Flags flew substantial and the aroma of delicious cuisine crammed the air April 15 as almost 30 diverse campus companies celebrated their distinctive cultures by way of food items and performances at the 2023 World-wide Expo.
The Worldwide Pupil Affiliation, an group that aims to foster community among international college students, and Place of work of World Expert services, which aids global Hoyas with visa and immigration-associated affairs, co-hosted the occasion, which showcased distinctive cultures and ethnic teams from throughout the globe. Nations and locations represented bundled Greece, Ukraine, the Caribbean, Eritrea, Palestine, South Asia and France, among quite a few others.
Together with serving global dishes, the party showcased dance and songs performances from teams like GU Jawani, a bhangra dance crew the Vietnamese College student Association, an affinity group for Vietnamese Hoyas the Hellenic Affiliation, a local community for Greek and Cypriot pupils and the Ballet Folklorico Mexicano, a college student dance ensemble for standard Mexican ballet.
Chris Tengey (CAS ’26), a Ghanaian American who lived in Ghana for quite a few many years as a boy or girl, stated occasions like the International Expo are essential in engaging in cultural conversations to embrace variety at Georgetown University.
“You can go to an event and know folks have equivalent backgrounds,” Tengey instructed The Hoya. “You can also discover from other people and how their backgrounds have formed them.”
Student cultural and spiritual groups, academic departments and athletics teams alike participated in the occasion at tables displaying a sample of their corner of the entire world. For occasion, the Armenian College student Association (ASA) set up a table and shared Armenian food stuff.
ASA member Armen Asik (SOH ’25) explained he appreciates spaces to categorical campus range and show delight in his Armenian identity.
“Georgetown’s a university that encourages a ton of multiculturalism, and it was great that we ended up represented even while we’re a little club on campus,” Asik advised The Hoya. “There aren’t a good deal of Armenians who go to Georgetown, but we’re pretty very pleased to be Armenian.”
Lela Tolajian (SFS ’26), one more member of the ASA, claimed the finest element of signing up for the corporation is the Armenian local community she’s designed on campus.
“We do a large amount of cultural events,” Tolajian informed The Hoya. “We’ve gotten together and experienced food stuff, and long gone to protests with each other.”
Kyryl Myronenko (SFS ’26), a member of the Ukrainian Modern society, stated he savored sharing his country’s tradition at the celebration.
“Global Expo was nothing but a excellent time on a Sunny Saturday on the Copley Garden! At the Ukrainian Society’s table, we had varenyky (traditional dumplings), syrnyky (cheese pancakes), kompot (sweet beverage), Ukrainian candy, and a lot of more,” Myronenko wrote to The Hoya.
Myronenko reported food stuff was a vital channel for fostering connections and introducing learners to Ukrainian tradition.
“Through presenting delicacies, all pupils engaged in intercultural dialogue and ended up in a position to share with the college student human body anything vital to their id,” Myronenko wrote. “It was a superb opportunity to meet new college students and distribute the word about Ukrainian lifestyle!”
Tengey mentioned he hopes Georgetown will continue on to foster intercultural dialogue to welcome new and present college students, particularly all those from overseas.
“I consider it’s crucial that Georgetown as an institution results in spaces in which persons of color feel harmless and truly feel in local community, particularly if they are coming from elements of the state or other areas of the planet the place their society is pretty exceptional to them,” Tengey explained to The Hoya. “So it feels like household to them when they arrive below and can adapt easier.”
