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Taipei `pigs out' during international food fair

With ethnic foods from more than twenty different countries, the Taipei American School (TAS) held its 23rd annual International Food Fair yesterday, raising money for Hurricane Katrina victims and once again bringing the international community together in Taipei.

As always, the food fair was organized by members of the Parent Teacher's Association (PTA) of TAS, with parents from many different countries organizing food stands selling homemade cuisine or food from various restaurants sponsoring the event.

charity

According to PTA president Jean Liao (沈欽貞), more than six thousand people visit the fair every year and each year part of the proceeds go to charity.

Liao said that in previous years, money had been donated to victims of earthquakes in Taiwan and Turkey as well as the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in the US. This year, a portion of the proceeds will be donated to Hurricane Katrina victims.

TAS also uses part of the fair's proceeds on school facilities, such as the recent installation of wheelchair ramps on campus.

rare sight

A rare sight in the middle of Taipei with the colorful tents of twenty-eight different countries participating this year, countries such as India, Taiwan, Singapore, Vietnam, the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, France, Italy, Japan and the US brought out their foods and regional specialties to show off to the Taiwanese community.

The Netherlands booth, for example, offered delicacies such as ethnic Dutch coffee, speculaas (Dutch cookies), Dutch licorice, and pea soup, some of which were especially imported from Holland.

Companies such as Carrefour, Tesco, Costco and Nestle sponsored the fair and provided food for the various stands.

fundraising

World Vision also had booths at the event, helping with the fundraising activities by providing games for children.

Performances by TAS students of all ages accompanied the fair, with break-dancing, singing girl scouts and bands.

TAS students themselves also organized games including a haunted house for Halloween, ring tosses, henna tattoos and video games.
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