U of G’s celebrates cultural awareness and appreciation
On Friday, March 4, 2016, the University of Guelph’s International Student Organization (ISO) hosted their annual One World event in Peter Clark Hall. The One World event aims to represent the cultural diversity which exists on campus in a celebration of the various talents of students through a variety of unique cultural performances.
According to the University of Guelph website, the ISO, “voices the concerns of international students at Guelph and also organizes events that promote diversity and multiculturalism on campus.”
Included in the cost of a ticket was a buffet-style dinner, which consisted of a wide spread of traditional, mouth watering foods—such as seasoned rice, spiced curries, samosas, and skewered meats—from a variety of nations around the world.
Doors opened at 6:00 p.m., though scheduled programming did not begin until 6:30 p.m. Upon entering the hall, attendees were met with a selection of tables that were organized by theme, with each table representing a respective country.
[pullquote align=”left” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]…attendees enjoyed an assortment of performances throughout the night…[/pullquote]
A host of nations were represented, including China, Germany, Australia, Japan, India, and the Philippines. Each nation was identifiable at their respective table due to the presence of the country’s flag, as well as a card that provided facts about the country.
A culturally relevant item—such as a fan for China, a miniature bahay kubo for the Philippines, a model of the Eiffel Tower for France, and a wooden elephant statue for India—was also included, bringing an additional touch of ethnicity to the respective theme of each table.
For entertainment, attendees enjoyed an assortment of performances throughout the night. Among the acts showcased were an array of singers and dancers from many different cultural backgrounds. From an all-girl dance group who showed off their slick moves, to the upbeat sounds of K-pop songs, to a series of singers who performed songs from their native countries, it was evident that the members of the ISO—and all of the people who displayed their creative talents—had been working hard to ensure that everyone had an enjoyable time.
Other acts of note were an impressive post-dinner juggling act, as well as the Indian Student Association’s dance routines. Their performance was fast-paced and involved lots of coordination. Additionally, their beautiful, colourful costumes were very eye-catching. Following the dance numbers were a few short words from a member of the Guelph community, who began his speech by first acknowledging the Indigenous lands upon which Guelph (and thus, the university) was built upon.
The One World event provided for a great dinner and a show, while highlighting the diverse nature of the student populous and promoting a unifying sense of global community at the University of Guelph campus.