Photo by Marie Meneses
The words “fiesta” and “vida” automatically come to mind when I think of my Mexican roots. Coming to Pepperdine, I realized it would not be a simple feat finding people with similar backgrounds as mine. I know there are Hispanic students here; however, it is not always easy to find them. Each time I meet someone of Latin American descent, I cannot help but get a bit excited. Thus, my delight was no surprise when I learned about the Hispanic Heritage Dinner that the Pepperdine Dining Services, Latino Student Association and Student Affairs hosted.
On Tuesday evening, the cafeteria staff was busy serving tamales, gorditas, pupusas and agua de horchata, among other Latin American-inspired dishes. Executive Chef Caroline Bertsch created the menu for the evening. The students seemed to enjoy themselves as they tried foods from different countries. The cafeteria was vibrantly decorated with the flags from different Latin American countries and colorful streamers.
There was an array of Mexican candies spread out on the cafeteria tables. In addition, there was live music; a few students played their guitars and sang songs in Spanish during the event, along with a Mexican singer who interacted with the audience by having them clap along to certain songs.
Freshman Alexis Padilla said she enjoyed the music and that it was her favorite part of the event. Padilla is of Mexican descent, and she thought the food was delicious. However, she did say that some dishes were not exactly what she expected them to be, as they were not similar to what she eats at home.
Freshman Zayi Reyes, though, is of Columbian descent, and she thought the food that was served “encompassed the Hispanic culture very well, and everything tasted delicious.” She said Pepperdine should have more events that will allow students to gain perspective on different cultures.
Overall, everyone seemed to really enjoy the Hispanic Heritage Dinner. Junior Nuriel Garrett said the best part of the evening was watching a Tango instructor teach a type of dance from another culture. Freshman Sidney Brown particularly enjoyed the tortilla soup. Brown hopes to see the Pepperdine Dining Services partner with Student Affairs again in the near future to host more culturally themed events.
As a Hispanic, I must say the cafe staff did a great job of representing my culture. The food, entertainment and decorations all made for a great night. I was especially pleased to see so many smiling faces as students and visitors enjoyed their meals and appreciated the Mexican entertainment.
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As published in the Sept. 26 issue of the Pepperdine Graphic.
