Woodbridge Activities

The Woodbridge International Society is largely a social organization, providing opportunities for cultural exchange and gathering together as a group of friends. To that end, just like Woodbridge’s own membership, every event of the year is open to all – students from abroad, students in America, students with distinct cultural heritages, or those who just have an interest in learning or meeting great people. Our activities and functions run the gamut – from first-year bonding to senior year farewells and even post-graduate networking. So take a look, and keep your eyes peeled for these exciting events!

If you are interested in helping organize any of these projects or would simply like to learn more, please e-mail Becca Gong (rgong@fas.harvard.edu).

Note: all music requests (song titles, artists, or actual mp3s) for Woodbridge events can be sent to woodbridgemusic@gmail.com

Barazas
"Baraza" is Swahili for "open house". Barazas are in many ways the essence of Woodbridge. Once every few weeks, members of the Society come together to catch up and relax, each time enjoying a different type of international cuisine. These intimate social events are fundamental to Woodbridge's philosophy of fostering international understanding. For when you can interact with someone of a different culture on the basis of friendship, the cause of international understanding is meaningfully furthered. Quite apart from these lofty aims, bringing together good food and interesting people is also always a lot of fun!
This year, Woodbridge is taking the traditional Baraza heart of good food and good company, and combining it with other activities to make for an interesting time full of friends and cultural interaction. Upcoming baraza activities include films, international game nights, and international dance lessons.

Fiesta Mondiale
A tasteful celebration of international culture, Fiesta, as it is known to all, draws hundreds of students and is invariably the social event of the Spring semester. It is both Woodbridge's signature event and main fund-raiser. Woodbridge puts on a raging international party that celebrates the true diversity of nations and cultures represented at Harvard. Attendees dress up in their national dress and enjoy a phenomenal array of cuisine from various restaurants and ethnic groups. The DJ spins a mix of truly international tunes in a dance party that makes for an unforgettable evening.

International Film Series
Every few weeks the social committee shows a highly acclaimed international movie, usually in the original language and subtitled in English. This year we started off with the wonderfully offbeat, and genuinely Indian romantic comedy “Monsoon Wedding,” followed by the sensual “Como agua para chocolate (Like Water for Chocolate),” based on the Mexican novel. Movie requests can be sent to Becca at rgong@fas.harvard.edu

Informal Parties
Music, dancing, drinks and all that jazz. Sometimes country-themed, and always full of great international music. Look forward to these parties with real flare, when you’re bored of the usual old room party/final club ho-hum – people with accents are better kissers, and better dancers! ;)

âWoodbridge Formal
This year, Woodbridge will be taking on a new social event idea – a classy formal event that will give all the members of the society a chance to dress up, look their best, and learn how to waltz -- all in a luxurious setting with a lovely ambiance.

WIAC Faculty Lunches
The WIAC Lunches are dedicated to promoting intelligent discourse on international issues, in politics, social issues, and the arts. Their purpose is to explore notions of world citizenship through the frank and informed exchange of views between distinguished guests and members of the Harvard community. Woodbridge regularly invites an international faculty member or one with an interest in international affairs to have lunch with undergraduates in an intimate setting. This provides a tremendous opportunity for students to meet and discuss issues with some of the Harvard community's most interesting members. Past participants in Faculty Lunches have included Middle East expert Eva Bellin, writer Zadie Smith, economist Xavier Sala-i-Martin, and UN Representative Luise Druke. For further information, to get involved on the WIAC committee, or for speaker requests/topic suggestions, please contact WIAC Chair Or Gadish at orgadish@fas.harvard.edu

Career Panel
Woodbridge, in coalition with its graduate board, will provide undergraduates the wonderful opportunity of interacting with members of the international community that have already flown the Harvard coop, back into the wide, wild world they came from. With representatives from various occupational realms: international law, international medicine, international business, international public service, etc. – this upcoming career panel will provide networking opportunities and information that you would never find anywhere else!

Grad Board
Woodbridge remains a part of its members’ lives even after they graduate from Harvard! With an elected Alumni Board, reunions, a newsletter, and events, we keep the community alive after everyone has dispersed to go on to their respective amazing careers. For more information about Alumni Affairs, please contact committee chair Nadim Rabaia: rabaia@fas.harvard.edu

Mentor-Mentee Program
The mentor-mentee program matches incoming international first-years with upperclassmen usually from their region of the world. The program aims at easing the transition of first-year students into the unique world of Harvard. Mentors can provide advice on classes, extracurricular activities, and on generally navigating the often confusing paths of the College and life in America. The name and contact information of the mentors are sent to the incoming international first-years at the beginning of the summer vacation in order to establish the mentor-mentee relationship before the school year starts. During the year, after the Mentor-Mentee Reception which takes place during the first week of school, the Woodbridge Society organizes numerous events such as football games, movie nights and brunches to help maintain the link between pairs and to allow freshmen to meet more upperclassmen.

Booklet of Essays
The essay booklet is a collection of anecdotes, experiences, and advice from upperclassmen for incoming first-year international students. A compendium of the myriad aspects of life at Harvard (from where to get haircuts to what Expos is), the booklet constitutes most freshmen's first introduction to life at the College. It is mailed out to international freshmen over the summer.

Freshman Week Orientation
The Woodbridge Society seeks to provide a warm welcome to incoming international freshmen in their first week at Harvard. We throw a reception during Freshman Week where they get an opportunity to meet not only fellow first-year students but also upperclassmen from different countries. First-year students have been overheard talking about things as diverse as buying winter clothing, going to the UHS, finding the easiest(!) Core classes and adjusting to life at Harvard.

Airport Pick-up Program
âStarting in 1997, we were able to arrange for international first-year students to be picked up upon arrival at Boston's Logan Airport by upperclassmen. Arriving in a new city, not to mention a new country can be intimidating. Even if you're an experienced traveler, jet lag or just plain exhaustion can make landing in Logan, finding a cab and getting to Harvard Square a little bewildering. So, we'll pick you up, take you from Logan Airport to Harvard Yard, and make sure you get the keys to your room. We'll even help you with your bags!

The Woodbridge Society works closely with the Freshman Dean's Office and the Harvard International Office in organizing these and other freshman orientation programs for international students.

Winter Housing For First-years
The Winter Housing program helps find housing for first-year international students who cannot go back home over Christmas break and who do not have any family and friends to visit in the US. Currently, University policy stipulates that first year students must vacate their residential dorms over winter break. The program tries to identify the accommodation options available for first year international students, e.g. a host family, international upperclassmen and so on. Invariably, these resources are limited and difficult to obtain. Woodbridge is working towards the permanent solution of having a residential dorm open for first-year international students over winter break. This will allow those international freshmen who do not have any place to go to stay on campus and avoid the trouble of finding emergency alternative winter housing.

‰ Admissions Office Related Projects
Woodbridge works closely with the admissions office in working to disseminate information about applying to Harvard to international students. Every year, students volunteer to take information back to schools in their home countries to help widen the pool of applicants to the College. In addition, Woodbridge on a ad-hoc basis forwards surveys to the Society's membership and helps gather information about international student experiences at Harvard that the Admissions Office requests.

Senior Reception
The Senior Reception takes place in late spring to give a great farewell to international seniors as they enter "the real world." A tasteful reception is sponsored by the Harvard International Office and is scheduled to coincide with the annual meeting of various international Harvard Clubs' members, all of whom who are invited to this special event. The Society also publishes the coming addresses and plans of Seniors to help facilitate members' efforts at keeping in touch.