Did you attend one of our Global Hangout events this year? It was an exciting and successful year engaging with over 1000 students at our Medway and Canterbury campuses.
Our Global Hangouts are primarily student led and a great way for meeting new friends and getting to know about cultural celebrations around the world, including some of our British traditions.
A big shout out to all our Global Officers, societies and other students that contribute and attend to make these events what they are. We also value and appreciate colleagues from ResLife and Kent Sport for their collaborations. Thank you to our regular contributors, University of Kent Circus Society who joined us in September and January to perform and teach students how to juggle, along with other circus skills.
Read on to find out more about the aim of the Hangouts, and some of the highlights from events this year.
What is a Global Hangout?
A Global Hangout is designed to be a fun, relaxing event, which allows students to come together through games, crafts and activities. These are not just for international students and are open to all students at the University. Often they are designed around a theme, which may teach us about different cultures and traditions, or focussed on current topics of interest such as sustainability or wellbeing.
Themes have included Lunar New Year, discovering nature, pancake day, Diwali versus Halloween. Our Global Officers influence the theme and activities. They come up with fun games, like our Christmas Yule Lads hunt: The Yule Lads are mischievous figures from Icelandic folklore associated with the Christmas season. Crafts have included finger painting tree blossoms, painting canvases or plant pots, challenging themselves with origami, getting creative with bracelet making, and designing their own bookmarks. Along with activities to get students talking and interacting through quizzes, treasure hunts and networking by speed-dating.
Our talented student’s artwork and the Global Hangout Cupcakes
How often do they run?
Global Hangouts run throughout the year, with two large events in late September and early January aimed at newly arriving students, and a number of smaller events which run during term time.
What are some of the highlights?
September Welcome Global Hangout had the ever popular bracelet making (see featured image above), scratch art key rings and bookmarks. Kent Sport had a series of games on offer including table tennis! We were joined by regular favourites, the University of Kent Circus Society.
November in Canterbury was an interesting mix with a Halloween versus Diwali theme. Students chose to paint their own Diya’s (a clay lamp) or a Halloween mask. Two of our Global Officers showed off their creative skills by offering Henna tattoos.
December had us looking at Christmas traditions from around the world and the unique Yule Lads Hunt, taken from Icelandic folklore. Crafts included making Christmas cards to send home, decorating gingerbread (picture below) and making baubles and tree decorations. We also had a festive photobooth.
In January, along with our usual crafting activities, we had a performance from Marcellus, worthy winner of the Cultural Celebration Week, Cultural Showcase. We were joined by Hui Ling Zhu from Global Sounds Education who taught students the Chinese fan and dragon ribbon dance (pictured below). Students could add their New Year resolutions to our wishing tree. ResLife led a Lunar New Year lantern making activity. We were joined by the Adventure Gaming Society, teaching how to play Riichi Mahjong.
Spring term saw us celebrating Pancake Day at Medway, with students trying their luck at pancake tossing! Summer had students decorating a plant pot, and some intricate canvas painting. The creativity of our students is always a wonderful sight to see.
Being able to send postcards home to friends and family is always really popular. Students go away from each event having made lasting friendships and bonding over their Global Hangout cupcakes.
Two of our Medway students sending postcards home.
But don’t take our word for it, here is what some of our students said:
“I wanted to raise some positive feedback on the events in the Medway building such as the Global Hangout […]. People who were not just KBS came down to attend and participate. It was great to see other people and help us network with each other, having days like this is really helpful when University is stressful to help calm us down or take your mind of things.” [KBS student, Medway Campus]
“I thought it was really nice that we had a chance to send a postcard home to give our parents a little insight in our adventure abroad. Also really enjoyed the bracelet making, this is a nice little souvenir.” [Famke Postma, Netherlands, NATS Sports & Exercise Science]
“I got to meet so many new people from all over the world and it made moving to a new country and school so much less intimidating.” [Nyla Janmohamed, USA, CEMS Digital Design]
“It was a great opportunity to meet new people from all around the world. The provided activities such as the bingo where you had to find people to whom specific facts applied were great conversation starters. Some of the people I met there I would consider friends now.” [Tobias Leithe, Germany, English PG]
We hope that you can join us for more Global Hangouts in the new academic year. We leave you with a picture of the very talented Marcellus!
