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November/December 2011
In This Issue
News
Resources
Upcoming International Events
About International Focus
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"We cannot live only for ourselves.  A thousand fibers connect us with our fellow men. "    

 

~Herman Melville

 


Greetings! 

 

Were you able to join us at the 26th International Festival of Raleigh last month? I hope you were one of the 30,000 who came out to enjoy the Triangle's international communities' hospitality and friendship with us!   

 

A big Thank You to the fifty-four ethnic groups who participated this year and shared generously of their cultures and traditions: from music, dance, cuisine, and crafts to kids' activities and shopping, there truly was something for everyone to enjoy.     

 

A special thank you also to our many volunteers and sponsors, and all who came together to create such a wonderful resource for Raleigh and the Triangle!

 

  Please enjoy the news and tips in this issue of International Focus, and of course the calendar of upcoming international events. I'm looking forward to seeing you around town at some of the great performances.

 

Wishing you and yours safe, peaceful, and happy holidays  from all of us here at International Focus.

 

See you in the New Year!  

Very best regards,

 

Clodagh Bastian

Executive Director

 

   Image of foreign newspapers
Language
and
Culture
in the News


 

Bolivia Set to Pass Historic "Law of Mother Earth" to Grant Nature the Same Rights and Protections as Humans. The piece of legislationis intended to encourage a radical shift in conservation attitudes and actions, to enforce new control measures on industry, and to reduce environmental destruction.

 

Every Language in the World Evolved from a Single Prehistoric 'Mother Tongue'

After analyzing more than 500 languages, a new study found compelling evidence that all languages - from English to Mandarin - can be traced back to a long-forgotten dialect spoken by our Stone Age ancestors in Africa tens of thousands of years ago.

 

South Koreans Shop by Phone at Virtual Grocery

Online shopping is nothing new, especially in plugged-in South Korea. But one company says it's going further. It's testing out a virtual supermarket in a public place.

 

Europeans Fall in Love More Quickly Than Americans

Americans take longer to fall in love than their Eastern European counterparts, according to a new study. The findings also showed that Americans frequently cited friendship as a key part of romantic love, while Russians and Lithuanians rarely mentioned it.


 


Resources
 

MFnames.com lists the meaning, origin, and historical and religious significance of first names.       

 

GateGuru is a free iPhone app that locates the food, shopping and service options within airports. 

  

Arounder.com offers  panoramic views of global cities,  maps, and  links to local merchants with virtual tours of hotels, restaurants, spas and stores.  

  

Pronunciator.com is a free online language-learning service offering 3 million lessons in 60 languages.

    

TripAlertz offers discounts on getaway travel.   

 

Shiva Ganga--http://www.carolinaperformingarts.org/resources/shantala

 

Upcoming International Events
Learn more about  international events
in the Triangle over the next two months

    

 

Special Events, Festivals & Celebrations

 

Bull City Saison: A Benefit for the Children of San Ramón, Nicaragua

Nov. 4, Ninth St Bakery, Durham, NC

 

Kurban Bayrami

Nov. 6, Turkish House, Cary

 

2011 Citizen of the World Award Dinner

Nov. 11, Umstead Hotel and Spa, Cary

 

Dilawi Hungama

Nov. 12, Hindu Society of NC, Morrisville

 

2011 Children's Day

Nov. 12, HSNC Cultural Hall, Morrisville

 

Sri Venkateswara Temple - First Gala Dinner

Nov. 12, Goel's Plaza, Morrisville, NC

 

Discover the Musical Heritage of Puerto Rico

Nov.19, Herbert C. Young Community Center, Cary

 

16th Annual American Indian Heritage Celebration

Nov. 19, NC Museum of History, Raleigh

 

St. Nicholas European Christmas Market

Dec. 3, Byzantine Catholic Church, Cary  

 

Scandinavian Christmas Fair

Dec 3, State Fairgrounds, Raleigh
 

Christmas/Samichlaus Dinner

Dec. 3, St. Francis School, Raleigh 

 

Finnish Independence Day Party

Dec. 4, Quail Hollow Swim and Tennis Club, Raleigh

 

Diamante Star of Hope Potluck Dinner

Dec. 9, Herb Young Community Center, Cary

 

Hungarian Christmas Luncheon

Dec. 11, Five Oaks Clubhouse, Durham

 

Philippine American Association of NC Annual Benefit Gala

Dec. 18, Sheraton Imperial, RTP

 

17th Annual Kwanzaa Celebration

Dec. 29, Cary Arts Center

 

Durham Kwanzaa Celebration

Dec. 30, Holton Career and Resource Center, Durham

 

 

Exhibits

 

Becoming; Photographs from the Wedge Collection

through Jan. 8, Nasher Museum of Art at Duke, Durham

 

RACE: Are We So Different?

through Jan. 22, Museum of Life and Science, Durham

  

Rembrandt in America

through Jan. 22,North Carolina Museum of Art, Raleigh

 

Genghis Khan: The Exhibition

through Jan.16, NC Museum of Natural Sciences, Raleigh 

 

Cherokee Carvers: Tradition Renewed

through Nov. 27, NC Museum of History, Raleigh

 

 

Film

 

Videograms of a Revolution  (Germany, Romania)

Nov. 3, UNC Varsity Theater, Chapel Hill

 

Lebanese Film Festival

Nov. 3, 10, 17, NCSU D.H. Hill Libraray, Raleigh

 

NC Latin American Film Festival: Al Otro Lado

Nov.12, Duke White Lecture Hall

 

NC Latin American Film Festival: Tropa de Elite

Nov. 14, Duke Bryan Center Griffith Film Theater

 

Muslim Film Series: Mooz-Lum

Nov. 17, Duke White Lecture Hall

 

Nov. 20, Carrboro Century Center

 

German Film Series: Knallhart (2006)

Dec. 6, Dey Hall, UNC Campus  

 

 

Theatrical Performances

 

Nathan the Wise

Oct. 28-Nov. 19, Deep Dish Theater, Chapel Hill

 

Gate Theatre Dublin:Samuel Beckett's Watt

Nov. 2, Historic Playmakers Theatre, Chapel Hill 

 

Marathi Natak

Nov. 5, Green Hope H.S. Auditirium, Cary

 

 

Dance and Musical Performances

 

NC Symphony:Espana!

Nov. 4, Meymandi Concert Hall, Raleigh 

 

Ivory Coast Singer Dobet Gnahoré

Nov. 4, NCSU Stewart Theatre, Raleigh    

 

November 8, UNC Memorial Hall, Chapel Hill

 

Agua Y Fiesta

Nov. 9, Duke Chapel, Durham

 

Orchestre Revolutionnaire et Romantique

Nov. 12, UNC Memorial Hall

 

Chinese-American Friendship Association of North Carolina:  Dance and Vocal Performance

Nov.13, Duke Page Auditorium

 

Tinariwen - music 

Nov. 13, Cat's Cradle, Chapel Hill

 

Duke University Djembe and Afro-Cuban Drumming Ensembles with Kimati Dinizulu

Nov. 18, Duke Page Auditorium, Durham

 

Latin American Music and Stories With Alex Weiss

Nov. 19, Durham County Library, Durham

 

Magnolia Baroque

Nov. 20, NC Museum of Art, Raleigh

 

Choral Society of Durham: Bach- 'Christmas Oratorio' & German Carols

Dec. 10, Duke University Chapel, Durham

 

Dec. 16-24, Progress Energy Center, Raleigh  

 

New Year's in Vienna

Dec. 31, Meymandi Concert Hall, Raleigh

  

 

Conferences, Workshops & Discussions 

 

Japanese Tea Gathering: Dancing Leaves Tea

Nov. 4, Sarah P Duke Gardens, Durham  

 

Visualizing Human Rights Conference

Nov. 5, FedEx Global Education Center, Chapel Hill

 

Ethnic Vegetarian Cooking Class Series

Nov. 7-Dec. 19, The Arts Center, Carrboro   

 

Indian Cooking

Nov. 8-22, The Arts Center, Carrboro

 

The Islamic Cultures of Africa

Nov. 11, 12, UNC Campus

 

Dr. Gary Zola: "Great Voices: Civil Rights & American Reform Judaism"

Nov. 12, Raleigh City Museum, Raleigh

 

Global Connections :Iraq Beyond Conflict

Nov. 12, UNC Graham Memorial Building 

 

Introduction to Theater of the Oppressed

Nov. 12,13, The Arts Center, Carrboro 

 

Celebrating Native American Culture

Nov. 13, Durham County Library

  

UNC Frey Lecture: Robin Wright

Nov. 14, Gerrard Hall, Chapel Hill

 

Panel Discussion: Do I Look Illegal?

Nov. 14, NCSU African American Cultural Center, Raleigh 

 

Bollywood Class with Natasha/Open Dance & Music Jam!

Nov. 18, World In Motion Dance, Morrisville

 

Turkish Cooking Classes

Dec.3, Turk Evi, Cary

 


About International Focus

International Focus, Inc. is a non-profit 501 (c)(3) organization with the mission to support North Carolina's international communities and promote American ideals through cross-cultural communication, education, understanding, and the celebration of culture, arts, and cuisine from around the world.

 

International Focus strives to be a resource for international and native North Carolinians through information, outreach, and its annual celebration of multiculturalism, the International Festival of Raleigh.


This newsletter and all content and information contained herein are the property of International Focus, Inc. and may not be reproduced in any form without the express written consent of the publisher.