Traveling the world in a minute became a reality Tuesday during International Students Day, which celebrated the diversity and cultural identity of international students studying at Oswego.

Students representing nine different countries filled the Marano Campus Center hallway with bright flags and poster boards to teach students, faculty and staff about their home cultures and what shapes them as people through those cultures.

“It’s interesting to teach people about my country that may have less experience and to learn about other cultures,” said Fem Koymen, an international student from Turkey.

International Students Day not only gets people acquainted with cultures that may be different from theirs, but also allows for international students to get involved with their own cultures while away from home.

“I think it’s really important to celebrate diverse cultures and communities and to be acquainted with one’s own culture,” said Namibian international student Omar van Reenen.

One of the most interesting aspects that international students shared was the difference in the university system back home versus their experiences at Oswego State.

College in Spain is different, Mariola Montoya explained. She lives in an apartment near the school and goes to the campus for classes. Oftentimes, students at Spanish universities refer to their attending the school as “reading,” rather than studying.

One of the biggest differences was the social scene associated with living on and around campus compared to her life off campus back in Spain, she said.

“Oswego has a welcoming feel and a diverse population, which makes me feel at home,” said Adarsh Kakarania, an international student from India. “It feels like we’re all in the same boat.”

Oswego hosts a diverse group of international students. Some came from their countries to attend Oswego for all four years for a bachelors degree; others attend Oswego for only a semester or a year before going back to their home countries to finish their education in their home system.

“There are 272 international students studying abroad, representing 37 countries,” said associate director of international student and scholar services Gabriela Lozanova.

Of the 37 countries represented, nine were on display Tuesday afternoon. Students from Turkey, Australia, Serbia, India, Bulgaria, South Korea, Vietnam, Spain and Namibia and their respective student ambassadors all educated willing listeners on their home customs.

For the 2016-2017 academic year, 2.8 percent of the Oswego State student body was made up of international students. The 2014-2015 academic year saw a peak in total international and exchange students, with 261 total, and 145 students seeking their degree from Oswego State.

Currently there are 223 international students at Oswego State, 160 of them are actively seeking a degree from the school.

“I am interested in what is happening in other countries; it is the thing I like the most,” Koymen said.

She explained it was her motive for choosing the global and international studies major.

Janna Baggio, an Australian international student, spoke about taking advantage of all the opportunities presented.

Despite the diversity of the represented countries, the one unanimous factor was the welcome feeling that the students said they received upon enrolling at Oswego.

“[Studying abroad] teaches you what you miss about home,” Montoya said.

Photo: Greg Tavani | The Oswegonian