Cultural fair showcases Asian-Pacific American Heritage Published May 21, 2009 By Wayne Crenshaw 78th Air Base Wing Public Affairs ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. -- Organizers of the Asian- Pacific American Heritage Cultural Fair at Robins on Friday were expecting to feed about 75 people, but instead they had twice that many show up. Some had to be turned away from lines for lunch boxes after the food ran out, said Senior Master Sgt. Theresa Chan, who led the group of about 60 people who organized the event. They ended up handing out about 130 bento boxes, she said, which included either teriyaki chicken or bulgogi beef. The lunch boxes of Asian cuisine were available, but those who attended also got to try free samples from tables representing a wide variety of nations. The cultures featured included Thailand, the Philippines, China, Japan, Vietnam, Samoa, Korea and India. Sergeant Chan said many people were surprised to learn that India is a part of Asia. That made her happy, she said, because educating people about Asian culture is part of the purpose of the event. "I thought it went great," she said of the fair. "A lot of people loved it. They started asking us when we are going to do it again." May is Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, and the group recognizes it each year with a banquet. They had not had the fair in several years and this year the group decided to try it. Sergeant Chan said they hope to start having it every year, and next year will plan to feed a lot more people. Gloria Cisse, a civilian employee at Robins, normally doesn't eat Asian food, she said, but she stopped by to sample some of the offerings. "I can't tell you what this is but it's delicious," she said as she tried a few bites of a noodle dish. "I thought this would be a great opportunity to absorb a little bit about someone else's culture." Sergeant Chan said there may be an increased interest in Asian food as people try to eat healthier. "I think a lot of people are looking for alternatives to fried food and fast food," she said. The festival wasn't just about food. It featured a program that included Tahitian, Samoan and Philipino dancing. The banquet is set for May 29 at 6 p.m. at the Base Restaurant. The Lion Dancers of Atlanta will perform. For tickets call Capt. Jesse Herrera at 926-7807; Iva Gibbs at 926-9845; Tech. Sgt. Lawrence Laurine at 201-2346; Rosita Aquino at 222-2497; 1st Lt. Jennifer Fillmore at 327-3429; Senior Master Sgt. Theresa Chan at 327-7989 or Sonia Thompson at 953-5536