2008 Woodie Awards
Students showcase fashion during Internations Week
By Andrew Carranza
Rocket Staff Writer
Issue date: 11/11/05 Section: Life
| |
| |
|
The fashion show was the second event held for Internations Week this week. Many different countries were represented during the fashion show, including Nepal, Sri Lanka, Mongolia, India, Austria, Mali, Kenya, Nigeria, Benin, Tanzania, Venezuela, Trinidad and Tobago, Antigua and Haiti.
"We're pimpin' all over the world," emcee Barry Dumbar said at the beginning of the show. "Except for Australia though. We didn't have enough fuel."
Dumbar, along with co-host Shawnta Reed, were dressed in sea captain outfits, as the theme for the show was a cruise around the world. As each student came out on stage dressed in their native garb, the name of their country, along with their respective flag, waved proudly in the background.
Wendy Bolivar, an international student from Venezuela, is the public relations chair of the Internations Club and believed the fashion show went very well.
"It was awesome," Bolivar said. "I never thought this many people would show up. Everyone enjoyed it and it was very lovely."
Bolivar said Jenny Loiseau, a student from Haiti, sent out an e-mail to international students at the beginning of the semester, informing them about the fashion show.
"We do this every year, so we knew what to do," Bolivar said. "Most of the outfits used during the show, people have had for a long time. They usually have their parents send them from home or have them made."
Bolivar also participated in the event, representing her homeland of Venezuela. She wore a stunning native dress called a "liqui liqui," a traditional costume people wear in the middle region of her country.
"It's very elegant and it is an outfit for ceremonies," Bolivar said. "My aunt actually used the dress for her wedding."
Towards the end of the show, Maria Pierre came out on stage dressed in a jaw-dropping green glitter carnival costume, representing her home, Trinidad. She got the crowd pumping with her dancing and gyrations, and soon after, Dumbar came out, no longer dressed in his captain's outfit, but instead draped in the colors of Trinidad, with the flag imprinted on the back of his shirt. Afterwards, all the performers came on stage and encouraged the crowd to get up and dance along with them.
"The night was perfect!" Pierre said. "Trinidad took over! It was a lot of hard work and stress, but we had so much fun!"
Junior social work major Ryan Gaines attended the fashion show and thought it was great.
"It was very professional with all the lights and cameras going off," Gaines said. "Every culture had a different style of dance and dress. My favorite part was the last dance. (Pierre) really put a lot into her scene."
Graduate assistant Jermaine Thomas was quick to agree with him.
"(Pierre) did excellent," Thomas said. "The whole experience was good and it opened us up to different cultures. It felt like a real fashion show."
Internations Week continues all this week, culminating with the 31st International Dinner tomorrow. International students will cook dishes from their homelands and present them to all who attend.
"I'll be cooking a Trinidad dish for the dinner, and it'll be spicy and hot," Pierre said.
The Internations Club is also planning a trip to New York from Dec. 2-4.
"The trip is open to all SRU students and the cost should be around $80 to $100," Bolivar said. "The more people we get, the cheaper it'll be."
The Internations Club is open to anyone on campus, domestic or international. There are currently around 40 members in the club and active members pay a one-time membership fee of $5.
