WOW: It’s all about connecting
Window on the World, Tennessee Tech University’s annual international festival, encompasses so many things, it truly makes one go, WOW! At its heart, however, is a feeling of connection with all humanity.
This fun, free, family event takes place Saturday, April 17, from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. in TTU’s Roaden University Center.
This year, of course, Haiti is uppermost in people’s minds, as that nation struggles to recover from the massively destructive earthquake of Jan. 12. Much of the capital city of Port-au-Prince remains in ruins, and millions of inhabitants are without adequate food, water, and sanitation.
“One of the major looming problems is the orphans who were left behind — children on the streets as young as three or four — trying to survive in the middle of all this,” says Stan Rodriguez, president of Rebuild Haiti, a local initiative. “So we are asking that people gather up all their loose change and bring it to WOW. Every penny counts.”
To this end, the WCTE booth will have a “Loose Change” barrel for Rebuild Haiti, as well as focus on its “Live Green & Prosper” program. Hand-outs include canvas bags, gardening tips and green-living ideas; the hands-on activity is making a chia pet with knee-high socks, potting soil and grass seed.
Other community groups presenting information at WOW are Heifer Project International, Tennessee World Affairs Council, Veterans for Peace, the Women’s Center, the Peace Corps, the Clean Commission and Child Safety Awareness.
The children of Haiti will also benefit through Unicef donations, thanks to Psi Chi, the international honor society in psychology. The TTU chapter is hosting a Wii carnival that promises fun — and funds — at this year’s festival. Situated on the South Patio outside Roaden University Center, Psi Chi’s area will also have a popcorn machine and handmade Haitian flags.
Once again, the Saudi Arabian Club will invite guests to sit and enjoy coffee with them. New this year is the International Business Society’s Skype set-up for conversations with TTU Study Abroad students in South Korea, Costa Rica, Germany, Spain and France.
Ada Haynes’ sociology students are coordinating cultural displays for nearly 30 nations from Latin America, Africa, Oceania, the Middle East, Europe and Asia. Each will show how that country celebrates its holidays and why.
A virtual international bazaar awaits WOW-goers in that One World Market will have free-trade coffee and crafts from around the world. Sales benefit developing villages as well as Unicef. Peruvian art and jewelry will again color the base of the spiral staircase, and Grey Feather is returning with her Native American wood carvings. Celtic and Ugandan jewelry will also entice world shoppers.
When it comes to enticement, however, some folks come to WOW especially for the world of flavor. Returning favorites include Sue Soeder with her Polish perogi, Greek gyros and French strawberry crepes; Rama’s Indian vegetarian pulao, cholae and carrot hulwa; Sekina Burkic’s wonderful Bosnian dishes; India Palace’s chicken curry and samosas; the Moslem Student Association’s spread of Middle Eastern treats; Green Radish’s international grocery items and Chinese food; and Christi Loseo’s Filipino cuisine. New to WOW this year are Little Jimmy’s Italian Ice; Mexican food; an outdoor Latino cart; and Colombian empanadas, tamales and arroz con pollo.
Being all about connections, WOW has a way to connect many of these tables — and learn and earn at the same time. The Amazing Race is a contest of collecting clues throughout the festival to win prizes. If you would like to donate a prize, please contact WOW coordinator Katie Kumar at 372-6197 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .
WOW celebrates global harmony and the cultural diversity we enjoy right in our community. The event is funded by Center Stage and sponsored by the Globalization Committee of the College of Business. This fun, free, family event takes place Saturday, April 17, from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. in TTU’s Roaden University Center in Cookeville. The symposium, “Development Issues in West Africa,” is Friday, April 16, at 10:10 a.m. in the RUC’s Multi-Purpose Room.
For more information, please check the WOW website.
