Experiences Abroad

Discussions about life in Nepal

and West Africa ›› pg. 6-7
This newspaper, like many other things, is recyclable.
November 8, 2010 - Volume 78, Issue 5
thewheel-scu.tumblr.com
St. Catherine University student newspaper

An inter-
national
affair
• The Wheel celebrates In-
ternational Education Week
By Rachel Armstrong
sections editor

This issue of The Wheel celebrates

International Education Week (Nov. 15-19)
with an international themed issue.

I voted: Election We’re pretty excited about it.

Even as a small, Catholic, liberal arts

update university in Minnesota, St. Catherine

• Gubernatorial recount is fa-
miliar territory for Minnesota
On Nov. 2, voters took to the polls to cast their
ballots for governor, lieutenant governor, and
other state offices, judicial appointments, and
political referendums.
After a long night of tallying votes, Minnesotans
were left waiting for conclusive results for the
second time in as many elections. Candidates
Mark Dayton (DFL) and Tom Emmer (GOP)
were separated by a scant margin of just 8,856
votes. Dayton’s slim lead could be challenged by
the state GOP and result in a hand-ballot recount.
Meanwhile, on the national stage, the Republican
party reclaimed a majority in the House, fulfilling
expectations for these midterm elections. Although
Democrats retained a majority in the Senate, the
Republican victories will most certainly lead to a
shift in the national political climate.
It remains to be seen what the outcome will
be in Minnesota.
Above: SCU students and members of
MPIRG show off their voter pride.
Left: SCU students board a shuttle that will
take them to the polling location.
Photos by Dana Bloomquist.
University (SCU) isn’t lacking in diversity. As a
staff, we’re excited to see this diversity reflected
in these pages. International Education Week
is a chance to think outside the Minnesota
box, see where SCU students have traveled,
studied, and grown up, and celebrate the
benefits of international exchange and
global education.
International Education Week was begun
in 2000 by the U.S. Department of State and
Department of Education in an attempt to
recognize the importance of awareness of
the word’s cultures, peoples, languages, and
traditions. It affirms the important role that
international education programs play in
developing understanding and world peace.
SCU’s International Education Week is
put on by the Office of Global Studies, and
they have planned some exciting events.
For our part, the international issue
introduces some different elements: highlights
of International student organizations on
campus, various Spotlight pieces, international
sports, submissions from the student body,
and even Sudoku. It might look a little
different than The Wheel you’re used to,
but we’re hoping it will be a reflection of
the diversity that makes up SCU.
Rachel can be reached at
rmarmstrong@stkate.edu.

Border patrol
By Alexa Chihos
staff writer
Immigration reform has been a heated issue
in the United States over the course of the last
several elections.  President Barack Obama has
made his stance on the immigration debate
clear: the only way to secure the U.S. borders
is to have immigration reform centered on
both accountability and responsibility.   similar laws.   cultures, and attitudes, I hope that the students
This position calls for our nation to be
held responsible for securing our borders
and for undocumented workers in good
standing holding themselves accountable for
their actions by admitting they broke the law.  reasonable suspicion that the individual is
In April of this year, the state of Arizona
passed a law that would require immigrants to
carry their alien registration documents with
them at all times and would target employers
that hire undocumented workers.  This law
would also require police to question people
if there is a reasonable suspicion that they
could be in the United States illegally.      Ned Moore, Social Justice Coordinator
President of the Latina Student Association
(LSA)at St. Catherine University (SCU),
Cristina De La Cruz, thinks that the current
immigration law in Arizona profiles a specific
group of people.
“When I first heard about it, I personally
thought it was ridiculous and I still think it’s
ridiculous to have a law that requires police
to check people’s immigration status if they
Immigration
debate continues
look like they are undocumented.  Even if
a person is documented but police assume
that they are here illegally they will get asked
for their documentation,” De La Cruz said.
After Arizona passed its immigration law,
more states began drafting and proposing
Recently, the state of Florida proposed
an immigration law that closely resembles
that of Arizona.  The proposed law would
allow police to arrest anyone if they have
an illegal immigrant in the U.S.; it would
furthermore require suspects to prove their
citizenship.   the issues surrounding immigration.
Under this law, judges would be able to
inflict longer prison sentences and set tougher
bail conditions for illegal immigrants who
have committed a crime in the U.S.
for Campus Ministry, thinks that political
debates and media can skew personal views
on immigration.
 “Too often, our views on immigration are
influenced either by the mainstream media
or political debates.  Rarely do the people
directly impacted by our immigration system
have a voice in these forums,” Moore said.
SCU strives to provide education on
important topics that affect the people in
and around the campus community.  SCU
offers education on immigration through
Global Search for Justice (GSJ) classes, justice
immersion trips, and student organization
events.
Associate professor of geography Jack Flynn
is one of the two professors that is teaching
a GSJ course on the Immigrant Experience
this semester.   the immigrant experience and to facilitate the
 “Through exposure to this great diversity of
cultures and experiences and considering the
students’ and their families’ own experiences,
will become more informed and thoughtful
citizens of their country and people who will
seek ways to facilitate the establishment of
greater tolerance, acceptance, and justice,”
Flynn said.
Moore leads a justice immersion trip to
El Paso in January that exposes students to
“By traveling to El Paso, students will have
the opportunity to hear first-hand from
recent immigrants, to learn about the root
causes of immigration and the injustices
of our present system, and then draw their
own conclusions about alternatives and how
to apply what they’ve learned back home,”
Moore said.
Immigration has an effect on every part
of the country, even in our state and on our
campus.  Sophomore Mysee Chang thinks
that immigration hits closer to home than
many students might assume.
 “I think all the controversy and issues
around immigration are really important
for students to look at because we›re all
connected to this issue even if we think we›re
not,” Chang said.
For Flynn, this issue raises other concerns
regarding social justice and security.
“Our university culture of learning and of
striving for social justice should encourage
us all to learn more about immigration and
welcoming and success of newer Americans;
these processes of interaction and learning
will enhance us all,”  Flynn said.  “Immigration
issues often involve questions of social justice,
fairness, and security about which we should
all be concerned.  We must accentuate our
efforts to respect and celebrate people of all
backgrounds.”
Recent activities on campus have touched
on different aspects of the immigrant
experience.  Moore thinks that these events
have impacted and challenged the SCU
community to act.
 “I think a lot of the interest comes from a
growing realization of the injustice, exploitation,
and racism that has marked our immigration
system, and knowing that we don’t have
to accept things as they are.  We can take
leadership to change the system,” Moore said.
Alexa can be reached at
anchihos@stkate.edu.
2 | The Wheel NEWS & OPINION November 8, 2010

intercultural dimensions are a given,” Spaeth

A global said.  “Globalization is changing the world

and college education must respond.  Even if
students plan careers here in Minnesota, our

campus society is becoming more diverse, so cultural

• SCU strives to inter-
nationalize
By Rachel Armstrong with
reporting by Natasha Holm
As the push for a more globally aware
campus continues at St. Catherine University
(SCU), the Office of Global Studies seeks to
incorporate international and intercultural
learning into all aspects of SCU’s curriculum
and co-curriculum.
Catherine C. Spaeth, Director of the
Office of Global Studies at SCU, believes
internationalization and global education to
be an intrinsic part of any college experience.
“We are educating students for careers
a n d l ive s w h ere i n ter n a t i on a l a n d
knowledge, second language proficiency, and
understanding of multiple perspectives are
necessary for all of us.”
This global understanding isn’t just fostered
during semester-long study abroad experiences.
“Internationalization is the process of
incorporating an international or intercultural
dimension into all aspects of the university,”
Spaeth said. “The university aims to...integrate
international experiences and perspectives
into all academic programs and into the fabric
of our institution in order to engage students
in actively developing global perspectives.”
In addition to study abroad experiences,
the Office of Global Studies offers dozens of
J-term courses each year, Global Search for
Justice courses, service learning programs,
and internships.
“International experiences can take place
abroad but we also want students to be
aware of on-campus courses and experiences
within the US that offer a global perspective.”
Spaeth said.
In order to make study abroad and

Raine De Campeau, assistant director of Global Studies, shows study

abroad offerings to a student. Photo by Dana Bloomquist.

international learning experiences more could be more attentive. Sometimes I feel like
accessible for SCU students, the Office of when I go to these events, the international
Global Studies has a few projects currently students go and not a lot of students from
underway. Minnesota. I think we’re heading in the right
“We’re very excited about developing direction, but there are always improvements
international partnerships with women’s that can be made.”
universities in India,” Spaeth said.  “These Given the importance of this goal, Spaeth
are very new and we hope to offer short- is aware of the difficulties of this project.
term courses with our partners, establish “We will need to look for funding for things
student and faculty exchanges and develop like more scholarships for students who want
collaborative research projects−hopefully to study abroad and for more international
with both faculty and students.” students to study at St. Kate’s−both important
For Spaeth, the push for an internationally components of an internationalized university,”
aware campus is a vital one. Spaeth said.
“If internationalization becomes woven Education with a focus on global issues
into the fabric of all we do and teach here, the remains critical as SCU students continue to
effect will be transformative,” she said.  “Any work within the context of a more globalized
program of study a student undertakes society.
will have an international dimension to it, “These skills are becoming increasingly
whether that’s a study abroad program, an necessary to function successfully abroad and
internationally focused project in the Twin at home, not only economically but personally
Cities, or on-campus courses that incorporate and socially,” Spaeth said. “With a more
a global perspective. The effect will be globalized society, the need to understand
important and widespread.” other countries and cultures and to speak
Catherine Spaeth, director of Global Studies. Photo by Dana Bloomquist. SCU student Tiffany Peterson, junior, multiple languages is more important than
agrees on the importance of such an initiative. ever.”
“I think [internationalization] is a good
next step for St. Kate’s.  We pride ourselves
on diversity, so internationalization only
reaffirms our devotion to [it],” Peterson said. Rachel can be reached at
ST. CATHERINE UNIVERSITY WHEEL STAFF Junior Teresa Hermodson-Olsen also rmarmstrong@stkate.edu.  
recognizes the importance of a global-minded
Volume 78, Issue 5 education.
“I think having a diverse campus has opened
Editor-in-Chief: TREZA ROSADO me up to more ideas and more awareness,”
Layout Designer: SARAH WENTE Hermodson-Olsen said. “I’m really excited
Sections Editor: RACHEL ARMSTRONG about how active the international students
Photo Editor: DANA BLOOMQUIST are with organizations, how present they are,
Adviser: SHEILA ELDRED how well-attended. I see that SCU as a whole
Senior Staff Writers: JORDYN ARNDT, LYDIA FASTELAND, CLAIRE DA-
VIDSON
Staff Writers: BECKY DOUCETTE, DEVON ARNDT, ALEXA CHIHOS, HAN-
NAH FRANCE, ERIN PETERSON, COURTNEY HAMPTON, NATASHA HOLM
Photographers: DANA BLOOMQUIST
International and multi-
Cartoonist: KATHERINE CURTIS
If you would like to write for The Wheel, please contact us at
cultural groups on campus
wheel@stkate.edu.
-Asian Women’s Association
MISSION STATEMENT -Black Student Association
The Wheel aspires to reflect the diversity and unique atmosphere that -French Club
comprises St. Catherine University. We strive to provide an inclusive -Latina Student Association
newspaper primarily for the students and by the students. The Wheel -Muslim Student Association
promotes the vision of empowering women to lead and influence -St. Catherine International Student Organization
as well as an understanding of the university community inside and
-Spanish Club
outside of the gates. As a staff we aim to meet the highest journal-
-Women of Color
istic standards and stand in accordance with the 1st Amendment of
the Constitution of the United States of America and policies of prior These and other international and multicultural groups on campus provide
restraint. The Wheel is not a public relations vehicle for any SCU indi- SCU students the opportunity for cross-cultural learning.
vidual, group, department or for the college as a whole. We welcome
feedback and encourage an open discourse. The Wheel is supported by If you are looking for more information about international groups on campus,
student funds and is distributed free of charge. contact Aimee Thostenson and Norah Hoff in the MIPS office. 
 November 8, 2010 NEWS & OPINION The Wheel | 3

Breaking down walls: The

limited reach of study abroad

By Jordyn Arndt
international columnist

Study abroad is a growing trend in U.S. higher education. The number of students
studying abroad has increased four-fold in the past two decades, according to Institute of
International Education (IIE) Network. However, it has not increased equitably.  Certain
racial and socio-economic groups tend to participate in study abroad experiences in greater
numbers, often due to barriers associated with cost.  Fortunately, this trend is slowly changing
due to the development of new study abroad programs and scholarship initiatives available
to students from various backgrounds.
I have become increasingly aware of this disparity while studying abroad
and working in the St. Catherine University (SCU) Office of Global
Studies.  According to the Open Doors Survey, published by IIE Network
annually, the majority of students studying abroad are white.  There have been
marginal increases in the number of students of color, but the percentages
remain low.  According to the Open Doors 2009 Report on International
Education Exchange, during the 2007-2008 academic year, the ethnicities
of students studying abroad were white (81.8 percent), Asian or Pacific
Islander (6.6 percent), Hispanic or Latino(a) (5.9 percent), Black or African-
American (4.0 percent), Multiracial (1.2 percent), and American Indian/
Alaska Native (0.5 percent).
Conversely, more women study abroad than men. During the 2007-2008
academic year, women represented 65.1 percent of study abroad participants
while men represented only 34.9 percent according to IIE Network.
 SCU students study abroad in greater numbers than the national averages
and often choose to study abroad in less- traditional locations.  While the top
five locations for study abroad by American students throughout the United
States are the United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, France, and China, a sampling
of locations where SCU students are currently abroad includes countries as
diverse as Japan, South Korea, Mexico, Australia, and New Zealand.
Study abroad participation is more widespread among students who can
afford to pay the program and travel costs associated with study in a foreign
country and, perhaps more importantly, forgo working in the United States
at a paid job or internship during their time abroad.  
It is a common misconception among students that studying abroad is
not financially feasible.  Study abroad programs can be affordable for SCU
students due to the following factors: the cost of study abroad is often similar Top: Arndt and friends riding  camels in the desert   in Lompoul, Senegal.
to the price of a semester or year of academic study at SCU, the majority of WEDNESDAY  
Bottom: Group photo of the students in CIEE Dakar, Study   abroad  
Senegal, student  
study abroad presentations  
program during to  AA  LAS  
students’ financial aid can be used abroad, and additional scholarships are winter semester 2009. November  
Photos 10   by Jordyn
submitted students,   on  Minneapolis  Campus    
Arndt.
available for students interested in studying abroad.     10:00am-­‐12:00pm,  room  550  Old  Main  
In order to address the disparities in study abroad participation, many  
scholarships are designed to meet the needs of students from under- and program-specific scholarships.  A sampling of scholarship resources can be nd found online through
THURSDAY   Global  Quiz,  St.  Paul  CDC  2  floor  atrium    
represented racial and ethnic groups, first-generation college students, www.studyabroad.com, www.diversityabroad.com, and www.studyabroadfunding.org and on a handout
students from low-income families, and students with a history of available in the Office of Global Studies November  
and the11  Financial
11:30am-­‐12:30pm,  
Aid Office.  SCU studentsadministered  
from all by   MIPS  
backgrounds
overcoming adversity.  Additional scholarships are available for students who are interested in studying abroad   should contact the   Office of Global Studies located in 305 Derham
with Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) majors, students Hall (651) 690 6472 or globalstudies@stkate.edu.
FRIDAY   International  Student  Presentations:  Lebanon  &  
studying a second language, or students studying abroad in less traditional November  12   Georgia  with  refreshments  in  St.  Paul  AQM  
locations.  Thousands of dollars are available to students through national Jordyn can be reached at jearndt@stkate.edu.
Women’s  Center,  12:30-­‐1:30pm  
 

Celebrasia,  St.  Paul  CDC  Rauenhorst  Ballroom    

 
 
7:00-­‐10:00pm,  sponsored  by  AWA  
   
Please SATURDAY  
join Global Studies this November Africa  Night,  St.  Paul  CDC  Rauenhorst  Ballroom,  

Celebrating and Promoting

November  13   6:00-­‐10:00pm,  sponsored  by  SCISO  
 
International
TUESDAY   Educational Exchange
SKAT  international  craft  in  St.  Paul  CDC  atrium  
November  16   11:35-­‐1:30pm  
 

MIPS  Chili  Night,  St.  Paul  CDC  495,  4:30-­‐6:00pm  

     
WEDNESDAY   Study  abroad  student  presentations  to  AA  LAS   WEDNESDAY   Crossing  Borders  film  event*,  with  dinner  and  
November  10   students,  on  Minneapolis  Campus     November  17   discussion  followed  by  Noor  al  Amar  celebration  
  10:00am-­‐12:00pm,  room  550  Old  Main   in  St.  Paul  CDC  Rauenhorst  Ballroom,  5:30-­‐
  8:30pm,  sponsored  by  MSA  
THURSDAY   Global  Quiz,  St.  Paul  CDC  2nd  floor  atrium      
November  11   11:30am-­‐12:30pm,  administered  by  MIPS   THURSDAY   International  Student  Presentations:  Pakistan,  
    November  18   Nepal,  &  Morocco  with  refreshments  in  St.  Paul  
FRIDAY   International  Student  Presentations:  Lebanon  &   AQM  W omen’s  Center,  11:45am-­‐1:15pm    
 
November  12   Georgia  with  refreshments  in  St.  Paul  AQM  
  Crossing  Borders  film  event*  with  robust  
Women’s  Center,  12:30-­‐1:30pm  
  refreshments  in  Old  Main  Auditorium  600  on  
Celebrasia,  St.  Paul  CDC  Rauenhorst  Ballroom     Minneapolis  Campus,  3:15-­‐5:00pm  
7:00-­‐10:00pm,  sponsored  by  AWA    

 
SATURDAY   Africa  Night,  St.  Paul  CDC  Rauenhorst  Ballroom,   International Education Week coordinated by Campus
November  13   6:00-­‐10:00pm,  sponsored  by  SCISO   Ministry, MIPS, and Global Studies.
 
For more information, contact Global Studies (651) 690-
TUESDAY   SKAT  international  craft  in  St.  Paul  CDC  atrium   6472 or globalstudies@stkate.edu.
November  16   11:35-­‐1:30pm  
 
Graphics by Jordyn Arndt for the Office of Global Studies.
MIPS  Chili  Night,  St.  Paul  CDC  495,  4:30-­‐6:00pm  
 
WEDNESDAY   Crossing  Borders  film  event*,  with  dinner  and  
November  17   discussion  followed  by  Noor  al  Amar  celebration  
4 | The Wheel FEATURES November 8, 2010

Editorial: An woman with long braids whom we liked to call Weezy. She would hug me and bring me
a mug of the coffee (which I still drink today) and I would sit in the shade for a moment,
imagining a breeze and trying to cling to it. Then I would spend the rest of my day in and
American in Accra: out of academic buildings, ostensibly doing schoolwork but actually plotting my next trip
to the beach or my next basketweaving design.

A retrospective
By Tréza Rosado
editor-in-chief
A year ago this week, I was midway through a semester-long study abroad experience
in Ghana, West Africa. In fact, I had just celebrated my 21st birthday, surrounded by my
American and Ghanaian friends and family. We’d spent the better part of three days dancing
our way through the streets of Accra as a kind of birthday-Halloween extravaganza. At the
halfway point in our trip, we were all fighting the same conflicting emotions: a changing of
the guard between being settled and being homesick. My birthday acted as an incredibly
well-timed distraction from the feelings of displacement we attempted to ignore.
Perhaps the strangest part of being abroad is the moment you realize you’ve started
to consider this new place, this “foreign” place, your home. It could be when you stop
referring to cedis as dollars and you stop hesitating before stepping into a cold shower. It
could be when you stop getting swindled by cab drivers, stop taking the wrong buses to
the market, or stop wearing jeans entirely because you’ve reached the conclusion that the
chafing isn’t worth it.
For me, it was when I realized I had started making (and enjoying) new habits entirely.
My morning and evening commutes had become a ritual of sorts. I no longer dreaded
the walk to and from school or the heat or the questionable modes of transport involved.
Instead, I relished having so much control over each aspect of something as mundane as
getting to campus. There was something rewarding about having to work so hard to achieve
something so small and ultimately insignificant.
I spent my evenings with my host brother, watching the original CSI and talking about
differences between Ghana and the United States--differences from the mundane to the
profound. If it was a weekend, I would be packing or planning a trip to my favorite beach,
Kokrobite. Sometimes we didn’t have the energy to make the trip to the coast (somehow
a beach only 30 minutes away took several hours in traffic). Instead, we would visit the
Hotel Shangri-La, where we would pay to swim for the day if the heat was particularly
unbearable or if the power was out, leaving us stranded in a vacuum of circulating air.
Around this time one year ago, my dreams changed. I stopped dreaming about the
minutiae of my life in America--of being home and talking to my parents or playing video
games with my brother. I stopped waking up disoriented and afraid.
My dreams became a succession of interrupted goodbyes--my dream self would find out
I was leaving a month early, two weeks early, and the plane would take me before I had a
chance to hug my brothers or kiss my host mother or thank the woman who taught me
how to weave. Basically, my dreams became unsettling nightmares of loss and I understood
that I was no longer another American abroad.
I don’t dream about Ghana anymore but I wish I did. I just turned 22 last weekend; I
spent my birthday writing statements of purpose for a predoctoral fellowship that I have a
less-than 5 percent chance of receiving. I thought more about Ghana than I have in several
months. This newspaper, this school, those never-ending graduate applications have all
taken me farther and farther away from the person I was a year ago. But, as with most
things, there’s a silver lining to all of the angst and wistfulness I’m presently experiencing.
This time next year, I’ll be dancing through Accra once more—celebrating my host mom’s
70th birthday and hopefully enjoying a happy ending to all those statements of purpose.

Before my classes, I would get Nescafe and a groundnut and honey sandwich from a Tréza can be reached at tjrosado@stkate.edu.

Submission: which are rarely found today. At this time,

Wearing the
hijab in Jordan
• SCU student lives the
Bedouin life
By Janessa Schilmoeller
I entered my classroom in Amman, Jordan
and left with a paper with the name of a
town and my host family’s last name. I had
only been in Jordan for about two and a
half weeks and my limited Arabic was very
rusty. I looked at the paper and laughed.
How was I honestly expected to find a family
in a remote village when I had no address
and hardly anyone outside the city spoke
English? Although I was scared to death, I
set out on a life-changing journey to spend a
week living with a Bedouin family in a rural
Jordanian village.
In spring 2010, I studied abroad in Jordan
with the School of International Training.
As part of the program, all students were
assigned to a different host family in villages
across the country. I spent one week on the
Syrian border with the Gssab family. There
was one other female student living with a
family in the village of Almkafteh so the two
of us travelled together.
I never intended to wear a hijab (head
scarf), but I did bring a scarf just in case.
When I boarded the bus, my friend and I
sat in the back because there was limited
seating. But the only Jordanian women on
the bus were in the front wearing hijabs
and abayas (long-sleeved loose dress). I was
very uncomfortable in the back because the
men continued to stare at us and ask very
personal questions. About two hours later,
we arrived at the bus stop in the town of
Mufraq, where we would find the bus going
to our village and ask the driver to drop us
at our families’ houses.
In Mufraq, there were even fewer women
than at the bus stop in Amman. All the women
in Mufraq wore black abayas and hijabs and
some even wore the nikab (which covers the
face except for the eyes). The two of us stood
out immediately. I had experienced staring
and verbal harassment in Amman, but I had
never experienced anything this intense.
Halfway from Mufraq to Almkafteh, I
decided to cover my hair. The moment I
put on my hijab, I felt the stares diminish.
I felt much more respected and welcomed
wearing the hijab. I thought I would feel
degraded with covered hair, but it was quite
the opposite. I have the utmost respect for
the courageous women who choose to wear
Schilmoeller and her host brothers.
the hijab in the United States. Just as it was
uncomfortable for me to be one of the only
women not wearing a hijab, it must be hard
to be one of the only women with a hijab
in a society with so many false and negative
assumptions about Islamic women.
When I arrived at the house, I was greeted
by my parents and six younger siblings (four
girls and two boys). I was wearing my hijab
when I entered the house, but my family told
me to take it off. None of my host sisters wore
the hijab at home (my two younger sisters
never wore one). I told them I wanted to
be respectful by wearing a hijab, but they
assured me this was not necessary. Instead
of wearing a hijab, my host mother gave me
one of her abayas to wear each day to make
me feel more at home. I was honored to wear
her beautiful abayas as a part of the family.
I did, however, wear a hijab when we went
out to visit neighbors.
Our family had a small farm with goats,
sheep, chickens, rabbits, pigeons, and olive
trees. As the eldest daughter, I woke up early
in the morning to collect eggs and to milk
the goats with my mother. After the farm
work, I prepared breakfast in the kitchen.
We prepared fresh bread on the saj (concave
floor oven) daily and ate plenty of hummus,
hard-boiled eggs, fresh olive oil, and other
food from the farm.
We ate all of our meals on the floor and
rarely used silverware. As the guest of honor,
my family slaughtered a sheep for me on
the last day of my visit. I felt very guilty that
my family had sacrificed such an important
source of food just for me, but I graciously
Photo submitted by Janessa
Schilmoeller.
smiled and ate the meat.
After putting on my hijab, we drove to visit
our grandparents at the beit shaar (house of
hair), which is a tent made of goat hair used
by Bedouin tribes throughout history. In the
tent was a fire and we were all served tea and
Arabic coffee. This was the only time during
my visit I was not served first because the
elderly are always given the utmost respect,
even above guests. The elderly women and
men wore traditional dress and facial tattoos,
Schilmoeller’s host mother making bread on the saj.
Photo submitted by Janessa Schilmoeller.
my mother addressed her concerns that I
was twenty and unmarried and proposed I
marry one of my cousins present in the tent.
I politely declined and we continued to
drink tea with the sounds of the government-
subsidized satellite radio coming from the back
of the tent. It was the oddest combination:
traditional Bedouin life, dating back centuries,
with the unavoidable presence of globalization.
My experience in rural Jordan was
indescribable. I was living more simplistically
than ever, but felt immensely fulfilled and
loved. I reflect on this experience often as I
think of how thankful I am to sleep on a bed
and not the floor, have an unlimited supply
of water, and the opportunity to attend a
women’s university. It is my host sister’s
dream to become a doctor; however, she
has little chance of achieving this goal from
rural, impoverished Almkafteh.
Although I was scared to death of living with
strangers who spoke no English in an Arab
village, the moment I walked through the door
my fears were gone and I became a member
of the family. Despite the immense language
barrier, we found ways to communicate and
learn from each other and break down our
misconceptions of each other. I only wish
more Americans could have this opportunity
because experiences like this can do wonders
in changing the hateful perceptions that many
Americans have towards Muslims and Arabs.
A part of me will always be in Almkafteh,
and I hope I will be able to revisit my family
again soon.
Janessa can be reached at
jlschilmoeller@stkate.edu.
November 8, 2010
It’s Greek
to Me
• A look at the popular
Uptown establishment
By Devon Arndt
staff writer
In honor of the international edition
of The Wheel, I ventured into Uptown
Minneapolis to try some authentic Greek
food at It’s Greek to Me.
It’s Greek to Me was established in 1982
by a family of first-generation Americans.
The restaurant’s owners, Arisarambadjis
Arambadjis and his sister Sula Papilidis
have spent much of their lives making the
restaurant what it is today. Their dishes are
inspired by the recipes they grew up with
and most of the staff members are extended
family, including Denise Arambadjis, the
restaurant’s host (and Arisarambadjis’ spouse).
According to Denise, the two met while
working in restaurants in Chicago, Illinois.
He was a cook and she was a waitress. They
married, moved to Minneapolis, and opened
the restaurant in Uptown.
One of their favorite parts of being in
Uptown has been watching the neighborhood
evolve. The area used to consist of auto
shops and industrial businesses. Now, over
the last decade, the area has become popular
due to the many theaters, music clubs, and
restaurants that have been built there.
“I am really proud of this neighborhood
now. It has a fun vibe that seems to attract
many college students,” Denise said.
Upon arrival at It’s Greek to Me, I was
whisked away into another country. The
restaurant’s ambiance reflected the owner’s
Greek heritage. Large murals depicting scenes
of Greek villages adorned the walls and
the dimmed lighting enhanced the relaxed
atmosphere.
To start, I ordered the saganaki, which is
commonly referred to as flaming cheese. It
consists of Kasseri cheese dipped in egg batter
and cooked to a golden brown. The waiter
lights the cheese on fire upon arrival, making
It’s Greek to Me offers an ambience that mimics traditional Greek atmosphere.
Photos by Dana Bloomquist.
FEATURES
It’s Greek to Me
626 West Lake St.
Minneapolis, MN 55408
(612) 825-9922
it gooey and warm. The melted cheese was
accompanied by warm pita bread and tasted
unlike anything I had had before.
Next, I ordered the satyricon, a vegetarian
combo plate consisting of moussaka (sliced
eggplant, zucchini and potatoes layered in
a mixture of onions, peppers, mushrooms,
tomatoes, parsley, celery, and garlic), stuffed
pepper, spinach pie, and dolmades (stuffed
grape leaves).
I ended the meal with baklava, a traditional
Greek pastry of chopped walnuts, sugar and
cinnamon between layers of filo dough, baked
to a crispy golden brown and topped with a
honey-sugar syrup. Even for someone who
grew up eating Middle Eastern food, I was
impressed by the baklava. It was definitely
some of the best I have ever eaten.
The prices were reasonable considering
the large meal portions, and the menu was
extensive. If you are unsure of what to order,
just ask one of the servers, who will gladly
recommend a dish for you.
If you choose to venture off campus to try
some Greek cuisine, consider stopping by It’s
Greek to Me for an authentic Greek meal.
Don’t forget the baklava.
Devon can be reached at dvarndt@stkate.edu.
The Wheel | 5
Film Review:
“Raajneeti”
• Affairs of the state
By Hannah France
staff writer
Tip O’Neil told us, “all politics is local,” which, I guess, can also be applied to the Indian
democratic system. “Raajneeti” is the story of the Pratap family, who comprises a single,
powerful political party in India. In the midst of an election, the president of the Rashtrawadi
party, Bhanu Pratap, collapses on stage during a speech. He is unfit to lead the party to
another victory and appoints his brother, Chandra Pratap, and one of his three nephews,
Prithviraj Pratap, as acting party president. Another nephew, Veerendra Pratap, becomes
very jealous, believing that he should be in Chandra’s position, and enlists support from
the Dalit leader Sooraj Kumar, appointing him to a position of power.
With the help of Sooraj, Veerendra has Chandra shot and killed on his return from the
airport after seeing his other son, Samar Pratap. The drama escalates when the police
arrest Prithvi, with Veerendra’s influence, for the rape of a female party member. Samar
comes to his brother’s rescue, promising to put off the charges while he puts off his return
to America and his American girlfriend Sarah. As a political strategy, Prithvi says he will
resign from the party and says that he is ready to move with Samar and his mother to
America. Once Veerendra agrees and Prithvi is released from jail, Prithvi starts to rally
public support despite his resignation.
After Bhanu has officially expelled Prithvi from the party, Prithvi and Samar split from
the Rashtrawadi party to form the new party Jana Shakt to contest in the election. Their
uncle, Brij Gopal, breaks his ties with the Rashtrawadi when they do and becomes mentor
to Prithvi in his quest to win the election.
Samar’s girlfriend Sarah, impatient with Samar taking too long to come back to America,
comes to India to see the political action that is taking place. However, Samar’s old childhood
friend Indu is in love with Samar but Samar loves Sarah, creating an intense love triangle.
Meanwhile, the full out war between the two parties, the two sides of the family, rages
on throughout the rest of the movie. If I go on to reveal anymore, it would spoil the rather
twisted plot ending that is devastating to both parties and a surprise to everyone in the
film and the audience.
This film is an exciting and dark look at India’s corrupt political system. While India is very
proud of its democratic system, a study in 2005 conducted by Transparency International
found that over 50 percent of the population admitted to being bribed or paid off to either
run for office or vote for a specific candidate. In July 2008, the Washington Post reported
that almost one-fourth of Indian parliament members face criminal charges such as human
trafficking, immigration rackets, embezzlement, rape, and even murder.
The combination of romance, action, and plot twists, and a fabulous musical score to
accent the action scenes creates a unique movie experience, especially because of some of the
more racy scenes. Kissing is not often seen in Hindi films because it’s not part of the culture
to have public displays of affection. In Delhi there is a $12 public kissing fine. “Raajneeti”
pushed boundaries by having at least three kiss scenes and a couple of bedroom scenes.
Indian critics also commented on the unnecessary amount of violence. Most Americans
wouldn’t blink at any of these scenes, but in India it’s a bigger deal. This is the first Hindi
language film I’ve seen that has pools of blood and intensely intimate scenes.
The only drawback of “Raajneeti” is that the movie is three hours long, which, if you’re an
impatient moviegoer, could be a hard aspect to get past. But if you can make it through the
first 30 minutes, you’ll be sucked in by director Prakash Jha’s skillful narration to the end.
“Raajneeti” is hardly the only foreign film worth seeing this year. A series of critically
acclaimed international films have begun making the rounds in the United States.
Other 2010 foreign films of note this year include Germany’s “The White Ribbon.” “The
White Ribbon,” set in a German village just before the beginning of WWI, strange events
foreshadow the events of the coming war.
Italy’s “Baaria” is an autobiographical film, with beautiful cinematography, of director
Giuseppe Tornatore.
France’s “Heartbreaker” is a romantic comedy where a professional breaker-upper of
couples falls for the girl.
Another French film, “Coco Chanel and Igor Stravinsky” features Audrey Tautou in a
story of Chanel’s love affair with the composer Stravinsky.
The last movie I’ll mention is sure to be a thrill with Kazuaki Kiriya, director of “Casshern,”
putting a Japanese twist on the classic Robin Hood style story. Japan’s “Goemon” is the
story of a ninja bandit−that’s all you need to know.
Hannah can be reached at
hefrance@stkate.edu.
Top Grossing Foreign Films
in the United States
1. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (Taiwan, 2001)
2. Life is Beautiful (Italy, 1999)
3. Hero (China, 2004)
4. Pan’s Labyrinth (Spain, 2006)
5. Amélie (France, 2001)
6. Jet Li’s Fearless (China, 2006)
7. Il Postino (Italy, 1995)
8. Like Water for Chocolate (Mexico, 1993)
9. La Cage Aux Folles (France, 1979)
10. Kung Fu Hustle (China/Hong Kong, 2005)
11. The Motorcycle Diaries (Argentina, 2004)
12. Ponyo (Japan, 2008)
13. Iron Monkey (China/Hong Kong, 2002)
14. Monsoon Wedding (India, 2001)
15. Y Tu Mama Tambien (Mexico, 2001)
6 | The Wheel FEATURES November 8, 2010
 
awake and aware to start this SS: The dress. SS: Yeah, a lot. I forgot to bring my

Roundtable: new program and meet these

new people.
 
 
SH: How do you usually dress when
you’re home?
dictionary; I [told] one of my professors
that I’m having difficulty with American
terms, and he told me, “You don’t have
SS: When did you go to   a dictionary?” And I told him no, and

From Nepal to
Nepal?
 
SH: I left in late January, and
I was there until mid-May.
I was actually in Nepal, and
SS: Casual. There’s not the restriction that
you should be covered everywhere but I
prefer being so. Here, it’s so cold; those
short skirts are strange for me.
 
he’s lending [one to] me. I’m so happy
for that. Everyone is so helpful and so
supportive.
 
In English Communication [in Nepal], it

the Midwest... then Bhutan, and then in

India.
 
SH: Yeah, I remember when it was just
starting to warm up in Nepal when I
first got there and I came from such cold
was not what I’m doing right now because
we just study inside the book, not outside.
But here, speaking in English, I never did
SS: That’s great. What was weather. [I] was wearing T-shirts and it before.

and back
the program? things and my Tibetan mom was like,  
  “Wear a sweater; you’re going to get sick if SH: You’ve never communicated in
SH: SIT. It wasn’t technically you don’t wear a sweater in the house!” English before?
through St. Kate’s that I    
was studying abroad but Do you know Pharping? It’s in Nepal, SS: No, no.
it’s an affiliated program, outside of Kathmandu. We went for a  
and they have programs in four day stay and we were given this list of SH: Well you’re great at it.
a lot of different countries places that we had to go to. It was so early  
throughout the world. Their in the morning; we didn’t know where we SS: Oh, thanks. Most people admire that
theme is non-traditional were going or what to expect. We knew I speak English in this way. They ask me,
education, experiential there were going to be sacrifices and we “When did you learn this?” And I cannot
learning. We weren’t enrolled kept seeing people walk past with goats answer because I never used it.
in a university; we had and chickens.  
local teachers come and   SH: That’s really impressive. There were
Sarah Hollows is a senior who studied abroad teach us in this schoolhouse SS: Something like a sacrifice to god? moments when I was in Nepal and I
in Nepal and India in the spring of 2009. in Boudha. It wasn’t a   would meet a Tibetan and be so excited
traditional school house; it SH: Yeah, a sacrifice to Kali. It was really to use some of my Tibetan language even
Sristi Sadashanlcar is an international was just a house and there neat to see. It was kind of a humbling though I knew so little because there
student from Nepal studying environmental were Tibetan nuns that lived experience, to think about from a was so much else we were learning with
science at SCU for the 2010-2011 school year. upstairs.
 
These two SCU students sat down to I’d like to learn Nepali. The
share their experiences about Nepali and handful of words I know are
Tibetan culture and traditions, as well as how to say hello and thank
to discuss life in the United States. you. Which, nobody really
likes when you say thank
you, right? It’s not a very
SH: What do you miss the most about common thing.
Nepal?  
  SS: No, no, not common.
SS: The food.    
  SH: I got a lot of weird looks. I was
SH: I miss that. so excited to learn this one word and
everyone was like…
How’s your home stay experience here?  
  SS: It’s something that is so formal that
SS: They’re so good to me. I don’t feel like people do not easily accept it. They do not
I’m away from my home. They have two like being so formal.
kids adopted from Nepal, so that’s good.  
But they were here since they’ve been very SH: Another thing I learned right away
little. I expected them to speak Nepali, but was how often I apologize for things. Both
they speak [only] English. in Nepali and Tibetan culture it was like, A crowd gathering on the Boudha Stupa participating in/observing a protest
  “Why are you apologizing for things? below. Photos submitted by Sarah Hollows.
SH: Are they trying to learn Nepali? Don’t worry about it.”
   
SS: The girl, she wants to know everything SS: In Nepal, we don’t do that. We say perspective of the US and how we treat Tibetan language and it’s not an easy
I do, what I wear. When I speak, she stares what we feel to the person and the person animals and sacrifice and worship language to learn. There were times when
at me: “What are you speaking?” understands what’s happening. in general, [especially] coming from I would try to speak Tibetan, and even
    a Catholic college. I’m not Catholic though I knew I only knew so little, they
SH: Do you miss speaking Nepali? Have SH: Do you feel like you’ve picked up on but coming from that experience was were so encouraging.
you met many Nepali-speaking people a lot of those subtle custom things? What interesting.  
here? are some others you feel?   SS: [In Nepal] the main religion is Hindu.
  Where do you live in Kathmandu? So when I came here it was different.
SS: No, I don’t miss   Lots of people are Muslim and lots are
[it] at all. SS: In Thankot. Have you gone there? Christian. They ask me, “What is your
  main theme in your religion?” I don’t
My parents call me SH: I think I went through there in a taxi, know because we [believe] in general
time and again, at one point. that...every religion says that you should
sometimes early   be good, and you should not do bad to
in the morning, SS: That is the place where most of the others. That’s the main thing we know.
sometimes late night, traffic jams occur and lots of accidents.  
because the time   SH: It’s interesting to think about the
difference is very SH: It was like a video game, crossing the similarities amongst different cultures.
far, 13 hours. The streets. So many people on motorcycles.  
first few days were   Do you feel like there should be more
difficult for me. SS: It’s the main system. people from the United States studying
    abroad in Nepal?
SH: Did you have SH: One day I saw a family of five people  
extreme jet-lag? on a motorcycle. SS: Yeah they should.
     
SS: Yeah, I slept all SS: A few years ago there was a system, SH: If you could try and persuade an
morning and [was] like, there can’t be more than two [people] American student, what would you say?
up all night. on a bike.  
    SS: I think you should also go there
SH: When I got to SH: What was school like [in Nepal?] and see how the life is over there, so
Kathmandu, I think   that whenever some person from Nepal
I’d been traveling SS: In Nepal it’s like people go to their comes over here you could be familiar
more than 24 hours class, study, the teachers speak to them, [with their] problems. That was such a
straight, and then and whatever is in the book they just difficult time for me and it will be for any
I had to wait at go with the book. And here it’s totally international student...so they should
the airport for six different. People are interacting, even the know about us. And not just study, study,
hours for my entire class doesn’t look like a class; it’s just like a study; there’s lots of things that you can
program to collect talk show. We write and write and write in explore.
there. It was nine in Nepal, but here it’s type, print it out, and  
the morning when Title Photo: A yak in Khumbu. it’s different.  
I got there, so I was Above: A Tibetan nun just outside Kathmandu at the    
exhausted and I had anniversary protest of China’s occupation of Tibet. SH: Have you had help?  
this whole day to be    
 
 
 
November 8, 2010 FEATURES The Wheel | 7

Roundtable: West Africa welcome

Tréza Rosado spent fall semester of her
junior year in Accra, Ghana. Over the
course of five months, she maintained a
blog about her adventures in West Africa
and also contributed a column for the
Wheel.
Carmen Attikosie is a first-year whose
family is originally from Togo; she and
her family moved to the United States in
2000. She hopes to return to Togo this
summer with her mother. It will be her
first visit to Togo since she left.
Jordyn Arndt is a senior who has spent a
significant amount of time abroad while
at St. Kate’s. She spent one semester
in Senegal and another semester in
Morocco; she has also spent time in Mali
and in Egypt.

The three students sat down to discuss their fond memories of West Africa and to share our similar and divergent experiences as students abroad.

T: Carmen, do you want to start us out?
C: I remember a little [about Togo]. My
mother was a secretary. She worked for
one of the largest companies there. My
father was a journalist. So I didn’t really
get to see my father much because he was
always working; he was very close to the
government.
My dad is a very political man; he loves
politics a lot. One of the reasons we came
to the United States was because my father
was voicing out against the government...
and my dad wanted us to leave before
things got out of control and they came
for us or tried to hurt us.
T: Does your family talk a lot about life in
Togo?
Top Right: Basket weaving straws amuse a kitten.
Above: A CIEE student shows children a video of
themselves in the village outside Mole park.
C: Yeah, it’s constant. My aunt...not a day
goes by when she [doesn’t] mention Togo,
how much freedom she had. She talks
about how life there was just fun and that
here it’s not the same. Everything is re-
stricted, you know. She says there’s more
order here than anything.
My mom says that when I graduate from
college, she’s gonna retire back in Togo
and my dad says the same thing. And they
probably will; I know they will.
T: When are you planning to go back
there?
C: This summer, hopefully...with my
mom, my aunt, my 8-year old cousin
(who knows nothing about Togo), and
my brother. I’m excited but at the same
time it’s like, it’s been so long...people I
haven’t seen since I was 8. People that I
don’t even remember but [who] seem to
remember me.
T: Have [your parents] talked about some
of the challenges of coming to the States
and what it’s been like to be an immigrant
here?
C: Yeah, it’s been hard. When my father
came, he wasn’t able to get the job he was
doing back in Togo. My father doesn’t
like his job but I know he does it because
he wants us to have a good future. My
mother [is] doing well; she went back to
school.
I know it was a struggle for my parents to
bring us here because of the fee you had
to pay. My dad came in ‘99 and I came in
2000, with my mother. My brother was
originally going to go on the trip with us,
both of my brothers, but their visa got
stolen. My mom didn’t see my brother
until he was 12. I knew it tore at my
mother a lot.
_________________________________
J: I don’t know how to follow that!
T: Well, why Senegal?
J: I had been working at a French lan-
guage immersion camp in Bemidji--Con-
cordia Language Villages in Lac-Du-Bois.
There’s a lot of staff members from
Africa and a lot of them are
from Senegal, in particular, and
Cameroon. There’s also a lot of
American staff that have studied
abroad in Africa; there’s one
in particular who had done a
program in Senegal and she just
had great reviews of it.
I really think of my life as ‘pre’
and ‘post’ that particular study
abroad experience just because
it had such an impact on me. I
didn’t really know what to ex-
pect and went with a very open
mind...It just blew me away.
T: That’s totally how I feel
about Ghana too. There was
my life before Ghana and now
there’s my life post-Ghana.
That’s how significant it was for
me.
J: I’ve travelled a lot and I’ve
done multiple study abroad
programs but it’s definitely
Senegal that’s made the greatest
impact on me.
T: Why do you think that is?
J: I really don’t know. It’s something I’m
still trying to figure out. I recently got
back from Morocco and I enjoyed it quite
a bit but it just didn’t leave me with the
same impact.
C: You know what I like about Senegal?
The Senegalese braids. Those people can
braid.
T: The women in Ghana...that was such
a huge part of their lives! When my host
mom went to get her hair done...she
would go to church and then get her hair
done and we would not see [her] from 7
in the morning to 7 at night. She was just
so proud. It was an event, getting her hair
done.
C: It took me a really long time to be
able to braid. My mother used to tell me,
“There are two things you need to know
to marry a Togolese man: [how to] cook
and you have to know how to braid so
when you have kids you can braid their
hair.”
I just told her I wasn’t going to marry a
Togolese man.
_________________________________
T: [Jordyn], what was it like for you being
an obviously American girl in Senegal?
J: I had a lot of young men who were
really excited to talk to me. And I got a lot
of marriage proposals.
C: Did you get those too, [Tréza]?
T: Yes! They were always so endearing!
J: “Oh you’re studying here! You like
learning about Senegalese culture? Can
you cook? Are you married?” So I just
started lying and saying I was married...
T: I felt like I was just the most beautiful
woman in the world when I was in Ghana
because I just could not go a day without
men throwing the most fantastic, verbose
compliments at me. It was brilliant, abso-
lutely brilliant.
_________________________________
T: What was the most significant part of
your trip? Was there something that really
defined your experience in Senegal?
J: I went into the program thinking I
would get a lot out of the classes. And I
took really interesting classes. But then
slowly, as time went on, spending my
weekends travelling or hanging out with
my Senegalese friends...or just talking to
people and going to the markets and just
learning about the culture through im-
mersion was so much more meaningful.
The only time [my host dad] interacted
with me was in the evenings; he worked
in a bank all day long. It [would be] after
dinner...time for me to go talk to Papa. I’d
go up to his room and just sit down next
to him and ask him about anything. He’d
[ask], “What was different today that you
noticed in your life in the US versus your
life in Senegal? “What did you learn in
class that you want to know more about?”
[He] would really have me explore
these things that might have just gone
by without me noticing. As a result, my
French got a lot better and I learned a lot
more about the culture through speaking
to people than I did in formal academic
study. I think that just had a huge impact
on me.
_________________________________
T: Kids come to college. They plan on
studying abroad. They usually pick places
like Spain or London or France or some-
thing. Why should they choose, say, West
Africa over Western Europe?
Above: Treza Rosado poses with a traditional woven hat, a gift from ad-
opted family, also pictured. Photos submitted by Treza Rosado.
J: Because one-third of the world lives
like the United States: Western Europe,
Australia, and Japan. Two-thirds lives, for
the most part, like people do in West Af-
rica and I don’t think it’s fair for someone
to think this is how the world works, this
is how the culture works, this is how the
economy works...when that’s really not
the case for the majority of the world’s
population. That’s just one reason.
And it’s just fascinating to learn about a
totally different culture, totally different
languages, different food, different every-
thing. I think you just come out as a more
well-rounded person, more aware.
T: I think [it was] the pace. I think if
there’s something that I came out of that
really changed me as a person, it was the
pace of life there. In such a positive way.
I’ve always been such an anal-retentive,
super busy...kind of person and I still am!
But I feel like I’m internally more even-
keeled because I remember [that] not
everywhere in the world runs by the same
clock. And just because we run by this
one doesn’t mean it’s the only one or the
right one.
C: I want to explore when I go back to
Senegal this summer. I keep telling my
mother to take me to the villages. I want
to learn everything; I want to see every-
thing. I”m so curious. I told my mother
to take me to her village, where she comes
from, where my ancestors come from. I
just want to know.
8 | The Wheel FEATURES November 8, 2010

Student Spotlight:
Kanykei Kerimkulova
•SCU senior takes on DC empowering for Kerimkulova. By seeing
Sudoku
firsthand how and why people in government
The name “Sudoku” is Japanese, however, Sudoku traces its
By Tréza Rosado and Rachel are coming up with policies, Kerimkulova
origins to Europe and America. The game represents one cul-
Armstroni was able to connect what she had been
ture’s creation being absorbed and appreciated by another.
learning in the classroom at SCU to policy
Kanykei Kerimkulova, a senior international at a national and international levels. Directions: Fill in the grid so that each row, column, and 3x3 square
business and economics major at St. Catherine “Sitting in the classroom and studying is contains the numbers 1-9. Each number can only be used once per
University (SCU), was recently awarded a one experience where you just learn all those row, column, or square.
Public Leadership Education Network (PLEN) theories. When you actually talk about why
scholarship. PLEN is a national organization developing countries are not developing...I got
with a focus on women in leadership. This empowered; I [was] impressed.  Now I want to
opportunity allowed Kerimkulova to travel work for the government,” Kerimkulova said.
to Washington, D.C., for a week to experience Before a job in government, however,
how public policy is enacted at a national level. Kerimkulova has a few other plans.
For Kerimkulova, it was an eye-opening “This summer I am hopefully going to go
experience. Each day, the students heard back home Kyrgystan and get an internship
speakers from different government [in] Foreign Affairs.  Then I can do my grad
departments such as the World Bank, the school, finish, and then come back,” she said.
International Monetary Fund (IMF), and “I’m thinking of grad school in London [for]
the United Nations. my master’s.  
Kerimkulova also was able to connect with Kerimkulova encourages SCU students
Clara R. Burgert, a previous student at SCU. to apply to the PLEN program.
“She’s from US AID.  She had been to Haiti “It is possible, you just have to try and do
and so she was talking about her experiences it.  It would be just fantastic if we can come
there.   She knew that there was going to be up with more financial support for these
one [SCU] student so she found me and we kinds of programs because they are very
had lunch together.  We had a really good beneficial,” Kerimkulova said. “I’ve learned
conversation; she was asking a lot about a lot; [my] whole understanding of not just
[SCU].  It was really nice of her to find me international policy but about the world
and spend some time with me,” Kerimkulova expanded so much.  Now when I sit in the
said of Burger. classroom, everything I learn, I connect with
In addition to Burgert’s presentation that [experience].”
about Haiti, Kerimkulova was also able to  
hear from other prominent women leaders. Rachel can be reached at rmarmstrong@stkate.edu
“We got to meet with Congresswoman
Barbara Lee. She gave a wonderful speech.  Her
speech included everything; she
answered all the questions,”
Kerimkulova,“U.S. Department
of State was another interesting
part of the whole seminar.  We
got to meet with interesting
people who actually deal with
international relations, like
the United States with North
Korea, the United States with
Afghanistan.”
The focus on women was
particularly important to
Kerimkulova. The trip provided
her and other scholarship
recipients with the chance to
hear from successful women
leaders in government.
“All of us had questions
about how you [can] combine
that with having a family,
having kids, and everything,”
Kerimkulova said.  “They [told
us], ‘of course it’s hard but you
can do it as long as you have
passion for what you do.  You
can make it.’  They [talked]
about the role of women not
just in the United States but
in the whole world and how
all those organizations have
an impact on women all over Kerimkulova with SCU alum Clara R. Burgert in Washington,
the world.” D.C. Photo submitted by Kanykei Kerimkulova.
This experience was Puzzles from http://web-sudoku.info/printable-sudoku-puzzles.php.

Submission:
field workers to administer my surveys, all advice and commentary and feeling like your private event or that sanitary spaces will be
while retaining the freedom to pursue my capacity as a parent is being questioned is available.  I’ve feigned interest in shops just
own research.   a constant challenge for any mother.  Few to be able to use their clean, air-conditioned

Life in India I have learned so much about the importance

• An SCU alum abroad
By Ali Palacios
After two months in India, the Fulbright
is proving to be a tremendous experience,
both academically and personally.  I cannot
overstate my satisfaction with this research
opportunity.  I am currently at the Institute
of Rural Research and Development (IRRAD)
where I have the formality of nine-to-five
workdays and the title of “intern,” yet I am in
charge of my own project.  With IRRAD, I am
doing a micro-level project about agriculture,
gender, and food security.  I could not have
asked for a more perfect situation; I get the
guidance of a knowledgeable supervisor, access
to IRRAD’s resources such as translators and
of field research and seeing the situation on
the ground.  Everything about designing a
study, from specifying objectives to creating
a satisfactory survey, has proven to be more
complicated than it appeared.  The experience
of working with an organization that assesses
needs and then designs, implements, and
assesses development projects is invaluable;
one becomes immersed in nuances such as
building trust and true collaboration with the
community, finding practical ways to address
gender inequality without upsetting progress,
and making projects truly sustainable.
The biggest challenge that I am facing
is definitely that of being a mother who
is obviously a foreigner and without a
husband.  Since he could not come, my friend
and fellow SCU alumna Sarah Stockholm
jumped at the chance to live in India for
awhile and help take care of my 8-month
old son, Oliver.  Dealing with unsolicited
days go by without hearing about how he
shouldn’t be using a pacifier.  People ask
“Where is his father?” quite a bit and openly
frown on my working instead of being at
home; I’ve had to strike a delicate balance
between being respectful of beliefs here while
representing my culture and not apologizing
for my choices.
There are pros and cons when it comes
to raising a child here versus in the United
States.  First, as obvious foreigners Oliver
and I often attract a level of attention that
is overwhelming when we find ourselves
surrounded by people touching Oliver’s hands,
feet, and cheeks, and snapping pictures.  At
the same time, people here love babies, so
Oliver can be an “in” to cultural experiences
that I otherwise would not have had.  Apart
from the attention, traveling or just being
out and about with a baby is more difficult
here because I cannot take for granted that
breastfeeding or diaper changing will be a
space.  I’ve also changed Oliver on the floor
of the metro station.  Balancing between
work and family is easier here since it is
so common to employ help to cook, clean,
and do laundry; I can enjoy time at home
without the domestic fuss.
No travel story could be complete without
funny misunderstandings, so here are a few
of mine: asking for diapers and getting maxi
pads, taking ice-cold showers for weeks and
boiling water for Oliver’s baths because I was
unaware that I just needed to flip a switch
to heat the water and was too sheepish to
complain, resorting to hand gestures while
trying to explain to a male coworker what
my breastpump was, and pouring dessert
all over my food because I thought it was
raita (yogurt sauce).
Ali Palacios is an SCU alumna who
graduated in 2008 with honors in economics
and international relations.
November 8, 2010 FEATURES The Wheel | 9

Submission: Brightening International,

the CDC Ballroom on Nov. 17th starting at
5:30 p.m.
Another event MSA has held in the past

international admissions interfaith is a spoken word night, partnering up

with the Asian Student Association, Black
Student Association, and Latina Student
• A profile of Aimee • Muslim students pro- Association.  This event allowed anyone to
come and perform, celebrating the variety
Thostenson mote dialogue of traditions that make up our student body. 
By Becky Doucette “I think one of my favorite parts about
By Nhi Phan staff writer [Spoken Word Night] was that we had a lot
of students from the Minneapolis campus
“People were born in a situation,  Although St. Catherine University (SCU) come over and attend,” Hassan said.
a place, a body, and a family. These is founded on a Catholic faith, this campus This year there will be a movie night
expresses a wide variety of faith traditions featuring “Crossing Borders” in collaboration
things contribute to make you who both by students and faculty.  The Muslim with the Office of Global Studies.  Hassan is
you are. However, within that space, Student Association (MSA), which began in excited for this event. “We will be watching
you can make your own choices the 2003 -2004 academic year, is a growing and discussing the movie and eating dinner
to draw a clearer image of your organization here at SCU. at the beginning of the night which will be
“The mission [of MSA] is to have an followed by prizes, henna, calligraphy, music,
identity.” These are the words of environment in which we can express and and fun!” Hassan said.
Aimee Thostenson, assistant director embrace our faith freely as well as try to reach   MSA has been a means of acceptance
of International Admission at St. out to non-Muslims to come join MSA, not for Muslim students at a school grounded
only to learn about our faith, but to break in Catholic traditions.  Upon arriving at this
Catherine University (SCU).
any misconceptions that anyone may carry school as a first-year this semester, Saleh
Optimism, honesty, and loyalty about Islam,” first-year Afaf Saleh, President opens up on her experience as a Muslim
are three words that Thostenson of MSA, said.   student on campus.
used to describe herself. She always Sophomore Hanan Hassan, Vice President “At first I was unwilling [to come to
of MSA, also reflects on its mission.    SCU] because I felt as though I would lose
looks on the positive side of things. “Our mission is to educate people about part of my faith by attending a Catholic
Harry Truman once said, “A the Islamic faith and be good representatives school.  I felt that there would be no one
Aimee Thostenson, assistant director of Inter-
pessimist is one who makes of our religion. Additionally, we want to who would be in the same boat as I was,
national Admission. Photo courtesy of Aimee
difficulties of his opportunities be a well-known and an involved club on and in result, I felt uneasy.  But because we
Thostenson.
campus,” Hassan said. have an organization such as MSA, which I
and an optimist is one who makes Sia Vang, the faculty adviser of MSA since would never have thought would exist within
opportunities of his difficulties.” 2005, expresses how this organization provides a Catholic school, I can honestly say that I
a great support system for Muslim students. looked forward into coming here and sharing
Perhaps being an optimist has made Thostenson the easy-going and caring person she is. “Through MSA, Muslim women maintain my story while embracing the atmosphere
Thostenson was born and raised in a small town in Wisconsin where almost everyone and increase their faith in a university of those who can relate,” Saleh said.
was similar to each other. The people there farmed and worked in industries. However, environment, express their creativity, and    “One thing that I have found in my time
Thostenson had a bigger worldview as a wider perspective than the people of her hometown. develop leadership…it gives a voice for at St. Kate’s is that there are many parallels
Muslim students on campus to express and between Catholic social teaching and Islamic
A study abroad experience in Indonesia contributed to the development of her true self. break misconceptions by teaching the true code in terms of accepting of others, searching
Indonesians made a lot of assumptions about Thostenson without knowing her, but she meaning of Islam: peace,” Vang said. for truth, fulfilling civic duty, and living
still knew who she was and did not try to act like someone else. In this past semester MSA has increased honestly,” Hannan said. “I believe that most
in numbers partially because of first-year of the faculty and students at St. Kate’s are
Each person defines the word “happiness” in different ways. Some say they are happy if
students. open-minded, well informed individuals who
they are wealthy. Others believe being grateful and thankful will bring people happiness. At “We have a great group this year and we are committed to preserving the beauty of
a high school reunion, Thostenson met her old friend who is a lawyer working in Chicago hope that our numbers will continue to cultural and religious differences.  When a
now. He was not that happy even though he made lots of money. Money brought him a grow. One thing that I’m really impressed non-Muslim member asks a question about a
with is the excitement and charisma that the particular tradition or cultural norm it forces
convenient life, but not a delightful one. first-years have brought to the group. They the Muslim members to reflect on their own
“Why would you spend your life doing something that you hate?” Thostenson asked as have really been at the forefront of bringing beliefs, which I find to be very reaffirming.”
she recalled her friend’s story. other students to meetings and getting the  Saleh mentions that there is always room for
Not everyone is lucky enough to have a job they enjoy and can earn a lot of money from. word out about MSA,” Hassan said.  more members, no matter their background. 
The major event MSA holds annually is the “It does not matter what race you are or
Indeed, the responsibilities of taking care of a family can force some people to do what they Noor Al-Amar celebration.  The turnout in what faith you believe in, as long as you are
do not love. Fortunately, Thostenson found a job related to her studies where she could past years has been between 150 to 200 people interested to be a part of MSA or are just
make enough money to support her family. Her parents, husband, and six-year-old son, to celebrate the “light of the moon.”  This simply willing to acknowledge and  learn
event is not celebrating a specific holiday, both our culture and religion, our doors are
Charlie, are her supporters in life. After a long day, going home and playing with Charlie
but an event to “celebrate the true meaning wide open for you to come in!” Saleh said.
makes Thostenson feel better. Money cannot guarantee people a happy life, but a few good of Islam, which is peace,” Vang said.  The  
supporters can bring people happiness. event does have a variety of activities that
Thostenson has been able to meet people from all over the world since she was young. range from henna to a fashion show, from  Becky can be reached at
bingo to ethnic foods.   rjdoucette@stkate.edu.
Her mom worked at a university and was a globally minded person. She signed up for “The goal of Noor Al-Amar is to expose
the Family Friendship Program and so there were always a lot of people from different students to the Islamic religion in a celebratory
ethnicities, religions, and countries who came over to Thostenson’s house for dinner when and fun manner,” Hassan said.  
she was growing up. According to Aimee, her parents were the most influential people in This year Noor Al-Amar will be held in
her life. They gave her the idea of studying abroad and then majoring in anthropology
and international education.
Thostenson has been with SCU for 14 years. During that time, she has worked as an
administrative assistant for International Admission, International Admission specialist,
senior counselor for International Admission, and assistant director for International
Admission at SCU. She wants to give international students helpful experiences where
they could learn more about other cultures as well as improve their English.
“Hopefully, they will have the positive effects helping them get to the next step of their
lives, take the advantages and do a good job after they leave SCU,” Thostenson said. Yet,
Thostenson said she has benefited from interacting with people from all over the world,
such as being more open-minded and learning new things every day.
Thostenson is not only friendly, but also profound. I could see how excited and happy she
was when she talked about her study abroad experiences as well as her work. In addition, I
like her attitude toward the world. I think in her mind, our world is like a puzzle. Imagine
five children are trying to make a puzzle complete; they need to divide the work, help each
other out, and then put their work together. That is how the world should be.
The only difference between Aimee and me is I am not that optimistic like her. I always
see the negative part of things before seeing the positive one. However, after interviewing
her, I started to question myself, “Why not be positive?”

Nhi can be reached at nnphan@stkate.edu.

10 | The Wheel
Submission: An international
perspective on smiling
• Another look at the American reflex
By Afnan Alowayyid
Most people who travel abroad either as
international students or as immigrants face
some difficulties at the beginning in coping
with the new culture, people, and customs
that they are in. Experts discuss intercultural
communication stumbling blocks that foreign
students may experience in communicating
with people in a new culture, such as language,
nonverbal signs, the tendency to evaluate,
stereotypes and high anxiety. These blocks can
lead to miscommunication between people.
It takes some time before the foreigner
can understand the new culture and get
used to it. LaRay Barna in “Intercultural
Communication Stumbling Blocks” (2007),
provides an example of on type of nonverbal
sign that can lead to misunderstanding between
Family portraits
Students Afnan Alowayyid and Leslie Muzulu shared
family photos with the Wheel and the SCU community.
Right: Leslie Muzu-
lu’s local host family.
Below: Lelslie
Muzulu’s family in
Zimbabwe. Leslie is
third from right.
Photos submitted by
Leslie Muzulu.
FEATURES
some international students and Americans:
the smile. It is very natural in the US to see
people smiling to each other in the street,
schools, and malls which is not common
in some other countries, especially Asian
and Middle Eastern countries. According
to Barna, there are two different points of
view about the smile. First, Japanese, Korean
and Vietnamese students stated that there is
no reason for American students to smile at
them, because Americans don’t know them.
I used to share these students’ opinion, but
not anymore.
Before I came to the US, I always wanted
to smile at other people, yet this is not what
I’m used to. I regret that although smiling
is recommended by Islam and I will be
Left: Afnan Alowayyid
smiling with her hus-
band, in traditional
Saudi dress, and
daughter.
Photo submitted by
Afnan Alowayyid.
November 8, 2010
rewarded by God if I do it, we don’t smile
in Saudi Arabia as much as Americans do.
In fact, smiling might look strange not only
In general, I really respect what Americans
think about smiling and their reason for
smiling. I’m also happy to adopt this behavior.
between men and women, but also between
women themselves. If a woman smiled at
However, I don’t like the way Americans smile
when they don’t want to. A lot of times, I
another woman in Saudi Arabia, she might see someone smiling at me as if they have
think, “What does she want from me?” And to do it. They give an extremely fast smile,
she might go and ask her, “What are you then the smile disappears as fast as it came;
looking at?” or “do you like me?” they do it in less than a second.
However, there are some other people Now that I’m in the US I’m starting to
who are used to smiling and have a different adopt this beautiful habit of smiling; and I
opinion from some international students. like it. But I’m concerned about when I go
Barna gives an example of an American back to Saudi Arabia. What will people think
girl whose smiling is very important to her when they see me smiling at everyone that
because she says, “To me I can’t stop smiling. I meet? I’m not sure how will people react.
It’s just natural to be smiling and friendly”
(p. 67). So, she thinks that foreign people
are not friendly because they don’t smile at
other people.
In my opinion, the American girl can’t say Afnan can be reached at
that foreign people are not friendly because they afalowayyid@stkate.edu.
did not smile at her. She should understand
that smiling is not part of their culture and
they did not grow up smiling like she did. If
she tried to talk to the international students
or ask them questions, they would probably be
happy to give her the information she needs.
Listen local:
Listening
abroad
By Claire Davidson
music columnist
Through this column I’ve had the privilege of reviewing some great local
acts, bands that have made me proud to be from Minnesota. But as we all
know, the realm of good music extends beyond our hometown, beyond
what’s popular on the radio, and sometimes even beyond our own language.
    I am by no means bi-ingual (my high school-level Spanish borders
ever more on Spanglish) and my one foray outside of the United
States was a week-long stint in the hostels of Dublin, Ireland. Given
this, it may seem that I am not the ideal candidate to write for the
international issue. To that end all I can say is that I’d like to think being
aware of other cultures and learning about what makes them unique
is part of a healthy international education. On that basis I can share
some thoughts I have on the unexpected benefits of adding Juanes and
Carla Bruni to your iPod, regardless of your language background.
    It may be rhetorical to say that I’m a lover of languages: it doesn’t always
matter if I can identify or understand them, but on campus and beyond
the many words of the world fascinate me the same way. In popular
music particularly, the messages conveyed are usually more similar than
you’d imagine all over the world. As a tool for learning Spanish in high
school, a teacher of mine would play Juanes while we worked. If anyone
has any experience with the Columbian pop sensation (not to mention
Bono-esque humanitarian,) you can attest to the catchiness of his music
and the fact that a language barrier plays ultimately no role in letting
you appreciate his music.
I love what other languages bring to the table, the expressions and phrases
they have for which there is no English equivalent, the way they express the
same universal truths in a way only that language is able to. Anyone post-
breakup can relate to Juanes’“La Camisa Negra,” for example, without doing
any extensive translating. “Tengo la camisa negra, hoy mi amor está de luto,”
he sings, in doing so referencing the black shirt he wears to mourn a lost love.
    The popular Carla Bruni is another example of a world-renowned
pop singer who crosses language barriers easily, winning over listeners
from all over the globe with her honey-smooth vocals and soft-spoken
French ballads. Plenty of artists bring me to a certain mood but it’s only
French chanteuse Carla Bruni who I can sit and listen to for hours and feel
completely relaxed. The poetic “Quelqu’un m’a dit” finds Bruni waxing
sentimental on the passing of time. “On me dit que nos vies ne valent pas
grand chose,” she sings. “Elles passent en un instant comme fanent les
roses.” Roughly translated she refers to the passing of time like the wilting
of a rose, but in a manner only truly accessible in her own language.
    Whether rocking out to Juanes in the shower or having Carla Bruni
lull me to sleep with her beautiful French, I listen to these artists chiefly
because I enjoy their music but also because it keeps my ears open.
Repeated exposure to a language is the best way to learn it, and if you
can’t afford a plane ticket to France you can at least swing a few bucks
on iTunes in the international section. Exposure to other languages is
so essential, and the most natural of those exposures can be through
music. With the impacts of globalization we are now more than ever
an international community; and I can think of nothing better to bring
together people of all languages, countries and backgrounds than music.
Claire can be reached at cedavidson@stkate.edu.
November 8, 2010 HEALTH The Wheel | 11

Ask Katie: A picture of

practicing yoga regularly. Guzman says that
she now has a more balanced, aware and
understanding mind, is less stressed, and is

Holistic more patient. Physically, she now has fewer

health
• The Ask Katie! peer health
advisers answer your health-
related questions
Compiled by Dana Bloomquist
What is holistic health?
According to holistichelp.net, holistic
health is a wellness approach that takes into
account the body, mind, and spirit (they don’t
mean “spirit” in a religious sense; rather they
use it to describe the core of one’s self) of
a person—not just the physical symptoms.
Other terms for holistic health include
complementary, natural, or alternative
health. Most holistic health treatments
focus on balance and harmony in the life
of an individual.
What are the health benefits of yoga?
How do I get started with it?
First of all, let’s talk about what yoga is.
According to the American Yoga Association
(americanyogaassociation.org), the word
“yoga” means, in Sanskrit, to “join or yoke
together,” referring to the joining of the body
and mind. Yoga consists of three main areas:
exercise, breathing, and meditation. After
time, practitioners of yoga can experience a
“clear, bright mind and strong, capable body.”
Now that you know a little about how
yoga works, let’s talk a little about what
yoga can do for you. Osiris Guzman is the
yoga instructor at St. Catherine University
(SCU) and has personally benefited from
headaches than before, has experienced
increased flexibility and strength, and is less
frequently ill. Because yoga utilizes both
mind and body—and benefits both—it’s a
good example of a holistic health practice.
And the best thing of all? Almost anyone
can do yoga, and it’s offered for free at SCU!
The “Fit 4 Life” program on campus offers
a variety of classes for students, faculty, and
staff. Yoga is offered weekly. Guzman teaches
a yoga class every Thursday from 12:00 p.m.
to 1:00 p.m. in the aerobics dance studio in
Fontbonne Hall.
You can also start doing yoga exercises on
your own. Guzman suggests that spending
a few minutes each day simply sitting and
focusing on your breathing can help you
change your awareness of your body so that
it is more connected to your mind.
For more information on the benefits of
yoga and tips on how to begin practicing yoga,
check out yoga.about.com or yogabasics.com.
What are some good holisic/natural
remedies for UTI’s?
Urinary tract infections, or UTI’s, happen
when there are certain kinds of bacteria
in your urinary system (bladder, kidneys,
ureter). For more information on UTI’s,
including their symptoms and causes, check
out womenshealth.org/gov and search for
urinary tract infection.
UTI’s are treated with antibiotics, which
should be prescribed by a doctor. However,
there are some simple things you can do to
help prevent getting them and use along with
antibiotics when you have them.
•Water. Drinking lots of water when you
have a UTI can flush the system.
•Cranberries. Evidence suggests that
cranberries contain proanthocyanins,
which prevent bacteria from adhering
to the walls of the urinary system.
Drinking cranberry juice or cranberry
tea, or consuming actual cranberries
or cranberry extract tablets can help
prevent UTI’s from developing.
•Uva ursi. Uvar ursi is an herb
that contains arbutin, which is
excreted in the kidneys after being
broken down by the body and has
a cleansing effect.
•Avoid alcohol and sugar. Alcohol
and sugar can feed the bacteria that
are causing a UTI, so don’t consume
too much of either if you have one.
•Vitamin C. Consuming vitamin
C can increase the acidity of the
urine, which helps kill the bacteria
that cause UTI’s.
health: Global
maternity
By Lydia Fasteland
health columnist
Women’s bodies are designed to give birth.  This accepted all over the world.  However,
the methods in which women go about giving birth vary from country to country.  The
superstitions surrounding birth are also different in every country.  To celebrate international
week, here are some birthing superstitions and rituals from around the world.
In Guatemala, women who are having trouble giving birth are given a cocktail of boiled
purple onion and beer, which will help speed up the process.  After a birth, a woman is
given hot chocolate and sweet bread to eat, and for 24 hours is only allowed to drink hot
chocolate, hot water, and chamomile tea.  She is also made to stay in bed.
Mexico also has some interesting birthing traditions.  During pregnancy, women are
encouraged to stray from anything that has to do with death, such as attending funerals
or going to cemeteries.  Pregnant women are also discouraged from taking hot or cold
baths.  This is because cold water is believed cause joints and bones to become stiff and hard,
which then causes a prolonged birth.  Hot water, on the other hand, is what is believed to
cause varicose veins and other issues with the circulatory system.  It is also believed pregnant
women should limit sun exposure; too much heat will cause irritation to the developing
fetus.  It also recommended that women do not stand too close to a fire for the same reason.
The Inuit people believe that women should not wear a ring or braid their hair during
pregnancy because it will cause the baby to be born with the umbilical cord wrapped around
its neck.  Women who are expecting are also not allowed to blow up balloons or blow
bubbles when chewing gum; it is thought that these activities will not allow the membrane
that surrounds the baby in the womb to break, which would then prevent delivery.  Also,
when a baby is born, it is customary to greet the infant with a handshake.
Nutrition is very important to pregnant women in Japan: during pregnancy, women
increase their daily calcium intake.  Though the Japanese diet is quite healthy, women can
take extra care to eat even healthier.  A few typical parts of a pregnant woman’s diet in
Japan are shriasu, a small white fish which is high in calcium, and nori, also called seaweed.
In Bolivia, pregnant women are encouraged to not knit during pregnancy, for it is believed
that knitting will cause the umbilical cord to wrap around the baby’s neck.
If the placenta does not deliver, then salt is given to women in Peru.
Every culture has its own set of superstitions about giving birth, including the United
States.  For example, some Americans believe that to see a black cat before the delivery of
a baby means that there will be problems with the delivery.
Superstitious belief is all over the place and will continue to be practiced for many years
to come.
To find out more about superstitious beliefs that surround birthing practices, visit
Midwifery Today magazine’s website at www.midwiferytoday.com.
Lydia can be reached at lbfasteland@stkate.edu.
 

Please note that the Ask Katie!

advisers are not trained medical
professionals; contact your health care
provider with immediate questions
or concerns.
Do you have a question you want Above: students, faculty, and staff participate in a yoga class on campus at SCU.
answered? Look for the Ask Katie! Left: Osiris Guzman, the yoga instructor at SCU, strikes a peaceful pose.
stalls in your residence hall or email Photos by Dana Bloomquist.
healthwellness@st.kate.edu.

An unfair
Students are also migrating in order to Some European countries and the United abroad are China, South Korea, India, and
achieve a better education or one that they, States have been accused of “poaching” Japan. An estimated 2.6 million students
and their families, believe will better equip talent from Africa, meaning they actively studied abroad from these countries between

trade
• Exploring the reality of
brain drain
By Courtney Hampton
staff writer
Brain drain occurs when a country loses
its professional workers to another country
that may offer more by way of economic
stability, freedom from oppression, or just
a chance at improving one’s livelihood.
The prospect of better opportunities is
a tantalizing goal that many immigrants
cling to as they migrate across borders.
Those who are in professional fields—also
known as highly skilled workers—are more
likely to leave their country of origin for the
aforementioned reasons.
them for the global market. The issue that
arises is that a considerable number of those
who do immigrate do not return to their
countries. The loss of human capital due
to these migration patterns has been coined
“brain drain.”
The adverse effect of brain drain is that it
leaves countries severely lacking in professional
expertise. The prevalence of brain drain has
become so problematic for certain countries
that institutions such as the United Nations
have taken steps to look at the issue more
closely.
Those classified as highly skilled workers
are doctors, nurses, professors, engineers,
and the like whose work and expertise is
generally in high demand.
Africa is most impacted by brain drain. It
is estimated that one-third of the professional
and highly skilled workers have migrated
out of Africa into Western Europe and the
United States. This loss of human capital has
cost Africa around four billion dollars a year.
recruit workers in order to make use of their
services. Granted, the perceived freedom
and benefits that come with being employed
in a professional capacity in a developed
nation are difficult to ignore, especially if
one has a family to consider, which many
immigrants do.
For the Asiatic countries, the issue is not so
much a loss of professionals but of students.
Students who complete their education in
developed nations tend to stay and seek jobs
in their adopted countries, which can be seen
as another form of skilled migration. The
countries that students hail from tend to be
more developed so more time and money is
placed into ensuring they get into the best
schools abroad.  
The emphasis in these countries is on gaining
knowledge from the Western countries, and
then returning home to help build their native
economy, bring new ideas, aid in competing
in the global sphere, etc.
The main Asian countries that send students
the years of 1998 to 2003. That number has
increased the subsequent loss of profession
graduates does not bid well for the countries
that they originate from.
Thus far, China, South Korea, Japan, and
to an extent India, have made efforts to
combat brain drain from their countries
by promoting “brain circulation,” which
encourages highly skilled workers from
their native population to return, and can
involve recruiting professionals from other
countries into their labor force. This would
then encourage the exchange of human
capital, ideas, and information--instead of
a steady exodus of talent.
Courtney can be reached at
clhampton@stkate.edu.
 
12 | The Wheel SPORTS November 8, 2010

In defense
Cricket is a team sport for two teams The ball usually bounces once on the pitch immediately, so only one batsman can get out
of eleven players each. A formal game of before it reaches the striker (current batter). per ball. The batsman leaves the field and
cricket can last anywhere from an afternoon The striker has a chance to hit the ball another takes his place. The team captain

of Cricket
• A closer look at the un-
familiar sport
By Hannah France
staff writer
Cricket is a lively sport that originated in
England during the 16th century. The sport
developed and became popular throughout
Europe. The sport was made popular in
the 19th century in the United States when
the first international game of Cricket took
place between the United States and Canada.
Cricket is not a sport for only posh British
gents who say things like “cheerio!”
to five days. The basic concept of scoring
more runs than the other team during the
innings is similar to baseball, but the rules
are very different.
In cricket there are two batters up at once,
one on either side of the field. The batters
are trying to protect the wickets from falling
while the bowler and the fielders are trying
to knock them down. Each wickets is made
up of three stumps (wooden posts one inch
in diameter and 32 inches in length) and
two bails (wooden crosspieces which sit in
grooves atop the pairs of stumps). There
is a wicket at either end of the rectangular
field, one for each batter to protect.
The bowler is basically the pitcher. The
bowler runs up from behind the non-striker’s
(the batter not batting) wicket, passes to one
side of the wicket and bowls the ball when
he reaches the non-striker’s popping crease.
now. If he doesn’t, the wicket-keeper catches
it and the ball is complete. But if he hits it,
both batters run, switching places on the
field, which scores runs. The ball is complete
once the runs are completed.
The ball is considered to be in play from
the moment the bowler starts his run-up
and stays in play until any of several different
conditions occur. Once these conditions
occur, the ball is considered dead. Once
a bowler has completed six balls, another
member of the fielding team becomes the
bowler and bowls from the opposite side of
the field. This is called an over. Any member
of the fielding team is allowed to bowl as
long as no bowler bowls two consecutive
overs. Once a bowler begins an over, it must
be completed unless the bowler is injured.
Another possibility is for the batter to get
out. If the batsman gets out the ball is dead
can change the lineup of batsmen as he sees
fit; the order does not have to stay the same
each inning.
When ten batsmen are out, no new batsmen
remain to come in, and the inning is completed
with one batsman remaining not out. The
roles of the teams then swap, and the team
that fielded first gets to bat through an inning.
When both teams have completed the agreed
number of innings, the team that has scored
the most runs wins.
If you want to play or just check out what
a field looks like, the Minnesota Cricket
Association has a couple cricket fields in
Bryn Mawr Meadows Park in Minneapolis.
Hannah can be reached at
hefrance@stkate.edu.

We call it Soccer in the United States. But Futbol is an international phenomenon, played all over
the world. Jordyn Arndt, Steve Bellis, and Raine De Campeau share their experiences with the sport.

Jordyn: This summer, I went back to Dakar, Senegal. While in Dakar, I spent time with my host family and friends
from spring semester 2009. During my visit to Dakar, my host family and friends were preoccupied with the FIFA
World Cup. I am not a sports fan, by any means, but whenever an African team was playing against a European team,

Fútbol
I was marginally interested. I was rooting for Ghana, another West African country, due to the fact that Senegal was
not in the competition.

Whenever an African team would be up against the U.S., my Senegalese friends who ask me for which team I was
rooting. I would always reply that I was rooting for the African team. They were often shocked by this, because they
told me that the U.S. team would trump all and that I should really support my own team. The loved Americans and
loved the United States. So, the American soccer team became almost as big of a novelty during the World Cup as
Barak Obama and Akon.

The Coca Cola commercial with the waving flag became my favorite component of the entire soccer experience.
Despite linguistic setbacks, my friends sang along enthusiastically to the English lyrics. The highlight of the Coca Cola
commercial was the very end, when a car rapide comes rushing into the screen and brakes to a halt. It was thrilling
to see my favorite symbol of Senegal incorporated into this commercial.

Steve: I’m from England, so I had to cheer [the English team] on! They needed all
the help possible this time around. Expectations in England for our country to do
well at the World Cup are usually way too high: we are just a small nation, but becasue
of our history and passion for the game we are expected to win the whole thing. It’s
nuts! I always remember watching the World Cup as a kid and idolizing the players
from around the world. What a great idea for a world event that unites everyone...

To be honest, I enjoyed the World Cup but would prefer to be watching my club
team (Manchester United) more. It’s a higher level of play and something I’m much
more passionate about. I’m from Manchester and it’s my hometown team. How can
you not be passionate about that?

Raine: Jordyn presented me with The Wheel’s search for football commentary. I was
joking that many of my football-related stories are not things I could comfortably put into
print. I confess to becoming a hopeless football fanatic after living in France for four years,
and have been known to schedule vacation days around match schedules, particularly for
the World Cup which is my all-time favorite event.

Anyway, one thing that I thought I could share is one of the main reasons why I love the
sport, which has to do with accessibility and inclusiveness. We have many sports in the
United States (and elsewhere) which are only accessible to those who can afford to pay for
the equipment required to participate. Hockey, for instance, requires a substantial amount
of equipment (which is somewhat ironic as hockey and football are very closely related in
terms of rules of play). So if a child’s family cannot afford to invest in all of this equipment,
or is not in a school which would provide it, she or he simply could not play. Football (as
opposed to “American football”) on the other hand is a more equitable sport in that, while
fancy and expensive equipment can be used, really all you need is a friend, a ball, and a
little bit of space. And even that is negotiable, I’ve seen kids playing with an empty plastic
bottle instead of a ball, shoes or no shoes, and at my house we mark off the goal area with
two rocks. Perhaps this is also why it is the most widely played sport in the world.

Above: Senegalese men playing soccer on the beach of Ouakam in Dakar, Senegal.
Photo submitted by Jordyn Arndt.

Left: Ghanaian men play a round of pick-up soccer on the shores of Cape Coast Castle.
Photo submitted by Treza Rosado.