Central Michigan Life

Issue date: 1/28/08 Section: News

John Ehlke/ Senior Photographer Vietnam junior Hang Le looks over a Saki Flask from Japan for $20 at silent auction at the International Relation Fundraiser at the Comfort Inn Friday night. "Its cool to see things that relate to you," says Le about the items on the silent auction. Items ranged from Japan to Russia.

Local and global cultures united this past weekend at the Mount Pleasant International Relations Council benefit dinner.

The 17th annual benefit dinner took place Friday at the Comfort Inn, 2424 S. Mission St.

Kim Tollenaere, International Relations Council board member, said the money raised will help send Mount Pleasant High school students on exchange trips by covering about half of their travel expenses.

Council President Vera Wiltse said the council helps strengthen the city's international ties.

"IRC supports international exchanges and brings people together who support international relations," she said.

Officials have not yet totaled all the money raised at Friday's event.

The council is involved with 4-H Club exchanges, student group and adult group exchange programs with "sister cities" and International Week at Central Michigan University. The council also supports CMU's engineering and technology program's relationship with Russia.

Mount Pleasant is a sister city to Okaya, Japan; Valdivia, Chile and Vladimir, Russia.

"A sister city is a relationship between two communities who wish to understand each other's cultures," said Paul Preston, council treasurer.

Wiltse said Mount Pleasant's relationship with Valdivia is being restored after fading over the years.

During the winter break, Mount Pleasant Mayor Jon Joslin asked Chile graduate student Enrique Medina to take a letter and gift to the mayor of Valdivia, Medina's home city.

At Friday's dinner, Medina presented a letter and a gift from Valdivia's mayor to Joslin.

The dinner included a traditional Korean fan dance by South Korea junior Boram Kim. Kim learned the dance for nine years in Korea, starting at the age of 5. Kim also performed the dance at International Night in November.

In addition to the dinner and presentations, this was the first year there was a silent auction, featuring items donated mostly by board members of the IRC. Various items included paintings, masks, wall hangings, tea cups and hats from 10 different countries.

"There are a couple of items from my country, which I didn't expect to see here," said Thailand sophomore Kavita Kalra.

Kalra said she came to the dinner because she heard there was going to be a presentation on Japan.



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