Photo courtesy of Amelia Luo ‘23
Students partake in the Language Resource Center’s World Teas and Candies event on Halloween.
By Sophie Soloway ’23
Global Editor
Students and faculty gathered in Mount Holyoke’s Language Resource Center on Oct. 31 to connect over snacks from around the world as a part of the Center’s World Teas and Candies Event. In addition to celebrating various cultural experiences, the event marked the Center’s return to in-person programming since the start of the pandemic.
Julia Beretsky ’23, student consultant for the Language Resource Center at the College, reflected that, “What makes this event so special was that it was our first in-person event since the College went remote back in March 2020. It was great to see people interacting and having fun in person.”
According to Annabelle Shea ’23, a student worker for the LRC, the event was Halloween-inspired, but served foods and drinks representative of many different regions and celebrations. “The event showcased international teas and candies, allowing students to sample a variety of global treats — from Japanese mochi to Vietnamese coffee,” Shea said.
While there were many food-centered events at the College in celebration of Halloween — including the Trunk or Treat event and the ISOC Halloween event — this event specifically aimed to use these foods as a tool of cultural exchange. Beretsky said, “Food is an important part of every culture and I think this is a way for others to start learning about a new culture. I think events like this are important to promote an understanding of other cultures and to connect with those who identify as part of that culture.”
In addition to food-sharing activities, the event included several activities in the same vein of cultural exchange. “Students were invited to make bookmarks using our custom-made LRC stickers and play a language Kahoot trivia game. By featuring an array of snacks and activities, we hoped to draw from Mount Holyoke’s language learning and international student communities,” Shea said.
Beretsky noted that the Kahoot game in particular lent itself to learning about various cultures within a single event. “I think my favorite moment from the event was running the trivia game. I was the consultant who was emceeing the game. I helped to make the trivia game and while I made it there were a bunch of new things I learned,” Beretsky said. “By loudly presenting questions and answers in a silly way, I think I was able to brighten up some peoples’ days and make the LRC feel welcoming and relaxing, which is just one of my goals as a consultant here.”
As a community resource dedicated to uplifting the multilingual community at Mount Holyoke, LRC staff expressed that these activities play an important role in their mission of promoting inclusivity and celebrating diversity. “MHC has a large international student population and I hope that, with events like this, students can appreciate and respect their fellow students’ experiences,” Beretsky said.
Shea agreed with this sentiment. “The LRC seeks to increase student awareness and interest in foreign language and culture learning,” Shea said. “Through our various events, we hope to introduce students to foreign language content and expand Mount Holyoke’s growing language learning community. We feel excited about student participation in LRC events and look forward to offering similar opportunities for language and culture acquisition in the near future.”
According to Beretsky, students interested in engaging in these kinds of activities should look to the Language Resource Center for continued support and space. “Anyone at any time is welcome to visit the LRC. We have many different ways to learn about new cultures and languages — like the various Q&As held by student language assistants multiple times a week, as well as weekly language tables where students can talk with fellow students and faculty members,” Beretsky said. “We love student feedback so if there is anything you want to see, be sure to stop by and tell us or message us on Instagram @mtholyokelrc.”