honors & Scholars House, 220 W. 12^th Ave. Journalist and novelist P.F. Kluge, writer in residence at Kenyon College and contributing editor of the National Geographic Traveler, will talk about his time in and the books he wrote about the Peace Corps.

            -- Global Fitness Groove, 5:15 to 7 p.m., Larkins Hall Exhibition Gym, 337 W. 17^th Ave. Participate in a Buck-I-Robics class featuring Capoiera (Brazilian martial arts), African Dance and Latin Rhythms. The class is free and includes free food and drinks.

MAY 3 -- OSU study abroad open house, noon to 3 p.m., 101A Oxley Hall. Visit the Office of International Education and learn more about opportunities to study and work abroad.

            -- The Organization for Study Abroad Alumni (OSAA) bake sale, noon to 3 p.m., entrance of Oxley Hall.

            -- Latin America: Poverty Alleviation and NAFTA brown bag lunch, noon to 1:30 p.m., Hale Center. Jerry Ladman, associate provost for the Office of International Affairs; Douglas Southgate, professor of agricultural economics; and Russell Stone, former Peace Corps Volunteer in Guatemala, will be the speakers.

            -- Financing study abroad, 3 to 4 p.m., 122 Oxley Hall. Learn about funding sources for financing educational opportunities abroad.

            -- Teaching opportunities in Asia, 4 to 5 p.m., 101A Oxley Hall. Hear about teaching opportunities in Japan through the Japan Exchange Teaching (JET) Program and the Ohio Saitama English Teaching (OSET) Program.  Also, get an overview of Peace Corps assignments in Nepal, China, the Philippines, Mongolia and Bangladesh.

            -- Foreign Service Careers: U.S. Diplomatic Corps, 5 to 6 p.m., 122 Oxley Hall. J. Michael Houlahan, a retired Foreign Service Officer, will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of a Foreign Service Career.  Information on applying and on taking the Foreign Service Exam also will be available. 

            -- A sampling of Middle East culture and cuisine, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., Hale Center. Get a taste of Middle Eastern dishes along with information on ingredients and cultural significance. The Peace Corps also will have an exhibit of opportunities in Morocco and Jordan.

MAY 4 -- Parade of Nations, 11 a.m., assembly at the Wexner Center for the Arts, 1871 N. High St; 11:30 a.m. parade leaves for the Hale Center. Former Peace Corps volunteers of Ohio will celebrate 40 years of the Peace Corps by carrying host-country flags through the Oval, from Wexner Center for the Arts to the Frank W. Hale Black Cultural Center.

            -- Peace Corps’ 40^th Anniversary: Accomplishments and New Initiatives, noon to 1 p.m., Hale Center. Acting Peace Corps Director, Charles Baquet III and Gov. Bob Taft, former volunteer in Tanzania (1963-65), will talk about their experiences and the importance of the Corps.

            -- Investment Basics, 4 to 5 p.m., 122 Oxley Hall. This seminar, lead by Steve Roush, Banc One Securities, will help students learn more about ways to invest money to make money in the United States.

            -- Former and prospective Peace Corps volunteers reception, 5 to 6:30 p.m., Faculty Club Grand Lounge. This event is by invitation only.

MAY 5 -- Conference on environmental issues and development in Africa, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., University Plaza Hotel, 3110 Olentangy River Road. Discussion topics will include: Indigenous Environmental Conservation Practices; Water Resources and Water Quality; Agriculture, Sustainable Development & the Environment; Toxic Waste Dumping; and Environmental Policies & Institutions. For further information contact the African Studies Center, (614) 292-8169.

            -- Concert of Arab classical and folk music, 8 to 9:30 p.m., 100 Independence Hall Auditorium, 1923 Neil Ave. The Ali Jihad Racy Ensemble presents Mystical Legacies. Professor Ali Jihad Racy, internationally known ethnomusicologist from UCLA, and his musical group will perform.

-- International music and dance, 8 to 11 p.m., Galbraith Pavilion, downtown Columbus next to the Ohio Theatre. In celebration of Peace Corps 40th Anniversary, the event will feature live music of Yumbambe, performing popular Afro-Cuban and jazz style music. Cash bar and snacks will be available. Tickets are $7 presale.