A World Under One Roof: Westcliff’s 5th Annual International Food and Culture Festival
Former Westcliff University academic advisor Hasan Khan was back in town when a flier for the 5th Annual International Food and Culture Festival made its way onto his radar. One look at the invitation brought back memories of its inclusive spirit and the colleagues he used to work alongside. He knew he had to be there.
On Wednesday, September 23, the day had finally come for Khan to join nearly 200 guests at Westcliff’s Irvine campus for the celebration. Classrooms that normally hold lectures became a tour of cultures from around the world, with tables hosted by students and staff sharing the traditions they grew up with.
Across all of its campuses, the university enrolls students from more than 130 countries, and many arrive thousands of miles from the flavors and customs they know best. Gatherings like this help close that distance. Students who take part get to bring a piece of home to Westcliff and introduce it to the classmates who now sit beside them, while everyone else gets to try something new and learn where it comes from.
Khan had done this before. Nivea Boyd was trying it all for the first time.
“It’s cool how all the different cultures come together and we get to try new foods,” said Boyd, a Bachelor of Arts in Education (BAEd) student and member of Westcliff’s flag football team. “I’ve never seen anything like this. Not many schools have this much diversity, so you get to meet people from everywhere.”
A Tour Through the Tables
Students and employees created tables representing five continents, and together they gave guests plenty to see and taste.
The food was a natural place to start. Seventeen local restaurants provided dishes for the event, and people across campus brought meals of their own. Guests who wanted dessert could visit a table with baked goods from across Europe. By the end, many had tried something they had never tasted before.
Other tables used clothing and cultural pieces to tell their stories. The displays for Morocco and for Palestine and Jordan both brought items from their part of the world. An American road trip booth brought the focus closer to campus by representing the United States.
When guests needed a break from exploring, the photo booth and cultural game room gave them a place to relax with friends.
Of all the displays, the Iran table stood out the most. Zahra Zarei, a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) student who also works at Westcliff, set up a Persian tea service with sweets and snacks. It won the event’s contest for Best Cultural Food.
“We have a rich culture and delicious food, and we care about the decoration as much as the taste,” Zarei said. “Persian people are always so warm and love to be hosts for their guests.”
And the Winners Are…
The Iran table was one of three award winners. The other two awards went to students who showed their culture through clothing and dance.
What people wear can say a lot about where they come from, and attire has always been a big part of what the festival celebrates. This year, Best Cultural Attire went to Pooja Patil, a Master of Science in Computer Science (MSCS) student.
The final award went to Priya Poojary, a Master of Business Administration (MBA) student with an emphasis in web development and design, who earned Best Performance with a routine that mixed Indian classical dance with Bollywood. The performance brought together an older art form and a modern favorite in one piece.
“You can feel the energy and excitement throughout the festival,” said Dr. Anthony Lee, president and CEO of Westcliff University. “The performances have been incredible, the food has been wonderful and, most importantly, everyone is having a great time. It is exciting to see so much enthusiasm across our community.”
Everyone had a chance at a prize, too. Checking in automatically entered each guest into a raffle, and the passport and cultural bingo game offered a second chance. Guests collected stamps in their passports as they visited different tables, and those who filled them were entered to win Bose headphones, Nespresso machines and a Ninja air fryer.The game encouraged guests to explore all four rooms.
A Global Community Up Close
Behind the food and prizes is a bigger reason the festival exists. Westcliff recently reached 10,000 students, and events like this one give guests a glimpse of the people behind that number.
The festival is one way the university welcomes international students, but the support continues all year. Westcliff’s International Student Advisors help students adjust to life in the U.S., with the goal of helping them grow into leaders in an inclusive global community.
David Zhou has been involved with the festival since the very beginning.
“I’ve been to festivals like this at other schools, and I’ve seen how fun it can be and how well it brings people together. So I suggested to one of our committees that we do this festival,” said Zhou, senior director of technology and strategy at Westcliff. “We’ve changed some things over the years and moved it around, and now I think it’s really coming along well. Look at how many people are represented. I’m really happy to see that.”
Zarei sees that community from two sides.
“I’m really happy to work here and to study here. I like the culture here because we have people from different countries, and it gives us the opportunity to know them,” Zarei said. “Being multicultural is something valuable.”
Five years later, Dr. Lee sees the festival as a reflection of what the university offers its students.
“Coming together and celebrating different cultures and traditions is really a way for us to connect as one true global university,” said Dr. Lee. “Understanding the different cultures and perspectives out there makes you a better student and a better citizen of the world. That has a huge, positive impact on the environment you’re in.”
A Seat for Everyone
Khan has seen the festival change since its second year, but some things have stayed the same. The food is just as good as he remembered, he said, and many familiar faces are still around.
That sense of connection is something Zhou hopes every student takes with them.
“I think students see how rich the culture is here,” Zhou said. “Being part of the Westcliff family means you’re going to be in a cultural melting pot where you get to meet different people from all over the world. It’s really rewarding.”
Boyd may soon see that mix on the field, too. Her flag football team is mostly made up of players from California, but she said the team may welcome teammates from other places this spring.
When the last cup of tea was poured, the classrooms went back to being classrooms. The connections made inside them will last much longer, and next year, a new group of students will walk in for the first time.
Until then, visit the Westcliff Events Calendar to stay up to date on what’s happening across campus.