Diana Fernandez and Felix Autenrieth serving as emcees at the 20th Annual International Dinner and Entertainment Night

If you like to eat, enjoy a variety of foods, and like socializing with people from around the globe, the Annual International Dinner is the event for you. This year the dinner took place on April 6, at the University YMCA's Latzer Hall. The event was made possible thanks to the co-sponsoring by the Office of International Student Affairs (OISA) and the University YMCA. If you have not yet attended this annual occasion, you have been missing out!

This year I had the honor of being the co-emcee for the dinner, along with fellow Cosmo housemate Felix Autenrieth. I am an undergraduate student originally from Venezuela, and Felix is a Ph.D. student from Germany. Although we were both very excited at the opportunity to host the dinner, I was also very nervous. However, Felix's positive and encouraging attitude was very helpful, as he kept saying, "Don't worry, it will be great." And, well,… Felix was right.

First, I was very glad to see the great turnout of guests early on in the evening. Over 200 hungry and excited people showed up, of all ages and from all parts of the world. The event began with a warm welcome from Dr. Earl Kellogg, the Associate Provost for International Affairs, and was quickly followed by a prime asset of the event: the food.

To say that there was plenty of food for everyone would be an understatement. Everyone was able to help themselves generously to the buffet-style dinner, and by the sight of people with food piled on high and even holding more than one plate, it was obvious that the quality of the food was exceptional as well. With food from 25 countries and almost 50 different dishes, nothing else could have been expected. Guests who attended the dinner this year were able to enjoy the exquisite cuisine of countries such as Burma, Romania, Sri Lanka, Ecuador, Brazil, Turkey, and Russia, just to name a few.

Second, I liked the animated environment. While the guests were helping themselves to the large and diverse variety of food, Felix and I decided to play an international trivia-type game. We were asking questions such as "which country is composed of over 7,000 islands?" (Philippines), while also providing information on that specific country and giving away prizes. It was great to see that people were so enthusiastic and got into it. Our hope was to provide some entertainment to the crowd, while at the same time expanding international knowledge.

After the food and games, the evening progressed into the Awards section. This part was meant to recognize and honor those who have been exceptionally involved in many international activities at the University.

And at last but definitely not least, it was time for the performances. The evening approached its end with exciting original acts by unique live performers. Traditional Turkish folk songs were sung. George Reed on piano and a female vocalist performed a Jazz piece. The distinctive Argentine Tango was danced by Areg and Giovanna. The talented Dimi Lazhov delighted the audience by playing the accordion and singing Bulgarian folk music. Then, the Gungroo Dance Company performed a lively Classical Indian Dance. To say the least, these performers were very graceful and engaging, and their acts concluded the dinner with an exciting final touch.

A great part of my experience as emcee and spectator at the Annual International Dinner was seeing how people from around the globe came together. Everyone joined in an effort to share with others their unique culture and to experience new ones, regardless of their nationality. The atmosphere was invigorating and full of smiles, and everyone (guests and cooks) seemed to be enjoying the evening very much. The International Dinner is a great event at which to socialize, try new foods, learn about other cultures, and truly grow in international understanding. If you missed it, I hope you can come and experience this wonderful occasion next year. Just remember to get your tickets in advance before they run out!