International students eat up Hamilton – one delicious bite at a time
Students gather at Hamilton's Mex-i-Can as part of the One Bite at a Time program.
One of the best ways to learn about another culture? Eat its food.
The Hamilton: One Bite at a Time series engages international and exchange students in an active learning experience while introducing them to the multicultural fabric of Hamilton.
“Students are invited out of the Westdale bubble to attend an evening at an ethnic restaurant in Hamilton’s community for a short presentation and typical dinner,” said International Student Services’ Ana Pereira.
The restaurant owner shares their immigration story and cultural history with the attending students through a shared dining experience.
The stories are relatable to McMaster’s international and exchange students who are experiencing a new city, province, or country for the first time. Taking the students off campus and into downtown exposes them to all that Hamilton has to offer and the diversity of the city.
Pereira says, “The program brings students from different cultures together through the sharing of good food and conversation.”
Students pay $20 which includes appetizers, main dishes, desserts and one non-alcoholic beverage. The program has taken students to Mex-I-Can Restaurant (Mexican), Blue Nile Restaurant (Ethiopian), and Mr. Gao Restaurant (Chinese).
Experiences continue this semester with visits to Ventura’s Restaurant (Portuguese), India Village (Indian), Thai Memory (Thai), and The Works (Canadian).
International and exchange students can find more information by visiting the ISS website.
