In the next two weeks, you can: eat dim sum, learn to belly dance, play Mah Jong and have your hand decorated with mehndi (henna paste), all without leaving the Homewood campus. They're all part of the student-run "CultureFest '98: Discovering Our Stories," a celebration of the great diversity that comprises the Hopkins community.

The 11th annual event, which kicks off on Garland Field at noon on Friday, Nov. 6, will offer an array of lectures, performances, forums, films, food shows and more that showcase the cultures, activities and lifestyles of the university population. Co-chairs are Naudia Lauder and Sally Kim.

Discussion topics include "It's a Gay World After All," "Diversity in Corporate America," "Affirmative Action = Equal Opportunity?" and "The Congo Crisis."

Among the highlights are a Nov. 12 charity concert with Mountain Brothers, America's hottest all-Asian hip-hop group, and DJ Rekha; and the Nov. 13 celebration of Diwali Dhamaaka, the Hindu festival of lights, which last year drew more than 400 people.

For this week's activities, see "CultureFest" in the Gazette Calendar. For more information about the event, call the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs at 410-516-5435.