The International Club (IC) along with the Daniel and Betty Jo Grant Center for International Education host the annual International Food Festival (IFF). This event is essentially a small representation of the breadth of countries represented at Ouachita by the international students, who come together for to share the culture, history and most especially the food from their home.
The theme of this year’s festival is “Crossing Borders.” Like a train ride in Europe, guests move easily from country to country, or table to table, and with a five dollar entry fee, IFF is much more economic than a plane ticket to Europe and countless train tickets.
“Basically we want to create the sense of surrounding the world in one event,” said Kezia Nanda, vice president of IC and co-director of IFF. “We are separating the food booths into each continent so people will have the feeling of going into different continents. We will also have the airport-like atmosphere, where people have to check their passport in order to cross the border.”
By “Crossing Borders,” IC also hopes to promote the idea of embracing the other cultures.
“…We want to emphasize that personal growth happens when we leave our familiar surroundings and enter into another person’s world,” said Ian Cosh, director of International Programs and Studies. “Each year we have new students so no two years are alike. There are always new participants who bring a unique touch to each year’s program.”
Faculty member and international students will provide entertainment for the evening.
“This year Dr. Ryan Lewis is going to give a special presentation that will demonstrate percussion music from around the world,” Cosh said. “We will also have international students singing and dancing.”
Cosh views the IFF as a celebration, but a celebration with a specific purpose, to demonstrate the beauty of other cultures, especially the cultures represented on campus.
“The IFF is a university-wide celebration of Ouachita’s global commitment to diversity, and a time to showcase the various nationalities on our campus.”
The event not only brings culture to the rest of the Ouachita community but also provides a taste of home for the international students.
“Other activities, events, foods and clubs are focused on Americans,” Nanda said. “But by this event, I [have] [tried] my best to put my thoughts and works into making this event wonderful and enjoyable for especially the international students that are far from home.”
The IFF has stood the test of time and become a renowned Ouachita tradition.
“It began during Dr. Daniel Grant’s presidency in the early 1970s,” Cosh said. “So, it has been going for nearly 40 years.”
Cosh encourages the Ouachita community to attend, both for an enjoyable evening and to create an awareness of the international community within Ouachita.
“First, it is a very enjoyable experience where you can enjoy good food, friendship and an entertaining cultural program,” Cosh said. “Second, it is a way to participate in and support the fact that we do have a strong international education emphasis at Ouachita that provides cultural enrichment and academic enrichment.”
IFF is on Feb. 16 at 6 p.m. in Walker Conference Center. Tickets are sold at the door for five dollars.
By Hannah Holmes, Signal Writer
