Svitlana Orekhova ’09 of Donetskaya Oblast, Ukraine, poses for photographer Louisa Demmitt ’00 during the annual International Dinner. For the dinner, students prepare dishes from their homelands, often from family recipes passed down through the years. By sharing and explaining their food, and talking about the role it plays in their own culture, “students really get to show where they’re from and, consequently, who they are,” says Demmitt.

I must admit, I will miss many aspects of Bates while away.

Top 5

5) International Dinner: A time when international students prepare meals for the entire campus community from their homeland. The food is delicious and learning about food from different cultures can be intellectually stimulating and of course nourishing!

4) Amandla!: The Black student organization typically conducts an annual symposium on a particular issue concerning people of African Descent.

3) The Society of African American Studies: This organization is a developing organization at Bates. I serve as the moderator and upon my return to Bates in the fall 2009, I plan to work with other students to initiate a campus newsletter that provide a forum for student of African Americans Studies to publish their work and the newsletter will promote events and achievements from faculty and students within the African American Studies program.

2) People: The warm hospitality of faculty, administrators and staff at Bates who are always willing to make sure you are most comfortable academically and personally

1) MLK DAY: My most favorite time at Bates. Honestly it is.This is when the entire campus community is invited to come out to participate in workshops, forums and performances celebrating the life of Dr. King.

The annual International Dinner offers a spectrum of colors and cuisine, says Sulochana Dissanayake ’09 of Colombo, Sri Lanka. “The highlight for me — apart from helping a friend cook 15 pounds of chicken according to my mom’s recipe! — was wearing a traditional saree and seeing all the other cooks in their traditional dresses. It’s breathtaking to see so many countries represented in one place at one time.”

The Bates College International Club hosts its annual International Dinner at 6 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 30, in the Clifton Daggett Gray Athletic Building. The public is invited to attend, and tickets may be purchased at the door for $7. This year a major portion of the dinner’s profits will go toward tsunami relief.

Guests will enjoy dishes from around the world and multicultural entertainment throughout the evening. Considered one of the most popular events on campus, the dinner will be prepared by various members of the Bates community including international students, said Khoa Pham, a sophomore from Saigon, Vietnam.

The buffet banquet will include approximately 15 dishes from various countries. Students were invited to submit recipes to a dinner committee organized by the International Club. Once recipes were chosen, committee members purchased ingredients and organized teams. Students will work in teams to cook the entire meal, with some peeling and chopping as others fry and steam.

“This dinner is more than just exotic food and good music,” said Pham. “It is truly a community effort, and everyone helps make it a success.”