TUESDAY, JULY 3, 2001
NEWS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN - 3A
Independence festivities differ among countries
International students reflect on holiday celebrations at home
By Dawn North Kansan staff writer
As people in the United States blow out 225 candles on the nation's birthday cake tomorrow, many students will celebrate, even if they aren't from America. But for some, memories of independence days from their home countries may creep in.
About 650 to 700 international students remain on campus during the summer, which is about half the number of international students in the fall and spring semesters.
For Bei Li, Shanghai, China,
graduate student, Chinese Independence Day is celebrated on the First of October, instead of the Fourth of July. It is a national holiday with people receiving two or more days off work. Parades march through the streets, families gather and fireworks explode in the sky. Going to the park with her family to watch fireworks is Li's best memory.
"I loved the colors and shapes of the fireworks," Li said. The fireworks display would last about an hour and then she and her family would watch outdoor movies. Sometimes the movies were historical, shown to connect the country's people to their past.
Fireworks are a part of the October 1 celebration as well because war rockets and explosives were first made in China during the sixth century. Later, China invented the first fireworks. These are still used in China today to celebrate weddings, birthdays and the Chinese New Year.
Taehyun Nam, Seoul, South Korea, graduate student, doesn't
Independence days for KU international students
<table><thead><tr><th>Country</th><th># of Students at KU</th><th>Independence Day</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>1. India</td><td>176</td><td>Aug. 15, 1947</td></tr><tr><td>2. China</td><td>153</td><td>Oct. 1, 1949</td></tr><tr><td>3. South Korea</td><td>116</td><td>Aug. 15, 1945</td></tr><tr><td>4. Japan</td><td>113</td><td>660 B.C.</td></tr><tr><td>5. Saudi Arabia</td><td>86</td><td>Sept. 23, 1932</td></tr><tr><td>6. Malaysia</td><td>65</td><td>Aug. 31, 1957</td></tr><tr><td>7. Indonesia</td><td>49</td><td>Aug. 17, 1945</td></tr><tr><td>8. Taiwan</td><td>48</td><td>1949, established as seat of People's Republic of China</td></tr><tr><td>9. Germany</td><td>39</td><td>Jan. 18, 1871</td></tr><tr><td>10. France</td><td>34</td><td>July 14, 1789</td></tr><tr><td>10. Italy</td><td>34</td><td>March 17, 1861</td></tr></tbody></table>
remember fireworks in his home country. Nam said it was not necessarily a happy day because the country had been divided into North and South Korea.
However, one of his favorite memories was listening to his father's stories. His dad was an intellectual, forced to hide under pressure from the government during the fight for independence.
He said flags still fly high in his home country every August 15. Official ceremonies are presented by the government and special organizations, encouraging people to remember the past.
India has 176 students on the KU campus. Amber Fernandes, academic adviser at the Freshman-Sophomore Advising Center, lived in India until she was 11 and then moved to Bahrain.
India was freed from British rule August 15.1947.
Fernandes said flags are hoisted on government buildings and are waved by all during India's celebration of its independence. The prime minister gives a speech, which is aired nationally. Also aired are television programs and movies about that time in India's history.
Fernandes said a special memory from her childhood was when she and her father traveled to the Indian Embassy on August 15th.
"We arrived at the embassy at 6 a.m. for a special presentation. There were snacks, flags hoisted and school kids singing songs," she said.
Another of Fernandes' memories happened in the United States. When Fernandes arrived for work at the advising center on India's Independence Day, India's national anthem was playing and Fernandes' co-workers made her sing along. They had also asked her to wear her national dress that day, and they took her to a local Indian restaurant for lunch and listened to her tell stories about India's history.
"It was wonderful," Fernandes said. "And it's the only time I have ever celebrated India's Independence Day in this country."
North can be reached at 864-4810 or writer@kanan.com