Global Awareness Festival Feb. 9-12 Focuses on Pacific Rim

MCC’s 16th Annual Global Awareness Festival on Feb. 9-12 will focus on the Pacific Rim, a vibrant and dynamic economic and geographic area comprising over 48 percent of world trade, 58 percent of world GDP, and approximately 44 percent of the world’s population.

The Pacific Rim Region includes 44 independent nations along with Hong Kong, New Caledonia, and French Polynesia.

“In today’s ever-shrinking global society, understanding our international neighbors has never been more important,” says Katherine Tosa, director of international programs at MCC.

Each year, the Global Awareness Festival highlights a different geographic area of the world. The College hosts a series of activities, lectures and other events to bring awareness to that region’s population, culture, cuisine and political issues. All Global Awareness Festival events are free. For more information, call (231) 777-0376 or e-mail katherine.tosa@muskegoncc.edu.

Wednesday
On Wednesday, Feb. 11, the Global Topic Investigations will be held between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. in the Blue and Gold Room.  The presenters include: Alan Hinks, a senior hydrologist-geophysicist with West Shore Consulting, will address “Careers in Geology;” Jennifer Jones, an MCC education specialist, will speak about “Life Is Just a Luau;” Amber Kumpf, an MCC geologist and oceanographer, will offer “My Drilling Expedition to a Super Volcano;” and Doug Tosa, a cartographer and GIS specialist with the Alaska Center for the Environment, will present “Alaska on the Pacific Rim.” Check www.muskegoncc.edu/GAF as the event approaches for updates on the presentations and starting times.

Also on Wednesday, a series of events will happen from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Collegiate Hall. An Information Fair will offer visitors a variety of booths highlighting international opportunities for students to study and work abroad, as well as cultural differences around the world. The documentary “Ring of Fire,” featuring a crocodile farm and camel catching, will be shown and the opportunity to taste test international types of rice and salsa will be available.

From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Collegiate Hall,  Black Rice (Chinese), Brown Rice (Korean), will be served along with White Jasmin Rice, Mango-Pineapple Chutney, Mint Chutney, Corn and Tomatillo Salsa. The Bistro will be serving Apricot Chicken Casserole Meal for $7.50 starting at 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Continuing Events
Each day of the festival, international news coverage will be presented from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. in Collegiate Hall. The MCC Campus Food Service will be offering different international cuisine for purchase, international artifacts can be viewed in the Gerber Lounge display cases, and visitors can see more than 200 flags of different nations on display in the college’s hallways.