On October 2, SNU Buddy, the largest cultural exchange organization on campus, hosted its semesterly International Food Festival. SNU Buddy, established in 2005, is a student-run organization under the Office of International Affairs that assists exchange students in adjusting to life in Korea. The International Food Festival is the organization’s biggest event and is highly anticipated by both the organizing students and the SNU community as a whole. Held in front of the Jahayeon Pond this semester, the festival was a colorful and vibrant celebration of global cuisine.
Students preparing for dishes at the festival
Crowds gather around food stalls, savoring flavors from around the world
At its core, the International Food Festival is a celebration of unity through diversity. Through the simple act of sharing a meal, students from all over the world are able to come together and learn from one another about each other’s cultures. As students strolled past the event, they were greeted with a tantalizing array of aromas, vibrant flavors, and the sounds of laughter, all of which created an inviting atmosphere.
A total of 15 countries were represented by the team of 150 Korean and international student volunteers. Together, the students prepared a variety of dishes, including both iconic and more niche ones that might not be as well known. Working together on everything from preparation of ingredients to final presentation of the food, the volunteering students were able to share and find out more about each other's cultures.
Menu for the joint Mongolian-Kazakh stall
This festival proved to be a great showcase of the students’ culinary prowess. Students were thoroughly impressed at the overall quality of all the food presented and the wide variety offered. Though there may have been some difficulties perfectly capturing the authentic tastes, especially with the limited resources available, the event proved to be enough to invoke a sense of nostalgia for home within international students. “The festival also made me want to cook some traditional recipes for my friends!” Jargalan Selenge, a student from Mongolia, said, clearly showing the inspirational effects of the event.
Netherlands and Belgium teams at the festival
Beyond the delicious food, the International Food Festival served as a platform for cultural exchange and dialogue. As students sampled dishes from different countries, they engaged in conversations about the customs, traditions, and stories behind the food. “I particularly enjoyed asking the volunteer students about the origins of each dish and if there was any reason they chose them specifically. I was also able to make a new friend that day!” Bui My Hanh, a Vietnamese student, said. Evidently, the festival allowed for the fostering of relationships through the power of food.
Apart from the exchange students, the international students at SNU also expressed their appreciation for the festival as it allowed them to enjoy a slice of familiarity away from home. Bui, a student currently in her first semester at SNU, commented that upon finding the stall representing her home country, she was able to feel a little less lonely and homesick. She also mentioned her excitement at being able to show her Korean friend food from her country, especially as it allowed her to repay the favor from being introduced to various Korean food when she first arrived.
In the midst of busy life at SNU, the International Food Festival provided a moment of respite as students were able to relax with friends old and new in the cool autumn weather while enjoying unique food from around the world. The Jahayeon Pond was full of students lining up to purchase food coupons and sit on benches to converse with each other over a nice, hearty meal. The experience of the festival will surely linger in people’s minds, especially as students eagerly await the return of the International Food Festival next semester.
Written by Eusun Lee, SNU English Editor, sunnylee006@snu.ac.kr