BROOKINGS On Sunday, the International Relations Council will host its first International World Fair with the centerpiece being a dinner of varied international cuisine prepared to feed 500 diners in the Volstorff Ballroom on the South Dakota State University campus. Patrons will dine on 11 different dishes representing that many nations and cultures. The dinner begins at 5 p.m. and goes until 8:30 p.m.
Certainly there is International Night, which happens every year, explained Lakshmi Sai Pratyusha Bugata, president of the six-member IRC executive board and a doctoral student in the SDSU College of Pharmacy. But this time we came up with this idea to make it more presentable from different cultures across the globe, to participate in their traditions, cultures and come up with their different cuisines for the dinner. There are a lot of performances where we are trying to have all the cultures represented on the stage.
The main goal of this particular world fair is to showcase the diversity, which is in Brookings itself and the SDSU campus. This is the first time (this has been done). I want them to come, have a look at all the different diversified cultures that we are showcasing at SDSU and be a part of that. They can get to meet people. Its more about knowing each other.
More than 600 international students attend SDSU. All are de facto part of the IRC, which has as its mission: To promote the development of understanding between the people of the world and to inspire this understanding through various programs. All registered international students are recognized as members. The IRC is also open to all domestic students at South Dakota State University.
In simple terms, Bugata sees the IRC goal being to welcome the international students with warmth and getting them adjusted here, which is quite different from their home country. Also, we try to bridge the gap between students who are lonely to the community so that they can get access to friends from their own community and also its a culture exchange.
That culture exchange is also brought about by the IRC welcoming domestic students. That way they can meet international people and get that culture exchange, Bugata explained. They get to see how other countries are, how different it is. I find people here in Brookings being very welcoming.
Looking to cancer research
By way of her own international background, she tells of her arrival in 2020 at SDSU, where she is now in the fourth year of her doctoral studies in pharmacy, which she will be completing this fall. She had completed her undergraduate and masters programs in India before coming to SDSU. She arrived in Brookings just as the COVID pandemic was spreading worldwide. She spent 14 days in quarantine.
In 2021 she met and later married a fellow Indian student: Narapa Reddy Jonnavarapu. He graduated that same year with a masters degree in electrical engineering. He is now employed in the Aberdeen offices of Banner Engineering.
For her future, Bugata is aiming to pursue research on pancreatic cancer, noting that cancer had an impact on her family: Actually, I came here because I lost my grandfather on my fathers side to colorectal cancer. Thats why I tried finding a Ph.D. position, especially in cancer medicine. Because I was in my undergrad in pharmacy when he died.
For the longer look to the future, she and her husband are keeping their options open as to settling in America or returning to India. Shes upfront about liking it here in the United States: Its not crowded, especially Brookings.
Consider that both India and China have more than 1.4 billion people each. The population of the United States is third, behind them, with a population of about 337 million.
Bugata explained that some job openings in India can pull in thousands of applications for each position.
If youre going to this first International World Fair with Bugata hoping it will become an annual event check out the below information.
Tickets: $17 for adults; $12 for children, age 12 and younger; and $12 for SDSU students. Tickets can be purchased online at: IRC World Fair 03/24 Paciolan. Following logon, go to either of the two Paciolan sites that will appear and purchase your tickets. Additionally, meal tickets can purchased at the event.
Contact John Kubal at [email protected].
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