Hundreds gather for Night of Nations by Xiao Zhang, Outpost contributor On the Web UNR clubs and organizations Photo essay A flamboyant opening parade by 20 international students at the University of Nevada, Reno set the tone for the Night of All Nations, an annual event that brings the university community and Reno residents together for three hours of interaction with students from around the world. International Club president Jelena Postic (second from left), other UNR students and Reno residents gather around a table to taste a different cuisine. Photo by Nathaniel Motshabi The 16th Night of All Nations, which attracted more than 500 people, featured food, displays and performances by people from more than 20 different countries. "It's a wonderful way to learn a wonderful world," said Pat Purkey, a retired NBC advertising employee. "I like the way they (the organizers) included everybody." Bridget Isiramen, a student from Truckee Meadows Community College, described the event as fantastic. Entertainment included martial arts, Latin American music as well as Indian, Thai, African, Pakistani and Chicano-Latino dance. "I really enjoyed every one of them," she said about the performances. "I should have my own thing, play a drum or whatever." Isiramen works at the Very Special Arts Nevada prorgam, where she introduces African culture to school children and teaches them to make crafts of the African art. She displayed African masks, fabric, clothing at a table for the African Students' Forum. Maliya Oduduwa-Bucknorsmartt and Nicole Marie Suda perform a dance: "The Lost Tribe." Photo by Nathaniel Motshabi. Other performances included a demonstration by nine members of the Reno Family Karate Center, who showed off their skills in Korean martial arts. With a lot of 'ho's and 'ha's, they performed swords, stick and bare-handed combat. "We really enjoyed it," said John Bennett, the center's master instructor. "We are more than happy to come over and do a demo. It's great." Students Hector Urtubia from Chile and Baldo Bobadilla from Paraguay, mixed pieces of music from Latin American countries. Urtubia, a computer science junior, played a carango, a small 10-string guiter and a quena, a flute-like instrument. He said the two instruments were popular in his country and were used in Chilean traditional music. International students move to a disco beat. Photo by Nathaniel Motshabi The African Students' Forum provided, among other things, Cameroon stew made of pork, tomato, onion and garlic. Ray Ngata, a logistics graduate student from Cameroon who also brought fried bananas, said the people liked the food so much that two women decided to share the last piece of fried banana. The Native American Students' Association brought atole, a kind of blue corn meal. The organization also displayed ornaments depicting traditions of Native Americans. Other displays were from Ukraine, Russia, China and Thailand. University President Joe Crowley said the event is one of his favorites on campus. "The university is enriched by the presence of students from all over the world," Crowley said.  This year's Night of All Nations was dedicated to Dr K. Bhaskara Rao, the university's first international students adviser, who died on March 25. A moment of silence to honor him preceded the night's program. Posted April 16, 1999 Copyright 1999 Nevada Outpost TOP Outpost | Metro | Lifestyle | Travel | Dining | Outdoors | Sports Archives | Specials | Links | About us | Mail us