Media cover 32nd annual Culturefest 

WABI (Channel 5) and WVII (Channel 7) reported on the 32nd annual Culturefest hosted by the University of Maine Office of International Programs and International Student Association. The family-friendly event featured international cultural exhibits, food, children’s activities, a style show and performances. “It takes weeks and weeks to prepare it,” Orlina Boteva, director of the Office of International Programs at UMaine, told WABI. “A lot of our student volunteers cooked all day yesterday, all night, and this morning. They’re so excited to be here. People who have never met in our community, whether they’re from Maine or around the U.S. or around the world, get to talk to each other and bond and create relationships.” Boteva told WVII about 1,500 people attend the event annually. “It’s a wonderful opportunity for relationship-building and meeting people from a country you may have not heard of or don’t know a lot about. For me personally, it’s all about creating friendships,” she said.