Asha Longsworth
Staff Writer
On Tuesday French butter cakes and Parisian herbal tea gave students a little taste of France. And for the Office of International Services and Study Abroad, cookies, tea and a little bit of painting, made for an engaging event for students: The Global Sips event from noon to 2 p.m.
Global Sips, the second Tuesday of each month, highlights a different country and its culture.
The event on the second floor of the Ludwick Center allows students time to slow down and engage with one another.
This month’s French-themed event had a selection of paint colors, snacks, warm beverages and the ambiance of international travel.
“A lot of people don’t know this place exists, but then they see free snacks, free printing,” said Sergio Sandoval, junior computer science major who works for the Office of International Services.
Junior criminology major Garrett Gonzales highlighted how the office is a safe space for students to have fun regardless of their association with studying abroad. Gonzales and Sergio Sandoval, Office of International Services student employees, encouraged students to take free snacks and participate in painting on miniature canvases.
Sandoval said he hopes the event gave students a sense of belonging.
“I saw French and painting, and decided to come,” freshman business administration major Sidhya Das said. “I’ve always painted, and haven’t had time to paint.”
Sophia Naranjo, a freshman psychology major, and Helen Bravo, a freshman biology major, took this event as an opportunity to decompress.
Bravo said she heard about it in French class and Naranjo decided to tag along. They enjoyed the brownies and scones, which came from a bakery in Claremont, as they painted.
Bravo and Das said they will attend Global Sips again.
The Global Sips event is from noon to 2 p.m. on the second Tuesday of each month.
In addition to hosting Global Sips, the Office of International Services assists students in understanding immigration status and holds academic workshops centered around navigating higher education as an international student.
Asha Longsworth can be reached at asha.longsworth@laverne.edu.
Asha Longsworth is a senior communications major with a concentration in public relations, and a staff writer for the Campus Times.
Stephanie Amaya is a senior communications major with a concentration in public relations and a staff photographer for the Campus Times. She has previously served as a staff writer.
