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School leaders and guests cut the ribbon to kick off the event
 

 

PHBS Associate Dean Young Joon Park extended his warm welcome to the guests and expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the organizers, volunteers, and performers for their dedication and hard work. He highlighted that this event would showcase the unique traditions, customs, and beliefs of our international community, declaring: “Let us remember that our differences are what make us stronger. Let us embrace our shared humanity and continue to work towards a world where everyone is valued and respected.”

 

From 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm, students were given the opportunity and autonomy to run their own booths to introduce the unique cultural heritage of their countries, from the colourful attire and traditional games to the mouth-watering cuisine. 

 

Tan Weiyi (Malaysia, Year 1 Postgraduate in Finance) shared that the cultural festival was a unique and refreshing experience for him as he and his friends came together to sell Nasi Lemak and Milo. They chose these items because Nasi Lemak, a dish featuring rice cooked in coconut milk, is an iconic Malaysian dish, while Milo, a chocolate-malt drink, is representative of Southeast Asian culture. 

 

 

Rafael Rubio (Panama, Year 1 Postgraduate in Management) highlighted that he was grateful that the participants were extremely receptive to him sharing about Panama and Latin American culture. He was also very fascinated by the rich cultural heritage of China and looked forward to new experiences. 

 

 

Despite being the inaugural edition of the International Culture Day, the event was well-received. Booths from Indonesia, Thailand, India, China, and the United Kingdom were amongst the popular, and attendees got the chance to taste various delicious foods and beverages, including piña coladas, baked beans on toast, and Mexican wine.

 

 

 

 

 

As they savored mouth-watering delicacies from around the world, participants also had the chance to engage in interactive games and fun quizzes. At each booth, participants could receive a stamp after completing a challenge, and those who collected all 12 stamps had the opportunity to enter a lucky draw for a chance to win exciting prizes.
 

 

Chen Xiangyu (China, Undergraduate, International Relations and International Finance) was glad to have the opportunity to engage in conversation with students and staff from different backgrounds. He stated that this allowed him to learn about different customs, ways of life, and habits.
 
Ian Ah-ki (Canada, Year 1 Postgraduate in Management) reminisced about his travels in Thailand while visiting the booths. He noted that one major cultural difference he observed between Canada and China was that Canadians tend to overuse "sorry" and "thank you" more as a habit rather than out of necessity.

 

 

The successful execution of the event was made possible through the collaborative efforts of the PHBS faculty, staff, and students. Yi Yin (International Office) shared that she was very heartened by the enthusiasm shown by all the students and she was also very impressed by how self-initiated the students were in organizing their booths. "The First International Culture Day was a resounding success," said Daria Gurianova (International Office),"It was heart-warming to see our students come together and showcase their unique identities while also learning from each other. This event has set a strong foundation for a wonderful tradition."

 

 

As the sun set on the campus, a music festival had also been organized to cap off an evening celebrating diversity and friendship.

 

 

 

 

The inaugural International Culture Day represented the school’s commitment towards providing students with an international perspective and signalled the faculty’s commitment towards diversity and inclusiveness. This year’s International Culture Day will definitely be the catalyst for future iterations and a springboard for new conversations and closer friendships.