mark.olejniczak@heraldbulletin.com

There is an opportunity next week to experience food and culture from different countries without having to leave Madison County.

International Day 2007 takes place on March 21 at the Madison County 4-H Building in Alexandria from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The event is free.

The festivities, sponsored by the Madison County Extension Homemakers, will feature displays and food from 22 countries.

“This is a great opportunity for all residents to experience cultures from across the world,” Vickie Alkove, a member of the Altruistic extension homemakers association, said. “International Day is a great event to learn some new things, and sample some fantastic recipes.”

Sue Morgan, past president of Madison County Extension Homemakers Association, recalled the International Day event began in 1976.

It started as a way to work with the statewide Indiana Extension Homemaker Association, sending a homemaker to a foreign country to live with another family.

The homemaker would have the opportunity to enjoy another culture and form friendships in another country.

The following a year a visiting homemaker would visit the state of Indiana and travel the entire state interacting with many of the different homemaker associations.

“It allowed homemakers a chance to build friendships with other members across the world,” Morgan said. “Some of these homemakers have managed to keep in touch with each other years later.”

Nancy E. Chamberlain, soon-to-be president of the Jackson Township extension homemaker association, said this event has transformed itself into an educational outlet for everyone in the county.

International Day allows for homemakers from their organizations a chance to decorate colorful displays in the appropriate colors of their chosen country for the event, along with providing interesting facts, and a tasty recipe to complete the experience.

Chamberlain said the Jackson Township organization’s display would be presenting facts about Greece, and a delicious recipe that will feature a Greek pasta.

“The day is truly educational, along with being edible,” Chamberlain said. “International Day is one of the highlights of the year when food and memoirs are shared with new found friends.”