International Education Week (IEW) was established in 2000 as a joint initiative by the U.S. Departments of State and Education. Today it is celebrated in more than 100 countries worldwide.

This initiative is an effort to promote programs that prepare Americans for a global environment and attract international students to study, learn and exchange experiences in the United States. IEW also serves as an opportunity to commemorate the benefits of international education and provide students the opportunity to share their cultures through various activities during the week of Nov. 12-16.

St. Thomas will host several events for International Education Week for the campus community:

• Monday: Movie on the lawn, “Crossing Borders,” 7 p.m. in James B. Woulfe Alumni Hall, third floor, Anderson Student Center. Pillows are encouraged; free popcorn and soda will be served. “Crossing Borders” is an engaging documentary about Moroccan and American university students traveling through Morocco together and breaking down the barriers between the perceived Eastern and Western worlds.
• Tuesday: CultureLink Tea presentation featuring three Saudi students, 2-3 p.m. in Scooter’s, first floor, Anderson Student Center. UST International students from Saudi Arabia will talk about the culture and important aspects of their home country. This is a wonderful opportunity for the UST community to learn about Saudi Arabia. A native dish and tea will be served.
• Wednesday: IEW Soccer Tournament, noon-3 p.m., O’Shaughnessy Stadium. UST Undergraduate and graduate students, faculty and staff signed up to play in the world’s favorite pastime. They will play against their fellow Tommies and see which country will prevail. Water, hot chocolate and cider will be provided. Not the next David Beckham? Come out and cheer for the players instead.
• Thursday: International Fair 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Anderson Student Center, in Campus Way and The View. Enjoy music, crafts and food from around the world. Walk from table to table learning about different countries and cultures from fellow students. Complete the Tommie Passport for a chance to win great prizes.
• Friday: GMSA Culture Fest, 6-9 p.m., O’Shaughnessy Educational Center auditorium. Culture Fest is a fun-filled event that promotes international awareness throughout the UST community.

To promote International Education Week, T-shirts will be given out at noon Monday, Nov. 12, in the Anderson Student Center atrium. A variety of ethnic dishes will be served daily at T’s. (View the menu here.) The View will serve more options during the International Fair on Thursday, Nov. 15.

For more information visit the International Education Week website.

Medallion Hunt

Monday also starts a Medallion Hunt, a series of clues that students need to hunt down. There are four clues and each clue leads to the next one. Participants must collect all of them for a chance to win the prize of a $50 Tommie Shop Gift Card. The prizes will be given out at the International Fair on Thursday, Nov. 15.

Here’s the first clue:

We’re glad you’ll be helping to find
A medallion by using your wit and mind.
For at the end, your reward will be
A $50 Tommie card shopping spree.

Spanish, French, German and Japanese
All these languages are sure to please.
With the help of our tutors from overseas
You can learn all of these with ease.