International Student House has a way of turning the average Saturday night, even the average Thursday night into something extraordinary- a music fest, a culinary feast or a fun philosophy contest.
Besides our resident salon which happens at least every other week, none of our events have a set rhythm to them, and yet no month goes by without several.
Cultural nights are our kind of party
Picture 1: Oh, the stories our great hall has to tell! Of many cultural nights for sure. Here it glistens in fairy lights, ready for Bollywood!
It usually starts with a small talk conversation in the hallway, library or dining room: “Hey, next week is Mexican National Day, let’s do something”- and once the idea is out, enthusiasts take care of the logistics. Usually, those whose home country has reason to celebrate, approach house leadership about possible dates and times and organize food, drinks, music and a live act of dancing, singing, origami or a quick presentation on whatever topic they prefer/the celebration centers around. Then the invite goes out to all residents and the blackboard boasts a colorful new poster.
This month, one of those nights was Bollywood night. Someone said: “We love these movies, let’s celebrate that! “ Soon, an e-mail was sent out announcing: “Next weekend, we’re going to India- at least for a night!” And so it goes:
Bollywood Beats for Indian Night
On September 9, we had a wonderful Bollywood dance party. I had noticed last year that quite a few residents enjoyed watching Bollywood movies and we felt it was high time to all get together and learn some new moves.
Picture 2: Quick! A picture of amazing food, before it disappeared within minutes 😊 . Delicious!
Raghuveer, Meghna, Gayatri and others did a wonderful job of turning this Saturday night into a Bollywood frenzy. The Great Hall was decorated festively, and we were thrilled to find a buffet of delicious snacks next to the bar: Homemade Mango-cardamom lassi, vegetarian and meaty samosas and more!
Last but not least, many residents brought out their finest traditional outfits, bringing the color and elegance of Bollywood to life.
Picture 3: “Bring clothes you can dance in” was the advice, and so we did! Notice XY’s beautiful dress in the background.
The motto “Snacks and Drinks and crazy moves” really did set the tone as we learned dancing moves together. Joyful rhythms and group dance at its best let everyone shine. Even working at the front desk right below our great hall, one could feel the vibes! I think the pictures give you some idea- there was bliss in these beats and moves; as one resident put it: Boy, I have not danced like this in years. Needless to say: We all eagerly await the next Indian Night.
Picture 4: So, you think you can dance? Absolutely! And this was a small group compared to later songs … Fun!
Note: A big thank you to our resident Tran Thi Thuc Huyen for the pictures!
