On Friday, April 3rd the Colorado International Students Association (CISA) held the longest running CSU Pueblo student event in the 82nd Intercultural Food & Talent Extravaganza. Here, students got together to recognize the variety in their talents, cultures, and backgrounds.
Yelena Travica, representing Manitoba, Canada at the event said, “It’s pretty cool… relating my country to [other’s] countries, seeing that difference.” The event featured many international students like Travica who came to represent their home country. These students made poster boards which featured information about their country and culture. The poster boards displayed maps, holidays, sports and cuisine from the students’ countries and gave them an opportunity to talk to guests and each other about their backgrounds.
She went on to explain how the event had people asking her about food, national symbols, and the history of the country. Many of the international students at the event also brought with them objects and foods from their home. Guests had a chance to ask about these objects and even taste candy and snacks from around the world.
The Extravaganza went beyond these displays. Many of the international students had an opportunity to share their cultures and talents through the performances of the evening. This featured students singing, dancing, reciting, original poetry and playing instruments. Lilia Myers Van Pelt, international student advisor and CISA advisor, said “I invite anyone who is willing to participate to perform.”
The posterboards, performances, conversations, and cultural objects allow attendees of the event to engage with backgrounds and students they might not always see. Myers Van Pelt recounted a conversation with a student who explained that they did not realize there was such a diversity of culture on campus.
As the Extravaganza is 82 years running, it has established itself as a pivotal student event for the campus community. Though it has evolved throughout its 82 years, Myers Van Pelt says the event should ultimately represent what the students want it to. “I really want the students to decide how they want to represent their countries and cultures,” she said.
As Meyers Van Pelt and CISA have developed the extravaganza, they have built an event around celebrating CSU Pueblo’s varied student base. Through observing, tasting, performing, and simply conversating, students and attendees have the unique opportunity to relate over each other’s backgrounds.
