Associated Students hosted this Fall semesters World Fest event Nov. 7, 2018, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in which students could get a taste of different cultures from around the world…for free!
By 10:30 a.m. the area near the pond where the World Fest took place was filled with clubs and programs from Cypress College, decorating their booths and prepping the food they were going to serve to those who stopped by. At 11:30 a.m. AS Director Dave Okawa welcomed everyone and introduced the different clubs and countries being represented and the event was officially underway, with some of the countries being represented including Germany, Canada, France, Turkey, Sudan, Thailand, and Mexico.
A booth that attracted a pack of students instantly was the Business Club representing Singapore/Malaysia. Students seemed to be enjoying the food options which included Malaysian chili rice and veggie curry- dishes so popular that the club ran out of food by the time the event was over!
“ASHRAE! ASHRAE is always coming out with the poutine from Canada,” said AS President Robert Mounce when asked what his personal favorite booth was at the event. ASHRAE (American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers) booth, representing Canada, was also a big hit at the event. They were serving Canadian poutine, an iconic dish featuring deep fried potato fries, and topped with gravy and cheese.
The Honors Club, representing Thailand, offered something to satisfy the students sweet tooth at the event, serving Thai Tea and a traditional Thai dessert consisting of sticky white rice, topped with mango bits and coconut milk. Honors Club member Van Nguyen said she learned how to make this dish from her mother and mentioned how popular the summertime dessert is in Thailand when mangoes are in season.
While Students indulged in the food at the event, they also expressed interest in learning more about the dishes and the country of origin – inquiring about things like how the dish is made and where exactly the country is located. A tasty treat and short geography lesson all in one!
In the midst of all the food and drinks, the Student Health Center’s booth also had its own options for students to indulge in: free stress balls, condoms, pens, and bookmarks and pamphlets promoting and informing students about the various services provided courtesy of the Health Center at Cypress College.
The World Fest event gave students an opportunity to enjoy and experience multiple cultures food and beverages in addition to an opportunity to be enlightened by the services and programs provided at Cypress College.
