Usually, one would have to travel across the world to taste Chinese bamboo beans, write in Egyptian hieroglyphics, learn his or her name in Farsi and dance with Mexican rain sticks.

However, this past Saturday, these cultural activities could all be found during the annual International Children's Festival at State College High School.

The festival, sponsored by Global Connections and International Student Services, aimed to bring both international and local children together to share with each other their diverse backgrounds.

Many Penn State students joined the fun and spent hours on Saturday volunteering at the event.

"Ours is an incredibly international community, but very often we live in different worlds," Merrill David, Global Connections executive director, said. "For kids and adults, activities like these help on a local and global scale."

Children donning "Citizen of the World" passports watched international dance and music performances.

A Chinese dancer in traditional dress shimmied across stage waving a fan. Turkish dancers performed with scarves. Boys demonstrated their Kung Fu moves.

Indian children sang classical songs in the traditional position -- sitting down and keeping rhythm with their hands. Taiwanese yo-yo performers wowed the audience with tricks, spinning yo-yos over their heads and behind their backs.

The daughter of State College resident Kristi Mahrt performed in one of the Chinese dances.

"My older daughter is in Happy Valley Chinese School because her younger sister is adopted from China," Mahrt said. "We are all trying to learn Chinese."

At different stations, some volunteers taught children to write their names in Chinese, Farsi, Singhalese and Arabic.

Children created their own Mexican rain sticks, German friendship bracelets and Taiwanese paper lanterns.

Children also received henna body paintings, collected stamps from across the world and played Russian chess.

Children tasted foods like Chinese bamboo beans and Japanese manju during the World Finger-Food Competition.

Dan Seals (senior-crime, law and justice), who volunteered at the event, said he thought the festival and food competition gave kids new cultural experiences.

"It's an opportunity for kids to see things they wouldn't normally," he said.

Anthony Souza (senior-history) came to the festival with his fraternity, Phi Mu Delta, to help set up for the fair and to run a table where children could color in their passports.

"We like to volunteer in the community when it's available," he said. "It's one of our ideals."

Lulu Yarber, one of the children at the festival, enjoyed the station run by the Japanese Friendship Association.

"My favorite part of the day was fishing for Japanese yo-yos," she said.

Yarber's mother, Sarah Schwartz, took her daughter to the festival so she could learn about other cultures.

"I wanted her to be involved in the activities so she realizes the world is rounder than the flat world of State College," she said.

Pi Delta Psi members wore a Chinese lion costume and danced to the beat of a drum.

"We learned this in New York City," Vinny Wong, Pi Delta Psi member, said. "It's a Chinese tradition, mainly for the Chinese New Year."

Some elements of United States' culture were also included. Penn State's Urban Dance Troupe danced to Ciara's "1, 2 Step."

Meghan Benya (senior-psychology) volunteered at the United States station along with members of her service fraternity, Alpha Phi Omega.

"We made star wreaths and wooden flags," Benya said. "We enjoy being around the kids."