If you ever wondered what people eat in different countries? What kinds of music do they listen to? What do they wear for their culture? Only one place to find out and that is at the World Music and Cuisine Festival held at MSSU at the Young Gym on Saturday, April 22 at 5 pm – 7:30 pm.

The Festival is hosted by the MSSU International Student Club and will showcase such countries as Chile, Spain, South Africa, Nigeria, South Korea, Mexico, Japan, Micronesia, Haiti, Germany, Ukraine, and more.

According to Aaron Carmichael, Director of the International English Program, who is helping to organize the event, says that it is a way for students to try out some food from multiple cultures and countries around the world.

“There’s a lot of variety. But I would venture to say that some of these particular things like Hmong food Micronesian food, maybe Nigerian food and South African food like these are foods that probably most people in Joplin have not tried unless they’ve been to this event in the past.”

Music and fashion will also be featured, such as a Marimba band called Kufara, and a performance from Jahfi Studios showcasing African culture.

Some of the international students are contributing dishes from their culture.

“I will make sopapillas, which is a fried bread made of pumpkin and flour, like typical bread in Chile, it is very popular,” freshman Maria Bellen Costa said. “My grandma makes it in winter or rainy days. We either like salty or sweet. This time, I will make it salty.”

Luis Moreno, another student from the MSSU International Club is also providing a dish.

“I mean, I’m Mexican, so I am going to do beef tacos with Mexican sauces: spicy Mexican sauce.”

For those interested in coming it is at the Young Gym on Saturday, April 22 at 5 pm–7:30 pm At the door it is  $2 for sampling the food and $15 for a wristband that allows you to have an unlimited amount of food.