UNCW reading program goes kite flying

WILMINGTON — A UNCW reading program culminated in a kite flying competition Monday afternoon.

As students learned from reading best selling novel “The Kite Runner,” kite flying is ancient sport in Afghanistan and an important part of Afghan culture.

Keeping with Afghan tradition, students designed their own kites and ran them across UNCW’s Hoggard lawn.

Students who participated said reading the novel and designing the kites gave them a great deal of insight into a foreign culture.

UNCW freshman Joshua Harcos said, “I learned a lot about just within the Afganistan culture they were talking a lot about judging others versus just kind of seeing them as people. The Afghanistan people would separate between different people just because of what group they were born in.”

In addition to the kite running students also participated in an essay writing contest where they examined themes they derived from the book.