The International Student Council and the Office of International Affairs organized an annual event titled “International Homecoming Celebration” on Oct. 20th in the Student Center Ballroom.

“International Homecoming Celebration” gives international students the opportunity to showcase their home country and cultures. This event gives attendees the opportunity to learn more about the world and make new connections, according to their website.

“I hope students walk away from this event with new knowledge, new friends, and a sense of being valued for their differences and unique perspectives,” said Ashton Leigh, a director of the Office of International Student Affairs.

During the event, each country hosted a table about their home countries, including showing traditional clothes, dancing, performing and offering free food from different home countries.

Attendees visited different countries at the tables with a fake “passport,” for which they received a stamp from each country they visited. 

“International Homecoming Celebration” is a great opportunity to build connections and learn about different cultures and traditions we have not known before, Leigh said.

“This is an important event because we have a truly global community here at Kent State with students from 102 countries,” Leigh said. “At events like this, we get to celebrate that community and come together to learn from and support one another.”

There were 22 countries signed up for the International Homecoming this year, said Ogulkeyik Hudayberdiyeva, president of ISC and a sophomore communication studies major.

“I like to talk about Costa Rica to people,” said Giovanni Villalobos Herrera, a doctoral student and computer science major from Costa Rica. “It is important because we share our country with others and have fun in the meantime.”

Yui Kaichi is a reporter. Contact her at [email protected].

Michael Neenan is a TV2 Reporter. Contact him at [email protected].