Diversity has become a key theme during John Brown University’s spring 2022 semester, with the events of Charles Person, a Freedom Rider, coming to campus and the Diversity Symposium which included the International Food Festival. The festival hosted about 12 countries within the Simmons Great Hall as a Mariachi band played boisterously. Despite the harrowing weather during that week, the hall was packed with people, elbow to elbow, getting in lines to try the amazing food prepared by fellow students. Each guest received two blue tickets, allowing them two portions of food unless they opted to buy more tickets for more food.
Food isn’t just about sustaining life; it’s also one of life’s great joys and experiences. Smell and taste can open a window to a whole different world, which is part of the draw to the International Food Festival. Students share an experience with one another that can be difficult to replicate in little Siloam Springs, Arkansas. Nazaria Bol Caal, an international student from Guatemala partaking in the festivities, described the festival as “an activity where we can present to others our identity. Sometimes in our daily lives, we just see other as students but activities like this we see their entire beauty and identity.” The night of the International Food Festival concluded with dancing and more music, another way of joining in community together with all senses in use: sight, sound, touch, smell and taste.
It is no secret that being an international student comes with its set of unique challenges at JBU. While JBU has a large population of international students, roughly one-fifth, it can still feel isolating and far from home. Kevin Hernandez-Chavez, a vendor from the El Salvador booth, said, “It’s pretty fun to share part of your culture and taste a bit of your home country.” Events like this at JBU aim to bring all students together, just like the body of Christ which is as diverse as the populations of the world.
Especially with current events in Ukraine and Russia, now more than ever it seems important to remember one another’s humanity. Food, while seemingly simple, can be a beautiful bridge for human experiences — and tasty too! While food may not solve the world’s problems, perhaps these small acts of sharing can lead to bigger acts of understanding and receiving the living bread of Jesus.
Photo courtesy of Katelyn Kingcade