Dinner to celebrate international connections

Thu, January 22, 2009 |

Valparaiso University – which set a record for international student enrollment during the fall semester – will celebrate the culture and traditional foods of its student body during the 29th annual World Banquet on Feb. 7.

Taking place for the first time in the Harre Union, the World Banquet (formerly known as the International Dinner) begins at 5 p.m. Tickets are $20 and must be purchased in advance from the University's Office of International Programs in the Harre Union, by calling (219) 464-5333 or online.

This year's buffet-style dinner includes hummus; Baba Ghannouji, a Middle Eastern roasted eggplant dip; tabouleh, a popular Lebanese salad; a Greek Orzo salad; Thai iced coffee; Maraq Al-Bamiya, a meat stew with okra; a tofu dish made in the style of a traditional rural Chinese dish know as "A Beggar's Chicken,"; baklava; "Noah's Pudding," a popular Turkish dessert made with dried fruits, nuts and barley; and chocolate-dipped apricots. Recipes were submitted and selected by international students and will be prepared by Valpo's Dining Services staff.

Dinner will be served at 5 p.m. followed by a talent show featuring some of the 245 international students from 55 countries attending Valpo, along with students from Valpo's language clubs. Entertainment will include a fashion show displaying the ethnic dress of students' homelands, musical performances, skits and dances.

The World Banquet is sponsored by the Office of International Programs and the Valparaiso International Student Association. Those interested in reserving a table for groups of up to 10 should send an e-mail to Bonita.Neff@valpo.edu.

In 2008, Valpo was one of five institutions in the United States to win the Senator Paul Simon Award for Campus Internationalization and be cited as a model for other institutions of higher education is preparing students for a global economy and an interconnected world. International students now make up more than 7 percent of Valparaiso's student body, and the University maintains Study Centers in China, England, Germany and Mexico and participates in 10 other study abroad programs which host approximately 200 students annually.

More information about international students and opportunities for international study at Valpo is online.