Skip to content

Florida State University

FSU | Florida State University News

  • Navigation
  • Search FSU
  • Webmail

Search FSU


Close Search

Site Navigation

  • Home
  • News Topics
    • Arts & Humanities
    • Business, Law & Policy
    • Education & Society
    • Health & Medicine
    • Science & Technology
    • Students & Campus Life
    • University News
    • All News
    • Faculty/Staff Briefs
    • Expert Pitches
  • Multimedia
    • Video Stories
    • Radio Stories
    • Photo Galleries
    • All Multimedia
  • About FSU
    • The Big Story
    • Student Stars
    • Publications
    • Highlights/Rankings
    • Seminole Tribe
  • For Journalists
    • News Contacts
    • Media Resources
    • Experts
      • Expert Categories
    • Title IX

Global Navigation

  • Academics
  • Admissions
  • Research
  • Faculty
  • Students
  • Veterans
  • Support FSU
Close Menu

Florida State University News

The Official News Source of Florida State University

  • Home
  • News Topics
    • Arts & Humanities
    • Business, Law & Policy
    • Education & Society
    • Health & Medicine
    • Science & Technology
    • Students & Campus Life
    • University News
    • All News
    • Faculty/Staff Briefs
    • Expert Pitches
  • Multimedia
    • Video Stories
    • Radio Stories
    • Photo Galleries
    • All Multimedia
  • About FSU
    • The Big Story
    • Student Stars
    • Publications
    • Highlights/Rankings
    • Seminole Tribe
  • For Journalists
    • News Contacts
    • Media Resources
    • Experts
      • Expert Categories
    • Title IX

Home / News / University News / Beyond Borders: Jamaica, FSU students engage in cultural exchange


Beyond Borders: Jamaica, FSU students engage in cultural exchange

By: Rebecca Mahony | Published: November 8, 2017 | 9:29 am | SHARE: Share on FacebookTweet

University of West Indies students interacted with FSU students in the Beyond Borders program and the greater FSU community. (Photo: Center for Global Engagement)
University of West Indies students interacted with FSU students in the Beyond Borders program and the greater FSU community. (Photo: Center for Global Engagement)

Florida State University hosted 12 students from the University of the West Indies (UWI) in Jamaica this fall as part of the Center for Global Engagement’s Beyond Borders program.

Through this short-term cultural exchange program Florida State students had the chance to develop a deeper understanding of another culture by hosting international students, sharing American culture and campus life experiences.

Next spring, the FSU students will travel to Jamaica and experience cultural immersion with the same international students in their home country where they will visit local museums and historical sites, hike and make daytrips to nearby towns.

The program is available for students to explore the cultures of either Jamaica or Germany. Students who participate increase their communication skills, cultural awareness, self-awareness and personal growth. Many say they develop a global mindset and creating lifelong friendships.

UWI students gave classroom presentations, sharing their culture through folklore, language, music and dance. (Photo: Center for Global Engagement)
UWI students gave classroom presentations, sharing their culture through folklore, language, music and dance. (Photo: Center for Global Engagement)

Over the course of the week, UWI students interacted with FSU students in the Beyond Borders program and the greater FSU community. They gave classroom presentations, sharing their culture through folklore, language, music and dance. As part of this dynamic presentation, FSU students joined UWI students as they performed various styles of Jamaican dance.

A highlight of the week was “shadow day,” where each UWI student was paired with an FSU student to experience a typical day at Florida State. Students also spent time together dining, going on campus tours, attending performances, engaging in team-building activities at the FSU Reservation and more.

Jordanna Roberts, an FSU freshman majoring in exercise physiology, discovered Beyond Borders while looking for an option to study abroad.

“I liked that Beyond Borders was more of an exchange program, and I had the opportunity to develop a lifelong friendship,” said Roberts. “My mom is also from Jamaica, so I was always interested in learning about that part of my heritage. I enjoyed playing volleyball with my partner, showing her my dorm and exploring campus with her.”

Robert’s shadow-day partner, Mykoll Finikin, is in her final year studying law at UWI and was excited to be on FSU’s campus.

Students spent time together dining, going on campus tours, attending performances, engaging in team-building activities at the FSU Reservation and more. (Photo: Center for Global Engagement)
Students spent time together dining, going on campus tours, attending performances, engaging in team-building activities at the FSU Reservation and more. (Photo: Center for Global Engagement)

“I was most interested in seeing what FSU is like through the eyes of a student,” Finikin said. “Not to just be a fly on the wall but instead to get the experiences of an actual student.”

Alex Stewart, an FSU freshman majoring in finance, applied for Beyond Borders because he was interested in exploring different cultures.

“It was great sharing my classes and the CARE lab with Denzel, my UWI partner,” Stewart said.

Stewart’s partner, Denzel Clarke, is a second-year medical student who was selected for the program by his resident adviser.

FSU students can apply for Beyond Borders programs in Jamaica and Germany each fall. Selection for this program is competitive. Only 12 students are chosen each year for Jamaica, and 10 students are selected for Germany.

Deadlines to participate in Beyond Borders this year have passed, but applications for next year can be sent to Laura Dean at lmdean@fsu.edu.

To learn more about the program, visit cge.fsu.edu/beyondborders.


Posted in: University News | Tagged: Beyond Borders, Center for Global Engagement, University of the West Indies

Post navigation

Previous Article Previous Article: Florida State University announces new director of Opening Nights Performing Arts Program
Next Article Next Article: Student-veterans find a ‘home’ at Florida State

Sidebar

Related Stories

  • Making the complicated clear: Master’s in Four spotlights research from across disciplines
  • FSU center director wins Lawton Chiles Advocacy Award for work supporting children
  • FSU community recognizes The Graduate School, former dean with stained-glass window  
  • Faculty works celebrated during annual FSU Authors Day 
  • FSU researcher: Poor maternity benefits can prompt new mothers to leave their jobs

Recommended Stories

  • TEDxFSU presents ‘Rooted in Reality’
  • Making the complicated clear: Master’s in Four spotlights research from across disciplines
  • FSU center director wins Lawton Chiles Advocacy Award for work supporting children
  • FSU professors receive fellowship that encourages underrepresented junior faculty
  • FSU set to host 7th annual ACC InVenture Competition

Search Florida State News

News Archives

News Topics

  • Arts & Humanities
  • Business, Law & Policy
  • Education & Society
  • Health & Medicine
  • Science & Technology
  • Students & Campus Life
  • University News
  • All News
  • Faculty/Staff Briefs
  • Expert Pitches

Multimedia

  • Video Stories
  • Radio Stories
  • Photo Galleries
  • All Multimedia

About FSU

  • The Big Story
  • Student Stars
  • Publications
  • Highlights/Rankings
  • Seminole Tribe

For Journalists

  • News Contacts
  • Media Resources
  • Experts
    • Expert Categories
  • Title IX

© Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL 32306

  • FSU Directory Assistance
  • Questions or Comments
  • Privacy Policy
  • Copyright
  • Like Florida State on Facebook
  • Follow Florida State on Instagram
  • Follow Florida State on Twitter"
  • Follow Florida State on Youtube
  • Connect with Florida State on LinkedIn
  • More FSU Social Media