University students had an opportunity to expand their knowledge of Asian cultures Tuesday afternoon in Free Speech Alley. The mystique of Asian cultures was displayed at the Asia Expo sponsored by the Student Union Program Department as part of International Education Week and featured traditional Asian cuisine, clothing, handicrafts and Indian dancers. Avery Smith, Union programs coordinator, said the event highlighted cultures from across Asia, which includes middle eastern countries. “We’re trying to create an appreciation for other cultures among LSU’s campus [and] create an awareness of other cultures who are here,” Smith said. “Even though the majority of the students [at the University] are American, you have a significant percentage who are international students who belong to this University as well.” Countries represented at the expo included China, Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka. Phillip Gilmore, psychology senior, represented the Mandarin Association of Life and Language. Gilmore, who is minoring in Chinese, helped students write their names in the language, which is based on symbols rather than letters. Gilmore said students should learn about Chinese culture because of China’s economic potential. “If you want to compete globally in the market, you need to deal with China,” Gilmore said. “If you know their ways and you’re a reasonable person, then you can have a billion new friends and billion new customers pretty much over night.” Iftekhar Rouf, accounting freshman, shared with students the traditions and customs of Bangladesh. He said a saree, the traditional female attire, is conservative and does not reveal a woman’s body. And he said the bengal tiger – primarily found in Bangladesh – is the country’s national animal, as well as the University’s mascot. Students could even get a tattoo at the expo. Abhishek Roy, petroleum engineering junior, said students visiting the India display could get a Mehendi tattoo, which is an Indian tradition similar to the tattoo. The temporary tattoos of traditional Indian design were drawn on students’ bodies. “[Mehendi tattoos] are a very old cultural thing that has been in India for ages,” Roy said. Rohidhe Amarasinghe, mechanical engineering junior, showed students traditional masks worn by cultural dancers in Sri Lanka. The brightly colored masks were shaped like mythical creatures. “Over the years, there has been a bit of ritual dances that we perform for protection – protection against fire, protection against snake bites, things like that,” Amarasinghe said. The group offered free fried rice and Szechwan beef to students as part of the Asian experience. Ashleigh Scheuermann, mass communication junior, said she was impressed with the Asian cuisine. “It’s more flavorful than what I usually eat,” Scheuermann said. Rouf said learning about other cultures is important and said he hopes students will take the effort to learn more. “In a lot of ways we’re similar,” Rouf said. “But we’re different, too. And if you can learn those different aspects of the culture, you learn more about the world.”
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