JAMBI — On the evening of September 25, 2025, the warm, fragrant air around the home of Dion Ginanto, Coordinator of the International Service Center (PLKI) at UIN Sulthan Thaha Saifuddin Jambi, carried more than the scent of simmering spices. It carried a quiet intention: to bring cultures closer through food.
The gathering, attended by Sudanese students currently studying in Jambi, was designed as an intimate introduction to Indonesian culinary heritage. Rather than a formal presentation or structured workshop, the event unfolded in a way that felt distinctly domestic — a shared meal, lively conversation, and dishes passed from hand to hand across a long table.
The purpose, organizers said, was twofold: to introduce Indonesia’s diverse traditional foods and to create a space where cultural understanding could emerge naturally. “Food is often the easiest doorway into a new culture,” Dion explained during the evening. “When people sit together and share what they eat at home, they begin to understand each other in ways that go beyond language.”
Students from Sudan brought dishes from their own regions, creating a cross-cultural spread that reflected both familiarity and discovery. Indonesian staples — from spicy sambal to fragrant coconut-based dishes — were placed alongside Sudanese home-style cooking. The exchange prompted conversations about ingredients, cooking methods, and memories of meals shared with family back home.
For many of the Sudanese students, the experience offered a comforting bridge between their daily life in Indonesia and the traditions they grew up with. Several noted that Indonesian food, though flavorful and varied, can feel unfamiliar at first. Sharing dishes from both cultures helped ease that transition.
The evening’s informal format was intentional. Organizers hoped that by removing the structure of a formal event, students would feel more at ease, allowing conversations to flow naturally. Laughter punctuated the gathering as participants compared spice levels, debated the best way to prepare rice, and exchanged stories about festive meals in their respective countries.
By the end of the night, the table had become a symbol of what the organizers envisioned: a meeting point where cultural differences were not obstacles but invitations. The event, modest in scale, hinted at a larger ambition — to cultivate deeper intercultural understanding within the university community.
As the plates were cleared and guests prepared to leave, Dion reflected on the significance of such gatherings. “Introducing food is just the beginning,” he said. “But it’s a beginning that matters. When students feel seen, welcomed, and understood, they thrive — both academically and personally.”
The organizers plan to continue similar cultural exchange activities, hoping to build a tradition of shared learning that extends beyond the classroom and into the everyday lives of international students in Jambi.
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