International potluck highlights campus cultures
The international potluck successfully gathered students from all nationalities to celebrate foods of different cultures. The Office of Intercultural Development (OID), hosted the event on November 7, and students were able to enjoy some of their favorite foods while listening to cozy music.
Food from the event highlighted cultures from all over the world including El Salvador, the United States, Nigeria, and Japan. The food was served buffet-style, and members of the OID assisted students in filling their plates.
Some of the food highlights were sushi from Japan, fufu and eugsi soup from Nigeria, tikka masala from India, pita from Palestine and brisket from the United States.
Many dishes from the event featured some form of rice. The staple is readily available in countries around the world, and is used frequently in places like Japan.
After finishing off the main course for the night, a dessert table was also available with more global desserts such as tres leches cake, pumpkin pie, chocolate covered strawberries and more.
Tres leches, or “three milks” cake, is a staple dessert in Mexico. It’s made with evaporated milk, sweetened condensed milk, and whole milk, and is common at many Mexican gatherings or parties. Beloved by many, the reaction to this classic dessert was no different at the potluck.
Student Government Association president Rachael Ferguson attended the event, and said food is one of the best ways for students to connect. “I can’t think of a better way to learn about someone’s culture,” Ferguson said. She had a hard time choosing what to eat: “There were so many things that I saw that looked really good.”
Along with the food, each buffet table also featured photos of outfits worn during the Welcome to Our World (WOW) Week fashion show. The OID played traditional yule log classical music to set the atmosphere of a cozy event.
More than 50 students attended the event. For some, it was their first time experiencing foods from many different cultures; for others, it was just another taste of home.
