A variety of international student groups met on Auburn University's Green Space to showcase their cultures at the International Student Organization's World’s Fair on Tuesday afternoon.
ISO combined its annual International Peace Dinner and the World’s Fair for one event from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. outside the Melton Student Center. Because of the COVID-19 regulations restricting large gatherings inside, ISO decided to cancel the Peace Dinner, which would have taken place last November around Thanksgiving.
The International Peace Dinner is usually the largest banquet dinner in Auburn with a few thousand people attending, according to Rafael Santos, senior in marketing and president of ISO.
“We combined both and now we're offering food from different parts of the world in collaboration with different cultural organizations,” Santos said.
Some of the cultures showcased include Bangladesh, Pakistan, India and Iran. Each country had its own tent with decorated with flags and tables filled with pieces unique to each culture.
“Our main goal here is just to showcase the cultural diversity here at Auburn,” said Georgia Morros, junior in marketing and Spanish-international trade.
ISO reached out to different cultural groups within Auburn to bring them together for the event. Santos said its World’s Fair is an important event used to educate people.
“There’s so much to learn that maybe they’re not aware of,” he said. “It’s a great chance for people to just come together, learn maybe different languages.”
The fair was limited to 150 people following the University's COVID-19 regulations for outdoor gatherings. Many of the guests were wearing masks unless they were trying the different food and drinks provided.
“I’m happy that we get to have this event and that all these great organizations came out,” Morros said. “This is our big event this year and we’re happy [it turned] out great.”
Santos said he was also pleased with how many attendees the fair attracted.
“I hope they take a full belly back home and I just hope they liked it,” he said.
Santos said this event means a lot to him because it gives people the opportunity to be aware of the different things out in the world that people can go and see. ISO allows students, staff and members of the Auburn community a chance to discover these new things at the World’s Fair, he said.
“It’s pretty cool, you get free food and get to meet people from all around the world,” Santos said.
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