Flavorful culture
Joe Nguyen, staff writer
April 20, 2006

Photo by Alex Phi A platter of sushi served at Asian Unity's third annual Taste of Asia on April 19.

BOULDER – It’s a bright sunny spring day at the University of Colorado. A slight breeze blows, creating a cool environment.

Around campus, life is abuzz as graffiti artists spray murals at the student center, while solicitors try to capture the attention of students puttering from class to class.

At the center of campus on Farrand Field, pitched tents adorn the bare ground that typically caters to Frisbee players and tanners. Asian pop music blares from speakers next to the newly set-up stage as hungry students form a line, waiting for a chance to indulge in the plethora of food that lie in front of them.

Asian Unity held its third annual Taste of Asia Wednesday, a student-organized event filled with food and entertainment from a variety of Asian cultures.

A number of Asian student groups participated to put this event together, bringing an assortment of flavors from their respective heritages.

“Taste of Asia was great this year,” junior finance major and Asian Unity co-chair Denver Nguyen said. “We had a record-breaking [crowd] of 1,800 to 2,000 people.”

The students held a fashion show, a staple of Taste of Asia, dressing up in traditional garments from various Asian cultures.

Photo by Alex Phi Will Choe, left, serves food at Asian Unity's third annual Taste of Asia on April 19.

Team High Flyerz, a martial arts group from Aurora, gave a demonstration of a variety of techniques, drawing cheers from the audience with complex, soaring maneuvers.

Denver Taiko returned to the event this year, ending the event with loud, elaborate drum beats.

“We’re gonna get bigger every year,” Nguyen said. “It’s gonna be a campus day. It will be a holiday on the CU campus when we’re done.”

With the food supply depleted and the drums quieting down, the students gradually leave the field, returning to the routine of their daily lives. It was a moment of escape from the worries of the world.

“We’re out of food, out of fun, out of energy,” Nguyen said. “Time to head back to school.”

Joe Nguyen is a staff writer for asiaXpress.com. You can reach Joe at joe@asiaxpress.com.