Blog

So many of The International Center’s programs would not be possible without the support of volunteers. Firefighters, police officers, bankers, and educators give their time to our Community Orientation Program for Expatriates, providing helpful insights as families adjust to life in Indiana. Busy professionals also take time out of their work day to share experiences with our clients in the Orientation Program for International Employees over lunch. A team of engaged community leaders serve on our Festival Fund committee that supports international and ethnic groups hosting events in Central Indiana. Volunteers help welcome guests to The Center’s biggest annual
Read more...

Growing up in rural Southern Indiana, there were few forms of entertainment. My grandmother was a high school English teacher who adored books; my mother was also an avid reader. Books have always been an important part of my life—I am very grateful that I am a “reader.” I don’t typically hang on to a book once I’ve read it. However, there are a few staples I like to reread because of the moral. “The Giving Tree” by Shel Silverstein is a classic and has long been one of my daughter’s favorite books. Like many other classic literary works,
Read more...

First things first: Tell us a little about your background. I am from a small town in Southern Indiana, but I moved to Indianapolis a few years ago to attend IUPUI. I started out as a nursing major but, somehow along the line, I landed in event management. During my senior year, I interned here at The Center as the International Citizen of the Year Award intern. That position turned into a part-time temporary role, which then turned into the executive assistant/board liaison position. I just couldn’t leave; I loved it here so much! What drew you to your
Read more...

At any given time, up to six astronauts are flying 248 miles above Earth’s surface at over 17,000 miles per hour. Astronauts chosen to go to the International Space Station hail from nations across the world: the U.S., Russia, Japan, England and Italy, to name a few. Despite missions that average 6 months and the many risks of space travel (including but not limited to: fire, heights, small spaces, microscopic satellite debris that can tear the ISS apart), governments around the world continue to send their brightest minds into Low Earth Orbit to advance our knowledge back on Earth.
Read more...

If you’re anything like me, when you hear the world “polo,” you think of one of two things: Ralph Lauren or the film Pretty Woman. However, the high-stakes, high-speed sport has a rich identity outside of the collared shirts with which it’s often associated. Much like football (or soccer, here in the United States), polo is an international sensation, with more than 30 countries—including Argentina, Australia, Canada, Egypt, Scotland and Thailand—sending ambassadors to the governing body’s Beverly Hills-based headquarters each year. In fact, Sir Winston Churchill, the storied prime minister of the United Kingdom, once famously declared, “polo is
Read more...

In the fall of 2016, I had the amazing opportunity to participate in a study abroad in Ecuador while I was a sophomore in undergrad. This opportunity presented itself right as I felt my knowledge of the Spanish language had reached the level where immersion was necessary see any additional improvement. It is one thing to learn a language, but it is something completely different to live it: to constantly read, speak, and think in it. During my residency in Ecuador, I had the opportunity to visit the Amazon Rainforest (yes, the one with the anacondas!). As someone who is
Read more...

To read the part one of The Mandela Effect, click here. Meeting Mandela I met Nelson Mandela before he became president of South Africa. He had just been released from prison after serving a 27 year fighting for human rights and racial equality. He was visiting Durban, the city I grew up in, for a rally. I lived about 15-minutes from the ocean where there’s a beautiful boardwalk where you can cycle or jog. This one Sunday morning, I was running with a friend and at some point, I went ahead. As I was running on the sidewalk, there
Read more...

In France, our “Fête Nationale” (national holiday) is celebrated on July 14. It commemorates “la Prise de la Bastille” which occurred on July, 14, 1789, during the French Revolution. The Bastille, a medieval fortress and prison in Paris, was captured by insurgents, marking the beginning of the revolution. Every year since then, the “Fête de la Féderation” has been  celebrated throughout entire country, honoring  the French Revolution and the creation of a new national government. I remember during my childhood in the South of France, this special public holiday always came in the midst of the very hot summer,
Read more...

I am a fourth generation South African with Indian roots. During the 1800s, when South Africa and India were both colonized by the British, my ancestors were brought to South Africa as indentured laborers to work the railroads, coal mines and sugar cane fields. They left India for various reasons, among them being the current state of government in India, family issues, or just an adventure. By the time their contract ended, most of the Indians working in South Africa had established a community—building schools, places of worship and starting informal businesses. My ancestors, like many other Indians, decided
Read more...

First things first: tell us a little about your background. I’m a homegrown Hoosier from the southern part of the state, graduating from IU when Pearl Jam hit the scene! I loved living in Chicago; love my Cubbies but hated the weather, so I am migrating south. What drew you to your role at The International Center?  The mission. I did extensive research after learning about the development position, convinced this opportunity was too good to be true! The International Center is truly a catalyst that connects, convenes and informs public, private and civic constituents, through ideas, strategy and
Read more...