Global affair

Mohammed finally acted as if he was home. He was. Kinda. OSU’s International Student Organization hosted its annual International Bazaar, a threehour fun fest filled with dozens of global foods, strong flavor and music, on Saturday afternoon in the Wes Watkins Center.

Saani Mohammed stands below a connected banner of international flags in traditional Ghanaian attire and basks in the exposure for his country.

Finally, he feels seen, he said.

Not just a statistic or body walking across Oklahoma State University’s campus.

“This is big exposure for us,” Mohammed said. “Mostly Africa is not portrayed in the positive light. But we have our food here. Some of us have our national cultural dresses. People seem them and they’re like, ‘Who are these people?’ Then we talk about it. It makes us feel included.”

More than 200 students and Stillwater residents bounced from 12 booths and sampled deserts and entrees from more than 12 countries or regions.

It’s times like Saturday that show food and community can bring folks together.

“The purpose of today is to show Stillwater community the diversity of international students that we have here on campus,” Salome Suarez, International Student Organization president said. “Each area club has prepared different dishes from their own country.

We want everybody to see how the dishes are from other parts of the world.”

Foods ranged from the Bangladeshi students’ tandoori chicken to the Latino American students’ cheese empanadas. Lots of desert, too.

Within hours, the exhibit hall transformed into a multicultural kitchen.

Tim Huff, ISO’s adviser, said the event began more than three decades ago. It’s one of ISO’s five annual events and the purpose remains.