By Hannah Arnold and Maddi Sims
International Education Week at Purdue Fort Wayne is an annual celebration of the university’s international student community. The week features a variety of activities, highlighted by the Global Student Celebration.
The event brought together students, families and friends to watch international students perform cultural traditions and to enjoy food from around the world.
“We want to share culture and traditions and to help promote that sense of belonging here on campus,” said Shelby Mansfield, assistant director for International Students Services.
There are 269 international students currently enrolled at PFW. The Global Student Celebration provides a space for them to share their cultures and connect with the broader campus community, with food serving as a central way to do so.
Attendees sampled a wide range of dishes, and the menu reflected cuisines from around the world. Indian Kitchen provided veg dum biryani, a dish made with layered rice and mixed vegetables. Pho Indy served banh mi, a Vietnamese sandwich on a baguette. True Kimchi offered veggie kimpab, a Korean seaweed rice roll filled with vegetables.
Giordano’s supplied caprese skewers: a rotating pattern of tomato and mozzarella with a drizzle of balsamic glaze provided patrons with a lighter option to snack on. Nutri Packs provided egusi soup with pounded yam, a traditional Nigerian dish that is a rich, savory soup served with a dough-like yam. For dessert, Shatila’s bakery offered baklava, a flaky pastry made with cashews and honey. Horchata from Salsa Grille, a sweet drink made with milk, rice and cinnamon, represented Hispanic culture.
Most participant restaurants are located in the Fort Wayne area, with Shatila’s bakery based in Michigan.
For Maureen Linvill, director of International Education, food allows someone to experience a piece of culture immediately.
“When students taste dishes from around the world, they’re not just trying new flavors,” Linvill said. “They are experiencing a piece of someone’s heritage, family traditions, and identity.”
The variety of options provided the event’s attendees the opportunity to experience cultural dishes that are different from their own. Additionally, it fosters a learning environment as you connect foods to different cultural groups and taste the assortment of ingredients.
“Food brings out the best in many,” assistant director Mansfield stated.
As a commonly known way to break the ice and spark the beginning of a conversation, food plays an important role when sharing culture. At the Global Student Celebration, attendees such as graduate student Teresa Nabangala connected over their shared likeness of a dish and their curiosity to understand where it originated.
“Food is a universal language, and when different cultural dishes are offered in one space, it encourages curiosity, conversation, and appreciation for each other’s traditions,” said Nabangala, who is from Kenya. “Trying new foods opens the door for people to learn about the history, stories, and identities behind those dishes.”
Through events like International Education Week, PFW continues to highlight and celebrate the cultures that students bring to campus.
International students are proud of their cultures, and the Global Student Celebration offered a chance to showcase their heritage. And when words cannot describe, food surely can.