Southeast Asian culture to receive warm welcome

The Daily Collegian Online
Posted on March 27, 2009

By Beth Kaiserman
Collegian Staff Writer

HUB Alumni Hall will be brightened by tropical Cambodian fruits and golden costumes at the 'Welcome to Cambodia' event Saturday night.

The evening, sponsored by the Khmer Student Society, will feature performances and drinks reflecting Cambodian and Southeast Asian culture in general, Sarun Chan (senior-sociology) said.

"Penn State is used to seeing East Asian which is China, Japan and Korea," Chan said. "This is a good Cambodian-American cultural experience."

The event's attendance has doubled every year since its inception, and about 400 people are expected for this year's event, he said.

The evening will feature "fruits people aren't used to eating," Chan said, as well as tropical fruit drinks.

Carrie Mak (senior-biobehavioral health) liked these drinks when she was younger, she said.

"I think other people will really enjoy it," she said. "It's something they never really had before, but for me I actually grew up with them."

In addition to refreshments, classical ballet and folk dances will be performed, and members of the Khmer Student Society will present video and stage skits, Chan said. A dance troupe is coming from Massachusetts, complete with elaborate Cambodian costumes.

"A lot of these are really technical and religious. Some are actually made of real gold," Chan said.

The Khmer Student Society is a diverse combination of cultures that includes Mexican, Chinese, Italian, Irish-American, Vietnamese and Korean members, Chan said.

"About one-third of the group itself is not Cambodian," Chan said.