Northwestern to host Cultural Fair

Northwestern College’s International Club will host its annual Cultural Fair, formerly known as the Ethnic Fair, on Saturday, Feb. 18. Area residents will have the opportunity to experience cultural dance, music and dress, as well as partake in an all-you-can-eat buffet serving foods from countries around the world prepared by Northwestern’s international students.

“This is one of the best events of the year for our community to come together to celebrate the global cultures that come to Orange City through Northwestern’s international students,” says Kevin McMahan, Northwestern’s associate dean for intercultural development. “This year, there will be some new twists, including some small items our students have brought from home to share at a little global shop, and new visual elements, including a new background for the stage.”

This year’s event is centered around the theme of “Let me take you home.”

“When I think of the word ‘home,’ it reminds me of the place where I can be accepted for who I am,” says Chie Lee, junior social work major from Osaka, Japan. As president of Northwestern’s International Club, Lee knows what it’s like to be far away from the comforts of home, like familiar foods and native languages. “But we know we can still have home in a foreign country because home is not a place,” says Lee. “Home is made by people. Home is people. And the mission of this year’s Cultural Fair is to bring ‘home’ to everyone.”

Admission is $12 for community members and $6 for children ages eight and younger. Those who are not eating—and Northwestern students—will be charged an entry fee of $1. The international buffet will begin at 5 p.m. in the Rowenhorst Student Center gymnasium, with entertainment running from 5:30 to 7.

Included in the event is a fashion show spotlighting the authentic dress of the students’ countries. Additionally, there will be several dance performances and multiple singing acts.

“We hope to share with American students and community members that we are able to create ‘home’ for each other despite our differences,” says Lee. “We all have similarities and it helps to unite us, but I believe the differences add indescribable beauty to our shared ‘home.’”

Northwestern’s International Club includes 150 students, with 40 international students representing 25 countries from Africa, Asia, Europe, Australia, Latin America and North America.

Founded in 1975, the college’s International Club was created to support students from different countries and promote learning about their respective cultures. The club is open to both international and U.S. students, and it uses events like the Cultural Fair to build friendships and facilitate dialogues that help the Northwestern community experience and practice positive cross-cultural interaction.