Culture Crossings

Fostering cross-cultural understanding and celebrating Penn’s global community.

Seasonal & Holiday-Themed Workshops 

Culture Crossings features interactive workshops tied to seasonal moments and widely recognized holidays, offering approachable and engaging ways to experience culture together. Examples include: 

• Annual Valentine’s Day Flower Workshop, where participants will learn how to create beautiful flower bouquets and arrangements while learning about how love is celebrated in the U.S. and around the world. 
• Annual Thanksgiving-themed workshops, where participants explore the cultural meanings of the holiday through hands-on activities, shared conversations, and reflections on gratitude, community, and tradition in the U.S. 

These workshops create low-pressure, welcoming environments where participants can learn about U.S. traditions, share perspectives from their own cultures, and connect through creative expression. 

Cultural excursions extend learning beyond the classroom and into the broader Penn and Philadelphia communities. Examples include: 

Excursions & Experiential Learning 

• Annual Mural Arts Tour where participants will visit various murals around Philly—the “Mural Capital of the World”—to learn about Philadelphia’s rich and colorful culture and history through an immersion into local art that’s been painted across city walls. 
• Annual experiences hosted at Education Commons, offering participants opportunities to engage with Penn spaces in new ways and experience campus life beyond their academic routines. These programs also include hands-on creative activities, such as making laser-cut pendants engraved with a city map as a keepsake and designing custom soaps using Penn’s 3D printing tools. 

These excursions help students and scholars better understand U.S. cultural contexts, engage with local institutions, and build community through shared experiences. 

Events and Excursions for J-1 Exchange Visitors ONLY (subject to change each year)

ISSS organizes a variety of events and excursions for J-1 Exchange Visitors to help them explore Philadelphia, connect with fellow international scholars, and become more familiar with their host city. These activities are designed to introduce participants to local history, culture, and key landmarks while providing opportunities to build community beyond the workplace or research environment.

In a recent excursion, J-1 visitors explored Philadelphia’s historic district, including the area surrounding Independence Hall, where many important moments in U.S. history took place. The group also visited the scenic Benjamin Franklin Parkway, known as the city’s “Museum Mile,” home to many of Philadelphia’s major museums and cultural institutions.

Through experiences like these, J-1 participants gain a deeper understanding of Philadelphia’s history and cultural landscape while building connections with the broader international community at Penn. More excursions for J-1 visitors will be announced soon…

Benefits for Penn Students & Scholars 

Through Culture Crossings, participants: 

• Gain a deeper understanding of U.S. culture and cultural differences across countries 
• Build intercultural communication and cultural awareness skills 
• Develop meaningful connections across disciplines and backgrounds 
• Feel more integrated into Penn’s campus and community life 

Past Culture Crossing Events