Indy's International Neighborhood

Jolene Ketzenberger, writing in today's Indianapolis Star has a terrific exploration of the myriad ethnic dining options in the Lafayette Square neighborhood of Indianapolis. This northwestside area offers up cuisines as varied as Salvadorian, Vietnamese and Ethiopian.

Read it here (until it disappears behind the newspaper's pay wall). You can find ethnic restaurants in Indy anytime at Indy Ethnic Food, a resource that Ms. Ketzenberger used when penning her piece.

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Celebration of International Cultures

Valparaiso University will host a Celebration of International Cultures tomorrow (16 October) in honor of the inauguration of the University's 18th president, Mark A. Heckler, according to the Office of University Relations.

The showcase of Valparaiso's international study programs, international students and international service projects and research will take place from noon to 3 p.m. in the Christopher Center for Library and Information Resources and is free and open to the public.

During the Celebration of International Cultures, organized by Valparaiso's Office of International Programs, the public is invited to talk to students and faculty involved with Valparaiso's Confucius Institute, German and French clubs, International Student Association, medical mission trips to Central America, water quality research in China, and other international organizations and study programs. An alumna and Valparaiso business owner also will discuss her native country of Macedonia.

Music and dancing of various cultures will be performed throughout the event and photographs taken by students participating in Valparaiso's study abroad programs will be displayed. Refreshments highlighting the food of various cultures will be offered, including pita bread with minted cucumber and hummus dips, Ethiopian honey bread, baklava, vegetable pot stickers, spanikopita and Chinese almond cookies.

Valparaiso has won national recognition as a model in preparing its graduates with strong cross-cultural skills and global awareness, receiving the prestigious Senator Paul Simon Award for Campus Internationalization earlier this year. This fall, the University also set a new high in international student enrollment, with 245 students on U.S. student visas registered from more than 50 countries.