Festival to explore foreign cultures

by Heidi Groover | March 12, 2010 | Montana Kaimin

Students can get a taste of foods, crafts and cultural performances from around the globe Sunday afternoon in the UC.

The University of Montana International Student Association and Foreign Student and Scholar Services will host the 2010 International Culture and Food Festival from noon to 5 p.m. Sunday.

The theme of this year’s festival is “View the World Through a Cultural Kaleidoscope,” said ISA president Felicity Dugo. A visiting student from Ghana, Dugo is in her fourth year studying business management and international business at UM and in her third year as an officer in the association.

“The festival is a chance to see a little bit of everything from cultures all over the world,” she said.

The event offers the opportunity for cultural exchange between visiting students, American students and the community, Dugo said.

“As an exchange student, I feel like it is our duty to not only take from the culture where we study, but also to give,” she said. “We come here to learn, so this is our opportunity to teach people in the community.”

The festival will feature 21 food booths, 46 display booths, cultural performances and a silent auction. The festival will begin with a parade of flags through the UC at noon.

Food booths on the first floor will offer dishes from around the world for $4 or less, said festival director Mona Mondava. For the first time, the festival will get its non-exotic ingredients from local sources and will compost waste, she said.

Children can learn dancing, drumming and crafts from around the globe in “Children’s World” on the second floor.

“Intercultural understanding starts with young people and getting them excited about it,” Mondava said. “This plants a seed of goodwill in children to make them want to make international friends.”

Student and community groups, including clubs that focus on specific cultures and groups like Griz for UNICEF and the Peace Corps, will offer information, crafts and baked goods at display booths on the third floor.

“We are seeing a lot more UM student groups with an international focus getting involved and fundraising this year,” Mondava said.

A culture show on the third floor will showcase 25 performances by individuals and groups from the university and the community, according to the festival guide. A silent auction of international arts and crafts will benefit the Missoula International Friendship Program, a community organization that works to integrate international students into Missoula. The silent auction will also offer international dinners prepared by students and community members for the highest bidders.

The University has seen various forms of the festival since 1924, including its incorporation into UM’s centennial celebration in 1993, but this will be the 19th time it has taken this form, Mondava said.

This year’s festival will be dedicated to President George Dennison and his wife, Jane.

“Through his commitment to diversity and to making the campus more welcoming for international visitors and students, he has really helped to change attitudes and encourage a greater understanding of other cultures,” said Effie Koehn, director of Foreign Student and Scholar Services. “They have both always been very supportive of diversity and of the festival.”

General admission is $3 for adults and $2 for children. The festival is partnering with the Missoula Food Bank for the second year to accept additional donations of nonperishable food and cash during the event.

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