As part of International Education Week, Northwest College hosted a series of events to highlight the cultures of the many international students who come to Powell for their education.

Events covering Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Japan, Bavaria and others were held, with presenters discussing arts, culture, food and traditions of the places from which international students have come.

Many of the presentations were hosted at the International House on the college campus, where lunches featured dishes associated with the cultures being presented.

Galina Hasanova, who spoke about the art, geography and history of her home country, Turkmenistan, was among the presenters.

“Most people think Turkmenistan is Turkey. It is not,” she said with a laugh.

Turkmenistan borders Iran and Afghanistan, with a coast on the Caspian Sea.

The Turkmen people, Hasanova explained, are an ethnic group who speak the Turkman language, a branch of the Turkic language. Most of the population lives in Turkmenistan, though there are small communities in Iran, Afghanistan, and the North Caucasus.

Hasanova presented a number of examples of Turkmen art in pottery, jewelry, and paintings. She also discussed Turkmen carpet making, which evolved out of their nomadic heritage, when they lived in felt tents. The domed, wooden structures were erected and then covered in carpets that could be rolled up and transported.

Hasanova also presented on other aspects of Turkmen culture, such as their values concerning hospitality. It’s considered honorable to treat visitors well, and a failure to do so is frowned upon. They go out of their way to make guests feel comfortable and welcome.

As Hasanova presented, attendees enjoyed Turkman dishes. This included a rice pilaf with meat dish called plov, a shepherd’s pie with lamb called ichlekli and a fried pastry called pishme.

During a presentation on Latin America, people lunched on Guatemalan potato salad, Chilean quinoa with rice and stew, Columbian coconut rice and plantains, and a drink called agua fresca.

The lunches were prepared by chef Benjamin Downey of Sodexo, the company NWC contracts with for its student meal services.

Presentations on Latin American cultures, art, sports, music and traditions were given by students in the Spanish class of Cassie Loera, adjunct instructor.

Ryan Almeida, a second-year NWC student from Brazil, presented on Columbia sports and music styles.

“It’s known as the country of a thousand rhythms,” Almedia said.

He gave a little description of several of the styles popular in the Columbian culture, including cumbia and vallenato.

Jim Heitoldt, who works for the University of Wyoming Powell Research Extension Center, is taking Spanish classes to improve communications with coworkers who speak the language.

He presented on Columbia’s biodiversity, showing some of the plants and wildlife from the region.

Other Spanish students presented on Guatamala and Chile.

International Education week is a joint initiative between the federal Department of State and Department of Education. It aims to promote programs that prepare Americans for a global environment and attract students from abroad to study, learn and exchange experiences at U.S. colleges.