Yolanda Feng

UWP 1Y

Podcast Script

Hey Aggies, welcome to my podcast! My name is Yolanda, and I am a first-year

student here at UC Davis! I am a first-generation college student who grew up in a
diverse community. Growing up, I immersed myself in learning about and talking to
people of various cultures. Coming to college, I wanted to find an environment that
supported cross-cultural interactions where I could meet people all of over the world.
Have you ever wondered which places at UC Davis are most welcoming for students
from anywhere in the world? Well, one of them is the International Center!

I first discovered the International Center when I began my first quarter here at
UC Davis. I couldn’t wait to get more information on the study abroad opportunities, so I
headed over to the UC Davis Study Abroad office, which is located in the International
Center. Ever since that first time I visited the International Center, the sleek and
contemporary-style building immediately earned a high spot in my list of the most
aesthetic and coolest buildings on campus, alongside the California Hall and the
Mondavi Center. As a plus, this building is even Leadership in Engineering and
Environmental Design (LEED) certified! I also noticed that I lot of people visit the
International Center, so I grew curious and wondered, what exactly is the International
Center and what do people do there? From my many visits, observations and research,
I discovered that the International Center provides a welcoming space for international
students, students looking for a nice place to study and relax, people interested in
studying abroad, as well as those who want to share their background or learn about
other cultures.

To figure out what the environment of the International Center is like, I spent a
period of time exploring the building and also sat down to personally observe the
usually-most lively part of the center, the lobby of the International Center. The
International Center contains classrooms, administrative offices, and gathering spaces -
a multipurpose room, a large lobby area, and an outdoor courtyard. I think these are all
great spaces for new Aggies to explore. Maybe one of these will become your go-to
coffee, napping, studying, or chatting spot!

First of all, the lobby seemed like the physical hub of most of the action on a daily
basis. The lobby consists of a large commons area that holds small and large circular
tables, long rectangular counters, study booth sofas, and lounge chairs for people to
use. Furniture in the space can be moved around and adjusted to fit the needs of the
users. From my observations, I saw that many students, speaking languages and
dialects from all over the world, use the commons area to do productive work on their
laptops. I also learned that this lobby plays a large part in acting as a fun place to gather
with friends or take a nice nap. The commons space of the lobby is a physical hub and
the most used area of the whole center.

I interviewed a group of visiting students sitting together in the commons area,

who are all from different universities in Japan. They told me they “love this place”
because they are able to meet up here together before or after their classes. One of the
Japanese boys told me that he likes coming here to play games and talk to his friends.
The group even calls the International Center “Japan” because they come here almost
every day and it feels like a “home away from home”. Like these Japanese students,
you may also be able to feel the most comfortable at the International Center.

In terms of food and coffee offerings, on one side of the commons area is a
Peet’s Coffee kiosk. Also, the first Chinese food truck on campus, called Chinese
Flavors, is located at the International Center and other campus spots by rotation. The
food truck opened in April of 2018 with efforts from the Confucius Institute at UC Davis,
Global Affairs, Student Housing and Dining Services, Chef David Tu, Lee Kum Kee, and
Live and Love Halal [1]. On a daily basis, the International Center provides students
with a space to study, relax, eat, talk, and just hang out with their buddies in the lobby
commons area.

Frequently, there are also students who pay a visit to the Study Abroad office.
You can easily find the office, as it is nearly right directly in the front when you enter
through the main entrance. When you enter the Study Abroad office, on your right you
will be greeted by the administrative assistant at the front desk, who can answer basic
questions regarding various study abroad programs. There are various pamphlets,
flyers, and guidebooks you can look into to get more information on the programs.
Additionally, students meet with the study abroad advisors and financial aid officers to
determine program fit or eligibility. So here at the Study Abroad office, students can visit
to access resources regarding studying abroad information and preparation.

In addition to the daily resources available, there are events and activities held in
the multi-purpose room, lobby commons area, third-floor conference room, and front
courtyard in which students can participate in. The multi-purpose room in the
International Center is used to hold various special or larger events, where Pal Program
events are sometimes held. Pal Program is an intercultural exchange program where
you can become friends with international or domestic students. If you are a non-native
English speaker, the first-floor lobby holds weekly “English Café” meetings every
Thursday at 6-7pm for international students and non-native English speakers to make
friends and practice speaking English. In the third-floor conference room (Room 3119),
there was a free event called The Art of Calligraphy presented by the Confucius
Institute. One of the workshop participants seemed to enjoy a fun conversation with
another woman. Another participant looked like he was immersed in writing Chinese
characters with a calligraphy brush and black ink onto red calligraphy rice paper. These
events are a fun way for students to be immersed in parts of a cultural experience.

Moving to the outside of the International Center, is the outdoor courtyard, which
is a big open space with flowers, trees, benches, Peet’s Coffee outdoor seating, and
cement tiled flooring. This area is perfect for those who enjoy walking around small
front-yards or sitting out under the sun. In the courtyard, occasionally during the day,
there would be casually-dressed students and even people dressed in professional
attire who would walk around the tiled-paths in the courtyard and have both serious and
laughter-filled discussions. In the night, there are sometimes various clubs or groups of
students who would hold meetings or practice dancing. As you can see, the
International Center space provides so many different uses for people who are
interested in interacting with people of various cultures and backgrounds.

The establishment of the International Center holds great significance. As UC

Davis expands its number of international students, faculty, staff, and scholars, the
International Center provides a place for everyone to come together. Rep. John
Garamendi spoke of international students, “As they work with us together, as they meld
into our community, they bring their energy (and) they bring the most important thing of
all, and that is their hope, for themselves and for the communities from which they have
come.” The importance of welcoming international students and the intelligence and
wisdom they bring can be shown in the creation of a genuine hub of international
collaboration[2]. This hub can be a significant place for international students to make
connections with other students.

The welcoming atmosphere and the resources available at the International

Center give a positive space for international and visiting students. There are all kinds of
things to do here for different purposes. Complementing the special environment, the
commons space, outdoor courtyard, and multi-purpose room are all naturally bright
during the day and well-lit in the night. They serve as great places to attend cultural or
school events and spend time with friends. If you don’t mind studying in or want to just
chill and socialize in a hustling and bustling environment, then the large commons area
of the International Center lobby is perfect for you! Also, there is usually a decent
amount of available bike parking slots there, unlike many other community centers and
libraries on campus.

To wrap this up, overall, I think the International Center is a versatile, aesthetic,
and welcoming place for anyone to go and immerse themselves in cross-cultural
opportunities. I hope you all can find a place on campus, whether that is the
International Center or not, that will bring you joy and make you feel like home. Thank
you all for listening and I hope you enjoy your time at Davis. Good-bye!
[1] “International Center.” International Center,
www.globalaffairs.ucdavis.edu/about/international-center.

[2] “'Something Very Important Is Happening Here Today'.” UC Davis, 13 Feb. 2018,
www.ucdavis.edu/news/something-very-important-happening-here.