Diners at Northwestern Michigan College's fifth annual international dinner feasted on dishes including Bahaman turkey cooked in a sauce of mango, pineapple, peppers, green onions and cilantro, North African couscous with olives, Italian baked eggplant and a Panamanian favorite known as Bacalhau, made of Atlantic cod stewed with potatoes and tomatoes.
In addition to sampling some of the favorite dishes of the 35 international students from 24 countries who attend NMC, the students themselves were on hand to introduce themselves to the community and provide entertainment typical in their home countries.
Taneo Soldea, a first semester student from Moldova, was eager to share just how happy she is to be a student at Northwestern Michigan College.
"Every student is free to say what they think, there is no political pressure,” said Soldea, who plans to study international business and hopes to be able to remain in the United States.
"This is the greatest thing that has ever happened to me,” said Soldea, who lives with a host family in Kewadin.
Theo Mojaphoko of Botswana, the current president of the college's International Student Association is also grateful for the opportunity he has had to study at NMC.
"For what I want to go in to, it is so important to be able to absorb a different culture,” said the second year student who plans a career as a diplomat.
"I want to help with the refugee situation and the poverty in my country, to prevent some of the things that cause war,” said Mojaphoko who will continue his education studying in Canada or Australia beginning in the fall.
Fresia Granados of Costa Rica sees her study at NMC as just the beginning to a career she has already mapped out for herself.
"I always dreamed to take music classes, but then I was told about the culinary arts that this college has. I found that this college was the best for the career and I found my passion was not music but cooking,” said Granados who has been studying culinary arts for two years.
Granados, who plans to open a traditional Costa Rican cuisine restaurant in Traverse City when she completes the culinary arts program, notes that the menu would be very healthy, consisting of various kinds of fruits and vegetables prepared in unfamiliar combinations.
"Love is the secret ingredient in everything I make,” said Granados, who sang during the event that supports scholarships for international students.
International scholarships allow students from across the globe to study at Northwestern Michigan College.
"Community colleges of the present will be instrumental in training students to compete in the global marketplace of the future,” said Jim Bensley, NMC's director of admissions.
"With more personalized attention and smaller class sizes NMC is in a good position to service the international student,” Bensley noted.
Fred Otieno of Kenya, who has been studying maritime engineering for three years, has found NMC and the community in general to be very welcoming. He, along with other members of the international student community, have taken every opportunity to interact with students of all ages.
"Our main aim is to reach out to the community. We go out to the schools to talk about our country and reach out to the young students,” said Otieno, who plans to travel the world utilizing his education.