Twenty-two students from American University of Sharjah (AUS) Student Multicultural Learning Program, Korean Cultural Club and Gastronomy Club participated in the Korean Food Festival held November 3, 2014 at The Address Dubai Marina.

Organized by the Consulate General of Korea in Dubai, the festival was aimed at introducing Korean culture and food to the UAE community. More than eight famous Korean restaurants took part in the event providing food samples to visitors, including signature Korean foods such as kimchi, bulgogi, bibimbap and many others.

The festival also featured a cooking class wherein different Korean dishes were taught to participants. The cooking class focused on the ingredients and spices that go into Korean food. The cooking class also demonstrated cooking techniques unique to Korean cuisine. The students learned to make their own gimbap (seaweed rice rolls) and rice cakes under the supervision of well-known Korean chefs.

"The Korean Food Festival is one of many culturally-rich events that we aim for our students to experience. Cultural events enlighten our students about the different cultures around them and satisfy their curiosity through practical learning experiences," said Dr. Moza Al Shehhi, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs. "We have more cultural exchange activities on and off campus which are all focused towards equipping our students with the requisite skills to succeed in a global society," she added.

"We live in a multicultural world where the importance of tolerance and understanding of different cultures is crucial. The Korean Food Festival is a great experience for us students to learn, appreciate and have an open mind about other cultures around us," said Maria Samer Hakim, a junior in environmental science.

Raghad Hassan El Assi, a mass communication junior said, "The festival was interesting because not only did we learn how delicious Korean cuisine is but we also learned how to cook basic Korean dishes. The Korean people are very nice in introducing the Korean culture through their food."

The students' participation was organized by the Office of Student Affairs' Student Multicultural Learning Program.