The Turkish Student Association held a festival at the Butler Plaza between the M.D. Anderson Memorial Library and Philip Guthrie Hoffman Hall March 29.
The TSA describes their mission as introducing University of Houston students, faculty and staff to the history, language and culture of Turkey as well as getting Turkish students and faculty members together.
The TSA provides Turkish language courses and movie nights. The organization also celebrates with Turkic Day and other events free to the students and faculty of UH.
It included an array of Turkish coffee and cuisine, traditional Turkish clothing, music and water marbling.
The foods served included baklava, kebab, a meat dish with pita bread called doner and a delicious cheese-filled pastry wrapped in flaky dough called borek.
Participants were able to enjoy the flavors at a low price while appreciating the diversity and variety that the country offers.
The Turkish Festival is not a fundraiser for the organization, but rather an opportunity to immerse students in the culture of Turkey.
Businesses in the United States often have partnerships in Turkey, so the TSA offers free Turkish courses taught by professor Mehmet Kanik once a week each semester to teach UH students how to expand their language abilities in the business world.
After attracting more than 1,000 students last year, this year’s event proved successful even in the midst of a thunderstorm.
Booths that showcased Turkish culture and stands selling various cuisines were packed with visitors.
Traditional Turkish clothing was not only showcased, but students were allowed to wear the garments and take pictures in them.
The Turkish Festival has been around for four consecutive years and the next one is expected to be a success as well.