Cultures celebrated at Western

Manami Kinjo was busy last Wednesday night - performing the Japanese love song "Cherry" along with Nana Ito, wearing a traditional Japanese kimono as part of a fashion show, and generally supervising and helping ensure the annual International Night event ran smoothly.

Kinjo is the current president of Western Wyoming Community College's International Club, which hosts International Night at the Rock Springs campus every spring. She decided to become president because of the impact the club had on her when she left Japan to study at Western.

"When I came here, the International Club helped me, so I want to help new students," Kinjo explained. "So I decided I will be the president. And I really like this job."

While she enjoys the work as president, Kinjo said preparing for International Night was the hardest thing she's had to do.

She has been working on putting the event together for months, along with other international students and Western faculty and staff members who have helped her make it a reality.

Once Kinjo explained International Night to them, the club members were happy to get involved and put together a variety of performances. Kinjo also worked with professors and staff members to reach out to the community to help make the night a success.

"I was always thinking 'I want to make people smile,' so I want to make a fun event," Kinjo said.

Everyone who came to International Night was able to enjoy free food from local Asian and Mexican restaurants, as well as a variety of performances, including traditional and modern Japanese, Chinese, Korean and Spanish songs and dances. The event also showcased a fashion show demonstrating Korean, Chinese, Japanese and Western fashions.

Dustin Conover, Western's dean of students, spoke at the beginning of the event, noting how nice it is for the college to be able to host International Night fully again this year. The event was canceled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and a limited version of the event without food was hosted last year. Conover also expressed the importance of the international student program at Western and thanked the faculty and staff members involved with the program.

"International Night encourages bonding among different students and people by appreciating global perspectives and sharing experiences of different cultures, beliefs, and interests, with the goal of understanding and appreciating diversity and inclusiveness," a statement in the International Night program explained.

As an international student, Kinjo appreciates the importance of the event for the students and the community.

"I think global culture is really important right now," Kinjo said. "I like communicating with other cultural people. This is a good experience for me, so I think International Night is good for us and for everyone."