The Quadrangle

Issue date: 11/3/04 Section: Features

Pita bread with various spreads, including Nutella, was just one of many treats featured at "A Taste of Culture" held in Jasper Lounge on October 27th. The event was well attended. The International Student Association sponsored this event as an opportunity for the Manhattan College community to come and experience dishes from some of the many countries represented within this group. Manhattan College has a significant amount of international students from numerous areas around the world. Some of the countries represented in the club include Israel, Kazakhstan, Cost Rica, Ukraine, Ecuador, Sweden, Turkey, Romania, Russia, Poland, Germany and France.

Nataliya Hafiychuk currently holds the position of President of this club and Alon Cohen is the Vice President. The International Student Association has over seventy members. Hafiychuk says that the club likes to have many events centered around ethnic food as they felt that food has a unifying effect and has a lot of cultural meaning. The club feels that food helps to create a fun, relaxed atmosphere where people feel inclined to bond and get to know one another. "A taste of culture" was an example of such an event.

The members were encouraged to prepare cultural dishes to share with all who attended. There was quite a colorful and diverse assortment of foods, including Greek dishes. The showing of the comedy "Monty Python Holy Grail" was another source of entertainment for the evening.

ISA held their first meeting of this academic year in the beginning of September. The group does not have an official meeting time but rather plans meetings and events at times which are convenient for the members. The group often participates in off campus events such as attending various exhibitions as well as ethnic restaurants to enjoy international cuisine. ISA is presently hoping to be able to attend a German opera.

The club offers the opportunity for international students to come together and feel a sense of unity as the members are far away from their homeland and the comforts that accompany being in familiar territory. There was a great sense of harmony and fun at this event, demonstrating the benefits of being able to congregate as diverse individuals to form one group and celebrate differences. Members also welcome anyone who wishes to join them in celebrating cultures from around the world. It is a wonderful opportunity for anyone to come and learn about culture in other areas of the world and build friendships with people who are of a different culture.

Like several clubs, the International Student Association is suffering from inadequate funds to sponsor as many trips and programs as they would like, such as dining out at an Indian restaurant. The group had hoped to be able to make a trip to such a restaurant to experience a taste of Indian cuisine; however, they simply do not have the means to do so. Fortunately, the lack of funds will not prevent the group from having a productive year and organizing various other events.

It was a pleasant experience for all who attended and got to experience diverse culture through culinary expression, socialize with others and share laughter through the viewing of an English comedy. The International Student's Club represents an integral part of the Manhattan College community as the campus benefits from being a diverse intellectual community that can pride itself on being an institution with a multicultural student body.

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