On Nov. 26 from 1-4 p.m. Portland State students gathered in the Smith Memorial Student Union ballroom to learn about the cultural groups on campus, while simultaneously enjoying international music and free desserts.
The event, appropriately called “Around the World Sweet Experience” and presented by the Arab-Persian Student Organization, was open to all and attracted approximately 500 people over the course of the three hours it went on.
Bahar Kasimi and Lana Maani, co-chairs of the Arab-Persian Student Organization came up with the event as a way to showcase PSU’s cultural groups and allow them to each share a bit of their culture’s traditions with the student body.
“We thought it would be a good way to bring all the cultural groups together,” Kasimi said. “We wanted to show a united front and remind everyone that we can all work together as one force.”
The PSU Indonesian Student Society presented lupis, a dish made from tapioca and coconut, and serabi, an Indonesian pancake, at their table. Both are traditional Indonesian desserts.
Representing Thailand was a table offering young coconuts with panda rice, coconut pudding and purple rice with coconut egg custard. Next to it, a table representing Afghanistan held homemade cheese and raisins.
“My favorite was the gulab jaman from the Indian Student Association’s table,” said Komal Singh, a junior in PSU’s pre-nursing program.
Gulab jamen is one of the most popular desserts in India, said Shravankumar Doosa, vice president of the Indian Student Association and a senior studying electrical engineering.
“We chose to bring it as our dessert because it is nationwide in India, not just popular in certain regions,” Doosa said. “It is commonly made for any and every kind of festivity.”
The Saudi Arabia Student Club brought bread covered in honey, butter and dates to the festivities, as well as a dessert called kbza.
The Cultural and Historical Association for Israel handed out sufganiyot, Israeli jelly doughnuts known for being particularly popular during Hanukkah, as well as flyers for their upcoming events. They were happy to chat or give their mission statement to curious event-goers.
With apfelstrudel (apple strudel), schwarzwälder kirschtorte (Black Borest cake), and mini-krapfen (jelly-filled fried dough balls) filling their table, the German Student Cultural Association said that the variety of desserts presented were partially due to the difficulty they encountered in picking just one or two.
“I really liked the sopapillas from the MEChA [Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlan] table,” said Jordan Landstrom a freshman studying criminology and criminal justice. “When I was handed the dessert I got to hear the history behind it, which was really interesting.”
Along with the sopapillas (a type of fried pastry) MEChA also contributed the popular treat of churros.
Rounding out the event at the last table was the Japanese Society who distributed vanilla, chocolate and green tea flavored cream puffs. Members of the society manning the table informed attendees that while cream puffs were especially popular as a light treat during spring and summer months, they are still consumed year-round.
“It’s been a very worldly and delicious feeling having all these cultures mix together in my belly,” said Phil Newman, a senior studying German.
