By Elizabeth Hill, education reporter
The aroma of braised pork and rice mingled with the sweet scent of brown sugar bubble tea at Virginia Tech’s Deet’s Place on Jan. 31 as students and community members gathered for the 50th International Cafe Hour. This milestone event, hosted in collaboration with the Taiwanese Student Association, celebrated Taiwanese culture and traditions, reinforcing the university’s mission to foster a welcoming environment for international students and promote cross-cultural understanding.
Since its formation, the International Cafe Hour has provided students with a platform to share their cultures, develop a sense of belonging and connect with the wider community. These free events featuring food, presentations and interactive activities have become a vital part of campus life, enriching the student experience and encouraging global connections.
Fawna Zwart, assistant director for campus and community engagement at the Cranwell International Center, has led the initiative since the beginning. “I think one of the biggest goals is to help international students feel more welcome and more at home here at Virginia Tech,” Zwart said. “What I have discovered is that when students share their culture, they just light up. It helps them develop a sense of belonging, express pride in their culture and also helps them find their people.”
The event started as a small gathering in the Cranwell Center’s community room, offering students a space to connect. “We had 112 people in the first hour,” Zwart recalled. “We had a line out the door.” The overwhelming response quickly turned the event into a campus favorite, necessitating a move to a larger venue. Today, it takes place in Deet’s Place, where attendance continues to grow.
As participation increased, so did the offerings. In collaboration with Virginia Tech Dining Services, the program now provides authentic cuisine that resonates with the featured country or region. “We get their home recipes, and the chefs choose a sweet, a savory and a beverage,” Zwart said. This approach ensures each gathering feels like a taste of home for international students while inviting the broader campus community to explore global flavors.
Each cafe hour is unique, showcasing different cultures through food, music, presentations and hands-on activities. To mark the 50th event, organizers extended the celebration to three hours, offering attendees a deeper dive into Taiwanese culture. The event featured information boards, traditional dishes and a Mandarin calligraphy station. Attendees also participated in trivia with questions about Taiwan and the chance to win tickets to a Moss Arts Center performance. The Global Education Office (GEO) and the Council of International Student Organizations (CISO) were also on hand to connect students with international opportunities.
For Maya Collins, a student eager to explore different cultures, the event offered an immersive experience. “This is my first time at an international cafe hour,” she said. “Since I have not had the opportunity to study abroad, this event made me feel like I teleported to a new country, even if it was just for a couple of hours.”
Beyond the event itself, the Cranwell International Center strives to maintain long-term cultural engagement. A key element of this initiative is the creation of “culture boxes”—collections of decorations and artifacts representing different countries.
Student groups receive a small budget to curate these materials, ensuring a meaningful representation of their heritage. “I have created the culture boxes for them because many of them don’t have things from home,” Zwart said. “You know, they are restricted with their two suitcases to get here. They are not packing all the things from home, so I try to buy a few things for them that they can use and decorate with.” These boxes serve as valuable resources, not only for the cafe hours but also for student organizations presenting at local schools and community events.
With its growing popularity, the International Cafe Hour has become a highly sought-after opportunity for student groups, with several already expressing interest in participating next year. Zwart envisions the program as a living travelogue, offering the entire community a chance to learn about different cultures and break down barriers.
The impact of this program extends far beyond the walls of the cafe itself, highlighting the importance of international education outside of the traditional classroom setting. Experiences like these foster crucial intercultural skills, such as communication, empathy and adaptability, that are essential for success in today’s globalized world. These skills aren’t always effectively taught in lectures or textbooks; they are best learned through direct interaction and shared experiences, like those offered at the International Cafe Hour.
By fostering global awareness and mutual understanding, the International Cafe Hour prepares students to navigate an increasingly interconnected world. Through food, conversation and shared traditions, the event continues to bridge cultures, create connections and celebrate the diverse voices that make up the Virginia Tech community.
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