IAP 2014 Activities by Category - Multicultural Activities

Norman Cao, Staly Chin

Jan/25

Sat

02:00PM-05:00PM

McCormick Dining

Enrollment: Unlimited: No advance sign-up

Not sure how to feed yourself over IAP? Join the Association of Taiwanese Students and learn how to make delicious homemade food (and eat it too)! Popular offerings have ranged from dumplings and scallion pancakes to onigiri and banh mi sandwiches.

Sponsor(s): Association of Taiwanese Students
Contact: Staly Chin, 415-308-4789, stalyc@mit.edu

Staly Chin, Norman Cao

Jan/19

Sun

07:00PM-10:00PM

McCormick Dining

Enrollment: Unlimited: No advance sign-up

Tired and want to relax after Mystery Hunt? Or just want to sing and dance your heart out? Need something to lift your spirits and get you pumped for the week, this night is the night for you! Show off your musical talent with our collection of Mandarin and English karaoke. While waiting for a free spot at the mic, work on your rhythm and dancing skills with DDR in the Dining Hall. Tired of the noisy stuff? No problem. We'll also have board games and such for you to enjoy. Come join us!

Sponsor(s): Association of Taiwanese Students
Contact: Staly Chin, (415) 308-4789, stalyc@mit.edu

Norman Cao, Staly Chin

Jan/12

Sun

07:00PM-10:00PM

McCormick Dining

Enrollment: Unlimited: No advance sign-up

Join us for ATS's annual Mahjong Tournament and Arts & Crafts event! Show off your awesome mahjong skills (or lack thereof) and compete for prizes. Don't know how to play or forgot how? Never fear! We will have a teaching/refresher session starting at 7pm just for you, so don't be late. The tournament will commence at 7:45pm. Mahjong not for you? Come for a wide range of arts and crafts! We will be having calligraphy lessons, origami, and more.

Sponsor(s): Association of Taiwanese Students
Contact: Staly Chin, 415-308-4789, stalyc@mit.edu

Staly Chin, Norman Cao

Jan/15

Wed

07:00PM-11:00PM

Next House TFL

Enrollment: Unlimited: No advance sign-up

Come out and chill with us for ATS's midwinter movie marathon! Take a break from the intensity of IAP and relax while watching popular Asian movies! Don't understand Chinese? It's okay! English subtitles will be provided! Drop by anytime between 7pm-10pm at the Next House TFL!

 

Sponsor(s): Association of Taiwanese Students
Contact: Staly Chin, Next House TFL, (415) 308-4789, STALYC@MIT.EDU

Tami Bolk, Global Education Program Assistant, Lily Zhang, Career Development Specialist

Jan/09

Thu

04:00PM-05:00PM

4-251

Enrollment: Registration required through CareerBridge
Limited to 15 participants

Do you teach or tutor international students, or are you considering going abroad to teach? Have you ever experienced challenges or frustration when doing so because of cultural or language barriers? In this session, you will be provided valuable tools to better understand and negotiate cultural differences that will lead to greater teaching success.  Come learn how to improve your own intercultural communication skills in order to foster increased global understandings.  

Sponsor(s): Global Education and Career Development
Contact: Tami Bolk, 12-170, 617-253-4744, tbolk@mit.edu

Yun Yang

Jan/23

Thu

02:00PM-03:30PM

E40-496, Lucian Pye Conf Room

Enrollment: Limited: Advance sign-up required
Limited to 20 participants

Yun Yang, an expert of Chinese ink painting and member of the Chinese Artists Association, will lead us to explore Chinese painting from historical to modern times. This talk will begin with a brief introduction on the history of Chinese ink painting, followed by a live demonstration of ink painting techniques, including a rare opportunity for those in attendance to try out their own hand. By the end of this talk, the audience will learn how to complete their own bird-and-flower painting, a traditional subject of Chinese art.

 Yun Yang was born in Langzhong, Sichuan, China. He is a senior member of the Chinese Artists Association, and Director of the Sichuan Artists Association. His works have won many awards, both nationally and internationally.

Sponsor(s): MIT China Program, Center for International Studies, Foreign Languages and Literatures
Contact: Sean Gilbert, E40-496 (Lucian Pye Conference Room), seang@mit.edu

Jimena Castro, Visiting Researcher at BU, Latin American Studies

Jan/09	Thu	11:00AM-12:00PM	66-148
Jan/16	Thu	11:00AM-12:00PM	66-148
Jan/23	Thu	11:00AM-12:00PM	66-148
Jan/30	Thu	11:00AM-12:00PM	66-148

Enrollment: Limited: Advance sign-up required
Attendance: Participants must attend all sessions

Conversational Spanish for Beginners: These sessions will provide the basic skills for having a conversation in Spanish.  We will learn how to greet, talk about basic feelings and the use of present tense. 

Please email the instructor to participate.

Contact: Jimena Castro, jimenacastrogodoy@gmail.com

Jimena Castro, Visiting Researcher at BU, Latin American Studies

Enrollment: Limited: Advance sign-up required
Attendance: Participants must attend all sessions

Conversational Spanish for Beginners: These sessions will provide the basic skills for having a conversation in Spanish.  We will learn how to greet, talk about basic feelings and the use of present tense. 

Please email the instructor to participate.

Sponsor(s): SpousesandPartners@mit
Contact: Jimena Castro, jimenacastrogodoy@gmail.com

---

Jan/16	Thu	09:30AM-10:30AM	66-156
Jan/23	Thu	09:30AM-10:30AM	66-156
Jan/30	Thu	09:30AM-10:30AM	66-156

Jimena Castro - Visiting Researcher at BU, Latin American Studies

Ora Gladstone

Jan/26

Sun

12:30PM-08:45AM

Meet-Lobby W11-RAC, We will walk 1/2 mile to 1st Church

Enrollment: Unlimited: Advance sign-up required
Sign-up by 01/22
Prereq: RSVP and cell #-need to know who's coming

Join the Addir Fellows Interfaith Dialogue on our visit to 2 very different Christian services: 1) 8:00am-St. Paul's AME (African Methodist Episcopal), Cambridge

2) 10:00 - Cathedral of St. Paul (Episcopal).

Meet 7:45am, Lobby - W11.  RSVP - ora@mit.edu, 617-610-1060

Sponsor(s): Chaplain to the Institute, Addir Fellows Interfaith Dialogue
Contact: Ora Gladstone, W11-035, 617-610-1060, ora@mit.edu

Ora Gladstone

Jan/24

Fri

03:45PM-08:00PM

Meet-Lobby W11-RAC, Women-long sleeves, skirt or dress. No electronics

Enrollment: Unlimited: Advance sign-up required
Sign-up by 01/21
Prereq: RSVP and cell #-need to know who's coming

Join the Addir Fellows Interfaith Dialogue on our visit to two very different Friday night/welcoming-the-Sabbath services: 1) 4:30pm Young Israel of Brookline (Orthodox - ID required, cell phones off, no electronics/photos, women-no slacks). 2) 6:00pm Temple Beth Zion (Spiritual, Jewish Renewal, song-filled) followed by a kiddush/light meal.  Call Ora 617-610-1060 to participate and for meeting instructions.

Sponsor(s): Chaplain to the Institute, Addir Fellows Interfaith Dialogue
Contact: Ora Gladstone, W11-035, 617-610-1060, ora@mit.edu

Ora Gladstone

Jan/24

Fri

12:00PM-03:00PM

Meet-Lobby W11-RAC, Women-long sleeves, head scarf

Enrollment: Unlimited: Advance sign-up required
Sign-up by 01/21

Join the Addir Fellows Interfaith Dialogue on our trip to the I.S.B.C.C. (Islamic Society of Boston Cultural Center) for the weekly sermon, Jum'ah/Friday prayer, and a tour of this beautiful center. Women please no bare arms and if possible bring a scarf.  617-610-1060

Sponsor(s): Chaplain to the Institute, Addir Fellows Interfaith Dialogue
Contact: Ora Gladstone, W11-035, 617-610-1060, ora@mit.edu

Kyoko Wada

Jan/26

Sun

02:00PM-03:00PM

W20-307

Enrollment: Unlimited: Advance sign-up required
Sign-up by 01/24
Prereq: None

Join us for a Japanese tea ceremony performed by Mrs. Kyoko Wada, who has been studying the Japanese Tea Ceremony for more than 30 years. She will share "the happiness of the tea ceremony" with you and invite you to take this opportunity to leave your worries and problems at the door. Be transported to Japan by the calligraphy, ceramics, flowers, lacquer, and incense. Experience the four elements of the "way of tea:" harmony, respect, purity, and tranquility. Imagine how they can bring harmony into our daily interactions. Take the first step of what can become a lifetime of study and meditation.

No limit but advance sign up required (see contact below)

Signup by: 24-Jan-2014

Web: http://web.mit.edu/chado/www/index.html

Contact: Kyoko Wada, iap.chado@gmail.com

Sponsor(s): SpousesandPartners@mit
Contact: Kyoko Wada, iap.chado@gmail.com

Yael Marshall

Jan/07	Tue	07:30PM-08:30PM	Student Ctr, Rm 407, Taichi
Jan/11	Sat	11:00AM-12:00PM	Z-Cntr, Wrestling Rm, Kung Fu
Jan/14	Tue	07:30PM-08:30PM	Student Ctr, Rm 407, Taichi
Jan/18	Sat	11:00AM-12:00PM	Z-Cntr, Wrestling Rm, Kung Fu
	Jan/21	Tue	07:30PM-08:30PM	(CANCELED)
Jan/25	Sat	11:00AM-12:00PM	Z-Cntr, Wrestling Rm, Kung Fu
Jan/28	Tue	06:00PM-07:00PM	Z-Ctr, Multi-Purpose, Taichi
Feb/01	Sat	11:00AM-12:00PM	Z-Cntr, Wrestling Rm, Kung Fu

Enrollment: Unlimited: No advance sign-up
Attendance: Best to come to all sessions if possible, welcome at individual sessions

Want to learn and practice principles of self-defense in a safe and fun environment? Want to strengthen your mind and get an awesome workout? Then come learn the intense movements of Kung Fu and the balanced techniques of Tai Chi. Kung Fu utilizes striking moves with kicks, punches, and blocks.  Tai Chi, also known as "meditation in motion", utilizes fluid movements coupled with deep breathing techniques to achieve maximum defense. Both are key components of Chinese Martial Arts, and will teach you different tactics on how to approach your opponent's moves.

Sponsor(s): Kung-Fu/Taichi Club
Contact: Yael Marshall, 617-997-3429, Yaelm@alum.mit.edu

Joyce Wu, Jim Boorstein

Jan/25	Sat	01:00PM-05:00PM	MAC court, Z Center
Jan/26	Sun	09:00AM-03:00PM	Rockwell Cage North, north court

Enrollment: Limited: Advance sign-up required
Limited to 15 participants
Attendance: Participants must attend all sessions
Fee: $20.00 for instruction

Kyudo, or Japanese archery, means the "way of the bow" and was considered the highest discipline of ancient Japanese samurai. Kyudo is based on standing Zen meditation used by Zen Buddhist monks as a means of cultivating self-awareness. Beginners will receive instruction in the basic form of kyudo, the Seven Coordinations or "shichi-do," and shoot at a short-range target.

Sponsor(s): MIT Japan Program, Center for International Studies
Contact: Tom Blackwood, E40-431, x8-8208, thomas_b@mit.edu

Shekhar Shastri

Enrollment: Unlimited: Advance sign-up required
Sign-up by 01/20
Attendance: Participants must attend all sessions

Romantic poetry was considered the supreme form of aesthetics in ancient Indian literature. Strikingly uninhibited in their content and intensity, the works of poets such as Bhartrhari, Kalidasa, and Jayadeva are unparalleled in their sublime expression of love which provide deep insight into ancient Indian society, culture, and relationships in general. In addition, a brief background in Indian aesthetics would be provided to help in understanding the literary works and the sensibilities of the era under study; paintings inspired from the above-mentioned love poetry would be shown and discussed.

Students would be encouraged to create original works on their own deriving inspiration from the works studied in the class. The final session will take place in the Indian Art gallery at The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.

Comments from IAP 2011-13 students:

“ … very engaging and dynamic ... what a wonderful way to learn Indian culture. … drew us in immediately …very stimulating ... beautiful ... moving”

Instructor

Shekhar Shastri is an entrepreneur, poet, and filmmaker and is a Director of Meru Education Foundation, which produces educational programs on the arts and culture of India. He writes poetry and plays in Sanskrit, Hindi, Urdu, and English. He has produced four films, one of which was nominated for a National award in India.

To register, please email:  shastri.shekhar@gmail.com

Sponsor(s): Mechanical Engineering
Contact: Shekhar Shastri, shastri.shekhar@gmail.com

---

Jan/21	Tue	07:00PM-09:00PM	1-135
Jan/23	Thu	07:00PM-09:00PM	1-135
Jan/28	Tue	07:00PM-09:00PM	1-135
Jan/30	Thu	07:00PM-09:00PM	1-135

First four classes at MIT.  Fifth and final class at MFA, Boston - date TBD.

Shekhar Shastri

Isaac Oderberg

Jan/26

Sun

07:00PM-09:00PM

MIT Chapel

Enrollment: Unlimited: No advance sign-up

Learn Middle Eastern rhythms on the dara bukka/dumbeg, an hourglass-shaped drum. We will be learning and practicing a variety of rhythms and techniques, especially as used for folk dancing.

Contact: Ethan Sokol, 631-398-3220, ESOKOL@MIT.EDU

Jocelyn Lu

Enrollment: Unlimited: No advance sign-up
Attendance: Participants welcome at individual sessions
Prereq: None

Want to learn some Asian dance this IAP? Come to the MIT Asian Dance Team's IAP Workshops! We are hosting two separate workshops on Saturday, January 11th and Saturday, January 25th, from 3-4PM in McCormick Dance Studio. Each workshop will feature a different facet of Asian dance; check back for details! No dance experience required; participants are welcome to come to either or both workshops. 

Participants should come dressed in comfortable clothes.

Please visit our website for more news and updates! If you have any questions, please contact us at adt-exec@mit.edu.

Sponsor(s): Asian Dance Team
Contact: Ruobing Lu, 281.832.5316, RBINGLU@MIT.EDU

---

ADT Workshop Session I: History

Jan/11

Sat

03:00PM-04:00PM

McCormick DS

Come and learn History, a super swag KPop dance by the popular group EXO-M!

Sally Lin, Minerva Zhou

---

ADT Workshop Session II: Modern Fan

Jan/25

Sat

03:00PM-04:00PM

McCormick DS

Come and learn a powerful modern Chinese fan dance!

Jocelyn Lu

Michael Toler, Archnet Digital Library Content Manager

Jan/28

Tue

03:00PM-05:00PM

3-133

Enrollment: Unlimited: No advance sign-up

The Arab Spring is the term given to the wave of demonstrations and protests that began in Tunisia in December 2010.  To date this massive wave of popular protests has toppled authoritarian regimes in Tunisia, Egypt, Libya and Yemen.  There have also been significant demonstrations in other countries, some of which have led to meaningful reforms, while others have led to civil war and strife.  In such times of crisis, music can be particularly important as a tool of communication and education that builds community, boosts morale, and rallies people to the cause.  One thing is clear, this is a revolutionary moment, and every revolution comes with a soundtrack. 

The still evolving soundtrack of the “Arab Spring” is a fascinating blend of local and international influences ranging from classical Chaabi music from North Africa to the electronic sounds of Rap.  Genres that have largely been robbed of their subversive power by the commercial music industry in the West, still pack a radical punch on the streets of the Middle East and North Africa.  Performers have been beaten, jailed, and even killed as part of government efforts to suppress popular uprisings.  This program will dive into the music of the Arab Spring and its antecedents through audio, video, texts, and multimedia resources.

Come discover the musicians that emerged as heroes of these protest movements and join a discussion of what the future might hold, given the rapid political and social changes in the region.

Sponsor(s): Libraries
Contact: Michael Toler, 7-238, 617 253-2955, MTOLER@MIT.EDU

Kamesh Aiyer

Enrollment: Unlimited: No advance sign-up
Attendance: welcome at individual sessions but no transition help provided
Prereq: Comfortable in English discussions

The Mahabharata is a 100,000 verse epic poem that is a source book of Indian myth.  It is many things: it is a story of a great war that engulfed all South Asia; it is History, beginning with Genesis – of the universe, the gods and demons, the first people, onwards, to the story of the generations preceding the war; it is a soap opera; a religious text; a textbook of how to rule; a treatise on how to live. There is something in it for everyone and it has been the wellspring of inspiration in India for the last two thousand years.

Sponsor(s): Center for International Studies, MIT India Program
Contact: Melanie Mala Ghosh, 258-5917, mghosh@mit.edu

---

Re-Imagining the Mahabharata

Jan/07	Tue	01:00PM-03:00PM	4-149
Jan/14	Tue	01:00PM-03:00PM	4-149
Jan/21	Tue	01:00PM-03:00PM	4-149
Jan/28	Tue	01:00PM-03:00PM	4-149

Jan 7 - Lecture 1: Introduction

Jan 14 - Lecture 2 - Tribal People

Jan 21 - Lecture 3 - Caste and Farming in the Gangetic Heartland

Jan 28 - Lecture 4 - The Limits of Empire and Dharma

Kamesh Aiyer

Minh-Tue Vo, Student

Jan/20

Mon

10:30AM-01:00PM

W20 PDR 1 & 2

Enrollment: Limited: First come, first served (no advance sign-up)
Limited to 30 participants

This is a one day mediation, yoga and relaxation workshop. Come to stretch, relax and learn more about physical, mental and emotional wellness. No prior knowledge for meditation or yoga is required, just bring yourself and your mindfulness. If you are doing Yoga, wear comfortable clothes and bring a towel.

Lunch will be provided.

This event is sponsored by the Buddhist Student Club and Community Wellness at MIT Medical.

Sponsor(s): Buddhist Community, MIT Medical
Contact: Minh Tue Vo Thanh, United States, (857) 207-5164, MINHTUEV@MIT.EDU

Ornella Iuorio

Enrollment: Limited: Advance sign-up required
Attendance: Participants welcome at individual sessions
Fee: $40.00 for Instructor fee and admission to Live music event on 24th

The folk dance has always been a moment of meeting, an important social moment that allow women and men to get together and young people to enter in a community. The folk dance has been developing around the world, no matter the place, since the agriculture time and has seen facing men and women, women and women or men and men.

"The South Italy folk dance lab" will provide an overview of the folk dance developed around into the Mediterraneum area, questioning the similarities of characters and movements among Italian, Greek and South Spanish dance, and in particular will focus on the dance from South Italy.

Dances from different Italian regions, such as Campania, Puglia and Calabria will be studied. Tammurriate, Pizziche and tarantelle will be showed.

The class will conclude with a dance event with live folk music. 

Please contact the instructor to participate.

Ornella Iuorio is an Architect with a big passion for dance. She earned a diploma in Classical Ballet and Contemporary Dance in 2002 in Italy and since then she has been teaching ballet and Italian folk dance. Dr. Iuorio has performed as Tanztheater artist in several festivals joining different companies.

 

Sponsor(s): SpousesandPartners@mit
Contact: Ornella Iuorio, ornella.iuorio@unina.it

---

Jan/13	Mon	05:00PM-07:00PM	4-153
Jan/15	Wed	05:00PM-07:00PM	4-153
Jan/17	Fri	05:00PM-07:00PM	4-153
Jan/22	Wed	05:00PM-07:00PM	4-153
Jan/24	Fri	05:00PM-07:00PM	4-153

Covered in the cost of the class is the $10 admission to the live music event on January 24th.  

Ornella Iuorio