Flashback Friday 📸 ➡️ ~ International Students' Week

 This week was all about celebrating the cultures of the school’s international students. Even though I didn’t manage to attend every day’s activities, Thursday was the one I fully took part in — and it was an eye-opener in more ways than one.

The day began with an open discussion where people shared knowledge about different international cultures and traditions. Most of the conversations centered around African heritage, but the sheer variety still surprised me. I’ve always considered Nigeria to be the most culturally diverse nation in the world, but I couldn’t believe how wrong I was. Apparently, some African nations are so distinct from one another, both culturally and even genetically, that the world’s tallest people share a border with the world’s shortest people! That little fact alone had me rethinking everything I thought I knew about Africa’s cultural map. It's no wonder scientists say that the black or African race has more genetic diversity than all other races combined.

As a culture enthusiast, I couldn’t help but soak up every detail. From the different marriage rites to the unique fabrics and even the subtle variations in greetings, it felt like walking through a living museum where each person was a storyteller. Somewhere in the discussion, someone mentioned a native Zulu saying I’d heard long before: Ubuntu — “I am because we are.” What a beautiful, grounding reminder of the interconnectedness of human beings.

And then came the part of the day I was most pleased about — the food. I’ll admit, part of my excitement was because my feeding budget had been on the low side for weeks, so seeing that spread felt like a blessing. The dishes were rather different from what I’m used to, but still very much appreciable. Each bite carried a new taste, a new culture, a new home for someone in that room. It was both strange and comforting at the same time, like meeting a friend for the first time and feeling you’ve known them forever.

I might not have been present for the whole week, but Thursday gave me more than just stories and flavors. It gave me perspective — on diversity, on unity, and on the quiet beauty of sharing pieces of ourselves with others.

I'm sorry, I don't have any pics 😅