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For a list of upcoming events sponsored by the Center for Asian Studies, visit colorado.edu/cas.

The Humanities Building at the University of Colorado became a gateway to many countries Saturday as the Center for Asian Studies hosted the ninth annual Asia Day, celebrating an array of cultures through food, dance, music and talks exploring history and art of the region.

Attendees could sit through "Arabic and Islam in a Nutshell," or learn about South Korea's shifting cultural norms portrayed in film, while kids were encouraged to experience Asian culture with games, Chinese calligraphy lessons and craft-making.

More than 30 sessions were held throughout the day, including "Vietnam: Not a War, Not Indochina," Middle-Eastern belly-dancing, Tai Chi tutorials and a class called "The Secrets to Asia's Education Success," discussing the historical roots of the emphasis on education in some Asian countries.

Local restaurants provided vegetarian snacks, including sushi, pakora, fried rice and vegetable egg rolls. Chef Bayu Arjana from the St. Julian Hotel & Spa in Boulder prepared vegetable curry samples served with rice and fish chips.

Tim Weston, CU's interim director of Asian studies, said the variety of events and cultures represented at the event has risen over the past several years, as well as attendance.

"(Asia Day) serves the purpose of enabling Asian-Americans to keep their kids connected to a culture they want to keep in touch with," said Weston. "The university's role is not only to educate college students, but others in society."

Many of the attendants were children and parents, along with students and teachers either interested in or connected with the Asian community.

Evergreen resident Greg Ahern said he brought his 6-year-old adopted daughter Jasmine to Asia Day for her to learn about and celebrate her Chinese roots.

"It's part of her, and she has to understand herself, (partly because) she looks different from other people," Ahern said, noting less diversity in Colorado than on the East Coast where he previously lived. "It's also important for her to see other parts of Asia."

Students from the Shaolin Hung Mei Kung Fu Association performed a Chinese lion dance to the rhythm of pounding drums following the Tajik Community of Colorado performance of a traditional Tajikistani dance.

The event's sessions covered a broad scope, from holidays in Japan to environmentalism in Tibet. One classroom was transformed into an Indonesian living room with fried snacks, tea, kites and traditional fruit drinks of the country.

"Diversity could be improved on this campus, and that's why we're so happy to share our culture with the community," said CU instructor Margaretha Sudarsih, who teaches Indonesian language classes and organized the Jakarta-themed room where people gathered to eat, laugh and dance to Indonesian music.

Jenny

Sadie Marquardt belly dances to live music at the University of Colorado s Asia Day in the Eaton Humanities building on Saturday. ( Nicholas Duckworth)
Smith, a 21-year-old junior studying biology, said she attended Asia Day with her friend for a school assignment, but she didn't hear about it outside of class.

"I wish I took advantage of this more often -- it's really interesting, and I don't usually go outside my major, so I'm learning a lot." Smith said.