Enrique Chacon

Japanese youth in national costume.Visiting students from Japan’s Ristumekian High School put on a farewell ceremony dance for their host families near Lanark County, Ontario.

Families sought to host Japanese youths

Hosting a Japanese student for a language program in Windsor offers a chance for cultural exchange.

Hundreds entranced by cultural festival

The Celebration of Nations was a wonderful opportunity to share his culture, said Navpreet Singh. The master of engineering student was part of a group which performed a traditional Punjabi dance marking the harvest.

“We thoroughly enjoyed our folk dance,” he said following the performance Thursday in the CAW Student Centre. “We are showing our culture to the whole world.”

Wednesday deadline for holiday host applications

Wednesday, December 19, is the deadline for applications to the Host for the Holidays program, which program places international students with Windsor families willing to open their homes to guests for a holiday dinner.

International student advisor Enrique Chacon says the students are interested in joining a typical Canadian celebration, so host families do not need to go to a lot of trouble.

End of exams will bring more than relief to residence students

Whether it crept on without a warning or it couldn’t have come any faster, it’s inevitable—December is in full swing. For many of the students living in UWindsor's six residence halls, the end of final exams will bring more than just a sigh of relief.

Danielle Gunsch, a first-year biology student living in residence, hasn’t been to her home in Kitchener for more than a weekend in over six months.

“One thing I really miss are long daily talks with my mom,” she says. “Right now we only talk every two weeks.”

Program seeking holiday hosts for international students

There is no better way to promote peace than to reach out to citizens of other nations, says Enrique Chacon. That’s why the international student advisor gets excited about the Host for the Holidays program.

“It’s an opportunity for students from around the world to learn about Canadians, and for people here in Windsor to gain an understanding of other cultures as well,” he says.