LV Life

Festival offers worldly delights

The International Student Organization sponsored a World Festival this week on the University Mall. On Tuesday, desserts from non-Latin American countries were served by international students. Senior English major Tomoko Iwata, of the Japan booth, served samples of Osiruko, a Japanese dessert made from rice cakes and red bean paste. / photo by Reina Santa Cruz
The International Student Organization sponsored a World Festival this week on the University Mall. On Tuesday, desserts from non-Latin American countries were served by international students. Senior English major Tomoko Iwata, of the Japan booth, served samples of Osiruko, a Japanese dessert made from rice cakes and red bean paste. / photo by Reina Santa Cruz

Shelli DeRobertis
Staff Writer

International students served desserts from their booths during “A World Festival in the Quad” on Tuesday.

The International Student Organization sponsored the event, which was overseen by International and Study Abroad Center Director Philip Hofer.

“We used to do this in April, but now we do it in November because it’s an event celebrated all over the U.S.,” Hofer said.

“Many universities recognize the importance and the value of international education, of international students coming to study with us and of our American students going to study abroad,” Hofer added.

Twelve informational booths were arranged to border the University Mall, and each was decorated with colors and items that represented its country.

In addition, fresh authentic desserts enticed passerby’s to stop, guess and taste the native food.

Maps and brochures also were available, but more impressive was that each booth hosted a study abroad student who could answer questions about their native country.

If a student was interested in studying in Spain, they could eat a buñuelo made by senior business major Josep Agell Martin, who attended the University of Barcelona before coming to the University of La Verne.

The buñuelos consist of a flour, sugar and egg mixture coated in a sugary liquid, and are very popular in Spain.

“I tried to make them good, but I usually don’t make this,” he said.

Martin is enjoying his experience at ULV, and especially the interaction he receives with his instructors.

“It’s very different than Spain,” Martin said. “The University is very big, and normally there’s 100 people in (one) class.”

Richard Wang was at the booth representing China, and he was eager to share pictures of China from a book he had on display. Wang is a Southwest American Chinese student who graduated from the University with his master’s in finance.

“Most students come from BCA, Brethren Colleges Abroad,” said International and Study Abroad Center Advisor Debbie Yang.

BCA has historic ties to the Church of the Brethren and operates programs at academic study centers in 19 locations around the world.

Jaclyn Urquidez is a student specialist for study abroad students at the International Study Abroad Center.

She said there are currently 16 students who are studying abroad this semester, and another 16 are signed up to go in spring.

Last year she went to Greece, and she was available to speak to students about her experience.

“(I am here) to help promote the opportunity we offer to students,” Urquidez said.

A few people took advantage of the sunny Southern California November day, and danced to Mediterranean music played by the two-man band, Musicántica.

Their music focuses on Southern Italy’s oral tradition, which is a ritual passed on from generations by peasants, fishermen and street vendors.

The Chi Delta Omicron and Phi Delta Theta fraternities were also at the event, extending their efforts to help raise food for the Inland Valley Council of Churches.

They also brought the radio station KROQ, who came to donate their services to the IVCOC.

If anyone is interested in going abroad for a semester or a year, the deadline to apply is April 1 to go next fall.

Shelli DeRobertis can be reached at sderobertis@ulv.edu.

Shelli DeRobertis
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Reina Santa Cruz
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