Sweet success for Casa Mondo project

Casa Mondo, a new living experience program for GC&SU students living in Terrell Hall, has proven to be an exciting new way for American students to meet fellow students from around the world.

Casa Mondo was originally started last year, but a lack of student support and funds kept it on the ground.

“We had a very successful orientation this semester,” said Dilanka Seimo,, a Resident Assistant in Terrell Hall. “There were 25 plus students that turned out this year compared to the nine of last year.”

This year the program has had to survive without a group activities budget, but so far so good.

“Libby Davis is the true originator of this program, though many have contributed to its development,” said Drew Jahr, Resident Director of Terrell Hall. “We are trying to get the international students a trip to Disney World; we just have to find the necessary funds to do so.”

One interesting group activity that Jahr and his fellow associates are trying to muster up is an international cook-off of sorts.

“We want to try and get together some of the international students to make some dishes native to their homes.”

This cook-off will help show some of the differences and similarities between the many cultures represented in this program.

Students that have volunteered to be in this program have found it to be a very rewarding experience due to the fact that you get to learn so much about others and where they come from. Gloria Lima, a student from Guatemala who has been in the United States for four years now, has found the program to be quite enjoyable.

“At the beginning of the semester it was interesting,” said Lima. “We are lucky to be paired together.”

Gloria’s roommate Mindy Sparks has also found this chance to meet someone with a much different cultural background rewarding.

“I have already learned a lot about Guatemala and their customs,” said Sparks. “I think that it’s interesting to listen to her talk on the phone with friends and family and hear my name come up in the middle of conversation, with my name being the only thing I understand. So far, living with Gloria has been really interesting, and we have not had any trouble getting along with each other.”

One factor that may help the Casa Mondo program grow is the incentive that allows freshman students to live in the predominantly upper classman Terrell Hall if they participate in the Casa Mondo program. So far there are 30 students at GC&SU participating in the Casa Mondo project, and hopefully that number will increase as the year progresses.

Posted by Colonnade Archives on Sep 21 2001. Filed under News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry