Intercultural Center resumes Global Community Hours

Bryant’s international students to teach the Bryant community about their home countries.

Have you ever wanted to learn more about Chinese customs and traditions? How about Ireland or New Zealand?

The Bryant community will once again have the opportunity to learn more about these countries from Bryant’s international students as part of the Intercultural Center’s Global Community Hour (GCH) series.

The spring semester program will resume on Wednesday, February 13, at noon in the Bryant Center’s Papitto Room as Yueying Jiang ’10 (Beijing), Zhengxiang Wang ’10 (Shanghai), and Mary Ye ’09 (Oakland, ME) discuss their home country of China.

Zhengxiang Wang '10

The students will talk about the history of their country, explain Chinese traditions, and compare and contrast the cultures of the United States and China. Participants will also have the chance to sample authentic Chinese cuisine.

The GCH series will continue on Wednesday, March 19, at noon as Alan Waters ’08 (Clinton, MA) and Paul Reilly, assistant director of undergraduate advising, speak about Ireland.

While Waters was born in the United States, he and his family have visited Ireland several times to learn more about their ancestry.

“I believe that all students should have an understanding of their family background and heritage,” says Waters, a management concentrator.

Alan Waters '08

Programs at Bryant like Latino Heritage Month, Black History Month, and the day-long Chinese New Year celebration help students appreciate different cultures and encourage them to learn more about their backgrounds, he says.

“People should be proud of where they have come from and take time to understand who they really are,” says Waters.

Reilly, born and raised in Ireland, came to the United States in 1998 to attend college. His wife, Stephanie, Bryant’s cross country and track and field coach, is also originally from Ireland.

“Ireland is quite similar to the United States in many ways,” he says.

Paul Reilly

As someone with experience studying in a country far from home, Reilly understands the challenges faced by international students. He encourages them to utilize Bryant’s best resources: its faculty and staff.

“They can be very helpful in easing your transition to a new educational environment,” he says.

The spring semester GCH series will conclude on Wednesday, April 9, at noon as Carly Warland ’10 introduces the community to her home country of New Zealand.

Bryant has quickly become a home away from home for Warland.

“I felt a sense of community when I visited the campus,” she says. “I didn’t want to be just another number. I wanted to be recognized as an individual, and Bryant offered that to me.”

Carly Warland '10

She tells prospective students that the University offers a wide variety of opportunities to help them reach their goals.

“Professors are friendly, approachable, and want each student to be successful,” she says. “Students are positive, outgoing and involved in many different activities on campus. We take the initiative to better ourselves as well-rounded people for life after college.”

To learn more, read about the fall semester Global Community Hours.

An RSVP to the Intercultural Center is requested by the Monday before each scheduled event.