Have you met the world inside BracU?
On 11th December our campus transformed into a living map through its event, “My Country, My Culture”. Attended by a vibrant mix of local and international students, the event took place at the exhibition hall, brought together by Brac University Multicultural Club (BUMC) to celebrate cultural diversity.
You see them every day, walking past you in the hallways, carrying home in their accents and laughing in languages you do not quite understand. You wonder where they’re from, what food they miss, what home smells like to them. But you keep walking, because sometimes curiosity does not know how to introduce itself. That afternoon, however, curiosity found a voice. Borders dissolved into music, dishes, painted cheeks and fluttering flags.
Being a two-year-old initiative, this semester’s spotlight was on Bhutan: its warmth and welcoming cultures from far beyond its borders. For Muzghan Pazhwak (Senior, BBS), the day meant more than celebration. “It means home to me,” she shared. “Before, I didn’t see events where all countries were celebrated like this. Seeing diverse students connect and feel welcomed is what makes it special.”
Each attendee received a flag representing a different country. At one moment, all flags rose together, colours dancing in the air, before being placed onto the tree. “May peace prevail,” Muzghan said, as the act transformed into a quiet vow of unity. Six large scrolls narrated Bhutanese and Bangladeshi culture side by side, showing that cultural exchange is not about comparison, but conversation. Nearby, laughter gathered at a face-painting station where strangers became friends through art.
Proudly pointing to Shamdrey, a traditional fried rice from Bhutan, Yungchung Dolkar (Junior, ESS) voiced, “It means so much to be able to represent my home at my new home.” Nilormi Sarker (Junior, ESS) shared that they were bound by one shared purpose: to celebrate diversity, not as contrast, but as collective strength.
Perhaps the most powerful thing about this event was not the food, music, or flags. It was the permission it gave. Permission to be curious, to listen, to belong.
Because sometimes, connection is your curious glance towards a unique piece of jewellery worn by a foreign face, but stays hidden out of shyness. Sometimes, a connection needs a gentle nudge, a place to begin. And through this event, BUMC sparked that connection.
