Intercultural Day: a time for the many cultures of our school to spread their wings and show their colors proudly. Yet, only 20 of the more than 80 different countries represented at HPU had booths at the event. Of the four neighbors of the United States— Mexico, Canada, Russia, and Cuba, only one was there—Russia.

Believe it or not, the United States is actually closer to Russia than it is to Cuba. Cuba is 90 miles south of Florida’s Key West; Russia’s Big Diomede Island is only one mile away from Alaska’s Little Diomede Island. The sea of the Bering Strait is all that separates two of the world’s super powers.

Amidst the festivities of HPU’s Intercultural Day, a small tent with only a few Russian students showed their Russian pride with music tapes, some flags, and some Russian literature.
There has been no educational exchange with Cuba since Fidel Castro seized power in that country nearly 40 years ago. However, there are students from Mexico and Canada at HPU. Where were they this Intercultural Day?

In fact, the United States has varying cultures from state to state, yet only one tent represented these many American cultures.

Intercultural Day is an opportunity for all of us at HPU to learn about the traditions of the nations of the world. Every person in every nation and cultural group belongs in the festivities. I hope that next year, more nations and cultures will participate, and that the U.S.A.’s neighbors will join with HPU’s Russian students and show their pride in their countries.

Tell the rest of us at HPU what your culture is about!