TRAVELING THE WORLD: CARNIVAL HIGHLIGHTS INTERNATIONAL CULTURES

Jessica Chinnadurai, of Sikeston, dressed in her parents' native Indian costume at the International Carnival Sunday at the recreation center. The carnival kicked off a week of activities at Southeast Missouri State University.

A weeklong celebration of cultures from around the globe kicked off at Southeast Missouri State University Sunday with the annual International Carnival.

The carnival is part of the university's International Festival '98, with displays and special events planned to recognize the countries and cultures from which many of the university's students come.

Organizers anticipated that Sunday's carnival, held in the student recreation center, would attract 500 people from the campus and the community where they could meet students from around the world and sample some of the students' cultures and cuisine.

"The International Carnival is a time every year for international students to share their cultures with the campus and a time for the campus to connect with the rest of the world," said George Dordoni, assistant director of the Campus Assistance Center.

There were plenty of opportunities for connection.

A line of students and members of the community formed in front of the tables set aside for the Global Student Association. Behind one of the tables Margaret Hyams, decked out in a Dutch costume, stood helping to serve Swedish meatballs, Malaysian curry and, from her native Netherlands, oliebolen.

Oliebolen, or "snowballs" as they are called, are round pastries made from dough that is filled with raisins. They are deep fried and topped with powdered sugar, making them look like snowballs and giving them their nickname. The pastries are eaten only on New Year's Eve in her country.

The entertainment for the carnival included native dances from Central and South America, Australian Didgeridoo music, a Indian bridal show, a chorus of students singing traditional Turkish songs, sitar and tabla music from the Indian sub-continent and a presentation of fashions from around the world.

The festival and the organizations represented at it help international students better understand each other in addition to helping Americans understand foreign cultures.

The Asian Student Organization -- the newest and already one of the largest international student organizations on campus -- boasts 40 members from Japan to the Asian sections of Turkey.

"The focus is not on our differences, but on friendship and peace," said Tugsel Akyol, a Turkish student who works as treasurer for the association.

Japanese student Takashi Kamioka, vice-president of the group, agreed.

"Our differences are so small," he said.

But by far, the newest group of students to the campus was a group of seven Welsh exchange students who have been in Cape Girardeau for only a week.

The students, who are teachers-in-training at Swansea Institute of Higher Education in Wales, are at the university as a part of a five and a half week tour. The spent the first five days of their tour in New York City before coming to Cape Girardeau. They will also spend time in Miami and Orlando, Fla.

"People are lovely here," said Kerry Puddick from South Hampton in England.

"It's nice here, but quiet," said Emma Pyne from Cardiff, the capital of Wales.

The International Festival will continue through Saturday at the university, with special artifact displays, food and music from different regions of the globe being presented from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the University Center.

Each day's events highlight a different region. Tuesday will focus on African nations, Wednesday on Asia and Oceana regions, Thursday on Latin and North Americas, and Friday on Europe, Russia and the Mediterranean countries.

A reggae concert Saturday from 2-5 p.m. at Academic Terraces will end the festival.