ISO Creates a Home for International Students at Grinnell

The competing aromas of foods from around the world greeted a stream of people entering the Harris Center, lined up for the International Student Organization’s most popular annual event, the ISO Food Bazaar.

Excited and exhausted international students in tall white chef’s hats waited to serve a dish from their home countries, which they had labored over for hours to prepare, using ingredients provided by the ISO. Finally, the dishes were ready, and the hungry crowd was eager to sample the food.

The Food Bazaar is the ISO’s best-known and best-loved event. Every year, it draws a huge crowd. “People love it,” says ISO President Jivyaa Vaidya ’23. At the most recent Food Bazaar in November 2022, the ISO had 48 dishes from countries around the world.

But it’s all worth it, she says. You can see the happy faces and the people eating, chatting, and connecting with each other. “I loved how everyone just came together for this event,” she says. “[The students] were so proud.”

Vaidya is a senior from India with a double major in economics and Chinese. Besides her leadership role in ISO, she’s also the Student Government Association’s vice president of academic affairs. It makes for a busy schedule, but it’s all good fun, Vaidya says.

When she arrived at Grinnell as a first-year student, Vaidya says she immediately felt at home thanks to the welcoming community of international students here. “The international students just bond,” she says.

It wasn’t long before Vaidya got involved with ISO. By her third year, she won a special mid-year election to be ISO treasurer. Now, as a senior, she leads the ISO cabinet as president.

“I was so excited to be able to work with these people,” Vaidya says. “I became such good friends with each one of them. I just love the family that had been created out of, not just the cabinet, but the international student body.”

Besides the Food Bazaar, ISO also sponsors Cultural Evening, where student performers can show off their talents. Performances run the gamut from dance to music, singing, skits, and more. Typically, Cultural Evening features about 20 to 25 performances. The next Cultural Evening is coming up on April 15 — offering a relaxing break as finals and the end of semester approach.

ISO also sponsors many smaller informational and fun events throughout the year. As an international student, you’ll get special ISO care packages during Finals Week with food and treats from your home country. You can also participate in scavenger hunts, study breaks, collaborations with other multicultural organizations, and more.

Beyond the events, the food, and the fun, ISO’s most important role is to create a home for international students at Grinnell. “I have always believed that students understand students best,” Vaidya says. “We will make you feel special. We will make you feel loved to the best of our abilities.

“We are here for you, not just to give you events and fun — we are here for you because we think of you as our own family,” Vaidya says.