Reem Mansi remembers visiting the International Bazaar at Ohio State University when she was in high school.
Now, in her final year at Ohio State University, Mansi, a fifth-year student from Egypt, said she still cherishes the opportunity to celebrate her culture in the international Stillwater community.
“I absolutely love this event,” Mansi said. “I've been going since I was younger, and it's because of the community. The people are so kind and happy to be here.”
For more than two decades, the International Student Organization has hosted this bazaar to showcase student cultures and cuisine.
Bazaar 2024 included performances and traditional foods cooked by students from Latin America, Asia, Africa and the Middle East. Each organization raised about $500.
Mansi represented the Arab Student Union in the Bazaar Sweets Competition. Each organization presented a dessert to a panel of three judges and competed for bragging rights.
This year's panel included Ryan Nicklas, English teacher, Karen Wilson, program coordinator for the Center for African Studies, and Mark Cochran, executive chef at Ohio State University.
This year, Saeeda Abedzadeh's dessert, a rice pudding with saffron, rosewater, sugar, almonds and spices, won the Iranian Student Association's dessert competition.
Abedzadeh is new to Stillwater and starting the second semester of her doctorate in agricultural biosystems engineering. She said that making traditional Iranian sweets reminds her of her friends, family and her fond memories of her homeland.
“This (Charizard) is usually used to celebrate something,” Abedzadeh said. “I really like it because it reminds me of the happiness and good moments I spent with my family.
“We make it for special people, and we really love being here. We want to show that the Iranian people are hospitable.”
Although Abedzadeh said Stillwater and Ohio State University were welcoming, she said the international community was particularly helpful in the transition from Iran to the United States.
Katherine Serbinovska, an arts management student from Russia, agrees that Stillwater's international community helped her feel closer to home after moving to Stillwater seven years ago.
“Sometimes, it feels like international people can understand each other better, even though they come from different countries,” Sierbinovska said. “We both have the same background of coming here from somewhere else and meeting each other in Stillwater.”
Although there were no European student associations on the market, Serbinovska said many of the foods and drinks were very similar to traditional Russian meals and provided a welcome taste of home in a community that is not often exposed to other cultures.
“It's actually very close to what I used to eat in my hometown,” Serbvinovska said. “We use the same ingredients in the same way. It's closer to my taste than most American foods.”
Serbvinovska said she was particularly excited about the teas available on the market, which are served warm and without sweeteners.
“Russian people drink tea all day long,” Serbvinovska said. “People here have tea in their culture too, and I say, 'Yes, thank you very much,' because it's hot tea, which is very important. That's why I feel at home here.”
Srbinovska, like some of the other attendees, visited the market with her family and close friends. Although the bazaar is largely student-run, the event is open to the Stillwater community. OSU alumni, staff, grandparents and young children were all in attendance.
Carol Powers, assistant dean of the Graduate School, brought her 1-year-old son to the market. The bazaar has exposed him to different cultures, experiences and foods, while allowing Bowers to support its students, many of whom are international.
“When I saw it was coming, I said, ‘Oh, we have to go,’” Powers said. “Part of the advantage of being in a college town is that you get to learn about a lot of different cultures that you wouldn't otherwise be exposed to in a small town.”
For many families, attending the bazaar is a tradition. Powers said her family has been visiting the market for the past 10 years.
Sidney Williams and Miriam Williams said they have been to almost every bazaar since 2000. Miriam immigrated from Colombia and was once president of the Latin American Student Association at Ohio State University.
Now, both in their 70s, Williams said the bazaar remains an opportunity to celebrate OSU's many global cultures and reconnect with old friends.
“I love the students, their costumes and their dances,” Miriam Williams said. “I just love it. It's good to do it so people realize we're here and we're all different.”
Even students who have spent their entire lives in the United States said they were excited to visit the bazaar and experience cultures they had never been exposed to before.
Madeline Hager, a senior, said she heard about the event on social media and was eager to bring her friends to the market.
“It was really fun,” Hager said. “It was a little stressful at first, but in a good way. Even just watching people was a lot of fun.”
Exposure to diverse cultures and a welcoming community is what motivates families and students like Mansi to return to the market every year.
Mansi said: “I would love to have this opportunity and I would love to be able to represent Egypt.” I am a proud Egyptian, and proud to share this culture.
“It's honestly great. I feel like it helps bring us together in some way. We all enjoy each other's food, get to interact with people and learn about each other's cultures.
news.ed@ocolly.com
