Friendship and understanding are only a few of the words Wan Kamal Wan Napi uses when he talks about the International Festival taking place next week.

Napi, president of the International Student Council for the past five years, said the Festival is an opportunity for some SIUC students to learn more about the culture of foreign students.

As our host in this country, we feel we owe something to the University, he said. We feel we should share our culture with the University because we share in its culture every day.

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Swati Norrola, a junior in biology from India, said she appreciates the opportunity to work alongside different cultures to promote the festival’s events.

Everyone comes together to make this festival happen, she said. When you look at the whole picture, there are many international students, but on campus, they are represented by so many different countries. A large event like this lets everyone socialize.

On Sunday, the first day of events, proclamations issued by Gov. Jim Edgar and the city of Carbondale will recognize the International Festival as a permanent event in the city.

Lyombe Eko, president of the African Student Council, said the festival is already a tradition at SIUC, but he is glad the community and the state are officially recognizing the week.

The whole week is recognized as a tradition by the ISC and SIUC, he said. But I’m glad they are calling attention to the festival. I hope this encourages more people to attend the events.

Napi said 135 countries will be represented, and 45 of those countries will have display tables set up Monday in the Student Center. He said the exhibit serves as an educational opportunity for local community schools.

Children learn about this country all the time, he said. Our exhibition allows them to learn about different countries without having to go there. They don’t need to go to Hong Kong, they can just come here.

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At the exhibition, some students from represented countries, such as Africa, Thailand and India, will dress in native clothing and present different stories to the children.

Norrola said educating children and community members is an important step in building friendships between different cultures.

SIUC has a lot of international students, more than most people think, she said. This festival is a chance for the rest of the people on campus to learn about our customs and break down cultural barriers.

One new event in this year’s International Festival week is the ISC leadership conference Feb. 21. ISC serves as an umbrella organization for 30 different international associations. Napi said the conference will provide an chance for the different organizations to interact directly with ISC.

This is my final year to serve as president of the ISC, he said. I wanted to sit and talk with people from the international community and give them a chance to voice their opinions about the council.

Napi said the conference will address how ISC works for the international community.

The international community is very large on campus, and we want all the members of ISC to know we are working for them, he said. It’s also important to inform international students how to be represented and understood in the community and campus.

International Festival Feb. 18-24 in the Student Center

n Sunday, Feb. 18

Proclamation and Reception 5 p.m. Gallery Lounge

Chinese New Year Celebration 6 p.m. Ballroom D

n Monday, Feb. 19

Exhibit and Mini Demonstration 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Student Center, second floor

n Tuesday, Feb. 20

International Food Fair 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Ballrooms

n Wednesday, Feb. 21

ISC Leadership Conference 6 p.m. Ballroom B

n Friday, Feb. 23

Concert:World Beat Music 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Roman Room

n Saturday, Feb. 24

International Buffet 5 p.m.-7 p.m. Renaissance Room

Cultural Show 7 p.m.-9 p.m. Ballrooms