Students experience a variety of cultures through food

Held on Sept. 29 from 7-9 p.m., Taste of Nations was a free annual event run by the International Student Center where students from different countries made sample-sized food for attendees to try.

To conclude Global Focus Week, Taste of Nations allowed students to experience the countries that were highlighted throughout the week. During this event, students were able to learn about 20 different countries’ foods and traditions. This year, four new countries were represented at the event: Germany, Brazil, South Africa and Colombia.

Also represented during the night were Pakistan, India, the U.S., Korea, Lebanon, the Philippines, the Dominican Republic, China, Nigeria, Mexico, Guatemala, Jamaica, the Bahamas, Haiti and Romania. 

“The amazing thing about food is it can really unite people,” Melissa Harris, LU ONE director of communications and branding, said. “We are excited about hosting an event that will bring people together and give us all an opportunity to learn about the traditions of other countries.”

Through many months of planning, the organizers worked with student volunteers to help them get the resources needed to serve thousands of attendees.

“I think that the whole idea behind Taste of Nations is amazing,” Isabella Garcia Mejia, a student volunteer, said. “Being able to have the students and faculty learn about the different cultures at LU is a great concept.”

Mejia made food for the Colombia table, including arepas rellenas, which are corn-based griddle breads stuffed with cheese, meat or black beans; and limonada con panela, which is a sweet and sour lemonade or limeade.

“My favorite part was just seeing everyone enjoy a part of my culture,” said Mejia.

“Part of showing love in my culture is through cooking and feeding others,” Amanda Naudus, a student volunteer, said. “It was such a joy to spread love through the food we made and the interactions with the students at Taste of Nations.”

Naudus volunteered with the Asian American Association club and helped to serve scallion pancakes and milk tea to attendees.

“Working with Taste of Nations was so impactful because I got to share a little bit of my culture through food to other Liberty University students,” Naudus said.

Spread around the Vines Center were all the tables filled with student volunteers and international food. With a plate and fork in hand, students went to each table to pick up sample cups of a variety of foods. Each table had small toothpick flags associated with the country the table represented. 

Students talked to the volunteers about what the foods were and the traditions connected to the foods. Flags from all the countries represented were set up around the Vines Center. In addition, the Worship Collective and Pololo, a student band, sang a few songs as attendees explored the tables.

Twitchell is a news reporter for the Liberty Champion