The aromas of various ethnic foods, the sights of colorful flags and traditional dress, and the sounds of worldly music will soon captivate the Lehigh campus at the annual International Bazaar.
The bazaar will be held from 12-4 p.m. on April 12 on the University Center front lawn. The public event, which is open to all Lehigh students and the local community, aims to celebrate diversity and culture with a day of music, dance performances, games, prizes, arts and crafts and food.
The event is funded by Asian Student Programs, the Graduate Life Office, the Division of Student Affairs Office, the Dean of Student Office, the Office of Multicultural Affairs and the Office of International Affairs.
Cecilia Lesomar, ’16G, the publicity committee chair, and her team worked on fundraising and promoting the bazaar through social media. The hashtag for the event is #2015IBLU.
The publicity committee also extended an invitation to nearby colleges inviting them to attend this year’s bazaar. The neighboring colleges included Moravian College, Muhlenberg College, Cedar Crest College, Northhampton Community College, Lehigh Carbon Community College and Kutztown University.
Jeanne Ma, the assistant director of the Office of International Students and Scholars, said the largest ethnic group represented in the bazaar is Chinese students, and other student ethnic groups include students from India, Turkey, Southeast Asia and more.
The majority of cultural clubs will have tables lining the main campus walkway displaying cultural arts and crafts and selling food representing their cultures.
Other highlights of the event are the fashion and talent show. The talent show will demonstrate hip hop, Bollywood, lyrical, jazz, classical dancing and Bachata dancing.
This year’s fashion show will be comprised of models from over 25 countries involving children and faculty members.
“The models will parade their traditional national costumes while giving us a short cultural performance,” said Yangie He, ’15G, the chair of the fashion show committee. “For example, the Chinese women will show the traditional dress from the Han Dynasty and will demonstrate a Chinese folk dance.”
There are many other attractions from different countries, but the addition of traditional games is a 2015 highlight to the bazaar. Games from different countries will be incorporated into this year’s event schedule. Audiences will have the opportunity to play and win prizes, said Nina Ni, ’16, the chair of the performance committee.
“The bazaar is really a confirmation of Lehigh’s commitment and effort to understand and live by the values of an equitable and inclusive community,” said Domenica Massamby, ’17, a member of the publicity committee. “What’s really special about this event is how it is spearheaded by students. The International Bazaar is for everyone invited to participate in the commemoration.”
Furthermore, the bazaar demonstrates how Lehigh strives towards becoming a more inclusive community.
Quiyi Fan, ’18, a member of the food committee attended the event last year and loved the bazaar’s atmosphere and activities.
“This bazaar makes me feel like all international and American students are actually a family,” Fan said.
Lesomar said students should attend the bazaar because it provides a place for students and families to learn about the array of cultures at Lehigh, while also enjoying cultural performances and a variety of food.
“We hope to use this event to bring people of different cultural and religious beliefs together to celebrate their differences as well as their similarities,” Ma said. “For years, we’ve been trying to bridge the gap between the international and domestic students. We want (non-international students) to see the bazaar as an event for everyone, not just international students.”
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