Every year the kids’ school (International School at Moshi – Arusha Branch) has an Internatioanl Day. It is a fund raiser for the school and the different nationalities all have a tent and offer things native to their homeland.
The India contingent offered food, henna tattoos, massage and limb manipulation as well as dresses or tunics to buy. The food was delicious and the sauces ran out quickly. Because there are so many Indian families they had their own tent. The dancers had their own beautiful performance on the stage.
The Americas tent represented the USA, Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Honduras and the Dominican Republic.. When there are not enough of a nationality to support a separate tent they happily combine. Besides having many flags flying, the tent offered flan, chocolate chip cookies, fruit kebobs, chips (called crisps here), lemonade and margaritas.
The Australian tent featured an Aussie barbeque. The grilled half chickens and served it with carrot/cabbage slaw and a flat bread which resembled chipati (a staple here) but was a bread served in the early settlement days in Australia since it need no leavening. Such a tasty meal served with such big smiles.
The Scandinavian tent offered pastries, desserts, big pretzels, freshly fried chips and a Dutch kitchen table offering coffee with a little nip added. This tent had the most colorfully dressed participants. Haven’t seen that much orange on display in awhile.
I think the lasting impression you came away with was how much acceptance for differences there was as well as how much mutual respect. Here’s a picture of the girls with their best friends. Udine(center left) is from Belgium and Dana (center right) is from Israel.
Did I mention the “Bollywood” dancers? They were something else!
Thanks for letting me share.
Sue
No comments:
Post a Comment