When the world took over Court Street
By Dilynn Roettker, Staff Writer
May 25, 2008 | 6 a.m.
Experiencing the International Fair on Court Street this past Saturday was like taking a curious step out of Ohio University’s campus and entering another world, rich with tradition and history.
The smell of curry and noodles and the taste of bubble milk tea made the atmosphere an exciting one for fair-goers to try the exotic traditional food of the vendors. Music from various bands played in the background, mostly in languages few could understand. Dancers from Cambodia took the stage in their signature outfits, gracefully illustrating their stories through dance. Many people from various cultures dressed to support their countries in light of the event, where creativity was rampant with some selling homemade cultural artifacts to fund activities. Dozens of tables sat along Court Street, peddling strange and delicious foods, raising awareness of issues and informing the masses of the world outside the United States.
With the theme “Your World, Your Story,” many students and groups gathered at this year's International Street Fair to show a different perspective of OU than what usually meets the eye. Members of Students for Global Consciousness set up a table to promote Burmese relief efforts to help with the recent hurricane. There, they offered flyers protesting that Tibet become an autonomous state within China, yet not its own independent state. They also offered face painting at the table, which they did not recommend. “We are not very good face painters!” Bruce Douglas, the spokesperson, said with a laugh.
The Global Leadership Center table featured authentic Japanese gardens that twelve different groups of students had made as part of a project. The assignment was to make a garden based on Japanese design, elements and techniques. Also at the GLC table the students sold food to fund their trips to places like Bangkok, Thailand.
The Japanese Student Association sold different pamphlets, posters and miscellaneous items, including grilled corn as a fundraiser for the many different activities in which the group participates across campus throughout the year.
Gcina Mavimbela showcased the elaborate African table, which featured the traditional game of Mancala. Originally from Burkina Faso, but widely recognized in the U.S., Mancala is a board game that requires “sowing” stones around in a circle in little holes, until as many as possible are “captured” in a player's own hole. The table also had an impressive layout of traditional artifacts, which came from as far away as South Africa and Zimbabwe.
Both Mavimbela and Douglas (from Students for Global Consciousness) were very impressed with OU’s efforts at making other countries feel comfortable and welcome in Athens through these various ways of recognition. Mavimbela explained how the university had been very helpful and gone out of its way to help with food permits and meetings to make sure everyone was on the same page. “It is a lot of hard work, and I think they [OU] did a very good job,” he said.
This year's International Street Fair was a hit.
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