Tag Archives: culture

Student Spotlight Special Thanksgiving Edition: Presenting NVCC-Alexandria CKI President Mehreen Khan!

1236321_230115830475717_2095804739_nMy name is Mehreen Khan. I am a sophomore at NOVA , majoring in Information Technology and Liberal Arts. I came to America about two years ago from Pakistan. I remember how I was debating with myself to apply for different colleges in America. The question, what college should I choose, was a matter of a great concern for me because college was the ladder to the success of my future. I chose NOVA because I was a student looking for leadership and recognition and a quality education in the same package. This acknowledgement from NOVA has brought the dreams that were never conceivable in my eyes into a reality by the doors that by joining NOVA has opened for me. I was born and raised in a society, where people think that girls should be limited to household environment only. My father, Jahangir Azam, gave me that push to make a difference in the society where I belonged to. He never could finish his education and despite all the odds he wanted me study and achieve every opportunity which could make an impact in my life and through which I could inspire other girls to go for great opportunities. Going for higher education was my best chance to step ahead of that mentality.

1390628_247413845412582_978734011_nI am a passionate student and NOVA was the right spark for my passion. Joining NOVA allowed me to get the opportunities which led a growth and development in my career through participation in leadership services. NOVA has made my college experience exceptional by connecting me with the people who had the same level of passion and love for education as mine. I believe that there are no born heroes or winners; it takes a hammer, a chisel, a vision and a will to suffer the blows and be carved into one successful individual. NOVA provided me the opportunity to learn more about myself. All this started when I got involved in college clubs and different other organizations. I am not only succeeding academically but also I am active in the leadership roles in the college.

I am the current president of Circle K International, a service organization formed to help the community through various service projects. I am also a proud student leader on campus and all my efforts and devotions are to make sure that I can help students any way possible. I was also a peer mentor whose job is to make sure that we are helping the pregnant female students on campus and helping couples to reduce any kind of violence and assault. I was involved in student government association as well. All my efforts, from the beginning were to help the community, where I am in.  A person’s personality is the gateway into who they are. My experience at NOVA crafted me into a personality where satisfaction lies in helping others and be an inspiration for many others who aspire to dream and achieve their goals.

NOVA-IN-CHINA opportunity

Dear NOVA Community members,

Would you like to go to China with us to attend Chinese language classes, travel and visit cultural sights in Beijing, Wuyishan, Xiamen, Nanjing and Shanghai when you elect to join us for bothof the programs described below: Program #1 Language Studies in China and #2 Cultural Exploration. Or, choose only Program #2 Cultural Exploration and travel with us to culturallyenriching cities and places. Whichever program you choose, you will be immersed in Chinese culture and experience first-hand its beauty and history.

Both programs are open to all students and members of the community.  Some scholarships will be available for qualified students. (All dates, itinerary, and price may be adjusted.)

Contact: Dr. Dali Tan, Assistant professor of Chinese, China Coordinator, dtan@nvcc.edu <mailto:dtan@nvcc.edu> or 703-933-5078.

Information Meeting: Wednesday, November 13, 2013 at Alexandria Campus, Bisdorf Building 0342, 8:00pm.

If you can’t come to the information meeting, please contact Dr. Tan if you are interested and she can set up individual meetings with you to talk about the trip and to answer your questions.

***

NOVA-IN-CHINA
LANGUAGE STUDIES AND CULTURAL EXPLORATION
May 17 to June 2, 2014
Morning language classes for beginners and those with background
Travel and Excursions in Beijing, Wuyishan, Xiamen, Nanjing and Shanghai

The program, open to all VCCS students and people from the community, will take place in two stages. Participants may elect to join us for both of the following opportunities or just the travel portion of the program.

(1)   Language Study in China (Friday, May 17 to Thursday, May 22, 2014):
Business Chinese for Beginners (CHI 103) or Business Chinese for Intermediate Level Learners (CHI 295) for 3 credits each or enrichment Chinese Language and culture classes

  *   Intensive language classes at a Chinese university with NOVA faculty for credits or with local instructors for non-credit language and culture classes

  *   Language and cultural exchange with Chinese professors and students
  *   Cultural classes and sightseeing excursions as well as service learning at  local sites

(2)   Cultural Exploration (Thursday May 22 to Monday, June 2, 2014, tour only participants leave DC on May 21, 2014): Beijing, Wuyishan, Xiamen, Nanjing and Shanghai

Introduction to the bustling streets of China’s largest cities, as well as to Chinese life at its most basic, beginning in Beijing. See the most famous landmarks of China, including Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, the Great Wall, the Summer Palace and the Temple of Heaven in addition to famous Olympic venues like the Bird’s Nest and Water Cube.  Travel continues to Wuyishan to view the magnificent Tianyou Peak and to ride on a bamboo raft on the beautiful Nine-Crooked Creek.  Then fly to Xiamen to explore Gulangyu Island and visit the famous South Putuo Temple as well as Xiamen University, known for having the most beautiful campus in China. Take another flight to Nanjing where you will have opportunity to visit the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum and have an exchange event at Nanjing Institute of Industry Technology. Then move on to Shanghai to visit the Shanghai museums and the Yuyuan Gardens and explore the Bund and Nanjing Road and get a bird’s eye view of the entire city of Shanghai from the top of the “Oriental Pearl Tower.” We’ll fly back to the United States with the group and arrive home on Monday, June 2, 2014.  Language learning will continue to be a focus of the program. We will take full advantage of this immersion experience to arrange many structured opportunities for participants to practice what they have learned during the intensive language studies program, so they can further enhance their linguistic proficiency and deepen their cultural understanding during the cultural exploration part of the program.

 

CONTACT:
For more information contact Dr. Dali Tan | Assistant professor of Chinese | China Coordinator | dtan@nvcc.edu<mailto:dtan@nvcc.edu> | 703.933.5078

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Lecture Series in Celebration of Filipino American History Month

Lecture Series in Celebration of Filipino American History Month

Lyecum Lecture I

Wednesday, October 16th

6:00 – 8:00 p.m.

Room AA158

“The Philippine American War: A Foreshadow of Modern U.S. Warfare”

Professor Santiago Busa, Professor of International Relations at West Point

Lyecuem Lecture IILyceum Lecture IIA

Tuesday, October 22nd

5:30 – 7:30 p.m.

Room AA158

“Equity Now: The Fight for Filipino WWII Veterans’ Benefits”
Professor Gem Duas, Professor of Filipino American Culture at the University of Maryland

Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration

Hispanic Heritage Flyer

 

Monday, October 7th (12:00pm – 2pm)

Hispanic Student Panel

Location: AA196

Join us for a dynamic discussion with current NOVA students

as they share their stories. Questions strongly encouraged!

*FREE Food

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Tuesday, October 8th (2pm-4pm)

FREE Salsa Lessons & Contest

Location: AA127A

Come learn the basics of Cuban Salsa and put your new dance skills to the test!

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Wednesday, October 9th (2pm-4pm)

Potluck Social

Location: AA158

Enjoy Hispanic Cuisine! Bringing a potluck is optional.

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Thursday, October 17th (12pm-4pm)

Hispanic Heritage Celebration

Location: Cafeteria

FREE food, live performances, games, and PRIZES!!!