An enormous room drowning in a variety of aromas, colours and flavours. Table tops laid with steaming pots, trays and plates full of gastronomic delights. Walls covered in flags of all patterns and colours. This kind of image can only be seen once in a semester, and the reason behind is the International Dinner.
This week, at the Erasmus Student Network (ESN) KTU organised event, the students from various parts of the world got a chance to represent their country with traditional food or even performance. Everyone participating would agree that the food was delicious, the performances were great and the people around were amazing. What else might one want on such an occasion?
The participants were able to witness traditional Greek dances Sirtaki and Sirtos on stage, a traditional Kazach dance. A group of Lithuanians sang the anthem of basketball „Trys milijonai“.
However, the main event of the International Dinner was food. The ones who came early and were lucky enough, got to try Italian lasagne, Spanish paella, Turkish delights, and, of course, Lithuanian “Tinginys” and many other dishes with almost impossible to pronounce names.
In the end, all the participants could vote for their favourites in Eurovision style: each country could vote for any other country, except their own. The third place went to South Korea, the second – to Greece, and the first place, the same as last semester, was taken by India.
“International Dinner is a great opportunity to introduce your country in an entertaining way knowing that everyone will be interested because people like food. And why not to come and learn new recipes and surprise your friends or family with multicultural dishes for dinner later?”, says Ugnė Jurkutė, the President of ESN KTU, and it would be difficult to disagree.
International Dinner gathers people from all around the world together to share their ways of life and the warmth that food brings. In traditional recipes embedded is the history, culture and love for life, expressed differently in every country, but having the same meaning wherever you go.
Text: Viktorija Lankauskaitė
Photos: ESN KTU
More photos here.
