By Denise Lana,
More than 50 Luther College international students gathered in the campus’ Center for Faith and Life main hall Saturday Nov. 2 to perform in the International Students and Allies Association annual fashion show.
The event showcased cultural dance routines, vocal and musical performances and a student-involved spectrum performance. All funds raised through ticket sales and donations will be given to the Nuoi Em Initiative Raise the Children to provide impoverished Vietnamese communities with aid for education and healthcare.
“The theme is culture and heritage and modernity,” said Moliehi Seipati, Treasurer of ISAA. “We celebrate the cultures of where we come from and the foundations of our identities. We do this while still embracing the change that has happened over the past as we look forward to the future. In a world that is constantly evolving, it is important for us to remember and have a connection to our roots.”
Many students from around the globe modeled outfits which were modern but paid homage to tradition and heritage, while others performed modern songs and dances intermeshed with historically significance and rituals.
As part of the show, volunteer students participated in a spectrum performance during which thought-provoking questions were asked — the word “agree” was projected on the left side of the stage while “disagree” was projected on the right side with a neutral space in the center and indications of several varying degrees between each space. For example, participants were asked if English was a barrier to life at college — a question to which freshman Abdullah Ali from Pakistan heartily responded by moving to the far right of the stage.
“I have never stayed this far away from home and never spoke English 24/7,” Ali said. “It get’s tiring having to speak English 24/7 — sometimes you don’t have the energy to go out and communicate.”
Daniel Nnodim from Nigeria strongly disagreed with the same question, explaining his country has more than 300 languages and English is something of a neutral language.
“If we pick a domestic language, there is this feeling of superiority amongst each other, but with English, none of us are superior or inferior to the other — I am used to speaking English 24/7,” said Nnodim.
Most students indicated they had at some point changed their behavior to fit in. Ali was the lone participant standing to the far left of the stage under the word “disagree.”
“I don’t think changing for someone will help me,” said Ali, as the audience erupted in applause.
Most of the students indicated they had dealt with microagression — one student said she was once told she spoke English well for a foreigner and another said she was once asked if she came to America on a plane or if she swam.
Students were also asked if they feared being judged because of their skin color, accent or home country — among those who strongly agreed was Nnodim.
“Back home I am just a man, but in the U.S., I am a black man — I am aware I am a black man in the US,” he said. “To add to that, I am a Nigerian black man. There are lots of expectations, especially when you just want to go to school.”
As the event came to a close, all the international students gathered on the stage and danced in unison, smiling and laughing, holding hands and embracing one another as a variety of global music styles echoed through the auditorium.
“We all come from different backgrounds, different countries, different traditions,” said Pakistani student Sarab Aftab, vice president of ISAA. “The world is at war right now — a lot of our countries have economic and terrible conditions and are living through terrible times right now. What we are trying to do at Luther is bring our students from around the world and unite them on one stage and give them the opportunity to share their beautiful cultures and traditions, and that is what our goal for the fashion show is this year.”
More photos in the November 14 Decorah Leader.
“Back home I am just a man, but in the U.S., I am a black man — I am aware I am a black man in the US. To add to that, I am a Nigerian black man. There are lots of expectations, especially when you just want to go to school.” -Daniel Nnodim, international student from Nigeria. (Photo by Denise Lana)
“Back home I am just a man, but in the U.S., I am a black man — I am aware I am a black man in the US. To add to that, I am a Nigerian black man. There are lots of expectations, especially when you just want to go to school.”– Daniel Nnodim, international student from Nigeria
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