Sofia Bellon | Staff writer
Bringing holiday spirit with Caribbean flair to FIU on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024, FIU’s Caribbean Students Association (CSA) hosted an end-of-year Christmas banquet at MMC’s GC Faculty Club.
The banquet boasted delicious food, great music, and an amazing atmosphere.
This Christmas banquet was an event planned by the CSA for students and alumni to come together, dress to impress, and celebrate the holidays with their peers. It was open to all FIU students with alumni, faculty, and non-students welcome as well.
The banquet, featuring live music performances from steel pan player Demetry Joseph, a set of popular Caribbean music by DJ Raheem, and catering from Golden Krust Caribbean Restaurant, was a sparkling celebration of Caribbean heritage on campus.
A festive atmosphere encouraged attendees to socialize and connect with their peers as they ate classic Caribbean dishes like brown stewed and curried chicken, rice and peas, and fried sweet plantains, and enjoyed the live music.
The creation of a fun and safe space to meet new people is a long-term goal kept in mind by CSA presidents for generations.
Former CSA president and current International Business masters student Kayla Bahri said that it’s all about community support.
“I came to keep the tradition going, to come as an alumni and support my CSA regardless.
“Hosting our banquet is a lot of work but it’s a lot of fun. You can see how much love and dedication goes into it,” said Bahri.
Current CSA president, sophomore Melini Gosine, shares this sentiment.
She talked about the importance of the Caribbean Student Association at an international school like FIU and the role the association plays in creating a community for Caribbean students.
“This club has provided me with a piece of home at FIU, understanding there’s more people like me coming together,” said Gosine.
Aakash Gobia, a political science student of Trinidadian heritage, attended to support the association and celebrate the holidays with his friends.
“You get to meet other people and be somewhere your culture is appreciated,” he said.
Members of the CSA saw the celebration as not only an exciting way of closing out the year, but also a promising beginning for what the new year held. Members were also pleased with the successful turnout, voicing their contentment for the growth of the club.
“It makes me so excited to see people come out and support us,” said Gosine.
“We have so many new events coming up… We’ve been planning a lot already for the events of CSA week next year,” she said.
As the semester comes to a close and seniors get ready to graduate, the CSA banquet was a gathering that brought students together to foster the lifelong connections forged through the association.
“It’s a family,” said Bahri.
“We come from different islands but all become brothers and sisters. If you’re looking for a West Indian, Caribbean family on campus, if you feel like you’re homesick, it’s a home away from home. It’s an opportunity to make friends for the rest of your life.”
Any students interested in the Caribbean Student Association can find details for upcoming events, volunteer opportunities, and more community parties like this one through their Instagram.
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