Where can you go every Thursday night for an evening of meeting interesting people, trying new foods, learning about other countries, and much more? — The Cosmopolitan Club!
Every week is a unique experience with a different country hosting the coffee hour. You never know what to expect, besides the regular staples of Panera bread and good company! One week you may be dancing to live music from Azerbaijan, the next week you may have the chance to witness a sensual Argentine tango, the next week you may be able to sample ten kinds of German pastries!
The Cosmo Club is a great place to learn about other cultures and meet friends from around the world. This is my senior year at the University of Illinois, but the first time I have been to the Cosmo Club. I was at an International Illini event when the friends I made brought me to the Cosmo Club. I haven’t missed a week since! I love having the opportunity to learn more in depth about different countries. The best part is that you not only learn about the country through the presentation but there are people filled with pride for their country that are ready and willing to teach you more. It is a great opportunity for people from many nations to come together and learn about our differences and commonalities.
I love meeting people from different countries, but I wish that North Americans were present. The first night that I attended the Cosmo Club Coffee hour, I was standing in a circle with other students, enjoying South Korean delicacies, when people began introducing themselves and stating what country they are from. “Germany, Austria, Argentina, South Korea, Iran, Venezuela.”
When I stated I was from the U.S. I was greeted with surprised looks. The Venezuelan student exclaimed, “WHAT? What are you doing here? I mean, we come here to meet Americans, but there are NEVER any Americans here! I mean we thought they did not care about other countries.”
People’s reasons for coming to the Cosmo Club vary, but it is a shame that more people from the U.S. are not present. Interaction between people from the U.S. and other countries can help to break stereotypes and create a more globally aware public in the U.S. I really enjoyed my experiences at the Cosmo Club and hope it will continue to be a success. I also hope more people from the U.S. participate in Cosmo’s laudable humanitarian goal. “Above All Nations is Humanity.”
I would like to thank all the people involved with making the Cosmo Club such a success this year, especially Felix and all the RSO Clubs who delivered such interesting presentations and cooked such delicious foods! Thank you for teaching us more about your country.
Rene Bangert, Senior in International Studies (second from right), focuses on Latin American Development and has found a second home at Cosmo