“It’s always a thrill and a challenge, but the reward is so much better because when someone laughs, they have such a shared experience with you and you hopefully brighten their day a bit.”

Students will have the chance to see Mosallam’s comedic skills in action tonight when he and comedian Meena Dimian of New York perform at 7 p.m. in the Wonders Hall Kiva.

The show is one of this week’s events sponsored by the Arab Cultural Society, or ACS, in honor of Arab Awareness Week.

“We really wanted to give students a chance to experience Arab culture,” said Ruba Farah, chairwoman of ACS and a finance junior.

“You get to learn a lot about the culture and try a lot of things you maybe wouldn’t necessarily try if you haven’t had the chance to.”

In addition to the stand-up comedy Mosallam and Dimian will perform, tonight’s show will feature two short films co-produced by Mosallam. Parts of his show will revolve around his experiences while spending time with his older brother at MSU.

“There should be more awareness brought toward the humanization of Arabs and Arab Americans and I’m glad to be a part of this very great week,” Mosallam said.

You don’t have to be Arab to appreciate the comedy because the jokes are cultural and many people can identify with them, Mosallam said.

“I would encourage people not to attend if they don’t like to laugh and have fun or if they like to sit at home and be boring,” he said. “I really hope that this will foster dialogue in humanizing the Arab experience for people and really bring to light what they don’t hear on the news.”

Arab Awareness Week will close with Aladdin Night at 7 p.m. Friday at the Auditorium field. Students can dance to the sounds of Middle Eastern music and enjoy the ethnic food.

“We will also have hookahs for people who enjoy smoking,” said Nidhal Ghraib, director of media affairs for ACS and a physiology sophomore. “Aladdin Night will have you thinking you are in a Middle Eastern country enjoying the night life.”