On Thursday, March 20, the Modern Languages and Literatures Department at Grand Valley State University held its annual Global Language and Culture Festival. The event, which celebrates international diversity through music, food and educational booths, served as a chance for students and faculty to learn about global cultures and experiences that are available to them through the University’s Study Abroad program.

Students who attended the event had the opportunity to check in at the entrance, and were given a small “passport” booklet. As they visited different booths and learned about unique cultural elements, they were able to collect stamps. One way to earn a stamp, for example, was to say a tongue twister in Chinese. The festival’s cultural immersion experiences highlighted how international experiences can shape personal and professional growth, and leave lasting impressions for years to come.

The Japanese booth featured contemporary manga books and traditional artifacts like Karuta playing cards, which offered a blend of pop culture and heritage. Nearby, the Department of Classics booth invited students to take photos in front of a green-screen backdrop of ancient Greece, allowing them to pose among historic temples and statues.

Kristen Cloutier, the Padnos International Center’s programs coordinator, ran one of the festival’s booths. Cloutier emphasized the accessibility and flexibility of the University’s Study Abroad program.

“We have an open policy that allows students to study nearly anywhere in the world,” Cloutier said. “You can go abroad within your major or fulfill general education credits. Language students especially benefit from the immersion experience.”

Cloutier added that program lengths can vary from two weeks to full academic years. She also noted popular destinations where students can live, learn and explore for less than the cost of a typical semester at GVSU, including Cyprus, Thailand and Seville, Spain.

“You can technically go abroad for up to four semesters,” Cloutier said. “Plus, students can use financial aid and scholarships to help cover the cost, and in some cases, it can be more affordable than staying at Grand Valley.”

Another highlight of the festival was a live puppet performance led by Professor Jason Yancey from the Modern Languages and Literatures Department. Yancey, who teaches a Spanish-language puppet theater course at GVSU, has more than 15 years of puppeteering experience, and has created over 200 custom puppets. His students write and produce original Spanish puppet shows, crafting their own puppets and performing at Spanish immersion elementary schools in West Michigan.

Kristi Pawlak, an adjunct professor of Japanese language at GVSU, also performed at the festival on the koto, a 13-stringed Japanese instrument.

Pawlak spent a single year abroad as a high school exchange student, which inspired her to have a lifelong relationship with Japanese culture, music and language. Her journey began with a leap of faith into the unfamiliar. For Pawlak, the koto became a bridge between cultures, communication and personal growth.

“I was placed in the countryside of Japan, where there were no English speakers,” Pawlak said. “My host family were rice farmers, and they felt it was important for me to learn about traditional Japanese culture.”

With no common language between herself and her music instructor, Pawlak learned the koto strictly by observing and mimicking.

“I didn’t speak Japanese at the time, and my teacher didn’t speak English,” Pawlak said. “I had to learn by watching, listening and imitating. Eventually, I even learned kanji characters to read the music.”

Despite challenges, Pawlak studied the instrument weekly for a full year. Her dedication paid off when she was able to perform at a local music hall with her teacher.

Since being back in Michigan, Pawlak continues to share her passion for Japanese culture not only through her performances, but in the classroom as well. She brought her koto home with her from Japan, a tangible reminder of her time in Japan. Pawlak recently performed two pieces for an audience– “Sando no Shirame” (“Three-Step Melody”) and “Sakura” (“Cherry Blossom”). The latter is a beloved staple in Japanese culture.

“It’s (‘Sakura’) a song every kid in Japan knows and sings,” Pawlak said.

From music to manga, puppets to passport stamps, the Global Language and Culture Festival offered students a hands-on experience of the world beyond campus. For attendees like those drawn to Pawlak’s koto performance or inspired by Cloutier’s international stories, the event served as a reminder that language and culture aren’t just academic subjects– they’re lived experiences that can open doors to new opportunities.