International Culture Night took audience on a world tour 鈥� without leaving campus
by Neil Harvey
April 04, 2024
Nearly 200 guests got an opportunity to sample music, dance and cuisine from widely
ranging parts of the globe at this year鈥檚 International Culture Night, a banquet and
variety show held March 16 at Kyle Hall.
The event was coordinated by the McGlothlin Center for Global Education and Engagement
(MCGEE), with President Bret Danilowicz and Provost Bethany Usher among the 175 spectators.
鈥淲e鈥檙e thrilled to see so many people from different backgrounds here tonight,鈥� Ismael
Betancourt, assistant provost for Global Education and Engagement, told the audience
at the top of the festival. It was the first International Culture Night to be held
since before the pandemic.
鈥淚 hope we all feel a sense of belonging and unity, which is the essence of our event,鈥�
added Betancourt, who is also Radford鈥檚 chief global officer.
Before the show began, guests enjoyed a buffet of dishes from China, India, Japan, Spain and the Middle East.
The live program that followed featured 11 acts 鈥� Brazilian standards on guitar; a
demonstration of the contemplative practice of taiji from Japan; dancers and musicians
presenting an array of routines and songs from China; an exhibition of Korean K-pop;
the Radford Percussion Ensemble鈥檚 rendition of 鈥淲atercolor Sun鈥� by Mexican-American
composer Ivan Trevino, and a sampling of North American music, including bluegrass.
It also presented a traditional Nepalese dance number performed by freshman international
student Garima Pokharel, who co-hosted the event alongside Betancourt.
鈥淚t鈥檚 important for people to see such diversity, and important for people to feel
other cultures and embrace them,鈥� Betancourt said. 鈥淚 think it fosters understanding
and respect.鈥�
Pokharel, who is studying computer science, closed out the evening by bidding the
audience a multilingual farewell 鈥� in English, Spanish, French, Mandarin Chinese,
Nepali and Hindi.
鈥淭hank you once again to everyone, and we look forward to seeing you again next year,鈥�
Pokharel said to the crowd, adding: 鈥淎dios! Au revoir! Zai jian! Pheri Bhetaula! Alavida!鈥�
MCGEE offers services and support to incoming international students as well as those
interested in studying abroad, engaging in international initiatives. It also handles
passport services and coordinates English as a second or foreign language instruction.
Radford currently has about 65 international students, but Betancourt hopes to ultimately raise that number.
鈥淚t takes a while, but hopefully it will grow,鈥� he said. 鈥淢y goal is to actually have
about 250 international students at the university.鈥�
He also hopes to broaden the spectrum of countries represented at future International Culture Nights.
鈥淲e would like to see even more diversity next year 鈥� possibly from Africa or France
鈥� but people who attended this year loved it; they had a lot of fun,鈥� he said.
For their various efforts, Betancourt also thanked the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures, the Department of Dance, the Department of Music and the Citizen Leader program, as well as Radford鈥檚 international students, student volunteers and Fraternity and Sorority Life.