Blog by: Jessica Olszyk
Perhaps one of the strongest kickoffs for any MBA program, the Around the World event held by Boothies is a cherished tradition. At the very beginning of the school year, 1Ys must pull together very quickly after Random Walk (pre-Booth organized international trips) to plan and execute a logistical feat. Around the World is held in Millenium Park Plaza (MPP) and has rooms with different countries, hosted by students from said countries. Each room has small bites and beverages from the culture of the country hosting. The quick turnaround from arriving at school to Around the World pulls on Boothie’s ability to work together, operate within a short time frame, and build community. The system relies on 2Y’s “tapping” promising 1Ys during Random Walks: 1Y’s they think will be able to plan and operate a large 500+ person event. This year, there was interest for a whopping 45 country rooms, and 35 countries were ultimately selected, an increase from last year’s room count.
Organizers Erin Lau, Chad Harthan, Dhruvit Shah, Shawn Paul, Marcelle Matthews, and Vakare Daukantaite
Reflecting on the planning, organizer Marcelle Matthews states, “The event was a beautiful reminder that our differences in culture, food, and traditions can be a catalyst for connection. I saw so many new friendships blossom, and it was incredible to see the joy each host found in sharing a piece of their culture with others.” Her and fellow organizers Erin Lau, Chad Harthan, Dhruvit Shah, Shawn Paul, and Vakare Daukantaite managed a self organized budget to the host country rooms as well as logistics, marketing, and execution in just 10 days, from arriving back from Random Walk to the event. Students were not only delighted on the day of Around the World, but they also built community in the days leading up to the event. Chinatown and Costco runs were coordinated and cooking sessions of food were abundant and drove the community early on for the 1Ys. The generous Pay- it-Forward culture Booth prides itself on was evident in the generous spirit of sharing rice cookers, ingredients, and labor to cook. Boothies also felt the pride of sharing their culture with other students who may have never gotten to try kimbap or Yakult. They also took the time to educate students not only on the food and drink of their cultures, but some rooms took it a step further with showcasing cultural phrases and touchpoints.
Matthews reflects further that the event wasn’t just fun, it’s deeply indicative of the culture at Booth. Students are constantly looking for ways to expand their cultural knowledge, deepen ties with each other, and enjoy bonding early on in their Booth careers.
