Exploring World Cultures Locally
Aleena Haidari, staff writer
Cultural Day at PVCC is a celebration of diversity that is organized by the International Club. This event is held every year in the Fall semester to provide an opportunity for students to share their cultures with others.
Daniela Carvalho, the president of the International Club, said, “This event is held every year to present our cultures and traditions that are usually not talked about. It’s important to showcase first-hand knowledge of our cultures to others.”
This educational yet fun event is comprised of many activities such as presentations, food, and music. Students go to a presentation while enjoying foods from those countries. This interaction leaves many interested in exploring interesting things they learned from the presentation.
For instance, I went to the table for Mexico that had cookies dipped in Cajeta, a thickened caramel. I was awed by their delicious food. This instance is similar to all cultures present in the Cultural Day.
As Barry Lopez, an American author and essayist once said, “Diversity is not a characteristic of life, it is a condition that is necessary for life, like air and water.”
Diversity is not only differences in our distinct appearances, cultures, and religions but also the core values of human race to respect, value, and understand each other’s differences. Due to the advanced technologies and globalization, diversity has become even more prevalent in today’s society. Therefore, interaction and communication with each other are the essential tools to help us maintain the core values of diversity: respect, value, and understanding.
