–Reflections on Xamk International Week

Vol.28, Issue 10, 21th November 2025
This year’s International Week at Xamk honestly felt warmer than the weather outside. We studied Intercultural Competence last semester, but this week I finally understood that the real meaning of “competence” is not only knowledge — it’s experience. It’s taste, sound, energy, and human connection.

The Food Tasting — culture you can actually taste
Sri Lankan dishes were full of sunshine flavors, Sara’s homemade Hungarian poppy-seed pie tasted like comfort, and Nepalese food looked like a celebration. Nearly 200 baozi and fresh dumplings cooked by visiting Chinese teachers disappeared in minutes. We stood there shocked: “Already? They ate everything?!” It was funny — and surprisingly heartwarming. Sometimes the easiest way to understand another culture is simply through food.

Teachers being “human” — the best intercultural surprise
Seeing teachers not as “teachers,” but as normal people enjoying the moment felt special.
And then something even more unexpected happened — Amid the crowd, I suddenly spotted my previous internship supervisor. She appeared in front of me like a small miracle. We hugged tightly in this delightful surprise — even though she was here to take an exam! What an extraordinary coincidence. Then we walked around together, tasting food one by one. It reminded me that trust grows fastest when we share experiences, not only theories.

Paja — where small games became intercultural lessons
Musical chairs with people of all backgrounds, Nepalese hand-painting art, and the international riddle corner created a space where everyone laughed, guessed, played, and forgot about differences. This was Intercultural Competence in its real form — connecting through play, curiosity, and kindness.

A tiny cultural moment that made everyone smile

Our study coordinator, Hugh, appeared wearing a traditional kilt outfit with a beautifully crafted sporran. When he showed up in the crowd, he looked so unique and honestly adorable that people naturally smiled. A cultural symbol — instantly understood without any words.

International Week didn’t just show us cultures — it brought us closer, plate by plate, smile by smile.