On Oct. 25, UT’s International House held its annual International Festival. From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Ped Walkway, students and faculty had the opportunity to interact with various cultures. Many booths educated people about their traditions and also had some delicious food to try. There were also performances spread out throughout the festival, such as a dance performance from the Korean Pop Appreciation Association, a shamisen performance and a cultural fashion show hosted by The Fashion Society.
Many students from various multicultural and international organizations were hard at work even before the festival began. Many organizations woke up early or stayed up late the night before to prepare food.
McKenzie Nguyen, president of the Vietnamese Student Association, had oil burns on her hands as a testament to her work. Nguyen is a sophomore studying public health and is very passionate about her work with VSA.
The Vietnamese Student Association is a student-led organization that celebrates Vietnamese heritage and educates others about Vietnamese culture and sociopolitical climate. The club is open to all, regardless of heritage. At the International Festival, they sold Vietnamese coffee and donuts.
“The entire energy of the International Fest is super fun,” Nguyen said. “Everyone’s very passionate in what they do, and it’s very UT, very ‘Go Vols’ when everyone’s able to get together and join in experiencing cultural differences and exchanges.”
Nguyen comes from immigrant parents and enjoys being able to experience Vietnamese culture at UT.
“I’m in the diaspora so there’s my American side and my Vietnamese side,” Nguyen said. “Being able to share my culture makes me feel a little bit more validated within my Vietnamese identity.”
Nguyen acknowledges the importance of campus events like the International Festival.
“There needs to be a moment where students get to see that this is the student body that makes up UT,” Nguyen said. “Also seeing staff members on campus learning about the types of student body organizations here, it’s revolutionary. There are people here that didn’t even know half these clubs existed but now they’re trying Nepalese food, Bangladeshi food, Latino food and so much more.”
She enjoys getting to share the hardworking side of Vietnamese culture with her campus community.
“What I love about Vietnamese culture is the determination we have,” Nguyen said. “We will pursue whatever needs to be pursued. We’re determined, we’re passionate and we’re also really stubborn.”
Another club tabling at the festival was the Russian Language and Culture Club. This club is dedicated to learning about the Russian language and culture and is open to all. At the International Festival, they sold Russian food like pelmeni and pirozhki, among other options.
Cohen Russell, a sophomore studying biology, and Kyra Wilson, a junior double majoring in international affairs and Russian, are both members of the RLCC.
“International Fest is a great experience and I love sharing the Russian language,” Russell said.
Despite having to wake up early and set up tables in the chilly morning, he said he enjoyed preparing for the festival.
Wilson enjoyed food preparation, as she made one of the main dishes that they sold at the festival.
Russell’s time in the Russian Language Club has made him feel part of a big family.
Among the other organizations tabling was also the Korean Student Association. They are a student-led organization that offers a chance for UT students to learn about Korean culture and build friendships. At the International Festival, they were selling rice balls, buldak samyang carbonara ramen, and strawberry and banana milk.
Jasmine Kim, a sophomore studying supply chain management and a member of KSA’s executive board, explained the origins of some of the food they were selling.
“The ramen is called buldak carbonara, and it’s a noodle that got really popular through social media like TikTok and Instagram,” Kim said. “It’s really popular for challenges because it’s so spicy. We decided the rice balls would be good complementary food alongside the spicy ramen. When thinking of drinks to sell with the food, we decided on strawberry and banana milk because they’re sweet, so they pair well with spicy food.”
Kim was happy about the opportunity that the International Festival gave them to share her culture with others. Her favorite things about Korean culture are the food and living there.
“It’s a little bit more convenient living there than in the U.S.,” Kim said. “Also, when I want Korean food now, I have to rely on my mom’s cooking since there aren’t many Asian food options available at school.”
Originally, Kim struggled to feel represented at UT. Over time, she’s managed to find her community.
“I think events like the International Festival are a great way for us to share the culture,” Kim said. “I think UT does a pretty good job of trying to keep the campus diverse.”
Out of the performances held at the International Festival, one of the most eye-catching was The Fashion Society’s cultural fashion show in collaboration with many different international organizations. There was a wide variety of traditional clothes ranging from Bangladesh, Japan, El Salvador, Palestine, Nigeria and more.
Anastasia Ulumenfo, a freshman studying political science, was one of the models in the fashion show representing Nigeria.
“My outfit originates from Lagos, Nigeria,” Ulumenfo said. “It’s from the Igbo tribe.”
So far, Ulumenfo has had a positive experience at UT and getting to meet other Nigerians like her at the International Festival excited her. She plans on joining the African Student Association and enjoys sharing her culture with UT.
Another organization at the festival was the Indian American Association. They are a student-led organization open to all that seeks to create a community among South Asian students at UT. They practice South Asian culture and share parts of that culture with the campus community.
Vansh Patel, a sophomore studying kinesiology, and Jayen Patel, a senior studying supply chain management, are both members of IAA. They’ve learned some new things at this year’s festival.
“I’ve mainly learned how willing people are to try things even if it’s not in their culture,” Vansh Patel said. “I come from a small town, so being here, a place where I can express myself truly and have open-minded people willing to listen to me and try new foods, it just feels good.”
Vansh and Jayen Patel both enjoy Bollywood dancing, a big part of Indian culture.
“We have another part of our organization where we put on a Bollywood dance competition each year in the spring,” Vansh Patel said.
“Sharing our dance with everyone and being a part of our culture is great,” Jayen Patel said. “Having our family come and watch also makes them feel really good. It assures them that they know their kids are still holding up their traditions and values.”
Jayen Patel is also very grateful for the opportunities that the International Festival provides and says he feels very represented at UT.
“With our club, we have almost 200 members, so we have our own community and culture that helps us feel represented,” Jayen Patel said. “I’m very grateful to the International House for giving us this opportunity because sometimes different cultures can go unnoticed.”
Although the festival has concluded for this year, there are still many more events to come from the International House. The International House is located at 1623 Melrose Ave. right behind Hess Hall and up the hill from The Golden Roast. It’s home to many study abroad programs, as well as language programs that UT students — regardless of background — can get involved in.
