Every Friday at the corner of Elizabeth and Plum, inside the International House, a mixture of cultures, talents, ideas — and sometimes food — come together. On Friday at 6 p.m., Fort Collins International Center, hosted the Friday Afternoon Club (FAC) potluck, as they do the last Friday of every month during the year.

The weekly event is for all students, international and domestic, as well as community members who wish to attend.

“It’s open to anyone who wants to come,” said Nancy Sturtevant, volunteer coordinator for FCIC.

According to Sturtevant, the locations for FACs have changed over the years, but they have always been held at a Colorado State facility. The weekly events started in the 1970s and has had involvement from the FCIC, and the Office of International Programs.

Nakayla Lestina, a junior majoring in rangeland ecology, is a new volunteer for the center, and has attended the FACs for about a year.

“I came to interact with international students,” Lestina said.

Jean Griswold, a volunteer with FCIC and Fort Collins community member, lived in Turkey with her husband for six years and continues her interest in learning about other cultures by volunteering with the center.

“It was our living abroad that led me to look for the Turkish students, and then that led me to getting acquainted with other international students,” Griswold said.

Students who attend get to learn about each other and hang out in an informal way, according to Griswold.

Lan Nguyen, an economics senior from Vietnam, was among those in attendance at Friday’s gathering. Nguyen said she enjoyed coming to the events and likes making connections and learning from the people she meets there.

“It is a place like home,” Nguyen said. “People say ‘hi’ to each other, smile and care.”

Collegian Reporter Megan Fischer can be reached at news@collegian.com or on Twitter @MegsFischer04.