Cultural Outburst

"I have friends from all over the world, and I really wanted to learn about their cultures, and I love different foods!" Junior Dana Hubbard was one of the first attendees present last evening when the SNUG was transformed into an international stage with sights and sounds from around the world during Cultural Outburst.

Brainchild of senior Chinwe Oparaocha, Cultural Outburst was a school-wide event sponsored by the Office of Multicultural Affairs and Student Activities. The event was designed to highlight and celebrate the cultural and ethnic diversity within the Loomis Chaffee community. "I wanted everyone to dig and find their roots, their ethnic background — that's what inspired this event," Chinwe (Chi Chi) stated.

Vibrant table displays featured local cuisine, folk music, maps, images, literature about cultural traditions and artifacts. More than 150 students, faculty, and community members enjoyed various ethnic foods throughout the evening: Jamaican beef patties, Lebanese bread, Indian Khasta Maide ka Atta, and German and French desserts. Several staff members from the school's Aramark Dining Service contributed as well, creating special dishes from their Bosnian homeland.

The evening's performances ranged from chanting Tibetan monks to spoken word to traditional Indian dance. Students performed and audience members took part in Salsa lessons. The event closed on an electrifying note with mesmerizing Poi fire dancers.

"We had a wonderful turnout, much more than I expected," said Chi Chi. "The monks were such an amazing addition. The event was just great!" Director of Multicultural Affairs Elizabeth Parada agreed. "This was an astounding success," she said. "We're so excited to have everyone here representing their various cultures with such great pride."

Related Media: View Images from Cultural Outburst