Culture, cuisine, costumes highlight annual International Fair Published May 5, 2017 By Amy Rollins Skywrighter Staff FAIRBORN, Ohio -- Hundreds of people from the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base community took a trip around the world April 25 during the annual International Fair, held at the Holiday Inn in Fairborn and organized by the International Spouses Group. The annual event celebrates the cultures, crafts, clothing, folklore and cuisine of many of the base’s partner nations. Ticket proceeds benefit scholarships for international students attending college in the United States. Countries represented at the fair included Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Egypt, Germany, Greece, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Korea, Laos, Mexico, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Thailand, Turkey and the United Kingdom. Performances included drummers from Japan, singers from Mexico, dancers from the Philippines and a food carving demonstration from Thailand. People walked from table to table, sampling the many cuisines and admiring the native costumes. “This is the way we represent all the countries,” said Inma Kusnierek, a native of Madrid who has served as chair of the ISG event for a decade. “We are united. It’s a great friendship. We thank all the local community and Wright-Patterson Air Force Base for hosting a lot of internationals. Some of them live in wonderful neighborhoods and they are welcomed with open arms.” She said she enjoys the smiles on everyone’s faces at the event, and she thanked the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center and Air Force Materiel Command for their support. Galit Maman from Israel served as co-chair of the event for the first time. “All the (representatives from) countries are excited, and there is excitement in the air,” she said. Canadian Michelle Hopko assisted with the fair and said she enjoyed the food and entertainment. “Experiencing the foods and the culture from around the world is right here in our own backyard,” she said. “Every country here loves to share. Now I want to travel so much further.” Egypt was the newest country to participate, all thanks to one man who cooked five large pans of koshari by himself. Lt. Col. Ahmed Hassan of the Egyptian Air Force said he participated in the event so he could say hello and share his traditional dish on what is a national holiday in his country — Sinai Liberation Day. “I am here without my family, so I cooked all night for this,” he said. “I like this event because of all the friendship.” The ISG was established 37 years ago to support members as they adjust to life in the United States. “It is a wonderful, wonderful thing,” Kusnierek said.