By Bill Robinson
Cultures and tastes may differ around the world, but food, music and dance have a way of bridging differences and bringing people together.
That was the case Friday night as the Richmond and Bluegrass Rotary clubs hosted their sixth annual International Dinner at Richmond’s East Side Baptist Church. Proceeds benefited the Pattie A. Clay Regional Medical Center Foundation.
The 150 guests got to sample food from 13 countries as dances and music from several cultures were performed.
Chinese dancers taught by Cheryl Pan of Lexington were dressed in colorful costumes as they performed ceremonial dances of China’s various regions. Bernese Abner of Berea demonstrated Mediterranean dance, and the Richard McHargue Cloggers kicked their heels and tapped their toes to the rhythms of Appalachia.
Venezuela native Pedro Castillo, who has lived in Richmond since the 1960s, was dressed in a cream-white suit and hat as he strummed a cuatro guitar and sang songs of his native land.
Made of native woods, the small cuatro instrument is extremely light weight.
The Clark-Moores Middle School band, directed by Carla Smith, performed music by Italian, Russian, Spanish, French, American and Latin American composers.
Ayesha Akhtar, wife of Richmond physician Rizwan Akhtar, served a zucchini and lentil dish that is popular in her native Pakistan.
Since coming to Richmond nearly 11 years ago, she has participated in international fairs at Model Laboratory School, which her children attend, but Akhtar said this was her first time to participate in the annual Rotary event.
“I’ve really enjoyed this evening,” she said. “This a great way to meet people in the community. I hope we can participate again next year.”
When they first arrived in Richmond, Akhtar said she and her husband were unsure how long they would remain.
“We have enjoyed living here, and our children love attending Model,” she said. “When I asked them if they wanted to move to Lexington so they could attend school there, they said, ‘no.’ They wanted to stay in Richmond and go to Model.”
Rotarian Rusty Rechenbach, pastor of White Oak Pond Church, served five Guatemalan items he had prepared.
Rechenbach said he goes to Guatemala every year to visit friends who operate a hotel there.
His five servings included a hot fruit punch, a chilled rice milk and cinnamon drink and a spicy chicken dish made with tomateillos, a green tomato, and a radish salad.
Marilyn Nash served French onion soup. Nash said she lived for eight years in France, while her father was assigned by his employer, General Electric. She attended her first eight years of school there, attending English language classes in America for the first time as a high school student.
Three Richmond international restaurants, Thai Smile, China King and Casa Café each served a dish.
Other countries represented by foods included Germany, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Russia, Scotland and Thailand.
Rotarian Dwight McMullin, who organized the event, served cheese grits to represent the United States.
While Rotary, an international organization with clubs in more than 130 countries, sponsors many international exchanges, not every club hosts an international dinner, McMullin said.
He organized Richmond Rotary’s first international dinner after learning about the popularity of the Somerset Rotary Club’s international dinners.
“An international dinner to benefit the Pattie A. Clay Medical Center Foundation is good way to foster the Rotary ideals of community service and building friendships,” he said.
Bill Robinson can be reached at brobinson@richmondregister.com or at 623-1669, Ext. 6702.
