By Kayla Pinnix
CCC Journalism Program
BLACKWOOD – The students of the CCC International Club will be putting on an International Day on April 19 to celebrate the different nations of the students who attend Camden County College.
International Day will be made up of 13 different countries, including Poland, Romania, India, Argentina, Chile, Jamaica, China, Morocco, Brazil, Nigeria, the U.K. and Germany. There will also be a U.S. table. Each country will have a table to display their culture featuring anything the participants choose from their country from artifacts to pictures to fashion. The first hour will feature these showcase tables and the second hour will be comprised of a show. There will be a magician, dancing and cuisine from each country. Every country showcased represents a country from which Camden County College has students.
Club President Paulina Kruszewski said the International Club is bigger than students realize. “People take classes here and don’t realize that in their class are about four or five students that are international.” With this event, the club hopes to reach out to all the students to bring awareness to how many countries are represented here.
“We’re hoping more American students will approach us,” Kruszewski stated She recalled one American student last year saying, “I don’t like Poland” and she didn’t understand how someone could say they don’t like a country to which they’ve never been.
This is just one event out of the year in which club members participate. Throughout the year they have participated in Habitat for Humanity activities and organized bowling days, Six Flags trips and movie nights. Secretary Cristina Poiata said the club also held a Halloween-themed event where the members told ghost stories from their countries.
The International club has a tight bond. They view their events more like friends hanging out rather than a club. Kruszewski described the club as “a fun club that’s friends with everyone” and “doesn’t stereotype or judge.”
International Day will take place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 19 in the Connecter Building at the Blackwood campus. It is free to attend and is open to the public. For more information, call 856-227-7200, ext. 4543.