Sword fights, Korean food and origami are just part of the cultural activities provided by Asian-American student groups this weekend.
Three events will be held in celebration of Asian-American Heritage Month: “Thai Night 2002,” 6 p.m. Saturday in Parkes Hall, “Bunkasai,” a Japanese cultural festival, 12 p.m. Sunday in Parkes Hall; and “DHMK,” a Korean cultural show, 5 p.m. Sunday at Technological Institute’s Ryan Family Auditorium .
“The significance of Asian-American Heritage Month is for various ethnic groups to showcase their culture and share it with the rest of the student body,” said Tedd Vanadilok, interim coordinator of Asian-American Student Services.
Not only does the student body need to be aware of Asian-American culture, but they also need to understand and respect it, Vanadilok said. Consequently, various Asian- American student groups will be exhibiting emerging pop culture, as well as traditional culture.
Thai Night will celebrate Thai culture with a display of classical dancing, sword fighting, a fashion show, and traditional and contemporary music.
It also will feature the annual “spicy eating contest,” with food from Evanston and Chicago-area Thai restaurants.
“We try to show what is unique about Thailand,” said Nirand Pisutha-Arnond, Thai Club president. “We try to show the transition of Thailand from the past to the new generation.”
Pointing out that Asian-American Heritage Month is a time to bring all Asians together, Pisutha-Arnond, a McCormick sophomore, said he would rather see Asian-American groups on campus share their culture as one group, instead of in smaller divisions.
Sharing more Asian traditions with campus, the Japan Club will sponsor the Bunkasai festival. The event will include classical dance, martial arts and booths where students can play trivia games or learn how to make Japanese artwork.
The festival also will feature Japanese cuisine, including sushi and green tea ice cream.
“It’s nice to have a month dedicated to Asian Americans,” said Weinberg junior Arlin Tao, president of Japan Club.
The Korean American Student Association’s second annual cultural show, DHMK, features traditional drum dancing, hip-hop dancing, pop singing, Taekwondo and free food.
“DHMK is a show which is going to represent traditional and modern aspects of Korean culture,” said McCormick freshman Lucy Chung, the group’s vice president.
Standing for “Korea” in Korean but spelled in English, DHMK deals with the struggle of young Korean Americans.
“We want people to realize that it’s hard being Asian in the United States,” said Speech freshman Michelle Lee, president of the group. “You are expected to assimilate into American culture, and if you do that completely, you’re criticized because you’re Asian.”
Organized as a series of skits, the show depicts the tale of young Korean Americans visiting Korea for the first time and shows how the experience affects their lives.
Though student groups will present a host of Asian-American cultures, student leaders said they would like people to appreciate the differences in each culture.
“It’s easy to generalize Asians into one big group,” Chung said. “There are differences in each group and everyone has its own special traditions and cultures.”
