This year, the International Bazaar was held outside instead of inside! Because junior year has been more academically challenging than sophomore year, I was grateful for the opportunity to simply walk the short distance from the Fine Arts Center of campus to the South Oval instead of driving to the dorms; the increased accessibility of this year’s bazaar was wonderful! Tables were set up next to the sidewalk and the pathways were abuzz with students eager to try new foods. There were barrels of steaming teas and refreshing juices, as well as trays of baked goods and different pastries all around. Students were particularly interested in the fresh, homemade balaklava being served across from the thai tea, chai, and boba! Though I didn’t have the budget to purchase much food, I loved hearing about each organization and the different communities that were present. For example, at one of the tables, a woman taught me about the OU Model UN organization and their in-depth research about different countries. Then, at another table, two people were playing a boardgame called Rummikub (pictures below). At first glance, I thought that perhaps they were playing mahjong, but as I walked closer, I realized it was in fact a game I had never seen before! As a boardgame nerd (I am an avid Dungeons and Dragons player and I love Settlers of Catan), I am always eager to learn about other games in the tabletop/boardgame genre. The vendor explained that Rummikub was a game invented in Palestine, and that it was actually a very popular game in Israel and the United States. I had another class to attend, so I could not join the next game, but I left the International Bazaar with new knowledge about Palestinian culture and a new fun pastime!
