Contributing writer
Carl Hefner
It is with great pride that we present the 24th Annual International Festival at KCC.
For students, this is a great opportunity to learn about other cultures, to hear lectures about world events and issues, and for students, faculty, staff and community to enhance their understanding of the peoples and cultures of the world.
The 24th Annual International Festival is truly a landmark in the history of International Education on the KCC campus and provides all of us an opportunity to become engaged global citizens.
I am very pleased to have been a guiding force as Coordinator of the International Festival for 21 years. Along with input from my colleagues, we have developed an excellent four-day program that students, faculty, staff and community members will learn from and enjoy. The foundation for creating the international experience was laid throughout my education, from my own teachers, opportunities and experiences along the way.
I have had most incredible experiences, and truly believe that traveling the world, living and socializing with everyday people, learning their language and culture is the best way to accumulate knowledge and wisdom about the world and its diversity of peoples. My travels have taken me to a diverse number of countries of the world including Japan, China, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Canada, Mexico, Argentina, Chile and my current research interest which is the country of Myanmar.
Without knowing the language, you miss out on so much of the content of conversations amongst people, and the meaning of many social interactions is lost. When you understand the language, their world opens up to you, and you become more accepted by people from the culture, because there is an effort on your part to join in as a “student” of their traditions. You are also enabled to read the older texts, and work in their libraries to do historical background work for your research.
There are the many excellent courses that are offered at KCC that allow the student to explore the anthropology, history, languages, cultures, politics, religions and contemporary issues that are part of our world.
I also highly encourage students to apply for scholarships for language and culture study, such as the Freeman Scholarships and numerous other scholarships to Japan, China, Korea and India on this campus.
Today I give back the EWC as President of the East-West Center Alumni Association-Hawaii Chapter for the past 10 years. In doing this, I feel connected to East-West Center alumni all over the world. I am grateful to have learned much from my colleagues and friends wherever I have traveled.
Cultures are what make us different, and we must learn to understand and accept that there is no one way of life that suits all people. It therefore is quite important to learn about and respect other cultures of the world.
I believe that having an open mind is one step closer to developing an international thinker capable of dealing with worldly and global issues with critical insights, which ultimately may not only help the student, but raise the level of consciousness of the world’s citizens.