A variety of activities have been scheduled on Monday through Thursday, April 5-8, to commemorate Asian Awareness Week at HopeCollege.

The week is coordinated by Hope's Asian Perspective Association (HAPA), a student organization working in conjunction with the college's Office of Multicultural Education.

The public is invited to all of the four events. Admission is free except for the Asian Food Festival on Wednesday, April 7.

The week will begin with a Sushi Night hosted in collaboration with the Japan Club on Monday, April 5, at 7 p.m. in the Maas Center auditorium. Attendees will be able to make their own sushi rolls and view the movie "Departures" ("Okuribito") a dramatic Japanese film about a cellist who takes a job preparing the dead for their funerals.

Students who have studied abroad in various Asian countries will reflect on their experiences during a panel discussion on Tuesday, April 6, at 6:30 p.m. in the first floor rotunda of the MarthaMillerCenter for Global Communication.   The event will include cookies and punch.

Participants will have an opportunity to taste a variety of Asian dishes on Wednesday, April 7, from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the annual Asian Food Festival hosted at both Phelps and Cook halls. Meals during the festival are $5 for those not on the college meal plan, who may participate at the Phelps dining hall.

The week will conclude with the band "Tim Be Told" performing on Thursday, April 8, at 8 p.m. in the DeWitt Center Kletz.  Combining elements of pop, rock and soul, "Tim Be Told" consists of songwriter and frontman Tim Ouyang, guitarist and backing vocalist Luan Nguyen, lead guitarist Andrew Chae, bassist Parker Stanley and drummer Jim Barredo. The band is currently touring in support of its latest recording.  "I write about God, about love, disappointment, disbelief, faith, and hope," says Ouyang of his songwriting. "The goal is to use experiences from my life to tell a greater story of human experience that everyone can relate to; and perhaps help find some peace and resolve in a world that is often chaotic and lonely."

The DeWitt Center is located at 141 E. 12th St., facing Columbia Avenue at 12th Street.  The Maas Center is located at 264 Columbia Ave., on Columbia Avenue at 10th Street.  The MarthaMillerCenter for Global Communication is located at 257 Columbia Ave., at Columbia Avenue and 10th Street.