The Multicultural Awareness Club at Stanly Community College met in late August to elect officers and share with students interested in membership. The offices are as followed:
President: Neal Hatley
Vice President: Kristi Walker
Secretary: Sam Shepherd
Treasurer: Kasey Blankenship
Interested club members attended the 2010 Greek Festival at the Greek Orthodox Church in Charlotte. Members witnessed cultural dances, ate some delicious Greek food (the kind you can't pronounce), and peaked a little into the Greek Orthodox traditions and worship styles.
Also, MAC has discussed various activities for the 2010 SCC Fall Fest and will meet soon to finalize these ideas. Here's a sneak peak into our ideas: Big diapers and texting! These are subject to change! Fall Fest is on October 20th this year and we look forward to seeing everyone come out, participate, and support the clubs at Stanly Community College!
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Friday, November 13, 2009
Why should you come with us to Querétaro?
Testimonial 1
During the summer of 2006, Stanly Community College ventured out to offer its first study abroad immersion trip to Oaxaca, Mexico. Only having been abroad once to an English-speaking European country, I was excited to partake in a trip to a country in which the official language was different from our own (and I only spoke bits and pieces of the Spanish language). To this day, that trip to Oaxaca is my most memorable experience away from home and a place that I plan to revisit soon.
Growing up in a small southern town to parents and even grandparents who have never been out of the country, hardly even out of the town and state in which they live, I had been "blessed" with certain narrow-minded opinions of Mexico and their people. I recall my grandparents on numerous occasions questioning "why would you want to leave this country? It's dirty down there. It's unsafe..." And their negative mentalities carried on. However, the experience was such a mind-opening positive influence on my own life. It was a culture shock in a very positive way.
Things are different in Oaxaca. The food was hands down the freshest and tastiest food I've ever eaten--even the chapulines (grasshoppers lightly toasted with chili, lime and garlic)! The school that we attended for a couple hours a day connected me with my intercambio, Adrian--a young Mexican native who took a taxi 40 minutes each day from a neighboring town to meet with me for an hour to really compare cultures and learn all of the slang phrases and cool things to do that a textbook and teacher cannot teach. I still exchange emails with this guy who was gracious enough to welcome me into his country and show me all of the cool nooks and crannies that Oaxaca had to offer. Everything about it was so wonderful that I honestly did not want to return home.
Two years later a buddy of mine had the same chance through SCC to visit Oaxaca. What I told him that I continue to tell anyone who is open-minded enough to venture out of his comfort zone is what Oaxaca taught me: Please, please, please go! The trip really opened my eyes to a different lifestyle and a different people. There is something so exciting about other cultures. I learned so much of myself by taking that trip. I feel as if people--especially like some of my relatives who have never been away--become very comfortable in their own little worlds and that is a true misfortune. The world is gigantic! It has so much to offer! And these poor people will never know about it because they are too set in their ways and too afraid to challenge themselves and their mindsets to see what is outside of their comfort zones! I continued on with school to graduate with a degree in Spanish--a degree that enlightened me by broadening my own horizons, as well as teaching me a completely different language so that I am now fortunate enough to be able to communicate with Spanish-speaking people who reside in our own country and can offer me a perspective different from the narrow-minded one in which I was raised. GO TO OAXACA!!!
During the summer of 2006, Stanly Community College ventured out to offer its first study abroad immersion trip to Oaxaca, Mexico. Only having been abroad once to an English-speaking European country, I was excited to partake in a trip to a country in which the official language was different from our own (and I only spoke bits and pieces of the Spanish language). To this day, that trip to Oaxaca is my most memorable experience away from home and a place that I plan to revisit soon.
Growing up in a small southern town to parents and even grandparents who have never been out of the country, hardly even out of the town and state in which they live, I had been "blessed" with certain narrow-minded opinions of Mexico and their people. I recall my grandparents on numerous occasions questioning "why would you want to leave this country? It's dirty down there. It's unsafe..." And their negative mentalities carried on. However, the experience was such a mind-opening positive influence on my own life. It was a culture shock in a very positive way.
Things are different in Oaxaca. The food was hands down the freshest and tastiest food I've ever eaten--even the chapulines (grasshoppers lightly toasted with chili, lime and garlic)! The school that we attended for a couple hours a day connected me with my intercambio, Adrian--a young Mexican native who took a taxi 40 minutes each day from a neighboring town to meet with me for an hour to really compare cultures and learn all of the slang phrases and cool things to do that a textbook and teacher cannot teach. I still exchange emails with this guy who was gracious enough to welcome me into his country and show me all of the cool nooks and crannies that Oaxaca had to offer. Everything about it was so wonderful that I honestly did not want to return home.
Two years later a buddy of mine had the same chance through SCC to visit Oaxaca. What I told him that I continue to tell anyone who is open-minded enough to venture out of his comfort zone is what Oaxaca taught me: Please, please, please go! The trip really opened my eyes to a different lifestyle and a different people. There is something so exciting about other cultures. I learned so much of myself by taking that trip. I feel as if people--especially like some of my relatives who have never been away--become very comfortable in their own little worlds and that is a true misfortune. The world is gigantic! It has so much to offer! And these poor people will never know about it because they are too set in their ways and too afraid to challenge themselves and their mindsets to see what is outside of their comfort zones! I continued on with school to graduate with a degree in Spanish--a degree that enlightened me by broadening my own horizons, as well as teaching me a completely different language so that I am now fortunate enough to be able to communicate with Spanish-speaking people who reside in our own country and can offer me a perspective different from the narrow-minded one in which I was raised. GO TO OAXACA!!!
Testimonial 2
The culture of Oaxaca, Mexico is not something that could be truly understood or felt from a picture in a textbook or from hearing the travels of someone else. You must be immersed into the country itself.
I felt the warmth of the water flowing from the mountains at Hierve el Agua and spoke with the locals who told me of the waters healing power as they made the yearly pilgrimage to swim in the pools that formed and flowed over the mountain forming large calcium deposit waterfalls. I tasted the local foods in the organic market, grown in gardens that served as home landscapes. The locals thrive with tradition of cooking on hand-forged grills that were passed down from their ancestors. I ate in the open air restaurant, where my fish was toasted in a mud oven. I can remember the smell and anticipation of the next course to arrive.
I visited the local markets that served as the only income for artisans who hand weave linens and clothing; each piece a timely work of art. I watched men carve alebriejas, and their wives and children intricately paint each one to be an original work of art. I spoke with professors at the university, who ignored my English and only answered with Spanish, to teach me how beautiful their language really is.
A picture cannot deliver the immensity of Monte Alban. Each rock was carried to the mountain from miles away to build an arctitectual village that is unexplainable without being on the grounds and seeing the size the stone and the time it consumed of their life. By walking on the ancient grounds and climbing the rock stairs to the top of the pyramids, my mind pondered about their life, skills and traditions. I visited tombs and could feel the history of their burials.
The hospitality and love of the people who wanted to share their home with me, preparing each meal as if it was a masterpiece, telling their stories of their ancestors and being with the people can only be obtained by being immersed in the culture.
Stanly Community College is so fortunate to have a program lead by Patricia Horner that truly gave me the full experience by using her knowledge and history of the Oaxacan culture.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
The Latino Festival of Charlotte
The MAC had a pretty good weekend. After the inaugural Madden Tournament turned out to be a bust, we made our way to the Latino Festival of Charlotte on Sunday. The atmosphere was not reflective of the gray skies that were overhead. If you closed your eyes and used you nose and ears, you very easily could have been at a taco stand on a busy Mexico City street, or you could have been at Merengue Club in the Dominican Republic. The smells and sounds that filled the air were excellent.
We saw several traditional performances on the upper stage. Even one of Stanly's very own was in on the celebration. Tequorra Green participated in the "Capoeira" presentation. She was awesome!! Nice job, Tequorra!!
We have had a lot of fun and learned even more in the process. We are still working on our trip to Querétaro, México this summer. The MAC wants you to join us in Mexico! In order to build an even stronger relationship with our sister college, UTÉQ, we would like to extend the invitation to participate in this summer's immersion program to everyone. However, if you can't make it, you can help our students by simply supporting the MAC. If you want to find out how you can do just that, email us at macscc@gmail.com.
Monday, September 28, 2009
This Semester's Schedule
These are the events planned thus far for the Stanly Community College Multicultural Awareness Club. If you would like to take part in any of the trips, please contact us at mac.scc@gmail.com.
October 10- Madden 2010 Tournament ($5 Registration)
October 11- Festival Latino (Southpark Mall, $5 Admission)
October 16- World Food Day
October 17- The 1st Annual MAC Ping-Pong Tournament (Webb Center)
November 1- Day of the Dead Celebration (Levine Museum of the New South, FREE)
November 18- Changing Places: From Black and White to Technicolor (Levine Museum)
December 1- World AIDS Day Information
The MAC would love to have the support of the entire SCC community, so come out support all of the student organizations and the hard work of their members.
October 10- Madden 2010 Tournament ($5 Registration)
October 11- Festival Latino (Southpark Mall, $5 Admission)
October 16- World Food Day
October 17- The 1st Annual MAC Ping-Pong Tournament (Webb Center)
November 1- Day of the Dead Celebration (Levine Museum of the New South, FREE)
November 18- Changing Places: From Black and White to Technicolor (Levine Museum)
December 1- World AIDS Day Information
The MAC would love to have the support of the entire SCC community, so come out support all of the student organizations and the hard work of their members.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Madden Tournament
The MAC will host a Madden 2010 Tourney to raise money for the cultural immersion program in Querétaro, México. If you are interested in playing you can sign up with any of the group members who have registration forms, or you can contact me. If you are interested in playing you must pay the $5 dollar registration fee at the time of registration. There will be food, cash prizes avaialble, as well as gift certificates to El Ranchito.
Pick up the Sticks!
Pick up the Sticks!
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Weekend Trips Planned for the MAC
All students, returning or new, are invited to travel with the MAC to visit several cultural festivals this fall. You don't have to travel very far to appreciate these rich, fascinating cultures. Each festival will highlight different aspects such as: traditional dance, music, attire, and (of course) food. Each festival will have plenty of crafts, arts, and gifts from each country for sale. Admission ranges from free to five dollars. Follow the following links to learn more about each festival. Transportation to and from each festival will be provided by the MAC.
La Fiesta del Pueblo: Aug 29
Festival of India: Sept 5
Yisaou Greek Festival: Sept 12
Festival Latino Americano: Oct 11
If you are interested in going with us or joining the MAC, join our facebook group or come to the interest meeting on Monday, Aug 24, in 213 Snyder Bldg.
La Fiesta del Pueblo: Aug 29
Festival of India: Sept 5
Yisaou Greek Festival: Sept 12
Festival Latino Americano: Oct 11
If you are interested in going with us or joining the MAC, join our facebook group or come to the interest meeting on Monday, Aug 24, in 213 Snyder Bldg.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Team Costa Rica Back Home
The three students studying in Costa Rica have made it home safely. Sra. Horner has once again led another successful study tour in a foreign land and the students had a great time. The SCC family welcomes them home and wishes to thank the folks in Costa Rica for opening up their own homes to our students.
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