A view of the world, one hour at a time

By Nicole Yavasile

Since its inception in spring 1993 as a student project under the guidance of the director of international student services and programs Carol Munshower, the international coffee hour has continued to grant audiences a unique opportunity to learn more about the world.

At Fresno State, student program coordinator Farrokh Eizadi Boroujeni said about 750 international students represent more than 80 countries.

Every Tuesday at 2 p.m. in Rooms 312-314 of the University Student Union, international students give presentations about their countries, histories and cultures.

Boroujeni said the program is an ideal format for gaining insights into a foreign culture.

“Sometimes you never have a chance to learn about some things until you ask a student,” said Boroujeni, who is an international student from Iran. He opened the program this semester by talking about his Persian cultural values and traditions.

Boroujeni said sometimes audiences arrive with false impressions of a particular culture, based on stereotypes presented in the media.

“It’s amazing how people can change their minds,” he said about the impression students are left with after a presentation.

In his presentation Tuesday, Sae-Kit Lee, a business major from Malaysia, described the people of his country as having a “positive, outgoing spirit.” He also said his country is moving into the new century by establishing itself “as a progressive Islamic country.”

Program coordinator Katsuyo Howard said the international coffee hour not only benefits the community by promoting cultural awareness, but also the international students themselves because “they must put together their own perspective and the way in which they present” their country.