Backpacking in Prague, sightseeing in Rome, experiencing the Spanish culture in Spain — NC State students have realistic opportunities to study abroad due to the financial help provided by the university, along variety of course offerings and programs. On Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. at Stewart Theatre in Talley Student Union, students will gather round to share their excursions through storytelling and visual presentations at the second annual Think & Do in Two: Global Storytelling Competition.
The event is the first of many events being held this November by the Office of International Affairs in celebration of International Education Month.
Brendali Carrillo, a graduate student studying parks, recreation and tourism management, is one of the contestants participating in this year’s competition.
“Before coming to NC State I was working in South America as a tour leader,” Carrillo said. “I would conduct different tours in South America. I’m from Peru, so my main country is Peru but I also went to Bolivia, Argentina and Chile. My story happens in two countries because it takes place in a lake shared Peru and Bolivia, where I was living on an island.”
Carrillo will be presenting her story in the form of an original song she has written for the competition. Each contestant only has two minutes to tell their story, and is allowed to show six pictures for 20 seconds each.
“The story is about an event that I attended and the family that I was staying with told us that it was New Year’s, but it was June 24,” Carrillo said. “But on this island they have an ethnic group with their own cultural features. We were the only foreigners. That night there was a dance, and they were waiting for the sun to come up with their arms wide open.”
According to Carrillo, what sparked her interest in the Global Storytelling Competition was the opportunity to share her story with others as well as to enrich herself with the cultural experiences of others.
Megan Winzeler, the communications and media specialist for the Office of International Affairs, is one of the many OIA employees who aim to help internationalize the university. Winzeler was a part of a larger team within OIA that helped organize and plan this year’s competition.
“We practice with the participants before the event to make sure they’re within the time limits and make sure they know all about the event so it can reduce nerves when they go in to present their story in front of a live audience,” Winzeler said.
Nine students will be competing in the competition this year, each bringing unique elements to the competition. About half of the competitors are international students, and half are American students. The competition’s strict voting process ensures fair voting as the audience will have no more than two minutes to vote using their cell phones.
“It’s such a great way to hear what we are doing firsthand, globally at NC State,” Winzeler said. “You’re hearing it firsthand from the people who are benefiting from the programs that we are working to provide.”
Sabriya Dobbins, a senior studying animal science and social work, competed in last year’s global storytelling competition. In 2014, Dobbins traveled to India and in 2015, she traveled to the Czech Republic and Austria.
“It was really cool seeing how different India was from America,” Dobbins said. “It was shocking to see the difference. I saw a lot of people struggling but also a lot of people that were happy with what they have which made me want to appreciate what I have.”
Dobbins told her story in the form of a nursery rhyme, with a steady rhyme scheme. She also created a blog to aid her presentation, which boasted pictures of her experience in India. Dobbins noted that she hopes more people will come out for the event this year.
“I thought it was really exciting,” Dobbins said. “It is definitely something people should come to. It’s a great way to share stories in your own way. How you share your story is up to you.”
