Guests at the NSU International Tent City were treated to sockeye salmon and Chinese pelmeni

NSU is a place where cultures intersect as students from different countries study here and learn  about each other. Participants of the International Tent City, which took place in the inner courtyard of the new building, consider the University an international family. 

There were 14 countries represented in the Tent City this year: the United States, Korea, Israel, France, China, Spain, Italy, Cuba, Great Britain, Kyrgyzstan, Germany, Kazakhstan, Japan and Russia. Students from the Humanitarian Institute, as well as other Novosibirsk State University departments and institutes presented European and Asian countries. Communities and national brotherhoods at NSU presented their native cultures in yurts, traditional clothes, culinary dishes and entertainment. Anyone could experience another culture by participating in contests and master classes. The organizers generously awarded bonuses of- national sweets, drinks and hot dishes.

The Head of NSU’s Student Groups Alina Frolova, shared her impressions, “It's great that you can get acquainted with many other cultures in one place, try the national cuisine and learn traditional hobbies. Most of all I liked the Russian tent”.

For the first time a tent representing Kamchatka was presented. The Koryak (indigenous population of the peninsula) organizers offered fish delicacies: flounder, sockeye salmon, halibut and chinook salmon. 

Chinese students taught how to tie a Chinese wishing knot and how to speak colloquial phrases. Those who did well with these lessons were offered Chinese dumplings and fragrant green tea.

In the French tent, visitors were asked to name the artists and writers presented in photos and celebrities from their caricatures.  They were also invited to read tongue twisters in French. To get better acquainted with Italy, you had to put together a map of the different regions and match the name of a pasta with its picture.  Representatives of Kyrgyzstan taught people to play the game “alchiki” and told them about the history of their country. Visitors were also treated to the national dish beshbarmak (translated as five fingers), chak-chak (a sweet) and kumys (a fermented dairy product).

The German tent invited people to read words in German and try Viennese waffles, punch and pretzels.  To become better acquainted with the Russian culture, guests were asked to sew a Russian folk doll.

Parallel to the tent activities, foreign students represented their native countries with national songs and dances. Ekaterina Buyanova, Deputy Director of the NSU Social and Cultural Center and an employee of the Center for Non-Academic Extra-Curricular Activities described her feelings, “I am completely satisfied. A lot of effort was made to make this a success. Around 70 artists, the organizers and guests, everyone was satisfied”.

“InterWeek” is a traditional NSU festival that has been held at Novosibirsk State University since 1966. The festival includes meetings, seminars, discussions, processions, theatrical performances and much more.