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Estela says...
"[...] What I did is just being myself"
As a first experience with the MIC, I didn't know what to expect. Yet, from the moment when we started to introduce ourselves I had the impression that it was going to be challenging but certainly a great experience and lots of fun getting to know cultures and people.
The speakers and the organizers were all very prepared, intelligent, enthusiastic and opened to learn and share cultures and life stories. Now I know how an Indian sari is difficult to wear but at the same time amazing, how to wear a Nepali scarf, how Colombia is such a beautiful country with lots to see and many famous people, how in Mexico time cannot be bought with money, how to wear the headdress in Nigeria etc. etc. But the greatest reward would come from the enthusiasm of students and their teachers. I saw in them the same curiosity that I had when I first came to US. The same simple and interesting questions.
I cannot describe the feeling when a student wanted to learn steps of an Albanian traditional dance, or when some would come at the end for a picture, or when this girl gave me her drawing of a snowman because I saw snow for the first time only here in Minnesota.
The experience would not have been as perfect without the host families that hosted and organized a memorable potluck for us. It was tiring yes, but if at the end of it somebody would have asked me to start another two days adventure with the MIC I could not have said no.
"Thank you so much for bringing the world to us," were the words of a teacher in the 5 Lakes Elementary School but what I did is just being myself: Estela Shabani, a19 years old from Albania who learned a lot and felt very happy.
By Estela Shabani — An ICC speaker from Albania and student of Macalester College
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This story is a personal essay authored by Estela Shabani, an ICC international speaker. The Minnesota International Center is not responsible for any and/or all parts of its content. The opinions and comments expressed in this article are not the opinions and comments of the Minnesota International Center or its staff.
Copyright 2007. Minnesota International Center | www.micglobe.org
Founded in 1953 as a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, the Minnesota International Center is dedicated to supporting Minnesota’s growing interest and involvement in the world. Our mission is to inspire our community to understand global issues and cultures in an ever changing world.
MIC does this by providing international education opportunities to open global doors for our community, allowing the people of Minnesota and visitors from around the world to meet - both formally and informally - and learn about and from one another.
Each of MIC’s four program areas endeavors to organize and facilitate learning experiences for children and adults alike. Activities range from formal lectures to small group discussions to mealtime conversation, and occur on-site in K-12 classrooms, the workplace, homes and the community.
In 2006-07, MIC organized in excess of 1,700 activities involving more than 35,000 participants from 120 countries.
Online at www.micglobe.org.