AUCA Diversity Week 2020. Check out how it went!

February 10, 2020

#Andrew Kuchins

The 16th annual Diversity Week was held at the American University of Central Asia. This is a special week when you can feel the actual university vibe, explore various cultures and cuisines, present your ethnic heritage and history. AUCA is proud of having representatives of different cultures studying at the university.

This year, 12 delegation teams took part in the event:

1. Kyrgyz delegation 
2. Afghan delegation
3. Uzbek delegation
4. Tajik delegation
5. Uyghur delegation
6. Turkish delegation
7. Cyber ​​delegation
8. Brazilian delegation
9. African delegation
10. Chinese delegation
11. Chaotic delegation
12. Korean delegation

The first day of Diversity Week was Presentation Day. All the delegations demonstrated the most iconic traditions of their countries such as national costumes, musical instruments, dances, household items, etc. During the lunchtime, songs of all the participant delegations were playing in the forum accompanied by the cheer and dances of students. 

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The second day of Diversity Week was dedicated to the national games. The delegations showed different cultural plays such as Alchiki, Langa, soccer, hide-and-seek, Limbo, Jenga, backgammon - this is not a complete list of games they played. 

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The most delicious day of Diversity Week - Food Day became a big festival of assorted cuisines. This is a unique opportunity to try the national food of different ethnicities in one place, starting with Kyrgyz Beshbarmak and ending with Brazil desserts. 

A huge line of students was waiting for the turn to buy super tasty Afghan pilaf with lamb. Tajik delegation also had traditional pilaf and Qurutob - layered crispy bread, yogurt, fried onion, and vegetables. A line of people was looking forward to getting Uyghur Lagman, Chaotic brownie cake, and much more food.

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The most grandiose event of the week was a gala concert where all the delegations showed colorful and charming performances. The number of students taking part in Diversity Week has reached three hundred, whereas the viewers have exceeded 1000. Students, their friends, relatives, faculty members, staff, and representatives of foreign diplomatic missions gathered in the forum in anticipation of the show. 

“We are the most diverse university in Central Asia, and diversity is our strength. When you are in college, learn the most from your fellow's undergraduates. When you have an opportunity to interact with people from different places and backgrounds, that is a special experience you will take with you for the rest of your lives. So, let the show go on,” said AUCA President Andrew Kuchins in his opening speech. 

During the concert, each delegation showed a small, vivid, and memorable art. Kyrgyz, Uyghur, and Uzbek delegations amazed everyone with diverse and colorful dances.

Afghan delegation presented a performance under the concept of The Art of Thinking Independently Together through the traditional Attan dance. This year AUCA students launched a new Cyber delegation, which prepared a unique Mortal Kombat styled show. Viewers plunged into the world of Wakanda while enjoying the dance of African delegation.

Have you ever heard about Kolbasti and Horon? These are extraordinary Turkish dances shown. Also, local famous Kyrgyz singer Omar and the dance group of kids Aalam led by AUCA graduate Asel Sardari surprised the visitors with amazing shows.

A highlight of the concert was the final creative performance by Chaotic delegation, drawing attention to the common emotional and perceptual problems of people all over the world. It called everyone, “Do not forget that we are all human beings, we should not segregate any of us, we must be united, and deal with other problems altogether. Everyone should be happy, every voice should be heard!”

The idea of such a multicultural holiday is to promote the development of tolerance and interpenetration of cultures at the university community. The ideological content of the event is being transformed and deepened. The Diversity of the Week has already gone beyond the national framework and, paradoxically, becoming more and more unifying.

More photos available here

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