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RELEASED: Oct. 9, 2003
DANVILLE, KY—Mutton karai, polao, piyaju, keema curry … they just don't show up on the menu at IHOP. But, they were on the menu at Centre's new International House (dubbed iHouse by students).
The residents and friends of iHouse worked hard to prepare a smorgasbord of dishes from around the world for the faculty, staff and students invited to their first open house/dinner party. Traditional dishes from Bangladesh, Ghana, Nairobi and America were served.
Ann Young, director of student life and housing at Centre, came up with the idea for International House as a way to support the needs of Centre's burgeoning international community.
"[International House] is a place for students of different cultures to live and learn in a residential environment," Young said. "It provides kitchen facilities for them to cook dishes from their countries and also to stay during holiday breaks."
Elaine Turley, an exchange student from Belfast, Ireland, is enthusiastic about her new home away from home.
"I think that the decision to locate some of Centre's international students in the same house is a great idea," she said. "We can share our daily experiences here in the United States. We talk quite a bit about our homes and can relate to each other about the similarities and differences between our studies at home and here in Kentucky.
"We've gelled and are having a blast. Each week we will cook different meals from our home countries and share these with our housemates. However, Fuad [Nasir] is by far the best cook in the house as was made evident just last week with his great feast that provided for almost 20 people. The food was excellent and not as spicy as we had imagined. All in all, the diversity, comfort and friendliness that's in this house are evident to those who enter our doors."
Nasir, a senior from Dhaka, Bangladesh, is happy to be a member of iHouse.
"When we bring delicacies from around the world to the dinner table, we actually bring people from various parts of the world together. The iHouse dinner did exactly that and helped us know one another a lot better. We're glad that the college took the initiative to make all this possible."
Blakely Brooks of Knoxville, Tenn., is one of two American students living at iHouse.
"Living in the International House has given me an opportunity to interact with people whose customs are different than mine and to learn how to adapt to their different ways.
"The dinner was a great success and was an opportunity for the members of the house to say thank you to the people who made the International House a reality. Everyone seemed to enjoy the international dinner and were eager to let it broaden their culinary horizons."
For more on international students at Centre, go to http://www.centre.edu/web/admission/intlapplicants.html.
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