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The Global Village marks new beginnings – and an end

Students from all over the world brought a taste of their countries to the University of Agder this week. For Irina Randrianarivelo, it is the last event before handing the Global Lounge over to new interns.

This article is more than two years old, and may contain outdated information.

The Italian stand at the Global Village. The event was held at the University of Agder's Campus Kristiansand on the 29th of August.

The Americans have brought hamburgers, portion-wrapped in small plastic bags. The Swiss have brought Toblerone chocolate, and playfully educates people that Zurich is not their country's capital (it is Bern). The Italians have brought tiramisu, bruschetta, frittata di pasta and coffee, and are hosting an Italy-themed quiz.

"The Italians are doing really well," Irina Randrianarivelo whispers. There is an informal competition on which country is making the best presentation.

The Global Village event is the brainchild of Ms. Randrianarivelo, as part of her work as an intern leading the day-to-day of the Global Lounge at the University of Agder. On the 29th of August students from 20 different countries brought their food and culture to a huge get-together in Vrimlehallen at Campus Kristiansand.

The idea, according to Ms. Randrianarivelo, is to bring international and Norwegian students closer together.

A chance to show their country

Sarah El Mehdi is part of the Italian group, and arrived at the University of Agder from Milan three weeks ago. She is here to study linguistics, and jumped at the chance of displaying her culture to other students.

"Norway is a new place for us, so this is a nice way for us to show a little bit of ourselves," she says.

The Italians has had a lot of visitors, many of which ask if tiramisu really is Italian. Others want to ask about the country and the pictures the Italian students have brought.

"Everything is great here in Kristiansand. Everybody remarks on how safe it is, you can walk around alone at morning and at night with no trouble. The only downside is the weather," Ms. El Mehdi adds.

276 international exchange students are attending UiA this autumn semester. That is a 14 % increase from last autumn.

Popular with students and staff

The Global Lounge opened at the University of Agder in January 2018. It is a place where international students can get practical help, and where Norwegian students can be inspired to travel on exchange. So far this year, over 400 Norwegian and international students have been helped. It is also popular with the university staff.

Irina Randrianarivelo with the Global Lounge's new interns, Christina Konz from Germany and Maria Boyero from Spain.

Early in her tenure at the Global Lounge, Ms. Randrianarivelo noticed a middle-aged German man who often dropped by. She did not think much of it, but figured that he appreciated the biscuits and coffee that the lounge offered. It turned out to be the university's rector, Frank Reichert.

"I really like that the University of Agder doesn’t have such a high power distance in its structure. There is less bureaucracy than I am used to, and it is easy to ask people for help. Things like that makes you feel really at home," she says.

Changed by travelling

Ms. Randrianarivelo grew up in Baltimore, Maryland, USA and is a first-generation Malagasy-American as her family emigrated from Madagascar. She went on to study at the ESDES business school in Lyon, with stints in South Korea and Denmark. As ESDES is a partner school of UiA, she leapt at the chance when the Norwegian university put out a call for interns to help run the Global Lounge.

"I have loved being here. It doesn't even feel like a job. Sometimes after school I realize that I am still giving advice to people," she says.

Now Ms. Randrianarivelo is training her sucessors, Christina Konz from Germany and Maria Boyero from Spain. They will work as interns at the Global Lounge for the next semester, and Ms. Randrianarivelo has already taught them a lot.

As for herself, travelling has made Ms. Randrianarivelo reconsider her career plans. Just finishing her degree in International Business, she now wants to move on to international development studies. The plan, for now, is to find a way to bring sustainable energy and better infrastructure to Madagascar.

"Travelling has brought me a new worldview. I'm a better global citizen now, less unaware of the world around me, and more empathetic," she says.

Facts/The Global Lounge

The Global Lounge is overseen by the International Office, the division of Human Resources and the division of Research Management.

Services provided by the Erasmus Student Network (ESN), the Student Association in Agder (STA) and the buddy programme will be accessible at the Global Lounge.

The Global Lounge supports the Global Mindset strategic goals by removing obstacles to international academic success and encouraging contact with fellow students and staff. In doing so, it strives to contribute to an inclusive climate where all are welcome.

It is open Mon-Fri from 9-15.