Friday marked the 9th night of one of TWC's most celebrated events: the Spring 2013 International Festival. This semester, interns enjoyed a series of activities hosted by TWC's Student Services and International Team including:
- Information tables: students learned about each participating international country and were offered samples of delicious international cuisine
- Dinner buffet
- Fashion show: students modeled their country's traditional garb
- Talent show: students showcased performances from their countries with live music
- Disc Jockey: students enjoyed music from around the world and ended the night with a dance party in TWC's Blinken Auditorium
The goal of every International Festival is to allow students, who come to D.C. for the semester from around the world, with an opportunity to represent the best parts of their cultures while simultaneously immersing domestic students in traditions they may not otherwise be able to experience. TWC has over 130 international students enrolled this semester alone, making up over 30% of this spring's enrollment. Over 10 countries participated in the event including:
- Belgium
- Brazil
- Canada
- China
- India
- Japan
- Mexico
- Puerto Rico
- South Korea
- Taiwan
TWC welcomed back 3 alumni who were asked to judge samples of different international cuisine during the first event of the night: the information tables. All of the judges came from a diversity of backgrounds, territories and countries when they themselves spent their semester interning in D.C. The alumni judges included:
Antonio Salmeron (Puerto Rico)
Budget Analyst for Department of Veteran Affairs
Cordova Program, Fall 2006
Sacred Heart University
Christian De La Medina Soto (Mexico)
Investment Policy and Promotion Specialist, International Finance Corporation of the World Bank Group
Consultant for Moarbes LLP
Governor’s Program, Fall 2009
Gobierno del Estado de Veracruz
Jason McKay (Canada)
Business Analyst, World Bank Institute
International Affairs, Summer 2008
University of Calgary
Together, the judges awarded Mexico with first place in the "Best Cuisine of the Night" category for their spectucular delicacies such as rajas, enchiladas made with chocolate mole, homemade guacamole and shredded chicken cooked with chorizo. India came in second place, closely followed by Puerto Rico and China, who tied for third.
The end of the night was filled with talent show performances and a night of dancing to international mixes and music. Talent show performances included:
- "Swing de Camp Grande" performed by Brazilian interns Mariana Amaral and Joao Pedro Roth
- "El Conde de Loiza/Aguanile/Pegate" performed by Puerto Rican students Gilmari Blass, Armando Candelaria, Luis Gonzalez, Mariela Martinez, Solymar Medina, Javier Mendez, Evaristo Pineda, Mireilys E. Rameriz, John Ross, Christopher Toledo and Luis Valdes
- "Last Saskatchewan Pirates" performed by Canadian interns Miriam Muller and Taylor Yee
- "Como Me Duele" performed by Mexican interns Jocelyn Cruz and Pepe Jamaica
- "Garota de Ipanema" performed by Brazilian intern Mariana Amaral
- "SAKURA" performed by Japanese interns Shun Fujioka and Mai Kotagiri
- "Ai Se Eu Te Pego" performed by Brazilian interns Mariana Amaral, Michael Dantas, Victoria Hofig, Tacio Lobo, Gabriela Miranda and Joao Pedro Roth
- "Arirang" performed by South Korean students Seungmin Bea, Chong Kyung Kim, Eunwon Kim, Jun Youp Lee, Ju-Yeong Shin and Byung Chul Song
- "En Mi Viejo San Una" performed by Puerto Rican student Solymar Medina
- "Chinese Carnival" performed by Chinese interns Minjie Cai, Ya Gao, Yu Li, Yuting Lu and Wei Wei
- "El Rey" performed by Mexican interns David Bueno, Jesus Fernandez, Jose Galvez, Pepe Jamaica, Diana Pina, Fernando Tirado and Diana Vazquez
- "Dance" performed by Indian interns Madhumitha Mani, Swathy Reddy, Sangamitra Sankaraiah and Harini Swaminathan
- "Tell Me/Trouble Maker/Gangnam Style" performed by South Korean interns Seungmin Bea, Eunwon Kim, Jun Youp Lee, Ju-Yeong Shin and Byung Chul Song
TWC loves celebrating the cultural diversity of its students and is looking forward to celebrate the 10th International Festival this Fall 2013!
