"We want to show that there is a fascinating, multifaceted, and most of all peaceable world out there – not just the world presented to us in the daily news,” Professor Torsten Schneider, the new director of the International Center, said of the International Evening in his welcoming remarks. Ulrike Nordau and Lidija Rottenecker, also of the International Center, moderated the program and pointed out the fact that 558 international students from as many as 73 countries are currently enrolled at Hochschule Offenburg.
The Brazilians brought the audience to clap along right from the start, performing a dance called forro. The Turkish group sang folksongs and played along with an instrument called saz. ECM student Handel Tapia from Chile recounted a tale from the Atacama Desert, where once upon a time people believed that volcanoes were warriors and mountains were princesses. The Indonesian students wowed the audience with an expressive dance from West Papua. ECM student Luba explained in a photo presentation how the end of winter is joyously celebrated in her home country of Russia with a tradition called maslenitza. A group of students from Venezuela and Columbia performed salsa, merengue and cumbia dances together. Ukranian student Katja presented some of her country’s traditional celebrations. The German dance group of the University fired up the hall with a Disco fox. While it did not rain after all in D-001, the rain dance of the group from Bangladesh, clad in traditional costumes like most performers this evening, certainly enthused the audience. Equally fascinating was the presentation by three Pakistani students, who self-confidently pointed out Pakistan’s contribution to this year’s soccer world championship: World-Cup ball "Brazuca" was produced by a company in Pakistan. Finally, students from India, Sri Lanka and Vietnam danced traditional Indian dances together.
At the following international buffet, organized by Marlies Pollet of the Graduate School, guests were treated to culinary delights from around the world. "I’ve been working in the kitchen all day,” said Li from China, standing behind various dishes all emptied out. "The demand was just overwhelming."