World music blasted from speakers while students painted intricate designs on eggshells and folded colored paper into geometric shapes on Tuesday afternoon in the EMU Amphitheater. Many students sampled Nutella and Dulce de Leche at a nearby table.
This wide variety of foods, crafts and music is all part of this year’s International Week, said the International Student Association spokeswoman, Beth Evans.
“Today we had an Arts and Crafts theme. Right now, Weronika Budak, one of our Polish students, is showing us how to make Polish Easter eggs, and some of our Japanese students are teaching origami,” she said.
Later, there was to be a lesson in Batik, an Indonesian cloth-dying technique in which wax is dripped onto the cloth to make patterns.
The ISA has sponsored International Week every year for 44 years, each year bearing a different theme and a different perspective on diversity. Last year’s theme was ‘Aperture: Widening Cultural Perspectives;’ this year’s is ‘Jigsaw Puzzle: Every Piece Fits.’
“This year we decided to emphasize the whole puzzle that makes up our culture,” Evans said. “Each culture represents a different piece. All the pieces are similar but have small differences – some are borders, and some are at the center. The main idea is, they all fit together.”
Monday’s annual opening parade and the garlands of puzzle pieces strung all over campus are intended to give International Week a festival feel.
“One of the main points of International Week is, of course, to have fun,” Evans said. “It’s a celebration of diversity.”
Evans said that she was most excited for Friday’s food theme.
“We’re having an event called Food Factor, which is a lot like the TV show Fear Factor,” she said. “We’re going to feed students foods from other countries that Americans think are gross, like cocoons and pig’s blood. Whoever eats the most will win a $20 gift certificate to Sweet Life Patisserie, two tickets to International Night and a free T-shirt.”
International Week volunteer Hollina Ung is also looking forward to the Food Factor challenge.
“It will be really fun seeing what kinds of food they have and who will eat it,” she said.
Ironically enough, this year’s International Night is to be held in the afternoon. Evans promised, however, that the change in time would not diminish the amount of fun to be had.
“This year we have a great speaker, a lunch with 15 different dishes from all around the world, and a performance showcase.”
Muslim Student Association spokeswoman Noor Rajabzadeh is looking forward to International Night.
“MSA will have their own contribution to I-Night,” Rajabzadeh said, “and I’m excited that others will get to experience our culture.”