California Baptist University students filled Harden Square at 7 p.m. on Sept. 30 for “Taste the Nations,” an annual CBU event hosted by the International Center. Numerous booths lined the courtyard, featuring unique snacks from around the globe.
From South Korean candies to European sausages, the smells of the world engulfed the brightly lit square. Several booths beside the food tables also offered information on international experiences, creating a diverse atmosphere.
Each student received a notecard with several checkboxes upon arrival. After visiting six booths and marking all the boxes, students turned in the notecard in for a free boba tea from a fan favorite, Tim Boba.
Courtney Watson, senior director of International Student and Scholar Services, explained that Taste the Nations served as the kick-off event for the International Center’s Go Global Week, which focused on showcasing opportunities for students to go overseas.
“If [students have] never had a lot of international foods, this is a really great chance for them to try it at zero cost,” Watson said.
Watson shared that the event mainly focused on informing students of how “… they can serve internationally or have international experiences.” Some of these experiences included studying abroad, service projects or faculty-led academic trips.
Gabby Peralta, senior communication sciences and disorders major, said that even after going on a service project herself, learning about ISP trips from different student perspectives at Taste the Nations was interesting.
“I think [this event] really does represent our school’s motto of living your purpose and going global,” Peralta said, “And I think this is such a good way to step into the door… but I’m also excited for the boba at the end.”
Besides offering information, opportunities and food, the event highlighted CBU’s global-mindedness, its crowd consisting not only of students from other states but also international students.
Jordan Serrato, sophomore architecture major, shared his appreciation for the diversity of the event.
“I think seeing all the different people… and seeing what like kind of foods they associate with their culture… makes you understand a lot about their culture,” Serrato said.
Many of those running the booths were international students, which added to the authentic atmosphere and allowed them to represent their unique cultures.
“I think [these events are] pretty unifying,” Serrato added, “and they bring everyone together without mixing us all into one culture, because we still represent where we came from.”
Taste the Nations cultivated an environment of friendly diversity, educating CBU students on both the richness of many cultures and the availability of international opportunities for themselves.
