Community Hosts International Friendship Dinner

Pictured above are some of the students that attended the International Friendship dinner. 
Photo Courtesy of Amy Ahern

March 3, Concord United Methodist Church held an international friendship dinner welcoming international students along with other students from Concord and the Athens community. The dinner is held at the beginning of each month to celebrate various cultures and traditions, alternating each month with who prepares the meal. 

    This month, members from the church provided a home cooked dinner for international students consisting of traditional Mardi Gras dishes from the famous town of New Orleans. The dishes included jambalaya, red beans and rice, gumbo, and for dessert, king cake. 

    The idea of the dinner came about last semester when David Johnson became affiliated with the church and became the new minister over the summer. His goal for the international friendship dinner is to incorporate American traditions with international traditions as community members prepare a meal for the students, and students the next month prepare a dinner for the community members with some of their favorite dishes from their home countries. He also wants internationals to feel welcomed in a place they may not be familiar with, to take back home with them fond memories, and to learn more about one another. 

    Heejin Eom, freshman at Concord, comes here from South Korea. “I came here with an international program from a Korean University. Concord offered a more suitable option financially,” Eom says. She also states that before coming to Concord and becoming amalgamate with the Methodist church that she was not Christian and being apart of this community has opened up her views. “Before this I was not Christian. Being a part of this community has taught me many different things and has allowed me to meet many new friends I may not have before,” says Eom. “I get to experience things here that I may not have been able to at home.” 

    In attendance for the dinner, several international students came out to get a taste of the spicy New Orleans dishes where Johnson grew up. “I really enjoyed the food that was prepared, it was really different from dishes I have had,” says Eom. Tyler Brewster, junior at Concord, was also in attendance at the dinner. “For someone who never eats cajun food, it is quite an acquired taste, but was still delicious and something worth trying again,” she says. “Being able to interact with the international students, elders from the community, and friends from school I was able to gain a deeper understanding and appreciation for other cultures, experiences, and traditions. By far, my favorite tradition brought to this dinner was the king cake. I had never heard of this dessert, and thought the message behind it was interesting.” She hopes to make an appearance at the dinner next month and is looking forward to having meals international students prepare. 

    Matt Thomas, freshman at Concord, was able to help prepare the dishes for the night. “I got there around 2 p.m. after classes and assisted David in chopping several vegetables and meat. We also got to help his wife Racheal with making homemade bread pudding for dessert, which was by far one of my favorite dishes prepared.” Thomas feels that being able to have dinners like these help form bonds and connections that otherwise may not occur through other campus activities. “I have been to two of these friendship dinners now, and it is something I look forward to in the oncoming months. This is a great way to taste other cultures and learn something new about places I have never been to,” he says. “I can’t wait to see what meals are prepared next month. Be sure to come out!”     

    Hyeji Kim, student at Concord, also states that “Last Friday was a day for friendship dinner and I got precious time with eating Louisiana food and hanging out with my friends while playing board games and drinking coffee that taste is the best to me.” 

    The dinner was followed up by a night of craft coffee drinks and board games to promote fellowship among a diverse group of students and community members. Both the members throughout the church and the international students encourage anyone in the community to come join them next month and see what delicious meals are prepared.