| put up booths with an array of local cuisine. International fair is a unique cultural event. After all, how many opportunities do you get to treat your palate to plantain tarts and gizzade from Jamaica, curry from Japan, fried rice from Malaysia and coffee from Costa Rica? All under one roof! Postcards, posters, flags and photographs from the various countries were displayed at the booths.
In addition, there were performances by students of different countries. Among the performances, there was a Thai dance, a Philippino dance, a Korean percussive instrument and a Singaporean monologue. Ultimately, there are many ways to celebrate culture, but this must be one of the more enjoyable, vibrant ways.
Janggu Playing
 The janguu is a Korean percussive instrument. Striking the janguu on the left side produces a deep and heavy sound, while striking on the right side produces a sharp and light sound. The percussionist interweaves the heavy sound with the light sound, creating different tones. Playing the janguu requires a lot of strength and skill. The audience sat mesmerized as the beats increased in tempo, gradually becoming more and more intense. The performance reached a climax as the performer hypnotically swung her hand from left to right. Finally, the striking of the janguu came to a halt as applause broke out.
Tinikling
 Tinkling is a popular folk dance from the Visayan Island of Leyte in the Philippines. It imitates the quick yet graceful movements of the tikling bird as it moves through rice stalks, tree branches or bamboo traps set by farmers. Hence, dancers imitate the bird by nimbly stepping in between a pair of rapidly closing and opening bamboo poles.
Its popularity has spread beyond Philippine shores, and is the most recognized of Philippine dances. So popular in fact that at one point it was the country's national dance, owing perhaps to the fact that it has almost always succeeded in catching the toes and heels of the unwary foreigner as he attempts (albeit foolishly) to step into the crashing bamboo poles. "Aray!" he might say, in the Tagalog vernacular, in shriek of pain and humor at his lack of rhythm. The dance workshop at the end was well attended (an understatement). We pity the poor souls who braved the poles…
Pipa playing
The pipa is a traditional Chinese string instrument. It is a four-stringed instrument, made of bamboo wood. During the Ching dynasty and the Tang dynasty, the pipa was a popular court instrument. The song played at the fair was "Dance of the yi race," celebrating the traditional Chinese fire-torch festival. This festival celebrates people coming together. The performer, Lily Lung, from Hong Kong comments on the lack of support for the instrument on campus, " I wish there was someone on campus to teach the pipa, that way, more people who are interested could learn it." In her country, the piano has become a more popular instrument than the pipa.
Monologue from Singapore
"Fine, pay up, that's part of our lifestyle." is a phrase from the monologue. Yes, this is a monologue from the country in which Michael Fay was caned, and yes, it is illegal to sell chewing gum (but not illegal to chew it.)
If you ever visit Singapore, you would probably notice the ubiquitous "FINE" signs in the MRT (Singapore's subway), toilets and buses. These signs warn people of fines they could incur if they litter. In actual fact, however, hardly anybody gets fined for littering. Unless you happen to be one of the unlucky few that litter while a police officer is hiding behind a bush.
This humorous monologue is about a man who feels that he has been unfairly fined for parking in a lot reserved "FOR LORRIES ONLY." He attempts to fight his case in court but to no avail. The monologue is a satirical comment on the system in Singapore, which people have criticized as being stifling and repressive.
Thai Classical Dance
Derived from the classical dance performed throughout Thailand, this performance highlights the different costumes of Thailand across different regions and eras in its history. The student on the right is wearing the traditional harvest attire of a farmer from the northeast part of Thailand, while, the student in the middle represents a farmer from the northern region. The charming lady on the left (Mim) is wearing a costume of a lady-in-waiting from the Royal Household. Its design dates back more than a century at the height of the Thai monarchy. Neat, huh? The long and elaborate fingernails symbolize the style and skill of the dancers performing it.
The dance itself is from the main style referred to as Rum Chui Chay. Rum means "dance" while Chui Chay is the name of the tune. The slow and graceful movements of the hands and feet are all from the fundamental style of Thai Classical Dance, a must for everyone interested in knowing more about Thai dance in general.
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