International students bring global exposure to campus communities

For at least a decade, a cadre of Washington State University international students has been an anchor point for the annual Lentil Festival parade in Pullman.

The student volunteers - some just newly arrived in the U.S. - line up to march through the close-knit college town with their country's flag around their shoulders. The parade march is often a new cultural experience that also serves as a welcoming tradition for international students arriving to study at WSU Pullman.

This year's parade on Aug. 17 was no different, even if it was relocated from the usual downtown area due to construction.

Cody Tornow, WSU International Center assistant director, said he's had as many as 120 students volunteer to walk in the parade hosted every year just before WSU starts its Fall session. The 35^th annual Lentil Festival celebrated the region's strong ties to agriculture and the farmers that feed the nation and beyond. About 59 international students were involved this year ranging from 19 different countries.

Li Tengyuan (Frank), of Singapore, is a second-year psychology student and a first-time participant in the parade. Inexperience didn't deter him from taking on the sweaty task of staging a lion dance in full costume. Usually, the lion costume is reserved for the Chinese Lunar New Year celebrations, but two made a guest appearance at the parade. The International Student Council raised money to purchase two lion costumes - ­red and yellow.

Tengyuan said the lion dance is often accompanied by drums but his part under the lion hood still drew fanfare.

"It was exhausting because it was very hot," he said. "I got to expose the Chinese culture to America."

Pullman isn't the only WSU campus linking community with international students.

WSU's Puyallup Research and Extension Center participates in a city-sponsored WSU Day at the Washington State Fair on Aug. 31 to welcome incoming students. The Mount Vernon Northwestern Washington Research and Extension Center hosts an annual field day for all students, many coming from abroad, to present their research to local stakeholders and farmers, said Tatum Weed, associate director of Mount Vernon NWREC and Puyallup REC.

Back at the Lentil Festival, Raquel Parada Giacoman, of El Salvador, majors in comparative ethnic studies and said her first year was exciting. Though it was tricky to guide the two lion dancers and make sure they didn't accidentally bump into someone.

"I think it's an amazing way to get exposure and to invite others to look more into the program," she said. "Hopefully we sparked something in the community and families to participate also in all the programs and activities that we offer."

Tornow said in the past international students were eager to join in the Americana tradition of sitting on a pickup truck in the parade. Due to construction, this year's parade route was much reduced, so adding a truck didn't make sense. It was also difficult to organize a large number of international students given that many of the established students are busy assisting newcomers to WSU.

"(They're) supporting those incoming students because (they're) the connection for them." He said. "(They've) been here, generously, let's say a week, and still trying to get (their) footing."