Global Studies and Geography and Get Global Co-Host Norwegian Diversity Dinner
On Tuesday, May 7th, Get Global and the Department of Global Studies and Geography hosted the End of Semester party and Norwegian Diversity Dinner as a joint effort. Students from Get Global and Mu Kappa had decorated our lounge area with streamers and Norwegian flags, and made a fact sheet about Norway that was put on each table. Students, faculty, and staff enjoyed a hot buffet which included Norwegian style meatballs, roasted carrots, and potatoes, as well as a dessert of fruit, cookies, and cakes celebrating our graduating seniors.
Dr. Janer welcomed everyone and announced the winner of the Inaba Memorial Scholarship for the 2019-2020 school year, Alena Clark, who is a Global Studies and Anthropology major with Geography and Chinese minors. Attendees had the pleasure of listening to four speakers who were all born in Norway: Felix Smith Halle, Mie Hoff, Marcus Lindqvist, and our department’s own Dr. Jensen. All three of the student speakers play sports here at Hofstra; Mie is a basketball player and Felix and Marcus play soccer. The student speakers discussed their experiences as international students including the differences between schools here versus in Norway, the weather and temperature differences between Norway and New York, and how they have less fast food establishments there than here. They also mentioned that, culturally, Norwegian students and teachers have a more relaxed and friend-like relationship where both get to know each other really well and become almost like family, whereas here in the U.S., we’re more formal with how a teacher/professor should be addressed. Dr. Jensen talked about her personal experience in dealing with the American school system when she moved here with her husband and daughter, and she also discussed the political and social differences between the two countries. Students got to listen and engage with all of the speakers and asked many questions. Everyone had a great time and got to taste the culture of Norway and learn more about it in the process!
Visit our Flickr page to view additional photos from the dinner.
