Promoting cross-cultural relationships, the Global Connections Committee kicked off its fall semester program Tuesday at the Memorial Union.

As one of the 11 committees working under the Wisconsin Union Directorate, the Global Connections Committee is dedicated to building friendships and dialogue between domestic and international students and generating awareness of cultures around the world, according to Director Willa Fong.

“Our purpose is to draw connections. It’s a good way to meet people and learn about different cultures and customs that usually involves free food,” said Allie Ballweg, marketing director of the Global Connections Committee.

The committee holds a range of events each year that enable a local experience of global cultures, according to committee members.

Each Friday from noon until 2 p.m., for example, the Global Connections Committee hosts an International Conversation Coffee Hour in the browsing library of the Memorial Union.

This relaxed and welcoming setting offers a unique experience for Union members of different backgrounds to meet and makes the large University of Wisconsin campus feel a little less intimidating, Fong said.

When international students first come here, they have no idea what to expect and this helps them out a lot, said Emily Xu, UW alumnus and ICCH director of the Global Connections Committee.

Four times a year, the Global Connections Committee also holds what they call “taste events” focusing on a different country to allow students to learn about varying cultures from a native’s perspective.

This year’s tastes will be of China, Iran, France and India.

Besides providing information to students about the life and cultures of different countries through a fun performance, a sampling of ethnic food will also be set out for the audience to try for free at these events, according to Fong.

The Global Connections Committee also hosts a variety of dances that include free social dance lessons, focusing on different styles of dance from around the world, such as salsa, which will be highlighted at the upcoming dance on Oct. 3.

In the past, the Global Connections Committee has also paired with other student organizations and WUD committees for collaborative events.

“We are one of the few student organizations that tries to bring other student organizations together,” said Maxine Lam, UW sophomore and committee member.

One past event being revived this year is the International Tea Party.

This event allows students to learn about different cultures from all over the world by sampling different kinds of teas and learning about where they are from, according to Fong.

“These are events that teach students about different cultures in a fun, interactive way,” said Ling Ren, world culture director of the Global Connections Committee. “It’s a great way for international students to meet and adjust to the new environment and also to bring people together so that domestic students are more educated about global issues.”

Fong said by building international connections, in the end, this committee seeks to expand the cultural bubble of UW to include the broader horizon of the entire world.