Mississippi State University junior Brent Rickman has never seen the International Fiesta — an annual celebration of the cultures and organizations represented on campus and in Starkville — much less participated. But Saturday afternoon, he’ll be wearing the traditional garb of a man from Kyrgyzstan for the Fiesta’s fashion show and hopes to meet new people from all over the world.
“I’m looking forward to learning more about (Kyrgyzstan) and maybe even meeting some students that are from that country,” Rickman said. “That would be great.”
Now in its 27th year, the International Fiesta is a multi-cultural event involving MSU student organizations as well as churches and organizations in the Starkville community. It takes place on the MSU drill field this year from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday.
The event begins with the Parade of Flags, a literal parade of flags and banners from all over the world, said Joan Mylroie, president of the World’s Neighbor’s Association in Starkville. Mylroie has been involved in coordinating the event for 20 years. Following the parade are performances of traditional and ceremonial dances from around the world.
This year, 46 booths will be set up around the drill field, selling international food and touting information about different countries and cultures. Visitors can move from booth to booth in between watching ceremonial dances and other entertainment. Admission is free, though visitors will need cash to purchase food from the vendors.
“It’s people getting together and sharing their culture and ideas,” said Mylroie. “And (it’s also) just time to make friends from around the world.”
That’s what Rickman is most looking forward to, he said — meeting new friends and hearing their stories. The junior from Fayette, Alabama transferred to MSU this school year and immediately became best friends with a student from Yemen.
“I’ve really enjoyed getting to know his culture and hear his stories,” Rickman said.
His friend sparked his interest in international students and led him to Kei Mamiya, program coordinator of the MSU’s Holmes Cultural Diversity Center which helps coordinate the International Fiesta every year.
“From my perspective, I think I really want U.S. students to explore different cultures,” Mamiya said. “Because if you’re in Mississippi, it’s really difficult to do that. So we want to give an opportunity for them to meet people from different countries.”
He also wants students meeting people from Starkville, he added. In fact, the involvement from both student organizations and community organizations is a good way to get students — particularly international students — engaged in Starkville outside the university.
“A lot of international students really want to get involved not just with the university, but with the town too,” he said.
Local churches and civic organizations like Lions Club often recruit students and work with them, helping them adjust to life in the United States and Starkville, he said.
For Mylroie, who used to be a professor of world geography at MSU and who has helped coordinate the International Fiesta for 20 years now, the event is all about getting people talking to each other — having conversations about different countries, foods, cultures or anything else people are interested in. When she taught on campus, she would give her geography students extra credit to go to the Fiesta and interview people.
“One of my students said, ‘What do I ask?'” she remembered. “I said, ‘Well, what’s your major?’ He said, ‘Golf.’ … I said, ‘Well, go ask five booths, ‘Do you have golf in your country?’ and ‘How many people play?’ and ‘Where do they play?’ He came back and said, ‘I learned so much about golf.'”
“It’s just a good way for them to learn about other parts of the world,” she added. “I can tell them things. As a professor, I could teach them things, but it’s much more fun when they heard it from another student.”
Rickman is certainly exited for that.
“I like meeting people,” he said. “I’m a people person. I like meeting people, and maybe hearing some of their stories.”
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