Beneath an unfurled "Welcome to the World" banner, students from around the globe gathered in the HUB yesterday to enjoy everything from Greek baklava to traditional Japanese kimonos to handpainted Taiwanese fans.

The 16th Annual International Fair merged food and cultures of 25 member organizations of the International Student Council and attracted nearly 4,000 visitors.

Sponsored by ISC and the Office of International Students, the international community turned the HUB into a myriad of food tables, arts and crafts sales, cultural exhibits and children's games. International music played in the background.

Stanley Mkhize, a member of the African Student Association, said many people not familiar with his country's food liked it enough to keep coming back for more.

Mkhize, who is from South Africa, was running his country's table along with two other South African students, Lindi Maseko and Sipho Hlophe.

Maseko said people really enjoyed the "couscous," a dish made from cornmeal. And the banana bread also sold quickly, Hlophe said.

Costello, in charge of organizing the fair along with ISC President Abbas Aminmansour, said: "This is the event that people ask about. This is the one that the community likes the most."

Cultural exhibits lined the first floor of the HUB, displaying such items as handpainted paper fans from Taiwan and books about Bob Marley from the Caribbean Student Association.

The HUB ground floor housed the arts and crafts of the fair. People browsed through tables filled with clothing, jewelry and sculptures from around the world.

"Every year it gets better. And the best part is the ambiance where people are speaking different languages and wearing different clothes," said Jo Searles, an English professor at the University.

People could also learn how to write their names in Thai or try on a traditional Japanese kimono and pose for a photograph.

'This is my first year at the fair," said Mari Ueno, a member of the Japanese Friendship Association. "I didn't know what to expect, but I am pleased."

Peter Gitau, a member of the African Student Association, was displaying tapestries, jewelry and sculptures made by members of the Akamba and Zulu tribes at his table.

Gitau added that people were most interested in how the sculptures he had on display were made.

In the HUB Fishbowl, the Community International Hospitality Council had games and entertainment for children like the Penn State International Dancers and the Penn State Juggling Club.

"The parents can look around and their children can be busy in here with the games," said Mary Boyer, the program coordinator for the CIHC.

Boyer said they expected about 300 children to stop in for pasting, cutting and creating and balloons. The games this year were not from around the world.

"We would like it that way, but it doesn't always work out," she said.

Last spring the fair, held in the HUB, ran smoothly despite some technical difficulties, she said.

Yet no problems seemed to plague this year's fair as ISC T-shirts and tickets were sold at a phenomenal rate.

"I didn't expect so many people," said Sylvia Colby (sophomore-German).

Suzanne Peppell (sophomore-English) said she was astonished by the successful turnout for this year's fair.

"I am happily surprised at the interest in the community for foreign things," Peppell said.

Because international students are the largest and most diverse group at the University, Aminmansour said every year the event is a success.