Reggae music flows through the air as soon as the doors are opened. Foreign foods can be smelled from down the hall. With a passport in hand, it’s time to take a trip around the world in one night.
Over 18 cultures were represented at The Amazing Taste held in the L.A. Pittenger Student Center on Nov. 5. This free event allowed guests to travel around the globe, experiencing different cultures through Ball State University’s exchange students and volunteers.
The event had many demonstrations and activities including: live music, belly dancing lessons, fashion shows, henna, caricatures, bug and coffee tasting, along with a variety of food tasting.
This night allows the community to step out of their own little worlds and into another, taking time to appreciate the differences that other cultures hold.
It is important to students from outside of the U.S. because it allows them to share history and life that many Americans never get to experience. Many of these students came to the United States to experience the culture, so this event gives them the chance to share their stories.
“I came to America to learn about the American culture. Most of my friends don’t get a chance to learn about my culture,” Abellina Fionah, a student from Uganda, said. “I think it’s only fair when we’re trading.”
Wherever someone comes from, it’s good to embrace the culture and share it with others. It can bring the world together, even when those countries are miles away.
“Where you live isn’t the only place. There are many other different kinds of people. It can help people build tolerance and unity within each other,” Haris Vrabac, a student from Bosnia, said. “It’s important [to share my culture] because that’s who I am, and you never want to forget your roots or where you come from. That’s ultimately who you are.”
Shamaniacs, an African drum band, perform first at the event.
A student shows guests how to write in Japanese.
Japanese students set up posters and dispays to show facts about their country.
THe Amazing Taste offers various cultural foods for guest to try, one of the options being bugs. Guest could try Sago Worms, Giant Water Beetles, or grasshoppers.
Along with the cultural foods offred at The Amazing Taste, bug tasting was also available for guest to try.
Giant Water Beetles were the largest bugs offered for guests to try.
Many of the guests said the bugs didn’t taste bad, just very crunchy and salty.
A variety of coffees and teas from countries like Costa Rica were also available for guest to try.
Guests try the various coffees offered at The Amazing Taste.
A group of girls laughs after trying grasshoppers.
Japanese food available to try included a variety of sushi.
Flags lined the hallways of the Student Center. Over 18 cultures were represented at this year’s Amazing Tastes event.
The belly dancing club demonstrated traditional and modernized belly dances and offered belly dancing lessons to guests.
The belly dancing club demonstrated traditional and modernized belly dances and offered belly dancing lessons to guests.
“Our club does cabaret belly dacing which is really just a happy, more upbeat type of music. We do a lot of open dancing and improvisasion but also choreographies. There’s a lot of tribal dance, which is slow, that’s from Egypt. We try to do different Arabic calls whenever we dance.” – Natalie Aragon, president of the belly dancing club
Ugandan women learn to make handcrafted items from a very young age before real schooling begins. Everything Ugandans use are hand made.
Ugandan women learn to make handcrafted items from a very young age before real schooling begins. Everything Ugandans use are hand made.
“I came to America to learn about the American culture, but most of my friends don’t get a chance to learn about my culture. It’s only fair when we’re trading.” – Abeloine Fionah, Uganda
Display of handmade Afghani jewelry.
Many African countries hand-make their goods, like this Kenyan mask.
Display of handmade Afghani jewelry.
Iranian foods
Japanese students show guests how to write their names in Japanese.
Guests try coffee and tea from vvarious countries.
A guest tries a grasshopper, one of the bugs offered at the Bug Tasting.
Guests try some of the foods available.
Two students perform a ballroom dance originating from Spain.
A student does a contemporary style dance to “Fix You” by Coldplay.
Students did demostrations on how to properly put on a hijab, a head covering worn by some Muslim women.
Students did demostrations on how to properly put on a hijab, a head covering worn by some Muslim women.
A student cringes after trying a bug.
Many traditional dresses were worn during the fashion show.
Display of chained origami
The Amazon John Show brought many exotic animals that guests could pet and learn about.
Henna was available for guest to get. It is a non-permanent skin dye paste that artist use to create designs, which normally lasts for two weeks.
Ice sculpture replica of the Leaning Tower of Pisa.
The International Ambassadors Association performs a final dance to end The Amazing Taste entertainment shows.
