NOVA student Katja Hungarter wears a German costume in the International Festival Fashion Show.

Urban Latin music, known as reggeatton, was blaring. Tables lined the room displaying native costumes, jewelry and other items from different nations. There was food that some students probably didn’t recognize.

The cafeteria of NOVA’s Alexandria campus was transformed for the 2010 International Festival on April 14. Anyone who walked in could instantly feel the energy in the room.

Representatives from the French Embassy provided information about studying abroad in France. A palm reader offered her services for $5. But the highlight of the festival was a fashion show in which students participated by dressing up in costumes from various nations including Ethiopia, Pakistan, Peru, Germany, the Philippines and Morocco.

Throughout the seven-hour long festival VJ Lazaro “Laz” Chavez, a freshman at NOVA, kept the crowd animated. He was one of the volunteers that the International Club recruited to help out at the festival. Laz said he thought that the festival was a true success and was amazed at how much he learned that day about different cultures.

“I learned about countries I had never even heard of and where different countries were located and their history. I also tried all the food from each booth,” said Laz.

The festival drew in a many people that day, largely displaying the diversity of the student body. It brought together a large number of students from all over the world to eat, dance and celebrate diverse cultures.

By: Ana Guerra

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