Written by Beth Mlady
From food to fun to energetic dances, the third annual Big Creek Elementary School International Fair had it all.
A large crowd sampled from tables loaded with families’ homecooked foods representing a multitude of cultures during the Friday evening (Feb. 3) event. The countries included Palestine, the Dominican Republic, Ukraine, Korea, Lebanon, India, Ireland, Poland, Afghanistan, the United States, Puerto Rico, China, Romania and Colombia.
Many students shared on stage a glimpse into their singing and dancing customs. From young to old, family members came dressed in the attire of their heritage, providing a vibrant palette of colorful clothing to admire.
Diane Cola, an English Language (EL) tutor at Big Creek, said events such as this “open our students’ eyes to everybody.”
“They are so inclusive and accepting of all types of people because that’s who they’re with all day long, and it’s wonderful,” Cola said. “They gain an appreciation for other languages and other cultures.
“I hope tonight they take away the appreciation of how we’re all so different, but we’re all so much the same,” she added.
For one Lebanese “tita” (grandmother), the fair was simply “amazing.”
“This is the first time in a public school that I’ve attended an event like this, and I’m very impressed,” Tita Mosham said. “It’s important. You can just see the energy in the atmosphere.
“It’s warm and giving. I love it.”