Anyone wandering into the NHTI gym between noon and 3 p.m. on April 12 might be forgiven for thinking they had strayed into the bazaar of some exotic foreign country. Colorful clothing dazzles the eye, the smells of unfamiliar yet alluring foods beguiles the nose, and the polyglot sounds of a dozen languages clash in the ear, vying to be heard over the sounds of music from many cultures. Everywhere can be seen the arts and artifacts of countries from around the globe. Yet this is not a marketplace, and nothing is for sale. Food is free for the tasting, and everything on display is intended for the education and enjoyment of all.
This is NHTI's 10th annual Multicultural Day, organized by the college's Cultural Exchange Club and its Office of Cross-cultural Studies. The food, artifacts, displays, music, and dancing are provided mostly by NHTI students – whose ethnic backgrounds encompass nearly 50 different countries – along with select members of the faculty and staff, and a few off-campus performance troupes. The event is free, and the public is invited to join the college in this annual celebration of its cultural persity.
