Parades, decorations, noise and other festivities symbolize University of Idaho’s homecoming. Alumni visit, Greeks and residence-hall patrons celebrate and everyone comes together to make the event one huge festivity.
Igor Oliveira
While this might seem like a common annual occurrence for students and Moscow residents, there’s one group that gets to experience it with a totally different perspective. That group is the international community of UI and beyond, and the experience for them might be totally different than what it is for the community here.
Igor Oliveira is from a city in Brazil called Fortaleza, and has been at UI for about a month now, so he hasn’t experienced homecoming yet, but is excited to do so.
Oliveira said homecoming is a new experience for him, as similar events don’t really happen in Brazil.
“I want to be a part of the festivities and watch the game,” Oliveira said. “Homecoming is a week of festivities due to the last home football game and some students that already graduated from the university may come back and watch the game.”
Overall, Oliveira said he is excited to experience something like homecoming and see the support the Vandals get for the game.
Lazizjon Toshniyozov, who no longer attends UI, but was here last year, lives in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Toshniyozov described homecoming as a “one of a kind experience,” and said it felt like being surrounded by one large family rallying together in support of the Vandals.
“Homecoming is a very good time of integration of people,” Toshniyozov said. “It unites feelings, anxieties and patriotism and takes you up in the air. I was surprised by how many people came up for their favorite team. Some people came for brothers, friends and kids.”
Toshniyozov said he enjoyed everything, from seeing Joe Vandal dance, to hanging out with friends and more in a lively spirit.
Homecoming is certainly something a lot of students don’t spend a ton of time thinking about, but it’s an incredibly significant and memorable experience to the international students who study at UI. Toshniyozov described it as a time of unity and coming-together for the students, alumni and residents who inhabit Moscow and beyond.
Masen Matthews can be reached at [email protected]