At one booth, a student pauses over a tray of unfamiliar snacks, asking how they're made. A few steps away, someone tries their luck at a quick cultural quiz, laughing at a wrong answer before trying again. Nearby, a performance begins, and people gradually gather around it. This was PHBS International Culture Day on March 29—less a single event than a series of small, overlapping encounters that gradually filled the afternoon.

PHBS Dean Wang Pengfei (center) joins PHBS Associate Dean Young Joon Park (left) and Assistant Dean Liu Baixiao (right) to celebrate the official opening of the festival

Now in its fourth year, the festival brought together students, faculty, and visitors across 31 cultural booths representing more than 20 countries and regions, from Latin America and Europe to East and Southeast Asia. With a stamp card in hand, participants moved through the space, pausing for food, games, and conversation, and collecting distinct stamps along the way.

Opening the event, PHBS Dean Wang Pengfei said, “Diversity is not just about where we come from, it's about how we come together.”The rest of the afternoon made the point on its own.

Food was often the first stop. Italian pasta, German pretzels, Vietnamese spring rolls, Malaysian laksa, Polish sausages, and Thai milk tea were among the offerings. But what happened around the tables mattered just as much. People asked questions, curious about what they were trying, and soon found themselves talking, smiling, and staying longer than they planned.

Elsewhere, several things were happening at once. A group gathered around a henna station, watching patterns take shape. At another booth, participants leaned in over a game they had just learned. In the Chinese cultural zone, one booth offered traditional clothing try-ons, while others served tea and traditional sweets.

Throughout the afternoon, performances appeared in between the flow of activity, drawing crowds as they began. A traditional Russian dance was followed by the Khorazm Lazgi, a regional folk dance from Uzbekistan, and Jayron, also from Uzbekistan. The Brazilian Quadrilha added a more festive tone, with onlookers hopping in and dancing along. A spontaneous Georgian dance later stood out for its poise and fluidity, with a wine bottle balanced overhead.

By early evening, stamp cards were filled, conversations gave way to new ones, and the final awards were announced. The German booth was named "Most Popular,” and the Brazil booth was voted "Most Memorable,” to cheers as the winners rushed onstage, bringing the day to a lively close.

 Source: PHBS International Office