International Student Rossy talks about her experience at the Festival of Cultures
My name is Rossy, I am a master's student from the Dominican Republic studying Logistics and Supply Chain Management. In March I attended Festival of Cultures, a one-day event open to every UoP student, that allowed visitors to travel around the world without leaving the campus. Each country had its own stand, represented by students who prepared traditional food, decorations and activities to give the guests a glimpse into the culture of their home country. From the Caribbean to the Middle East, every corner was buzzing with activities and performances that showcased the talent of each country.
During the event, I was in charge of the Dominican Republic stand and had the pleasure of introducing my beautiful culture to the visitors. I decorated my stand with the colours of the national flag - red, white and blue, and brought traditional food and items such as Diablo Cojuelo or Limping Devil, and plantain chips for everyone to try. I also wore a traditional dress and danced along the beat of Merengue típico, traditionally known as perico ripiao’. I loved seeing visitors' reactions and hearing their questions about the country.
Other stands also featured traditional songs and dances, and food and perfumes from all around the world. The surprise of the event was a traditional Chinese lion dance, which was stunning to watch. After the exhibitions, there was a Performance Showcase that included K-pop, Indian dances, native songs from Nigeria, Bulgarian folk dance, and Highlife Afrobeats. Each performance was incredibly captivating, and I thoroughly enjoyed every single one of them.
If you're a student, I highly recommend you take part in this unique event and represent your culture. It's an unforgettable experience, and there's a lot of help and guidance available for anyone who would like to participate. Start planning your stand or performance early and ask your fellow compatriots if they would like to get involved. The more, the merrier!
I can definitely say that the Festival of Cultures was an epic event and a great opportunity to explore and appreciate the beauty of different cultures.
Starting in January 2024, keep an eye out for posters and social media posts about how to get involved in 2024's Festival. We look forward to your participation!
