This week, Stockton is savoring the colorfulness and diversity of our second-annual International Celebration. The campus center food court has been adorned with flags from countries all over the globe, and foreign films are being shown in the Dunkin Donuts coffeehouse each afternoon at 2:00. Additionally, Stockton is hosting it’s annual Multicultural Connection Dinner in the campus center event room on Wednesday evening, and a “Geodome” has been set up in the C and D Wing atrium that allows students to experience 3D tours of various destinations around the world. One of my favorite aspects of this celebration has been the new and exciting variety of food being offered in N-Wing and Homestyle Kitchen, celebrating a different culture at each location every day this week.
From Middle Eastern Dosas to Iraqi Pink Rice or Filipino Beef Stew, the new options at some of Stockton’s most popular dining locations offer students and faculty the opportunity to expand their horizons and step outside of their typical culinary comfort zones. For the less adventurous, or simply those looking for something sweet to snack on, Homestyle Kitchen also offered French eclairs and cream puffs on Monday, and delicious South American churros on Wednesday. My personal favorite dish so far this week has been the Fiesta Lime Chicken and Rice dish, although Tuesday’s vegetable dumpljngs took a close second. The unique cuisine options gave everyone who eats on campus a break from the typical dining options, and helped me personally realize that I am not as picky of an eater as I used to be.
As teenagers and young adults, we tend to forget that life exists beyond the walls of our schools, homes or workplaces. Though it is easier to live within the comfort our little bubbles provide, it is inevitable that someday each of us will encounter a language barrier or cultural difference that prohibits us from connecting with another human being. America is known as a melting pot, and I truly feel that our diversity deserves to be recognized. Additionally, both businesses and healthcare are now expanding beyond the figurative boundaries of our country and spreading their services abroad. With this in mind, I personally believe that it is crucial for students to further their studies of foreign languages and cultures, so that we might one day be able to bridge the gaps that separate different parts of the world. Stockton’s International Celebration is a wonderful way to encourage students to open their eyes to the diversity of our world, and hopefully inspire us all to continue to explore the various cultures around the globe.