My Year of International Events at HSE SPb
As a third-year bachelor’s student at the Higher School of Economics in Saint Petersburg, I have been extremely fortunate to participate in many international events as a volunteer, an attendee, or an organizer. This academic year was especially packed with various activities that brought together students from all over the world. For example, among these activities were different speaking clubs, including Russian, French, and Spanish, which provided crucial opportunities to engage students from diverse cultural backgrounds.
Cultural celebrations such as Arab Culture Day, Day of Cultures, African Festival, Pakistani Culture Night, and Serbian Culture Day allowed us to appreciate the rich traditions of these regions and raise cultural awareness. The Fair of Nationalities of Russia and the celebration of Nowruz enriched our collective experience and showcased the incredible diversity of our students, making this year truly memorable. That is why, in this article I would like to focus on three activities in which I had the chance to take part and that were the most meaningful and noteworthy to me this year.
International Cinema Discussion Club
One of the highlights of my year was being an organiser of the International Cinema Discussion Club (ICDC). This relatively new club was created to foster intercultural communication and to educate students about different countries of the world through the universal cinematic language, offering students a unique opportunity to discover the diversity of cultures and art. Our aim was to build a welcoming space where international and Russian students could meet, interact, and share their perspectives through the medium of film.
Since December, we have held nine film screenings, featuring a diverse selection of films, including works by directors from Hong Kong, Taiwan, the Balkan Peninsula, Russia, and Poland, as well as some works from young directors. Our meetings provided a wonderful platform to explore different cinematic traditions and storytelling styles. What made the experience of our meetings truly enriching were the discussions that followed each screening. The discussions were always extremely insightful and dynamic since our participants come from various backgrounds. Hopefully, the guests of ICDC meetings were able to deepen their understanding of global cinema through collaborative analysis and a shared appreciation of different filmmaking traditions.
Creation of such a unique educational experience was significant to making cinematic art the gateway to cultural understanding. As the discussion flows, the attendees are able to explore the cultural contexts of the film and develop visual literacy.
Being a member of this club has been incredibly rewarding, as it has allowed me to combine my passion for visual art, film, and cultural exchange. I hope that next year the ICDC will continue to grow and remain a platform where creativity, learning, and intercultural dialogue thrive.
The Celebration of Nowruz
Another memorable event was held in March. It was the celebration of Nowruz, a holiday dedicated to the beginning of New Year and the arrival of spring. Nowruz is an international holiday celebrated by many cultures. That is why students from diverse backgrounds were able to participate and share traditions of their homeland. During the celebration, the students from such countries as Pakistan, India, Iran, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, and Azerbaijan introduced the students of HSE to the rich history of Nowruz and the traditional ways and customs that are associated with it in their homelands. Besides, the event featured presentation of traditional costumes, dances and dishes, which allowed to highlight the beauty and the uniqueness of cultural expressions of each country.
A fascinating aspect that unites the majority of celebration customs is the significance of number seven. It is reflected in the Haft-seen table where seven symbolic items are arranged. They represent hopes, health, prosperity, and renewal for the new year.
One of the most engaging traditions during the celebration of Nowruz is the egg-battle game. Each player chooses a hard-boiled egg. The eggs are traditionally decorated with natural dyes. Then, everybody divides into pairs and determines the winner by tapping the pointed ends of their eggs against each other. The egg that cracks loses, while the unaffected egg wins and the winner moves on to challenge others. The person whose egg remains unbroken until the end is declared the winner. It is said that the winner will receive a lot of luck and strength for the new year.
The most memorable part for me was at the end of the celebration when the majority of guests got the opportunity to participate in this traditional game. It was generally amazing and wonderful to witness over 30 people becoming competitive and taking their chances to be claimed the winner.
The Nowruz celebration was more just than a regular extracurricular event. It was a powerful and vibrant celebration and enriching experience that is crucial to fostering a strong and inclusive community at HSE. It created meaningful memories and connections, making our university a great place to learn and grow.
Arab Culture Day
Nowruz was not the only spring celebration. In May of this year, the celebration of Arab culture took place, allowing the students and the guests of our university to learn about the richness of the Arab world. Representatives from Iraq, Algeria, Chad, Jordan, Morocco, Lebanon, Egypt, Palestine, Yemen, and the United Arab Emirates participated. The event attendees had the opportunity to learn about the homelands of the representatives. Each presentation highlighted the history, traditions, unique places, and culture of each country.
The atmosphere of Arab Culture Day was extremely warm, energetic, and exciting since both the attendees and the representatives were willing to participate in the cultural exchange. Many foreigners celebrated their cultural backgrounds through energetic performances of traditional dances to which the event guests were invited to take part. It was extremely fascinating to witness so many people gathering together with genuine enthusiasm. The openness of all sides involved significantly contributes to the creation of a festive environment where cultural exchange is mutual and respectful. The friendly attitude allows us to break down cultural stereotypes and barriers, uniting diverse communities.
After the main part of the event which included country presentations, a dance workshop and a lively knowledge quiz, all of the participants had the chance to enjoy traditional Arabic cuisine. Through the universal language of food, the attendees were able to better understand the culture and experience the flavours that define the region. Additionally, it was especially heart-warming to see how sharing traditional meals brought people closer together, creating bridges between cultures and a friendly and inclusive environment for everyone to enjoy.
The Arab Culture Day was one of the biggest cultural events of the past academic year at HSE. This celebration was one of many examples that tradition and culture, when shared with respect, an open mind and open hearts, help us appreciate the beauty of cultural diversity, foster friendships between cultures, and reduce the influence of harmful stereotypes and myths.
Reflecting on this academic year, I feel deeply grateful for all of the provided opportunities to participate in a variety of international and intercultural events and activities at HSE in Saint Petersburg. Through film, dance, art, food, and dialogue, we enrich our understanding of our world and strengthen bonds within our diverse university community. The inclusive spaces created for students from different backgrounds to share their stories, traditions, and perspectives are significant aspects of building strong international bonds that foster mutual understanding, respect, and lasting friendships.
I truly hope that these intercultural initiatives will continue to grow and diversity of HSE students will always be celebrated and recognized.
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