With MSU’s international population constantly increasing, a new club is putting its foot forward in joining two different worlds into one friendship.
On Monday, a new student-run club, the Chinese American Cross Cultural Experience, or CACCE, invited students to come together, hang out and interact with other students of different cultural backgrounds.
The vision for the new group is to create a group of Chinese and American students on campus who can share their cultural norms and provide unique perspectives on both sides.
Monday evening marked the first meeting for the new student organization and the executive board was ready to welcome new members with wide arms.
While students were rolling in, “Green Light,” a tune from soul singer John Legend echoed in the background, serving as a symbolic moment for students to move forward, lighten up and build new friendships of different cultures.
Recent graduate and club adviser Chelsie Diedrich joined with other students to form the club after coming back from a study abroad trip in China a few summers ago.
Diedrich said she enjoyed the experience so much that she wanted to continue cross-cultural interactions among her fellow students consistently.
After a failed start last year because of a lack of interest, Diedrich made it her mission this year to find an executive board to carry the plan out.
“We interviewed everyone that’s on the (executive board) and we thought they were the perfect people for the group and they all had a big interest in it,” Diedrich said. “They all loved the idea, and that’s how this happened.”
Liz Witcher, Chinese and social relations and policy senior and president of CACCE, said upcoming events will give group members authentic experiences from both sides to integrate the two different cultural groups.
The group plans to take part in Chinese karaoke, American sporting outings and other events that will give a taste of both sides.
“We’re looking for really interactive things that can get people together and talking in an organic environment, not just sitting around and having discussions,” Witcher said.
“We are looking for things that are especially distinct to America in culture and things distinctly in Chinese cultures to bridge the gap.”
New member Zhichen Shen an international junior studying finance joined the club to find out more about a new culture while sharing her own.
“It’s a good time to hang out and talk, it goes together with friends,” he said. “It’s a new way to learn more about the American culture and the differences from China.”
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