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The scent of raw meat, tropical fruits and vegetables, seafood and hundreds of spices intermingles with the lingering heat and humidity left over from the 100-degree afternoon as vendors begin to preach on behalf of their merchandise and locals gather to drink beer and socialize.
This exotic scene, which is commonplace in Southeast Asia, will be imitated on a smaller scale in Athens tomorrow night.
Ohio University’s first Southeast Asian night market, hosted by the Southeast Asian Studies Association, will offer a recreation of this cultural tradition.
“Night markets are a popular gathering spot for locals and tourists in Southeast Asia,” said Matt Minarchek, a graduate student in OU’s Southeast Asian studies program who lived in Vietnam for a year.
The market environment is loud and intense, said Minarcheck. The air is sticky and there are multiple languages filling the space. Vendors sell anything imaginable — including black-market goods such as knock-off Tommy Hilfiger apparel and DVDs that haven’t been released to the mainstream audiences.
Every spring, the students in the association host an event to bring a piece of Southeast Asian culture to Athens for both those who have never experienced it and those who are longing for the familiarity of home, said Sara Jones, treasurer of the association.
Although there won’t be raw animal carcasses or black-market goods at Athens’ market, there will be free samples of traditional dishes, including Vietnamese goi ga, which is made with shredded chicken, lotus root, peanuts and mint; Indonesian dumplings with shrimp, chicken and veggies; Thai tea and tropical fruits and vegetables, Jones said.
Traditional performances by a Cambodian dance troupe from Columbus, Indonesian performers from OU and traditional games and puppetry will be demonstrated, Jones said. There will also be a souvenir booth featuring items from Southeast Asia donated by students and faculty. Proceeds from the items sold will go towards the medical expenses of a Chinese graduate student undergoing cancer treatment, Jones said.
The market is a great opportunity to experience the culture and talk with people from around the world and is OU's attempt at replicating this widespread Southeast Asian tradition for Athens, Minarchek said.
“Night markets are traditional in Southeast Asia because during the day the sun is scorching and night offers a release from the severe heat,” said Angela Predisik, president of the association. “People are livelier, ready to socialize — the whole atmosphere is colorful and dynamic.”
Website Source: http://www.thepost.ohiou.edu/Articles/Culture/2008/04/18/23897/
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