From Bangladesh to Tanzania, Rebecca Arnold has witnessed firsthand the power of education in improving public health around the world. She remembers the young Bangladeshi girl who delayed marriage to finish high school and pursue a degree in nursing. Then, there was the Tanzanian woman raising her children in poverty, who summoned the courage to leave an abusive relationship and become a public advocate for HIV patients in her community. Inspired by their transformations, Arnold has devoted her career to teaching life-saving health messages—from the importance of hydration to the dangers of smoking—to people in developing countries.

Yu Hua, considered by many to be China’s greatest living author, begins his remarks with a joke. Brothers, a novel he calls his most important, has received critical acclaim abroad but encountered mixed reviews at home. International critics, under the pretense that Chinese critiques of the book were government-sponsored, flock furiously to the novel’s defense. In fact, Yu Hua sheepishly concludes, the negative assessments were offered spontaneously and freely by the Chinese public.

Ever wanted to learn Korean? Now's your chance! Students, adults, and children of any language level are invited to sign up for a variety of community classes with the UI King Sejong Institute during the spring 2016 semester. An orientation session to provide additional class details and placement information will be held on January 15, 2016, from 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. in 114 Phillips Hall.

Have you ever considered interning abroad? International Programs and the Pomerantz Career Center will co-sponsor a presentation with Amy Bowes on the benefits of an international internships and how students can go about arranging to do it. Amy Bowes is the Advisor for International Internships in the office of Study Abroad.

Hey Everyone! Well…It’s about that time. I am currently preparing to head back to the U.S. However, before I do, I thought I’d do something a little different and make a video giving you all a tour of where I’ve been living for the last few months, my host parent’s house. I thought you may appreciate it a little more than just a few pictures and me talking about it.

Would you like to teach English, study, or do research abroad for an academic year at no cost? Join International Programs for the fourth-annual intensive Fulbright U.S. Student Program workshop on Friday, January 29, 2016, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. in 2520 University Capitol Centre. The Fulbright U.S. Student Program is open to juniors, seniors, graduate students, Ph.D. students, and recent graduates who are looking for international opportunities. Only U.S. citizens may apply.

For those of you who understand the reference in my title, you already know what this blog is going to be about. For those who don’t, it is arguably one of the most famous lines from a very popular show you may have heard of: Dragon Ball Z. That’s right people, today we are going to get nerdy and talk a little bit about something Japan has become extremely famous for worldwide, anime.

On December 17, 2014, U.S. President Obama and Cuban President Castro announced a new era of openness and interaction between their two countries. On December 8, 2015, Joan Kjaer and her WorldCanvass guests discussed "Cuba: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow" as the one year anniversary approached. Check out this ReCap of the event with access to see and hear the full program.

Dr. James Zogby will visit the UI for "How we should be discussing the Arab world and Islam in 2016," a lecture in which he will discuss the significance of political discourse regarding the Arab world and Islam. The event is free and open to the public, and will take place on Wednesday, January 27, 2016, from 12:30-1:30 p.m. in 1117 University Capitol Centre. It is co-sponsored by International Programs, CIVIC, the UI Honors Program, the UI School of Journalism and Mass Communication, UICHR, and the UI Department of History.

On December 5-6, International Programs hosted the Global Education Institute for Teachers in partnership with the Stanley Foundation. The annual professional development workshop is offered to Iowa's K-12 teachers, with an aim of increasing educators’ awareness of and capacity to teach concepts and skills necessary for developing globally-minded students.