The Global Living and Learning Community, located on the south side of first floor Moore Hall, gives students the opportunity to closely interact with other people from different cultural backgrounds.

“It’s a wonderful opportunity to learn about the world at UE,” said Kirstin Kahaloa, international student engagement coordinator. “Studying abroad is great, but if you cannot afford it, you can learn about the world right here.”

Students who are participating in the community can vouch for the globetrotting feel that accompanies the experience.

“The GLLC is something that will transport you all over the world,” junior Niko Vasiloff said. “It will take you out of your comfort zone, but you will not regret it.”

But it’s not just the ability to learn about other cultures that led to the creation of this program, which began this semester.

Mike Tessier, vice president for student affairs, said he sees the community as a chance to bring together students who are interested not only in international studies but also foreign languages, study abroad and global business.

Surveys distributed last year ranked student interest and were used to determine which students would live in the GLLC. Incoming freshmen were provided with an option for the community on their housing applications.

The response to be part of the program was so great that there were not enough rooms in the assigned section of Moore to house all the students. Some, who were unable to gain a room in the main section of the GLLC, were moved to the third floor of Moore. Others were placed in different residence halls.

“Even when we ran out of rooms, we tried to make it a good experience for them,” Tessier said.

But being a citizen of the community goes beyond simply living together. The GLLC has a number of different programs designed to enhance its members’ cultural awareness.

“Anything But Your Native Language Hour” is one of these programs—and it lives up to its name. Residents spend an hour every weekend practicing a language that is foreign to them, Vasiloff said.

The community also houses three Fulbright Scholars—international students who attend UE and act as both students and professors—to help add a worldly view to the mix.

Ana Jose, a Fulbright scholar from Argentina, said she is required to teach a Spanish course while also taking two courses. One of the courses she takes must relate to American culture, and the other must be associated with her profession.

Jose and the other Fulbright scholars also give monthly presentations based on their backgrounds. For one presentation, Jose opted to teach students how to tango. She also gave a presentation on different sites of interest for visitors to Argentina.

In an environment in which information gained is largely textbook-driven, Jose sees the community as an opportunity words cannot adequately describe.

“It’s not the same to read books as it is to interact with people,” Jose said. “Sometimes you can forget what you have read, but I will never forget this experience.”

And while the GLLC attempts to bring culture to UE, sometimes the community needs to be brought to culture.

That is why the GLLC took its members to the Lotus World Music & Arts Festival this September in Bloomington. Freshman Bonnie Weyandt said many lesser-known bands from across the globe performed at the festival to showcase their distinct styles.

And the GLLC continues to introduce its members—and the rest of campus—to different musical cultures.

They are currently working on a radio show for WUEV, said senior Lynn Thompson, the community’s resident assistant. The premise is to play music from a different country during each program. Thompson said the first show, which covered French music, has been recorded. The GLLC is now awaiting approval from the station.

Despite having participated in so many activities in only its first semester of existence, the GLLC continues to grow. Considering how the community has performed so far, Chris Martin, Moore residential coordinator, said there is a possibility of expanding the number of rooms in the program, possibly on Moore’s north side.

And while growth is an option, Tessier said students are the ones who have ownership of the program—and their direction will determine how the GLLC evolves.