Two steps forward and you're in India. A step left and you're offered fried plantains in Guatemala. Four steps backward and you're learning about Tibetan culture in exile. No- you're not wandering around the U.N. or even the diverse neighborhoods of New York City. You're still in Oxford and Uptown Memorial Park is scattered with tables, fliers, free food and AIESEC members willing and waiting to tell you their stories. AIESEC is a French acronym that translates to the Association for International Students in Social and Economic Sciences.

Student organization AIESEC will be hosting its annual Global Village from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. April 3 at Uptown Park. They're waving the plane ticket in hopes of helping Miami University students and Oxford residents interact with different cultures at Global Village.

Trevor Braun is a senior accounting and German double major and a member of AIESEC.

"Global Village brings a lot of different cultures together," Braun said. "I remember last year I walked up and talked to the students for Tibet table, and then three tables down I went to talk to the Chinese table. It was cool to listen to the conflicting views."

Braun said despite current events, the two groups weren't hostile toward each other.

"It's fun because we are in America at the Global Village," Braun said. "Even with different views, everyone gets along and learns something about the other's culture whether through food or the traditional dance shows that are put on."

An international entity

AIESEC extends past Oxford, Ohio, and is one of the world's largest student run organizations. There are student chapters in universities in China, Korea, Japan, Morocco and of course, Miami University, all brought together, creating one giant melting pot.

Despite shifts in international relations, Alyson Budd, vice president of external relations and business development, said AIESEC culture more or less stays the same.

"It's still an open, positive relationship between different cultures, which is important in times such as now when there are definite tensions," Budd said.

Budd said when talking about international relations, the problems often emphasized are famine and war. Budd said AIESEC strives for Global Village to share culture without that negative connotation.

According to Budd, the organization was created after World War II when students from France, Germany and Denmark were looking for ways to promote international understanding and cooperation. Budd said AIESEC has been on Miami's campus for at least 30 years and currently has 60 members.

According to aiesec.org, AIESEC is located in more than 1,700 universities in 107 countries. Budd said the United States has 32 AIESEC chapters- including schools like Ohio State University, Illinois University, University of Wisconsin Madison and University of Michigan.

Budd said AIESEC attracts students from all majors and nationalities with one common interest-looking and learning about life outside Miami's red-bricked walls.

Xinru Sun is an exchange student from China.

Sun, a sophomore business major, joined AIESEC back home in China.

"Being so far away from home, AIESEC has helped me meet so many new friends and helps make Miami feel a little smaller," Sun said.

Budd said she estimates this year's Global Village will have 10 to 15 tables. She added any member who wants to host a table can have one and usually, this brings more than just the permanent U.N. Security Council nations to uptown Oxford.

"If a person is passionate about a certain issue or a certain country or an issue in a certain country they can create a table for that," Budd said.

Global Village pulls together organizations on campus and Budd said STAND Darfur and Invisible Children will also have tables. The event is also being co-hosted with Red Nose Day, an organization that raises awareness for global hunger.

Big picture people

The organization meets every week and it always starts the same way.

"Hey, AIESEC!"

"Hey, what?!"

After the traditional greeting, the floor opens up for members to share current events that they have been reading about.

Senior international studies and economics double major Eric Lanman said he isn't usually a big talker at the weekly meeting.

"I just like to listen," Lanman said. "I love AIESEC because it keeps me engaged with issues that would normally be over discussed in my classes, but I can just enjoy learning them here and not have to deal with all the work that comes along with international studies classes."

After the open floor discussion, members talk about different events they are hosting and co-hosting next semester.

AIESEC participates in events throughout the year, including the promotion of World AIDS Day in December. Wander through the Shriver Center Dec. 1, and AIESEC will be there-and more than likely, you'll leave with more than just your usual turkey sandwich. Members handed out free condoms on World AIDS day with the number 33.2 million stamped on the back-the number of people affected worldwide by HIV/AIDS.

Senior French and International Studies double-major Kate O'Brien was last year's event committee chair.

"By handing condoms out even if we prevent one person from getting a sexually transmitted disease or even just by telling someone something that they did not know already about safe sex (or) AIDS … (It's) inspiring that one person is how a difference is made," O'Brien said.

Sophomore Jake Kuss said joining AIESEC has helped him see the other side of Miami.

"There is diversity here and when you join AIESEC you can learn more about what goes on inside and outside of the Miami bubble," Kuss said.

Kuss said AIESEC focuses on getting the typical Miami student involved in global issues and takes time each week to brainstorm different approaches in small groups.

Along with hosting events and spreading awareness on campus, AIESEC also provides a place for international exchange students, like Sun, to have a built-in group of friends. Also, AIESEC arranges for its local members to go on traineeships to work for any company abroad.

O'Brien had her traineeship in Morocco this past summer.

"Upon arriving in Morocco, I was picked up by local AIESEC-ers to my living arrangements (set up for her by AIESEC)," O'Brien said. "Immediately I felt comfortable and was involved in their community. AIESEC is great because you have people and friends already involved and ready to share their culture and country to you. It's just awesome."

Budd was abroad fall 2008 in Valencia, Spain. She said many people contact local AIESEC chapters while they're abroad and although she didn't, she said she felt her time domestically with the organization helped enrich her experience.

"It helps you be able to carry yourself better, especially when you're interacting with people from different cultures or situations you're not used to," Budd said.

Ben Rodabaugh, a first-year who found out about AIESEC through fliers around campus, said he's glad to have the organization.

"Everyone is like-minded- bringing together their cultural experiences from around the world," Rodabaugh said. "It's cool to be around people like that … part of a club that does something."

Rodabaugh has been to Guatemala twice. Look for him April 3 at Uptown Memorial Park-he'll be manning the Guatemala table and hopes to offer you a fried plantain.