Wednesday, October 31, 2007
In the United States, homecomings center on special football games. Jayhawks from other countries say the tradition of football as the focus of homecoming is strictly American.
Mohamed El-Hodiri, a professor of economics, was raised in Egypt and studied in Russia. He said those two countries had traditions of homecoming, but they were different in emphasis and objectives from the homecoming traditions of the United States, Australia and apartheid-era South Africa.
“In the old countries with traditions and long cultural history, homecoming focuses on the intellectual contributions of the graduates and celebrates the process of learning,” El-Hodiri said.
He said this tradition had been lost in newer countries. One of his criticisms of the University’s homecoming was the shift from honoring to entertainment.
“My favorite part of homecoming at KU would be when alumni come and pay visit to their old professors, but I never saw that on the program,” El-Hodiri said. “It should not be purely entertainment and fundraising, for heaven’s sake.”
Eduardo Galdo, Lima, Peru, junior, said people in his country referred to annual alumni gatherings as kermesse. This Peruvian version of homecoming only takes place in high schools.
“All the old students — even the 60-year-olds — will come with their sons to celebrate,” Galdo said.
Unlike homecoming at the University, kermesse lasts only one day and revolves around family soccer tournaments that entire families participate in. Galdo also said that during kermesse, his high school placed a stronger emphasis on the family aspect than the University did during homecoming.
“Even the dad and the grandparent will have the same team as the son,” Galdo said. “They all play together. It’s more of a family thing.”
In Hong Kong, high school students celebrate a day similar to the American tradition of homecoming. Mandy Leu, Hong Kong freshman, said her school held an annual sports day, on which alumni return to watch competitions. During this event, running is the most anticipated sport.
In some countries, schools do not sponsor any events comparable to homecoming in the United States.
Sandra Ristovska, Skopje, Macedonia, junior, said Macedonians did not celebrate an event like homecoming, but universities did invite their alumni for certain special occasions.
“College sports are not as important for most European countries as they are in the States, so no events are centered around a college sport game,” Ritovska said.
Although an annual gathering of alumni does not exist in Macedonia, Ritovska said graduation anniversaries were celebrated every five years.
As in Macedonia, an annual day for alumni gathering did not exist in Saudi Arabia, Mohammed Al Shammari, Dammam, Saudi Arabia, freshman, said.
“We don’t have it back home, but I think homecoming is a good idea,” Al Shammari said. “This day is cool, in my opinion, because it would remind alumni of the school.”
He said he especially liked the fact that homecoming allowed former students to reunite with old friends and visit their professors. Al Shammari said he would definitely come back after he graduated.
Dawit Kebede, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, freshman, said reunions of former students were not popular in his hometown, but he said he was impressed with the American tradition of homecoming.
“I think it is important to remember your school,” Kebede said.
He said he liked the personal freedom at the University and plans to return after graduation.
“Homecoming is real democracy,” Kebede said. “In Ethiopia, a parade in a university would be seen as a political demonstration.”
— Edited by Matt Erickson
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