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.
Monday
The Festival begins Monday, Feb. 9, with a showing of “SuperVolcanoes” at 10:10 a.m. in the Carr-Fles Planetarium. At 2 p.m., the BBC documentary “Ring of Fire” featuring Kodiak brown bear, vodka fish soup and more, will be shown in the Blue and Gold Room. The film will be followed by a discussion hosted by MCC’s Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. That evening, the attention turns to MCC’s Overbrook Art Gallery, where Saritdikhun Somasa’s exhibit “Nagas” depicts snakes in Buddhist folklore. A reception takes place from 6:30-7 p.m. in the lobby. At 7 p.m., the artist will discuss his work in Stevenson Center Room 1100.
Tuesday
On Tuesday, Feb. 10, MCC geology students in Amber Kumpf’s class will offer a poster session entitled “Meet the Volcanoes of the Pacific Rim” at 10:15 a.m. in Collegiate Hall. The “BBC documentary “Ring of Fire,” featuring the Forbidden Purple City and psychic surgery, will be shown at 12:30 p.m. in the Blue and Gold Room. From 2-3 p.m. in the same room, Kathy Tosa and Chef Zac Falor will offer “A Taste of Culture – Sample the South Pacific.” From 6:30- 7 p.m. in the Blue and Gold Room, a reception with Indonesian appetizers will be held prior to the 7 p.m. talk, “Living with Volcanoes and Earthquakes in Indonesia” by MCC adjunct instructor of geology Tami Enberg.
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.
Thursday
On Thursday, Feb. 12, an annual favorite, “Folktales and Fun,” will be presented from 1-3 p.m. in Collegiate Hall for youngsters by MCC students in the Children Literature class. The film “Ring of Fire” featuring a tea plantation and Borneo will be shown at 2:30 p.m. in the Blue and Gold Room. David Takitaki, an MCC adjunct instructor, will offer “Life on the South Pacific Island of Tonga” from 3:30-4:30 p.m. and again from 7-8 p.m. A reception with appetizers from the South Pacific from 6:30- 7p.m.
Friday
The festival concludes on Friday, Feb. 13, with a showing of “Ring of Fire,” featuring emerald mining and medicinal gardening, at 10:30 a.m. in the Blue and Gold Room.
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.