2008 Woodie Awards
Lunch features speakers of international origin
Bruce Harbin
Issue date: 4/14/08 Section: News
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Eric Melcher, coordinator of communications and public relations, said that it was "to give an idea of how Tennessee is changing."
He went on to speak of the diversity that is growing in the Nashville area and at Volunteer State Community College.
The International Lunch had a buffet featuring foreign foods from foreign countries.
The speakers, student Gustavo Gruber of Venezuela, and Associate Professor of English Eldo Osaitile of Nigeria, were the highlight of the event.
The first speaker was Osaitile. He said that has taught at Vol State since 1990.
He then presented a brief story of his life, how he adjusted to life in America, and some of the challenges he faced.
He spoke of being in college at Tennessee State University and adjusting to life as a student in America.
"Some people do not take full advantage of this country," Osaitile said.
He was referring to how hard life is outside of the United States, and how some citizens of the United States who were born here may not fully understand how hard life is elsewhere.
He also encouraged people who may appear different to not be discouraged, even if they look different from others.
Gruber spoke about coming to the United States because his parents had "lost their jobs in Venezuela because of political reasons," and they chose to live in Tennessee "because they had family members here."
He mentioned that one of the hardest things to get used to here was the cold weather, which resulted in a laugh from the audience.
Gruber said that he had to take developmental classes at Vol State.
Gruber, who is now a journalism major, said that while taking a developmental writing class, he realized that he enjoyed writing.
"An advantage of Vol State is the small community and close relationships with teachers," said Gruber.
Gruber noted that coincidentally, Osaitile was his first English teacher at Vol State.
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