Basma Humadi, Staff Writer
Every year, the Mason community comes together to celebrate its notable diversity during International Week or iWeek.
This week of festivity represents the 130 countries in Mason’s student body.
iWeek 2016 started Friday, April 8, and will end Sunday, April 17, with the iWeek 7v7 Soccer Tournament.
iWeek began Friday, April 8, with the Mason iWeek Parade where hundreds of Mason students paraded around campus waving flags from different countries. The parade started at the Hub and ended at the Mason Clock Tower. It included a performance by UrbaKnowlogy 101, a hip-hop dance team, and ended with Mason students dancing to Silento’s Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae).
“I’ve been going to the parade since I was a freshman,” junior global affairs major Jasmin Humadi said. “I go to celebrate my country and see everyone else’s.”
On Monday, the Arab Student Association and Lebanese Student Association hosted Mediterranean Night: a night accompanied by hummus, grape leaves, shawarma, henna designs and Arab music. The event took place from 7-10 p.m. in Dewberry hall.
Monday is also when Mason kicked off its first annual International Film Festival, beginning with a screening of “Pan’s Labyrinth.” The festival showcased movies from places like Iran, Italy and Spain, ending on Wednesday with the Indian film “English Vinglish.”
On Tuesday, numerous cultural events took place, including “Taste of South Asia,” hosted by the South Asian Student Association; “Ga-ga Tournament,” hosted by the Israel Student Association; “K-pop Trivia,” sponsored by the University Libraries; “Turban Day,” hosted by the Sikh Student Association; “Polyglot,” sponsored by the Department of Modern and Classical Languages; and a celebratory “Zumba-thon” in the Johnson Center Bistro from 6-8 p.m.
On Wednesday, students headed to Dewberry Hall at 7 p.m. for the Cultural Couture Fashion Show, hosted by Mason’s Fashion Society. The show featured traditional wear from many different countries, showcasing patterns, colors and styles from all over the world.
The celebration has not ended yet. Students can stop by the International Week Bazaar until 2 p.m. Thursday in North Plaza. Students can also watch the International Dance Competition tonight, taking place from 7-9:45 p.m. at the Center for the Arts. This year’s participating teams in the dance competition include Chinese Dance, the Afghan Student Union, the Irish Dance Club, the Indian Student Association, the Nepalese Student Association, the Pakistani Student Association, the South Asian Student Association and UrbanKnowlogy 101.
Stay tuned for a full list of events happening this weekend in Fourth Estate’s weekly Weekend Suggestions, or check out the complete iWeek schedule from the Office of International Programs and Services.
“I love iWeek,” Humadi said. “Because you get to see celebrate all the cultures and their fun events. It’s the one of the funnest weeks at Mason that everyone looks forward to.”
