Some SUNY Broome students took a trip around the world this semester! They didn’t spend money on plane tickets. They simply attended the International Interchange.
During the first International Interchange meeting in 2019, a student named Fatima (BIO is below) stated something that inspired her ESL professor and facilitator of the International Interchange, Myriam Stanton, to also invite students from the Spanish class she was teaching. What resulted was a very enthusiastic group of American and international students interested in learning from each other’s experiences, thoughts, and concerns regarding life here in the U. S. and abroad.
Topics of conversation this semester included a student’s experience of growing up in rural Pennsylvania and another student’s experience growing up in Afghanistan. Students in the group also spoke about and shared photographs of their trips to Saudi Arabia and India. Opinions shared also included thoughts on what is the motivation behind happiness, what are the most beneficial priorities to have, as well as what advice students would give to adults and children nowadays. These students may not have created world peace, but they did create peace here on campus through these conversations and were blessed as a result.
Below, several past and present participants of the International Interchange share some tidbits about themselves and their thoughts on the International Interchange.
Mursal Arian
BIO:
“My name is Mursal Arian. I was born and raised in Afghanistan. I graduated from high school and got my bachelor’s degree in political science in Afghanistan, a country where girls and women have had no right to education for the last two years.”
What have you enjoyed about the International Interchange?
“I love meeting people from different backgrounds and seeing life from their point of view; international interchange is all about that. I enjoyed that we could discuss any topic and have different opinions about it while at the same time feeling heard, welcome, and respected.”
How has the International Interchange benefitted you and what have you learned through the conversations?
“It is a great place to meet students with different backgrounds and learn about their cultures. It is also an excellent way to improve oneself. Curiosity is encouraged in every meeting. Hearing other people’s stories makes me think about the life lessons I have learned. Also, learn from other students’ experiences.”
Pyre Henke
BIO:
“My name is Pyre (They/Them) and I live locally in a rural town called Little Meadows. I practice Norse Paganism, and I’m a huge history buff. I love antiques, and I play Dungeons and Dragons every Monday.”
What have you enjoyed about the International Interchange?
“It’s nice to have a place where I can talk about important topics with others, and everyone brings their own ideas to the table. I love to hear other people’s perspectives on life; it’s enlightening.”
How has the International Interchange benefitted you and what have you learned through the conversations?
“I feel a genuine connection with the regular attendees. The questions we’re asked are all looking for your opinion on life and how others interact with the world, and that opens everyone to have a conversation that goes beyond small talk. I’ve taken away many lessons about priorities, and how priorities are different depending on what you’ve been through and where you come from.”
Mark Holland
BIO:
“I’m from Owego, NY. I live on a farm and am a creative writer. I love cats.”
What have you enjoyed about the International Interchange?
“I’ve enjoyed the international interchange partly because it’s a low-pressure way of talking with peers. The discussions are fun and there’s a nice atmosphere.”
How has the International Interchange benefitted you and what have you learned through the conversations?
“The international interchange has benefited me in being more comfortable in group discussions. For what I’ve learned is mostly about experiences from others in the group.”
Fatima Zohra Larbi Daho Bachir
Fatima already graduated from SUNY Broome and graduated from Binghamton University this semester. She attended this group when it first began and made it back for occasional visits while attending BU.
BIO:
“Hi my name is Fatima. I am from Algeria and I immigrated to the United States in 2016. My interests are math, psychology and art. I love animals, especially cats and huskies.”
What have you enjoyed about the International Interchange?
“What I enjoyed about the International Interchange is the small community of people from diverse cultures and backgrounds where we can all share our thoughts and learn from one another.”
How has the International Interchange benefitted you and what have you learned through the conversations?
“The different topics and conversations that we have are always really interesting. They help me reflect on my thoughts even more, and listening to everyone else’s opinion broadens my perspective on life.”
Johanna Pilny
BIO:
“My name is Johanna and I’m from Endicott, NY. I’m an Engineering Science major at Broome and my favorite subjects are currently physics and Spanish! In my free time, I like to play classical piano (I’ve taken lessons for over 14 years!) and learn everything I can about synthesizers.”
What have you enjoyed about the International Interchange?
“I always appreciate when people from different backgrounds can get together and have a meaningful, open conversation. The International Interchange meetings provide a great space for this. Whether we’re discussing a deeper topic or just talking about our pets, we have a lot of fun. And we get to eat some great snacks!”
How has the International Interchange benefitted you and what have you learned through the conversations?
“I’ve never traveled very far outside the northeastern United States, let alone outside the country. So I love to hear travel stories and learn about different cultures, making notes of where I might want to travel when I get the chance! I’m especially interested in learning about languages and religions. I think it’s really important that we always work to broaden our horizons and find out as much about our world as we can.”
Tags: Diversity
