Students from around the world, working in the Bethany Beach area this summer, were able to enjoy all-American foods and games — even a jovial magician — at the 17th annual International Student Welcome to the Community Picnic on Tuesday evening.
Welcoming them at St. Martha’s Episcopal Church were emergency personnel, police officers and representatives from Beebe Healthcare, who socialized with them and threw beanbags for cornhole games in the parking lot.
Picnic organizer Bill Gay was by the door, smiling as he greeted guests and invited them to fill plates with hotdogs, baked chicken, macaroni-and-cheese, pizza, green salad, watermelon, bananas, oranges, cookies, cakes and brownies, and potato salad to which Yana Akulich of Slovakia quickly gave two thumbs up.
“It’s so good. We have it in my country, but it’s different. It doesn’t taste the same,” she said.
The 20-year-old, who’s working at Bethany Surf Shop, was at a table with other students working there, as well. She had only been in the United States 10 days and said she felt it was too soon to determine how she liked it, but her job, she said, “is not too tough, because I like working with the customers.”
Tania Rakhmanchik of Belarus is in the United States for the second time and said she was pleased to be back.
“The people are so nice,” she said.
“It…
