The Student Union Building ballroom never sounds or smells better than it does during the annual Cruise the World event, this year occurring on Saturday, Denise Kauffman said.
Kauffman, International Friendship Association Coordinator for the International Programs Office, said this event gives international students a chance to share their traditions and celebrations with the rest of the university.
“It is the most exhausting fun you will have in a day,” Kauffman said.
Giri Raj Arya, a student from Nepal, participated in the event during past years.
“I enjoyed very much the last year’s Cruise the World,” Aryal said. “My experience was really awesome because at one hand I was filled with pride while presenting our culture and identity to the people from around the world, and at the other hand I was delighted to see the brotherhood and friendship among the people from diversity in a single place.”
Aryal said he was amazed with how interested people were in learning about the practices and different ways of living in other countries.
“I found participants were mostly curious about traditional food, music, language and the specialties of different countries,” Aryal said.
Kauffman said one thing people enjoy the most is the food.
“If you are going to try any food, try the Momo’s,” Kauffman said.
A Momo is a type of dumpling, which is a delicacy in Nepal and Tibet. They are often filled with meat and other kinds of filling.
Kauffman said this event usually gets a crowd of about 700 to 750 people each year and everyone seems to have a lot of fun. She said this year there will be 25 to 30 country booths at the event. Kauffman said this year’s theme is Spring Festivals.
Kauffman said there will be a constant stream of live entertainment, with acts like a dragon dance and musical numbers like traditional flute playing from China.
Kauffman said tickets will be sold the day of the event at the SUB information desk and will be exchanged at the door for a mock passport for participants to get stamped during the event. The event will take place from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Youth and students must pay $5 for tickets, while adult tickets are $7 and family prices are $20.
Erik Fink can be reached at [email protected]