Culture & Cuisine 2023: Talking diversity in tradition and culture of SOLA students
Year one students of SOLA (English track) from different countries such as Egypt, Nigeria and Russia came out in their numbers to celebrate diverse culture and traditions.
On Nov 17 2023, the culture and cuisine event took place at room 103 of the Institute of Education at HSE University. The event was organized by the study office of Master's program Science of Learning and Assessment. Year one students of SOLA (English track) from different countries such as Egypt, Nigeria and Russia came out in their numbers to celebrate diverse culture and traditions.
Culture and Cuisine was held for the first time for SOLA students on English track, thanks to the partnership between the study office and students. The event has been described by most students as one of the most relaxing activities they witnessed this year. The main purpose of the event was to learn more about different countries with regard to their culture, values, history, dishes, and most importantly to foster love and unity among students.
The event started with a welcoming speech by Daria Gracheva, Academic Supervisor of SOLA program. She emphasized on the importance of this event to the program and expressed readiness to provide more support.
Many students have a lot to say about the event when asked, so let's have a look:
Abraham Dogo, a native of the Tiv tribe in Nigeria, spoke extensively about his people as well as other ethnic groups there. He stated that although Hausa, Igbo, and Yoruba are thought to be the three main ethnic groupings in Nigeria, there are actually over 250 other ethnic groups. He spoke about how to greet people in the languages of these major ethnic groups, he also shared the recipe for the famous "Nigeria Jollof Rice." For him, the most enjoyable part of the occasion was informal interaction with fellow students.
"The event was good, it was an awesome experience together, — says Abraham Dogo. — Yesterday was the first day I've really interacted with most of my classmates and professors in person since I joined SOLA. I sampled a variety of cuisines, including one from Nigeria, two from Egypt, and two from Russia. However, I'd have loved it more if there had been a larger turnout and if more individuals had shown up wearing traditional attires. Overall, it was a fantastic experience. I think subsequently, there would be improvement. Kudos to the organizers".
"I'm from Egypt, I found the event to be incredibly interesting, words can't really express how much fun it was, — says Marwa Ibrahim Abdellatif. — It was incredible to discuss with fellow students and teachers about my nation's history, geography, cuisine, traditional attire, and the significance of my country flag. There were many Nigerians in attendance, I made Egyptian rice, a traditional cake, and what we call kofta, we all shared the food together. I have a ton of photos and videos from the occasion that I will cherish".
The most exciting aspect of Marwa's presentation was when she displayed Jalabia and Nicup, traditional Egyptian women's attire.
Anna Tarabygina comes from Leningrad, a prominent region in St. Petersburg, and she also had a lot to say.
"I tasted Nigerian jollof rice and chicken, Egyptian dishes like kofta and cake, — she says. — Marwa (a fellow student) gave us postcards from Egypt and signed them in Arabic. Guys from Nigeria also showed us traditional dances. I’d have loved to listen to people from other parts of the world like Asian and other European countries but we don’t have such people in our program at the moment. I believe subsequent event will be more diverse and fun. I presented my local dish Kalitki and everyone who ate it loved it".
Isaiah Aondofa Kwaor from Nigeria says: "I loved everything about the event; it exceeded my expectations. I had some Nigerian, Egyptian, and Russian food that I can't recall the names of. The event was fun".
Another Nigerian, Aneke Rachel, commented: "The event was made lovingly and entertaining by the colleagues from Egypt and Russia, whose countries were brilliantly represented. I had the opportunity to socialize with new people, learn a great deal about Egypt and Russia's histories and cuisines, and sample food from each nation. I had a great time, and it was enjoyable to be sincere".
