International Education Week - IEW

"International Education Week is an opportunity to celebrate the benefits of international education and exchange worldwide. This joint initiative of the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Education is part of our efforts to promote programs that prepare Americans for a global environment and attract future leaders from abroad to study, learn, and exchange experiences in the United States."

 So IEW this year took place from November 11th to 15th. I was well prepared for it. Weeks before the IEW,I printed lots of flyers announcing the IEW. I sticked them all around the school so everyone was able to see them.

 We (me and the other 2 exchange students) went to the principals office and talked about the IEW. We wanted to do a global presentation for the whole school, but during the IEW week everything was busy so we decided to mount the international lunch that takes place in March with our huge presentations hopefully in front the whole school. So during the actual IEW we did individual presentations in our classes, different classes or any group of people. I was very well prepared. I had an awesome Prezi presentation. I did several presentations to classes during the IEW. 

(I also teached them Macedonian language and how to write their name in Macedonian!)

One of the best was my presentation to the International Relations class and to the International Relations club. They were really interested about Macedonia and the culture even though 90% of them never ever heard about Macedonia. The funny videos that I had in my presentation made it really fun and cheerful. They asked loots of questions and most of them were for Macedonian social/night life. They were amazed that Macedonian people start going to night clubs from 6th grade and also they drink, but not to get drunk, just for atmosphere. I could talk a lot about the presentation, but the best way for you to get it if you see it on your own:

(click the volume button (left bottom corner) to mute the background music of the prezi)
Teaching other people about my culture and my country was really amazing and seeing that they are really interested made it even much more amazing. The presentations about Macedonia wouldn't / didn't take place only during the IEW, but they will take place during my whole exchange year here. I have a huge responsibility here by being probably the only Macedonian person that the people here will meet and this responsibility is called a (youth) ambassador. 

Having that responsibility, my year here in the U.S. and all the presentations I am doing are firstly to achieve my program goals:

• to promote a better understanding among youth from selected YES countries about American society, people, institutions, values, and culture;
• foster lasting personal ties;
• engage the exchange participants in activities that promote mutual understanding, respect for diversity, leadership skills, and an understanding of civil society during their exchange in the US;
• enhance Americans’ understanding of foreign students’ countries and cultures;
• increase the capacity of organizations in participating countries to engage youth in activities that enhance mutual understanding, respect for diversity, leadership skills, and an understanding of civil society through alumni activities.

and further on of course, to have fun and achieve all my own "drawn" goals in my head.
(Full picture album - Click Here)