International Festival begins today

The Student Center kitchen smelled of spices and food Monday night as International students were busy preparing food for today's food fair, one of several scheduled events for this week.

The annual International Festival begins today with the Proclamation of Flags at 11 a.m. in the John W. Corker Lounge, in the Student Center. The festival events include a foreign film from India sponsored by the Indian Student Association, an international buffet and a cultural show Friday that will showcase dances from all over the world.

During this week-long festival International students are taking the opportunity to educate others about their culture. Marilu Villachica, a graduate student from Peru studying Business, said, "You can't complain that people don't know about your country if your not willing to let them know a little bit about it."

Villachica, the president of Latin American Student Association, said her organization will emphasize the difference in the cultures of Latin America at this year's festival through performances and cuisine. Anil Mehta, a member of Asha - an Indian organization that fights for better education of India's under-privileged, said he hopes to show others the beauty of Indian culture through the festival.

"We wanted to be a part of the international festival because we think it's important to show the differences in India," Mehta said. Mehta, a doctoral student from India, said there are a lot of people who have a certain classification of Indian food and culture, and the festival can help change that.

While international students are looking to expand knowledge of their culture to other SIUC students, Chancellor Walter Wendler said he believes having an international student body also benefits the surrounding communities. "This is part of the very thing that international's bring to our campus," Wendler said. "They become a portal to the rest of the world."

In hopes of expanding cultural awareness, international students from India and Japan visited Trico Elementary School Friday, speaking with students about their countries and their experiences at SIUC.

Prathima Vadiraja, a doctoral student from India studying electrical engineering, and Shoko Sugimoko, a senior from Japan studying marketing, dressed in traditional clothing as they presented maps and photos to a first grade class.

Principal Jerry Ohlau said he was eager to have the international students come in and discuss their customs because they have not had much exposure to other cultures.

"When they can see things first hand, it becomes more real," said first grade teacher Mary Rowley of Percy. Rowley said part of the success of the project was due to the visuals that Vadiraja and Sugimoko brought with them.

Wendler said he hopes to recruit other international students to go out into the community to raise cultural awareness, not just during this week, but throughout the year.