The International Student’s Association had its fifth annual food festival Saturday.
More than 300 people, including students, families and faculty members, joined ISA to taste foods from 13 countries, including the Philippines, South Korea and Saudi Arabia.
Denzil Lim, senior convergence journalism major from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, is the president of ISA and helped coordinate the annual event.
“The goal for this year’s festival was to be able to provide a great variety but also a fun and enjoyable place to have a meal,” Lim said.
Despite the rainy weather and hail, the free event attracted crowds at the Hunter Welcome Center.
The goal of the annual event was to allow guests to come and gain a better understanding of the places their peers come from.
“We try to invite everyone from every respective community and country to cook and present their food,” Lim said.
Stephanie Melo, sophomore biology major from Keller, said she thinks the festival is a good way to understand the diversity on campus.
“Being from Brazil and having a strong Brazilian heritage, it’s good to see that there are other people on campus just as proud of their culture as I am of mine,” Melo said.
The ISA food festival takes place every spring semester, but planning usually starts early in the year.
“ISA funds the event and provides a certain amount of spending allowance for each group so students don’t have to pay out of their pockets,” Lim said.
Anyone can join ISA, Lim said, without having to register or pay a membership fee.
For more information about ISA, students may attend ISA Chapel on Thursdays in COBA, Classroom 207.