The high energy, family-friendly annual Cruise the World allows University of Idaho students and Moscow residents to showcase a taste of their home countries.
The UI International Programs Office will host their event 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday in the Bruce M. Pitman Center International Ballroom. There are about 30 different countries represented this year, with 18 booths serving homemade food.
Morgan Gardner | Courtesy
Morgan Gardner, International Programs Office outreach coordinator, said the all-day affair is the biggest cultural event the office puts on every year. While most booths sell food, others offer henna, calligraphy, homemade jewelry and more.
“The event takes a lot of planning and juggling, but on the day of the event, it is so vibrant and happy,” Gardner said. “It’s quite amazing to see, in Moscow, Idaho, a room (filled) with all of these different cultures. It brings so much joy to those who get to share the food they eat at home with others.”
Last year, the spicy noodle challenge during the lunch hour was very popular, so they are bringing it back this year, Gardner said.
“With spices added all at once, volunteers from the audience are taken on stage to eat a portion of noodles as fast as they can to determine the winner,” Gardner said. “The event was really exciting and fun to see last year.”
There are back to back performances throughout the entire day, including a lot of dancing and singing this year, Gardner said. Not all performers are students, but all of them represent different countries.
Laila Cornwall | Courtesy
“Last year, the mother of an acquaintance-friend of mine said when she walked into the event she got tears in her eyes seeing people from all over the world come together,” Gardner said. “It does just give you that feeling, chokes you up a bit.”
Laila Cornwall, associate director of International Student, Scholar and Faculty Services, was born and raised in Denmark, representing the country at the event the last 14 years.
She said she serves Danish meatballs, her grandmother’s potato salad, Danish crepes and a few Danish Christmas sweets, such as candied almonds. There is also a play area for children because Legos were invented in Denmark, Cornwall said.
“What I always love is having the regulars coming back,” Cornwall said. “I will even see them downtown or at the store wondering when the event is, and then they will come in with their Tupperware containers and tell me to fill it up.”
Cornwall said the event is a staple for the Moscow community, with a lot of families showing up, as well as residents from Pullman and Lewiston. It is a fun event, especially for children, Cornwall said.
“My kids have come with me every year, and now that they’re teenagers they even take time off of work to go,” Cornwall said.
The event is free, but bringing cash is recommended for food samples, which usually range from $1 to $3 each, Cornwall said.
“Energy is very high and it is just a big hodgepodge of fun,” Cornwall said. “It is a great opportunity to learn a little bit about something that you’re not familiar with and see different cultures dress up in their country’s garb (clothing).”
Allison Spain can be reached at [email protected]