International Students Show Off Style

International students from all over the world strutted their colorful fashions in the KBR this past Monday night for HSU’s Eighth Annual International Education Week. The show featured fashions from Burma, China, Japan, India, the Phillipines, Malaysia, West Africa, and Nigeria. A giant screen behind the runway showcased pictures from each student’s home country as students took the stage.

Two women clad in traditional Japanese attire began the evening with a re-enactment of a sword fight. Students then performed a traditional Enggang Dance from East Borneo in outfits decorated with colorful feathers. HSU student Jeanny Duoi Adriyanti said this dance is named for the mascot of her province in Indonesia.

“This is how we welcome guests,” said Adriyanti. “It shows elegance.” She said she learned the routine when she was in middle school, and it is performed mostly by the natives of the country.

Saw Htet Aung Khant arrived in Arcata five months ago from Myanmar, Burma. The English major wore a traditional paso or longi and kaung pourig for the show. The kaung pourig usually appears in red, white, or blue which are the colors of the Burma national flag. This type of outfit is worn during the new year’s celebrations and festivals.

Lu Zhao took the stage in a purple and pink yukata, a summer garment with a sash similar to a Japanese kimono. Zhao said that yukatas were originally worn after baths to wipe sweat and hide the skin. In earlier times, before asphalt roads, women used to wear lifted wooden shoes with yukatas to avoid splashing mud on themselves. Now the yukatas are worn with high heels as summer dresses, or during festivals.

Jinze Li wore a pink qipao, a one-piece traditional Chinese dress that she brought from home. Li, who is from the north coast of China, said it was the first time she ever wore the outfit. In the area where Li is from, these outfits are rarely worn except for special occasions like festivals and ceremonies.
 

3 comments

Chhimi Dorji

Wed Nov 18 2009 22:19

Lumberjack made me from Burma.. hahhaa..

Cassandra Hoisington

Wed Nov 18 2009 20:45

I'm sorry for this mistake. This is actually Chhimi Dorji from Bhutan. This garment would be worn everyday and is actually quite thick and is worn with knee high boots to protect from the cold.

Wilson

Wed Nov 18 2009 02:10

the photo for burmese student is totally wrong!

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