The world at your fingertips: 51³Ō¹Ļās International Fiesta brings diverse cultures close to home
Contact: Sasha Steinberg
STARKVILLE, Miss.āAs one of the Southeastern Conferenceās most diverse institutions of higher learning, 51³Ō¹Ļ currently is a āhome away from homeā to 765 international students from 76 countries across the globe.
When the 28th International Fiesta returns April 7 to the Starkville campus, many of these students will share food, music, dance and other cultural aspects from their homeland with the campus and local communities.
Sponsored by World Neighbors Association and 51³Ō¹Ļās Holmes Cultural Diversity Center, the event takes place from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. on the universityās historic Drill Field. In the event of rain, the fiesta will be held at the west-side concourse of Davis Wade Stadium.
Campus organizations, clubs and departments will have displays and food booths. Various groups also will provide entertainment in the form of dancing, music performances, singing, as well as a fashion show.
Inflatables, unique cultural games and other fun activities will be available for children.
RaāSheda Forbes, 51³Ō¹Ļās assistant vice president for multicultural affairs, said the International Fiesta ādemonstrates the beauty and uniqueness of various countriesā culturesā and helps attendees āimagine what it is like to function in an international society.ā
āI donāt think there is a greater international exchange than the International Fiesta,ā said Forbes, who also serves as the HCDCās director.
For more information on the International Fiesta, contact Kei Mamiya, HCDC program coordinator, at 662-325-2033 or kmamiya@saffairs.msstate.edu.
51³Ō¹Ļ is Mississippiās leading university, available online at .