Flying the Flag/s
One of the most distinctive features of the space we occupy at the Center for International Education are the flags that fly over the front entrance. We often use the flagpoles to celebrate the success of one or more of our international students, or to mark a special occasion. Mostly, though, the flags serve to indicate our building and to provide a colorful entrance to our visitors and guests.
Every few weeks we will be rotating the flags in order to both help preserve them and to "re-decorate." Currently we are flying flags from four countries: Nigeria, Nicaragua, New Zealand and Kyrgyzstan. Here are some interesting facts and figures:
Flag of Nigeria - The Flag of Nigeria was designed in 1959 and first officially hoisted on October 1, 1960. The two unique sea-green bands represent the forests and abundant natural wealth of Nigeria while the white band represents peace. The national flag is an adaptation of the winning entry in a competition held in 1959, and was created by a student, Michael Taiwo Akinkunmi, who hailed from Owu in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
Flag of Nicaragua - The flag of Nicaragua was officially adopted on August 27, 1971 but was first adopted on September 4, 1908. It is based on the flag of the United States of Central America and inspired by the Argentine flag. The flag and the arms of Nicaragua in use today are the most similar to those used by the United Provinces of Central America. The triangle, volcanoes, rising sun, Cap of Liberty, and rainbow all appeared on the original emblem. The 5 volcanoes represent the original 5 member states, the Cap of Liberty represents national freedom, and the rays of the sun and the rainbow are symbolic of the bright future.
Flag of New Zealand - The flag of New Zealand is a defaced Blue Ensign with the Union Flag in the canton, and four red stars with white borders to the right. The stars represent the constellation of Crux, the Southern Cross. The flag was designed and adopted for restricted use in 1869 and became the national flag in 1902. It is the British Blue Ensign, incorporating a stylized representation of the Southern Cross showing the four brightest stars in the constellation. Each star varies slightly in size. The Union Flag in the canton recalls New Zealand's colonial ties to Britain.
Flag of Kyrgyzstan - The flag of Kyrgyzstan was adopted on 3 March 1992 by the Supreme Council of Kyrgyzstan. It consists of a red field with a yellow sun in the center having 40 uniformly spaced rays. In the center of the sun is a red ring crossed by two sets of three lines, a stylized representation of the tündük, or crown of the traditional Kyrgyz yurt, a symbol replicated in many facets of Kyrgyz architecture. The red background of the flag symbolizes bravery and valor, the sun represents peace and wealth, and the tunduk signifies the family home or, by extension, the universe. According to popular interpretations, the sun's 40 rays represent the 40 Kyrgyz tribes unified against the Mongols by the epic hero Manas.
