Spicy Surprises and Global Connections: My Day at the ONU Multicultural Fair

    What does a global community look like when it gathers in one place? For students at Ohio Northern University, the answer was found this past Sunday at the annual Multicultural Fair. Held from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., this event is a vibrant showcase where students representing various nations host booths, sharing their culture through food, games, and music. The atmosphere was absolutely electric, making it a truly essential event for our campus.

    The fair wasn't just about food; it was a full cultural spectacle. My friend Nell, who is from Ireland, took the stage to perform a beautiful piece on the Irish flute, sharing a piece of traditional Celtic music. Moments later, my friend Rain from Hong Kong captivated the audience, playing the guitar and singing three songs alongside a friend on the drums. It was inspiring to see our diverse student body confidently sharing their heritage with the ONU community.

    However, I didn't get much time to wander and enjoy the other countries’ booths because I was busy managing the South Korea booth! Along with my team, I was responsible for serving Korean food, explaining our culture to interested American students, and handing out free souvenirs. We prepared two quintessential Korean dishes: Tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes) and Gimbap (seaweed rice rolls). 

 

    Knowing that Tteokbokki is characterized by its signature spicy kick, we anticipated that many American visitors might not be accustomed to the heat. Therefore, we strategically prepared both a traditional spicy version and a milder cream-based Tteokbokki, made with milk, as an alternative. To our great surprise, the spicy version was far more popular! Visitors were adventurous and eager to try the authentic flavor, resulting in the spicy Tteokbokki running out much faster than the cream variety. Additionally, our team member, Haemee (the wife of an ONU Math professor and also an ONU student), spent hours preparing homemade Gimbap. To accommodate the allergy concerns of non-Asian visitors, we made sure to prominently list every ingredient on our display board—a board, by the way, that I personally designed! I wish I had more time to make the design perfect, but between classes and assignments, I did my best.

    I was initially worried that an event on a Sunday evening would have low attendance, but the turnout was massive, especially at the start. I was momentarily alone at the booth early on (my teammates had gone back to finish cooking the food), and I spent a great deal of time just engaging in small talk rather than serving food. During these conversations, I was genuinely shocked by how many students were already deeply familiar with Korean culture—from K-Pop and K-Drama to K-Beauty and K-Food. As a Korean who enjoys these cultural exports, I was amazed to find so many enthusiasts here in Ohio. This experience truly emphasized the profound power of culture, demonstrating its ability to transcend borders and physical distances to connect people worldwide.