This past Saturday at Prem Tinsulandonda International
School, parents, students and teachers shared their countries and cultures
with one another in an International Day to remember. The day’s activities
included booths representing sixteen different countries, a multicultural
music and dance concert performed by student groups, a basketball
tournament, and an unforgettable potluck lunch featuring cuisine from around
the world.
The Parent School Association (PSA) played a huge role in
organizing and setting up the booths. “For the last two years we have
celebrated International Day at Prem and this year the school felt that it
would be a good idea to broaden the scope of the day and get the parent
community more involved,” commented PSA board member Elizabeth Nabnian.
Parents showed tremendous enthusiasm by preparing food, decorating and
running booths and organizing everything from a miniature British teahouse
to American innovations to a choreographed Zimbabwean dance routine.
The atmosphere of the celebration was fun and lively, but
it was also a chance for parents, teachers and students to learn from each
other by sharing their cultural backgrounds. Thai parents set up a brilliant
display including a craft and jewelry sale, a traditional Thai dance
performance and a table set up for children to make lukchup, a colorful Thai
dessert made of soybean paste.
The Japanese booth was also a huge success, featuring
seven different kinds of Japanese food prepared by Prem parents and an
origami table which was enjoyed by children and adults alike. “We had so
much fun at the booth,” explained Yuka Kominato, a Prem ESL teacher and
one of the organizers of the Japanese booth. “Everyone who came up to us
was so curious about how the food was prepared and why we were wearing
fujitas, the traditional summer festival costumes. It was a real cultural
exchange.”
The day ended with a student concert in which, among
other things, the first through fifth grade performed a traditional
Indonesian dance, the Prem string ensemble played American fiddle music and
the choir sang an African piece. The audience responded with rousing
applause, clearly enjoying their musical tour around the world as well as
its message of diversity.
In his closing remarks at the end of the concert, Head of
School Lister Hannah emphasized the significance of celebrating our
diversity in an international community such as ours. “Everyone has put
out so much effort to make this day a success. We’ve really shown the
importance of taking pride in and sharing our own cultures and national
backgrounds while enjoying and so appreciating the cultures of others.”
All of the proceeds from the event will go to the PSA to
fund school projects throughout the year. But this day was about much more
than just fundraising; it was about appreciating diversity and sharing
cultural histories. For one day, Prem parents, students and teachers brought
a truly international community even closer together. Next year, Prem hopes
to open its gates to the public in order to involve the larger Chiangmai
community in this fun-filled celebration of cultural diversity.
At the
Japanese booth, Mr. and Mrs. Fujita serve soba noodles and Japanese rice
crackers to eager students and parents. (Photo by Michael Vogt)
First
through fifth graders perform an Indonesian “monkey” dance. (Photo by
Katherine Voll)
Australians
were represented through street musicians - just the hat was missing. (Photo
by Michael Vogt)
Friendship
bands - only 10 baht ... who could say no? (Photo by Michael Vogt)
This was
probably the most photographed little girl. Sweet, 3-year-old Gaja (K 1)
from Bali in a characteristic Balinese blouse couldn’t care less... (Photo
by Michael Vogt)
20 month
old Jennifer from Switzerland, or was she just a ‘guest’ in Switzerland,
where one could try Swiss cheese and cookies. (Photo by Michael Vogt)
Guilia
Tavernari enjoys some french-fries at the McDonalds stand, part of the
American display. (Photo by Katherine Voll)
Thailand
being the host country was placed right in front of the library and
youngsters in traditional northern clothes were busy with the gongs. (Photo
by Michael Vogt)
Showing
how to make the delicious colorful Thai sweets - ‘lukchup’, a colorful
Thai dessert made of soybean paste - and of course giving out treats to try
was another table in the ‘Thai Corner’. (Photo by Michael Vogt)
I’m
not perfect, I’m Zimbabwean was on their t-shirts, but the dance
performance left nothing to desire whereby the little ones looked almost
like they were straight out of the Flintstone movie... The Zimbabwe crowd
posing in front of their display. (Photo by Michael Vogt)
The
United Kingdom offered games, ‘dress up’, a quiz and a Maypole dance.
(Photo by Michael Vogt)
Banana
bread snapping in the Dutch corner was fun for small and big kids. (Photo by
Michael Vogt)
Taking a
break - Bali style - Cheryl Keegan, college guidance counselor and husband
Steven. (Photo by Michael Vogt)
Ms.
Spudvilas has contributed to the illustrations of several children’s
picture books including In My Backyard, Jenny Angel, Bright Star, The Race,
and Big Cat Dreaming. She has also designed the covers for several Isabel
Carmody books.
Students
were eager to query Ms. Spudvilas about the ins and outs of the publishing
trade and even discovered their own hidden talents for illustration as she
handed out paper and charcoal and led them through a group drawing session.
Anne
Spudvilas, a successful book illustrator from Australia.
