VALDOSTA– Sales, receipts and spending money were not the only thrill for Colonial Mall Valdosta’s Saturday shoppers.

Vibrant colors, dance performances and loads of information added spice to the usual window-browsing during the 13th annual City of Valdosta International Fair.

More than 30 Valdosta State University international students taught the community about 20 different countries. The event took place in front of Belk’s from 10 a.m.-2 p.m., involving a such activities as answering questions, trivia games, prizes, music, dance performances and more.

“It’s just a great way for international students to meet the community and show them who they are,” said Irina McClellan, VSU international student adviser. “It’s a chance for them to get to know others and maybe make friends and contacts.”

Science boards covered in maps, pictures and interesting facts attracted many shoppers, but some of the participants were students who were intrigued by the different cultures. Jessica Foster, an eighth-grader at J.L. Newbern, observed each table while she filled out a trivia game to win a prize.

“It’s so weird to see how much we can relate to other countries,” Foster said. “Other countries like the same things we like here.”

Foster was one of many students who learned about other countries through the International Awareness Experience, a program where 18 VSU international students visited Valdosta Middle School, J.L. Newbern Elementary School, Valwood School, Southeast Elementary and Genesis Christian School. The program allowed international students to interact with 14 different classrooms weekly for 20 minutes during a six-week period. The various classes made posters and other informative displays that were exhibited at the fair.

“It’s really about being aware of others,” said Pamela Nwilene, a sophomore nursing major at VSU who is from Nigeria. She stood in front of three yellow posters made by a sixth-grade class at Valwood School. “It was really fun and interesting because they (students) taught us some things that we didn’t know as well.”

Educating while entertaining is the concept that has driven the fair to success each year, said McClellan. She said several of the activities at the fair, such as learning a person’s name in five other languages and converting currencies, has a high educational value.

“Everything we have going on here will let children and adults learn something about another country and culture that can be used in the future,” McClellan said. “And yet, it’s still so fun.”

The dance portion of the program that began at noon was popular. The performances featured the Korean classical fan dance, a royal Thai folk dance, a Taiwanese picking tea dance, a Turkmen dance, a Nigerian song and Tae-kwon-do demonstrations.

“I love to watch the different dances because it something different than what we are used to seeing on TV,” said Barbara D. Young, a local shopper. “Sometimes you just get tired of the hip-hop scene and it’s refreshing to have the ability to see something else. I was just passing through and I had to stop.”

The convenient location of the fair also contributed to the amount of the community’s enjoyment and involvement. Last year the fair was held inside of a store and did not receive such a positive response.

“I think we are doing a lot better this time,” McClellan said. “Last year we were just placed in a corner but I am happy to see that we are getting a lot of interested people to stop by.”



To contact Tameika Carson, please call 244-3400, ext. 247.