From March 21st to April 1st, a multitude of new, friendly faces will be gracing Woodgrove with warm smiles for the International Summit. The International Summit is a unique experience where many international students from countries all across the globe fly in to enjoy a Loudoun County experience with their hosting families. With four students from each country attending, Woodgrove will be a bustling area of cultural activity.
The process of this cultural event is not simple. Once the Woodgrove students get assigned their international student, Woodgrove has a welcome party for the international students, also known as International Student Night, and an opening ceremony to celebrate the connectedness of the world. This year, Somalian guest speaker Abdi Iftin is attending the ceremony. With the guest speaker, the students will learn how to solve the refugee crisis globally, and gain a better understanding of situations occurring around the world. “[The international students] bring dishes that they want to share, they do presentations about their country, their culture,” shared Breanna Young, a senior host for German student Evelyn Rhein.
While the foreign students are staying in Loudoun County, they are given many opportunities to have fun while learning about the United States. Rhein, an international student from Germany, expressed her excitement about sightseeing in Washington D.C. on a school field trip. “The excursion to Washington is something I’m definitely excited for. I hope that I get to see the White House, as it’s such an important sightseeing attraction.”
While the foreign students are visiting Woodgrove, they will teach students about their country, culture, and language. Outside of school, the weekends are free days for the international students to spend time with host families. This allows the international students to get to know their American partner and their families on a deeper level.
The International Summit is an opportunity for both the American and international students to step out of their comfort zone and meet new people. Jacob Lenheart, a senior host for international student Nazar Manyzk, stated, “I think that it’s just a good way to kind of broaden your horizons. It’s cool to meet people from other countries outside of the US. We get to learn a lot about other cultures.”
In addition to the summit being an opportunity to create core memories with people from multiple cultures, it is also a chance for students to receive National Honor Society (NHS) hours. Students can sign up to host a student from a foreign country, whether or not they are a member of Social Science teacher Matthew Talboo’s International Relations class. Come March 21st, be on the lookout for the unfamiliar faces of international students roaming the halls. Give a wave, and be sure to say hello!