Last updated on Nov. 30, 2025 at 04:44 p.m.
On Tuesday afternoon, the Illini Union transformed into a world tour as International Student and Scholar Services hosted its 14th annual Travel Around the World cultural fair.
Students, faculty, staff and community members wandered between booths highlighting countries all over the world. Undergraduate and graduate students were ready to share their cultural pride.
The booths were flooded with food, crafts, flags, music, laughter and an abundance of stories sharing history or just the host’s favorite parts of their culture.
Upon walking in, attendees received a passport that could be stamped at each country’s booth to receive a free t-shirt on their way out as a memento.
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The event was part of International Education Week and reflects the University’s global identity, which is home to 12,474 international students from 125 countries, according to the 2024 University statistics.
According to University Data, 10,886 of those students come from Asia, followed by 458 from Europe, 406 from the Middle East, 327 from Latin America, 241 from Africa and 156 from Canada and Oceania.
Many ISSS events aim to showcase the cultural richness of the campus community.
Kathryn Burden is an associate director of ISSS, in charge of intercultural trainings and social-cultural programming intended for both international students and the campus as a whole.
Burden said Travel Around the World reflects both the diversity and the openness of the University’s community.
“I think this, in particular, is a really important event because it gives our international population, whether they’re, again, students or scholars, a chance to highlight their country or their culture,” Burden said.
According to Burden, the event allows visitors to travel without leaving Champaign. Attendees could immerse themselves in the various cultures represented by the student body.
“This event is called Travel Around the World, and I think it’s a great way for people to gain that exposure and learn about different countries and different cultures without actually having to travel,” Burden said.
In one corner of the room, a vibrant booth displaying Spain and promoting La Fuerza Flamenca, the University’s flamenco fusion dance group.
Kaleigh Mueller, senior in LAS and president of La Fuerza Flamenca, represented Spain and the dance group, highlighting traditional flamenco dance and showcasing the diverse backgrounds of the organization’s members.
While promoting the dance group, Mueller also emphasized how events like Travel Around the World dismantle people’s hesitations about engaging with cultures other than their own.
“I think getting to learn new cultures is sometimes … overwhelming, and you feel like, because you’re not a part of it as an outsider, you feel kind of weird learning about it,” Mueller said. “But getting to learn about other cultures. It really opens your world. Even though I’m not a part of that community, I have a community with them because they let me in– because I’m open to learning.”
On the opposing corner of the room, Ezinne Okey, an ISSS faculty member, represented Nigeria and spoke with enthusiasm to every passerby.
Her table displayed maps, cultural artifacts and the country’s jollof rice, sparking conversations about cuisine, language and history.
“There is a richness in knowing about the world, learning, not just about you, but also getting the opportunity to learn about all our different people,” Okey said.
Okey said that although she didn’t actually travel anywhere, she could still immerse herself in the country and about other cultures in a way that felt comfortable for her.
Between the numerous cultural displays, the Union became more than an event space — it became a living map of the world.
“I think that these events are important to be able to immerse yourself in other cultures and surround yourself with people that you may not see on the daily,” said Avery Johnson, sophomore in Education. “Events like these really help people branch out and learn a little bit more about other cultures.”