The Daily Illini Online
published Monday, February 10, 2003
Amara Enyia
The Daily Illini
If one word could describe Friday night's Culture Shock, sophomore in LAS Tocarra Dantzler said it would be "diversity."
Dantzler attended the event for the first time and said she would definitely return next year.
Culture Shock is an annual multicultural festival co-sponsored by TEAM, Together Encouraging the Appreciation of Multiculturalism, and the Illini Union Board. TEAM is a registered student organization.
The event highlighted the cultural diversity and talents of University students. This year's theme was "To make the familiar exotic, and the exotic familiar."
More than 1,000 people attended the event, which was held in the Illini Union rooms and Courtyard Cafe.
Around the room, a strikingly diverse crowd of hundreds of people wandered from booth to booth. The sounds of various different languages and music from around the world formed a symphony of diversity.
Graduate student Yvonne Chan patiently waited as she had mendhi art painted on her hand.
Mendhi is the traditional Indian art of decorating the hands and feet with a paste made from finely ground leaves of the henna plant. It is usually done during festivities.
Chan said it was her third year coming to Culture Shock and was her third year getting mendhi art. She said the amount of fun and the different people keep her coming back each year.
At another booth, students picked up pieces of candy with Vietnamese phrases on them. Individuals had to pronounce the phrases to get the candy. The result was sporadic, sheepish giggles as people struggled to pronounce the foreign words.
Meanwhile, members of the Vietnamese Student Association encouraged the individuals to have fun while learning common phrases.
On the left side of the room, various foods were displayed. A long line of eager and hungry participants waited to try some of the dishes showcased, such as garlic bread from Italy, curry cauliflower soup from India and Swedish meatballs.
Chioma Onyenso, sophomore in LAS, waited eagerly in line for food. She said Culture Shock is a great opportunity to learn new things and meet new people of different cultures.
"It is really showing that the University is culturally diverse," she said.
Melanie Rubin, IUB area coordinator for progressive programs, said IUB and TEAM began planning for this year's Culture Shock last year.
Even though Rubin said this is her first year at the University, she said it was "awesome," and she was "honestly amazed" at the talent in the student body.
"One of the great things is so many different groups and cultures get together under one roof," she said.
When the event began four years ago, Culture Shock was held in only two of the Illini Union rooms.
Hank Walter, associate director of the Illini Union, said Culture Shock has gotten bigger, but it was a hit from its first year. The number of performances doubled this year.
The acts featured a myriad of performers such as Precision Dance team, Salsa dancing, capoeira, a step team and singing groups.
Rubin said she hoped people come away from Culture Shock with feelings of pride.
"It's good that despite all the problems and tension in the world, we all can still come together and celebrate diversity," she said.
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