The International Taste of SAIS remains one of my favorite SAIS traditions. Every year, I look forward to it, not just because I love food, but because my favorite form of diplomacy is gastro-diplomacy. If there’s anywhere a good plate of food can spark a conversation faster than a policy memo, it’s SAIS on Taste of SAIS day.
On Nov. 15, Johns Hopkins SAIS hosted its annual International Taste of SAIS, bringing together more than 200 students, faculty, and guests. The participating clubs reflected the breadth of the SAIS community: the China Club, SEALS (Southeast Asia League of Students), Japan Club, Korea Club, South Asia Society, MENA Club (Middle East and North Africa), Europe and Eurasia Club, Africa Club, Latin American Studies Club, Mexico Club, and the Black Student Union. Students prepared dishes that held personal significance comfort foods from childhood, festive meals, and nostalgic street snacks.
Each club offered a signature dish from its region: the Korea Club served ramen, South Asia Society prepared biryani, the China Club brought bubble tea, the Japan Club shared mochi, SEALS offered Vietnamese spring rolls, the MENA Club served falafel, the Africa Club presented skewers, Europe and Eurasia contributed éclairs, and the Latin America Club showcased empanadas.
The event also featured a fashion show, where students modeled traditional clothing from their countries and regions. For many, the highlight of the evening was the salsa performance by the LAS Club, which energized the room and got people on their feet.
This year’s celebration coincided with International Education Week (IEW), a nationwide effort to highlight the importance of cultural exchange and international learning. IEW encourages students and universities to reflect on what it means to live, study, and learn in a global community. At SAIS, Taste of SAIS embodies that spirit more than anything else. It gives students a space to say, “This is who I am, and this is where I come from”, and just as importantly, it creates a space where others can say, “Tell me more.”
Moments like these remind us why celebrating each other matters, especially in the United States today, where debates about diversity, inclusion, and representation continue. With DEI initiatives facing pushback nationally, student-led events like Taste of SAIS feel even more important. They remind us that diversity is something we live, share, and practice with one another.
And for those of us far from home, it is a reminder that we carry our cultures with us, and that here at SAIS, we have a community ready and eager to celebrate them alongside us.
Edited by: Krithiga Narayanan