GEO Multicultural Carnival enthralls students

Senior+Sarina+Vij+designs+traditional+Indian+Henna+tattoos+for+students+as+she+hosts+a+booth+for+India+at+Global+Empowerment+and+Outreach+clubs+annual+Multicultural+Carnival.+The+carnival+was+held+Wednesday%2C+March+20+in+the+Nichols+atrium.+

Senior Sarina Vij designs traditional Indian Henna tattoos for students as she hosts a booth for India at Global Empowerment and Outreach club’s annual Multicultural Carnival. The carnival was held Wednesday, March 20 in the Nichols atrium.

by Tiara Bhatacharya

Cultural music and delicious aromas permeated through the Nichols atrium, which was packed with students attending the Global Empowerment and Outreach (GEO) club’s Multicultural Carnival during long lunch yesterday.

An annual tradition, the Multicultural Carnival showcased 12 booths ranging from ancient Rome to India this year, each hosted by students eager to share their ethnic interests.

Students and faculty were able to try Norwegian sodas, view Korean bookmarks, design Indian Henna tattoos, and look at Middle Eastern clothing all within a few steps.

“We wanted to give everyone at the school exposure to different cultures, and show how people have so many different backgrounds,” GEO club member Shreya Basu (10) said.

The GEO club also continued its fundraiser for the Pencils of Promise charity by selling assorted stationary, water bottles, and pins in the front of the atrium.

John Hawley, Latin teacher and advisor for the Junior Classical League (JCL) club, attended the carnival to support JCL’s booth for the Roman Empire.

“Even though we’re talking about an ancient civilization, we still want to participate and show our spirit for all the things going on,” he said.

Freshman Michael Zhao particularly enjoyed the Italian bread with olive oil served at JCL’s booth. He thought that many of the booths were both entertaining and culturally informative.

“When I look[ed] at all the different countries represented by students, I got to see how many individually unique cultures there are,” he said.

Junior Zina Jawadi was excited this year to host a booth with Omar Hamade (9), Safia Khouja (10), Ramzi Jahshan (10), Mohannad Khadr (10), and Julia Eliovich (10) representing a group of Arabic nations and plans to organize one next year as well.

“I enjoyed celebrating the different cultures through photos, thoughtful conversations, and, of course, food, dressing up, and socializing with other Arabs and other students whom you generally do not talk with on a daily basis,” she said. “Moreover, I love how this event celebrates many different cultures, not just one.”

The Arabic booth was senior Zoya Khan’s favorite, as she loved the music, posters, and clothes presented. She found the carnival a great way to “try new things, especially different kinds of food.”

GEO is currently working with Student Council to organize the Hoscars next Thursday, which is open to both cultural and non-cultural acts.