Sample Asian culture at Benedictine fest

Shrimp, beef or vegetables? Scallion, ground beef or shallot? Boil, fry or steam?

There are many ways to make authentic Chinese dumplings, and each yields a different result. Boiling in a large quantity of water allows the wrappers to absorb plenty of moisture and expand as they cook. It also keeps the exterior moist and tender and is the best choice if the dumplings will be floated in a bowl of soup.

But perhaps you prefer to fry? Maybe you've never attempted dumplings at all?

Dumpling-making, kung fu-fighting, guzheng-playing and costume-wearing are just a few of the activities that will amaze, thrill and educate friends and neighbors when Benedictine University's Asia Institute presents the fifth annual Festival of Asia from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 20, at the Krasa Student Center on the Lisle campus, 5700 College Road.

The Festival of Asia is a rich, entertaining experience that showcases Asian culture and tradition. The festival includes authentic Asian cuisine, displays of musicianship and martial arts, and an Asian costume fashion show and contest.

The fashion show and costume contest features a score of Benedictine students, faculty and staff garbed in their best go-to-temple garb, including Chinese Qipao, Japanese kimono and Vietnamese dress.

“China has 56 ethnic minority groups and each of them has a very distinctive costume style,” said Elsie Yuan, director of the Asia Institute at Benedictine.

“This is our first year holding a costume competition, and I expect we will see a variety of costumes representing different areas and cultures throughout Asia.”

Master Yang Chen, an expert in Shaolin-style kung fu, and students from the Illinois Shaolin Kung Fu School will demonstrate several different types of authentic kung fu. Students will also demonstrate the use of such weapons as nun chunks and staffs.

“Kung fu, in particular, and martial arts, in general, are popular in Asia because not only do they maximize a person's potential to protect themselves from harm, they also make a person's mind stronger and give them more confidence and optimism,” said Amanda Schmidt, administrative assistant in the Asia Institute.

Two Benedictine students who received Chinese government scholarships to study in China for a semester will share their experiences, and Chinese language students from Naperville Central and Naperville North high schools will perform and participate in the fashion competition.

The festival also will include displays of Asian art and musicianship, including a performance on a traditional Chinese instrument called a guzheng by Benedictine University student Yingbo He. He is a student in the master of science in accounting program who has been playing the guzheng since 1998.

Admission to the event is $15, which includes a buffet lunch. For details or to register, contact Benedictine University's Asia Institute at (630) 829-1163 or aschmidt@ben.edu.