22 October 2014-
It's a big day at IST…today the school is celebrating cultural diversity. You're supposed to dress up in your country's costume (or some other country as you will see) and share a national dish with your classmates, staff and teachers. How dare you want to display your country's flag on your person! Naturally, wearing flags is prohibited.
{if you can't tell, I'm being completely sarcastic! Why on EARTH aren't the students allowed to display their country's flag? Why shouldn't they share it with pride? Some of us don't come from cultures where there is a distinct costume. I. Am. Not. Happy. about this stupid decision. It's a little thing that was blown out of proportion. I do understand that they are trying to focus on we're all UNITED (and display the UN Flag) but why DENY students the right to display their own flag? I'm truly disappointed in the school's decision on this. Who knows? Maybe I'm the only one that found this rule degrading and undermining ….this should also be a celebration of cultural differences.}
What did Annika dress up as????
A KIWI of course!
(well, to the best of her ability to look like a New Zealander. My apologies to Clint and Shell):
I *love* it, Annika!!!!
And Ava???
A Snaggle-toothed American child….complete with tie-dyed shirt!
And then at the school…
Annika is the flag bearer for her class:
Hi, Ava!
Annika and Chae Rin (Annika is holding the UN flag):
Chinese staff all dressed up in beautiful qipaos:
Frances and Corinna (both represent Germany):
Oh. My. Goodness. Check out this little boy's hair!!!!
The near-by Japanese school joined us for the festivities:
The entire school "parades" around a loop in front of the school. I've yet to figure out who the parade is for….
There's Ava! (walking and chatting with Clara):
Annika following Ms. Holloway (her science teacher)…do you see Mimi?
Annika and Chae Rin:
Chinese gawkers…on the other side of the fence. You know- why isn't the parade out on the streets for the Chinese to enjoy? It'd probably be very interesting and perhaps enlightening to the Chinese families living in this area to see all the different cultures represented here. It seems kind of sad to exclude them. (although, I can understand why this likely will not happen. It's a completely different world outside the gates of the school. I'm not saying it's bad…just different and potential issues could arise causing safety concerns.):
Parade is done? Check.
Next up? Watching festivities in the theater. Ava already found a seat! (Where the heck am I going to sit? At the VERY back most corner.)
First up…the Japanese school playing the drums. Makes your heart thump loudly!
A family doing Indian dances:
Korean girls dancing with fans:
And now looking like flowers. How pretty!
The French show just CRACKED ME UP! It really hit the right spot on my funny bone. Nicely done! (had to do with the fact that the French *really* love to strike):
Some of the Chinese staff did the famous Little Apple song (which you can hear just everywhere you go here in China):
These two young gentlemen demonstrated the art of doing graphic art to music (I think this is actually a Japanese art form but I can't remember the name). Super fun to watch:
Jen…wondering if there will be enough food to feed the masses of starving children, staff, teachers and maybe even the odd ball parent or two. (the answer is: yes.)And that was UN Day 2014.