ORONO, Maine — "It feels like we're in a global village," University of Maine graduate student Rakibal Hossail said while surrounded by hundreds of multicultural Mainers.
For students at the University of Maine, Culturefest is more than a day of celebration.
"It just like kind of brings us together in a way," UMaine Black Student Union Member Sheneil Cummings said.
"It gives us a day to just like, if we're feeling homesick, just remember why we love our country and share our pride in it," international student Carlos Lopez explained.
Lopez is from Cancun and said he finds pride in sharing things about his Mexican culture, like his Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) traditions with attendees unfamiliar with the celebration.
"It’s to commemorate and remember the people who have already gone to the other side," Lopez said. "This is our way of keeping them close to our hearts."
UMaine’s Office of International Programs organizes Culturefest each year to create a space where students from different backgrounds can share their heritage. International Programs Director Orlina Boteva said the event is an important reminder that many families in Maine have roots abroad.
"We came from somewhere, or our parents or grandparents did," Boteva explained. "It’s very important for the current generation to celebrate their roots."
Jixiu Tan, an international student from Malaysia, expressed that although he misses home, Culturefest gives him a taste of it.
"I prepared this visual [for the event] last night, and I just got hungry and started missing the food," Tan laughed. He said sharing Malaysian culture with curious visitors makes him feel appreciated and welcomed.
"It feels very good when people actually want to know more about Malaysia," Tan said, "Because it’s a very small community we have here in Maine."
For some, like Sanjeevan Sijdel, who recently moved from Nepal, Culturefest is a way to reconnect with his heritage and meet others from Nepal. He noted that seeing familiar items at the event brought back memories of home.
"Seeing those kinds of little things brings back a lot of memories for me," Sijdel said.
He added that the event is something that inspires him to talk with more people from other countries.
"This has only increased my willingness to learn about other cultures," Sijdel said.
The UMaine Office of International Programs will host other cultural events throughout the year, including an international dance festival in February.