International Food Bazaar provides taste of other cultures

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s International Student Organization hosted an International Food Bazaar at the City Campus Union on Tuesday.

The bazaar was described as one of the most eagerly anticipated events occurring during International Education Week, which runs from Nov. 16 to 20.

“The event will feature a sumptuous banquet and cultural items for sale from across the world,” said Nver Hasratyan, president of ISO, on the bazaar’s promotional Web site. “(The bazaar) is not a fundraising event; the purpose is to educate the community about your culture.”

Dozens of student cultural organizations representing more than 100 countries set up tables on the first floor of the Union, as well as in the Crib. A sample of organizations present included the International Student Organization, European Students United, the Chinese Student and Scholar Alliance, the Czech Komensky Club and the Nebraska University Malaysian Students Association.

The majority of the dishes at the bazaar sold for 50 cents each. Among the different kinds of foods offered were Russian pirozhki (cheese-filled pastries), Tunisian couscous and Armenian artichoke rice salad, among many others.

“The intent of the bazaar is to offer the UNL and Lincoln community an opportunity to learn about and experience other cultures,” said Kathy Singh, international student and scholar adviser. “Food is a large part of any culture, and so we find that food tends to be great attraction to and education about different cultures.”

Many students were also dressed in the traditional clothing of their respective countries and/or cultures.

In a crowd of people wearing mostly Western garb of jeans and T-shirts, it was not uncommon to see individuals dressed in Saudi Arabian thobes and surwals (loose, ankle-length garment and pants worn by men and women), Sikh turbans and the traditional Chinese cheongsam (body-hugging one-piece dress for women).

“The bazaar has been going on for many years,” Singh said. “I am not sure when it started exactly, but it’s been happening ever since I started working here in 2004, and I know it was in existence before that.”

Other events featured for International Education Week included a Permanent Residence Seminar, also on Tuesday, as well as an invitation-only international scholar luncheon and a repeat of the Career Services workshop “Going Global: Finding Jobs in the United States and Abroad” on Wednesday in the Union. On Thursday, there will be a presentation on the Edythe Wiebers International Studies Scholarship, also in the Union.

FROM STAFF REPORTS