A ‘bazaar’ food extravaganza
Students gathered to try different foods from all over the globe and connect with the growing international community.
Where does the food you had for lunch come from? Last week, food served in the Bishop’s Bistro came from all over the world and represented some of the 39 home countries of Hamline students.
October 9, 2019
Recently Anderson hosted the annual International Food Bazaar where both students and faculty could enjoy a number of global tastes the event provided. These dishes ranged all the way from Moroccan chicken drums, Mexican-style churros, to even vegan/vegetarian options such as Thai curry.
The event was held during lunch on Oct. 2 where it was also a throwdown for the first-year and transfer students. Students gathered at the Bistro to take a trip across the seas and taste a few of the different meals. The event also hosted a few other points of interest.
Study Away was one opportunity offered to students to learn about international programs and upcoming deadlines for applying. Students interested could learn about programs the Global Engagement Center (GEC) plans to assemble for places such as South Korea, Costa Rica, Cambodia and more. For more information, visit hamline.edu/studyaway.
Other aspects included display boards where Hamline’s very own international students presented information about their home countries and special foods.
There are faculty who believe it is helpful to make sure international students become acquainted with ‘domestic’ students.
“It is all about community,” said coordinator and study away advisor Kate Meyer. “It is also nice to offer those chance conversations and for people to share an exchange of ideas, food and experiences.”
International students who attended the event with their presentations were accompanied by Cultural Studies Instructor in the MENA (Middle East and North African) region, Gaith Hijazin.
The event has been active since 2011, but this is Hijazin’s first year running it. He spent hours working with the international students on their displays and coordinating the event. He mentioned he wants to build a strong community for future success among the people at Hamline.
“Thirteen international students (both graduate and undergraduate) spent hours… in the library printing, sketching and creating their display board that represented their countries, some brought games and other souvenirs,” Hijazin said. “It is an opportunity to break negative stereotypes about the other and provide an environment of embracing people from all over the world.”
However, there are still some quirks both Hijazin and students would like to work on.
“I wanted to see some Japanese food,” Hamline senior Abi Kartheiser said. “I was kind of hoping for tteokbokki from Korea.”
Hijazin is working on incorporating a more inclusive menu for the event and even touched on spending more time on better collaboration with the Hedgeman Center. Hijazin is even planning on asking HUSC and others to sponsor the event so it can be either free or discounted so all students are given affordable access.
“It was a great way to meet and bond with the international students,” Kartheiser said. “I would definitely return.”