It’s a September Saturday.

A group of bright-eyed students gather at the back of the library waiting for Director of International Programs Brian Suttell to come with the van. The group consists of Jailen Austin, freshman; Dalonja White, freshman; Raylee Wilson, senior; Sabrina Brutomeso, visiting instructor; Cameron Easley, senior; Jada Smith, freshman; Layla Nelson, freshman; and Tj Jala, senior.

Upon arrival, Suttell steps out and looks at the group–each student from different backgrounds and cultures.

Making the trip to Greensboro, NC is only a 2-hour drive. The destination is the International Folk Life Festival.

As the group is venturing down the road, the tales of beloved comics and stories of childhoods are being shared, gathered by a collection of laughs that spread through the van.

Arriving, the van stops, and the group piles out. To the right is the Carolina Theatre. The building towers over everyone, revealing architecture of the past.

Suttell leads the group down the pathways of Greensboro, and the group arrives at a place where bands playing folk and country music fill the area with their sound.

The area is lively and begs to be explored.

Heading into an art museum, the group takes in the works of artists both past and present.

Each piece carefully displayed shows various aspects of the art.

As the group ventures back outside, the smell of food floats past the noses and ignites rumblings of hunger.

As if a conditioned response, the the group heads to the food trucks.

Brightly painted, the trucks glimmer in the rays of sunshine glitter; a whole row of Mexican, Afghanistan, and other cultures are represented there.

The thought of eating puts a pep in the group’s step as they walk to order their food; orders span the globe, and most are  followed by fruity, colored snow cones.

“This trip was a great experience! The travel was smooth, the food was amazing, and the music was unforgettable! Truly a great way to make new friends and appreciate all of the cultures so locally!” Wilson says.

The bang of drums and shouting of a manly voice calls the attention of the group.

Around the corner is the Brazilian Drum Line followed by bystanders participating. Each wear shirts of bright green and yellow, showing support for their country.

Many marvel at the sight of a big man in a large, feather drape that flows down his body. He is the drum major and leads the group of drummers down the road and around the corner as the echo of their music trails with them.

“We had a blast at the festival,” Suttell says.

“The goals were to get students to further appreciate various cultures, experience some world food and music and start thinking about traveling abroad. And, of course, to have a great time, which we certainly did!”

Saying good bye to the drummers, walking around the corner, the group eyes the Historical Museum of Greensboro.

Curious, they venture into the building that is plaided with American flags.

The building reveals couches of velvet and displays of memory boxes of the way things used to be.

Cadillacs, the General Greene, and Old Drugstores were on display, showing how they played a part in the history books of Greensboro.

The group wanders through the halls that reveal artifacts of the past and present. An array of objects–from a type writer that was used to create documents during the Women’s Suffrage Movement to the political signs of the past election–is all on display.

“What I think is interesting is how Greensboro emphasizes democracy in their museums and how important it is to the city” Jala says.

As the group leaves and walks back toward the van, each person reveals something about their day.

“Professor Suttell outdid himself with this trip. Everything was well planned. He was a fabulous chaperone, and one of the most relaxed yet mature tour guides/drivers we could’ve asked for!” Wilson says.

As Suttell closed the doors to the van for the return back to campus, loud applause thanked him for the fun and enjoyment of the day.