Kathrin Hanik was reminded of a popular German saying while eating at an international food tasting event in The University Center on Monday.
"Love goes through the stomach," said Hanik, a U of M study abroad student from Germany.
Hanik, along with 200 other people, attended the tasting which marked the beginning of International Education Week, a five-day initiative between the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Education.
Rebecca Laumann, The U of M study abroad director, said international week is held so the world can recognize the benefits of having an international education.
Colin Powell, Bill Clinton and Kofi Annan, the secretary-general of the United Nations, all studied abroad, Laumann said.
"This is the time for people to realize these leaders had international experience," she said.
One benefit of international educational week includes fostering friendships.
Arlette Barahona, a graduate student studying philosophy, attended the event because she wanted to have an international experience.
"Food transcends all languages," Barahona said as she socialized with a group of women who spoke Spanish, German, Turkish and French.
Carla Martinez, a Spanish instructor at The University, encouraged her students to go and try the foods from Senegal, Vietnam, Palestine, Greece, India, Japan, Germany, Mexico and Nigeria.
The food tasting was a good alternative to dining out for Tasmia Noor, a freshman psychology major from Bangladesh. Noor, who is Muslim, can't eat certain foods such as pork.
Since the food was free, more students like her were willing to try the cuisines.
"Not a lot of people are brave (enough) to try new foods but because of the variety here, it gives us different types of foods we can eat with different flavors," she said.
The food tasting was the first event to take place as The U of M celebrates international educational week.
Photos taken by American students studying abroad and foreign students in the United States will be on display all week in the Mark Twain Lounge on the second floor of The University Center. Prizes will be awarded Friday for the best photos.
Wednesday a study abroad fair will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the second floor of The UC. And from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., the Center for International Programs & Services will host an open house in Brister Hall room 102.
Martinez said many students at The University don't know they have the chance to study abroad.
"I think people in the South need to know there's something beyond Memphis, something beyond Tennessee and something beyond the United States," she said. "International week is good in making those students aware of all the opportunities that exist."
Thursday a panel presentation on immigrant rights in Tennessee will be held from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. in The UC Faulkner Lounge.
Immigrant rights advocates will discuss some of the obstacles immigrants face, Laumann said.
Friday night international week ends with a closing reception and awards ceremony for photography contest winners from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the Faulkner Lounge.
Laumann believes the participation from yesterday's food tasting indicates that if The U of M holds these activities people will participate.
Hanik, a junior journalism major from Mainz, Germany, sampled several types of food Monday.
"If you try foods from other countries perhaps you would want to visit that country and try those foods there," she said.
