By Lori BODNAR, intern

Mountain Avenue Elementary students and their families learned about various cultures from around the world at the school’s inaugural Culture Night. Volunteers chose a country that they wanted to represent, then set up a booth with ethnic foods, decorations, native costumes, folk music, plus flags and informational facts about that country. On some of the countries several families worked together, and some even included interactive activities such as writing in calligraphy logograms of Korean or Chinese characters, making Mexican dance masks, or learning how to play unusual native instruments. Some volunteers with dual ancestry chose to represent more than one country at their booth.

A wide variety of food was found at the Culture Night. At the Philippines booth guests dined on pan de ube, lumpia shanghai and chicken asado siopao; the Taiwan booth featured boba green tea, boba milk tea, and popcorn chicken. India’s booth offered mango lassi, samosa, chanachoor and chicken tikka.

Besides the sampling of authentic foods from the various cultures, there was also a live performance. Students took to the stage to perform cultural songs, skits or dances from the country they were representing. Included was an exhibition of Tae Kwon Do, a performance of the Mexican Hat Dance, a Greek/Egyptian dance, and Indian music played on the piano.

Desiree Dziurgot, a PTA volunteer, was the organizer of the Culture Night.

“One of the best parts of this event was seeing not only the students and their parents, but their grandparents too,” said Dziurgot. “Culture Night was a celebration for the whole family. It filled my heart with joy to see the special things that each culture brought in to represent their country. We all learned new things, tasted delicious ethnic foods, and were entertained by the talented performers.”

Principal Jaclyn Scott attended the event with her family.

“Our first cultural night was very successful. I am so thankful to the PTA for organizing such a beautiful event to see the different cultures,” she said. “It was a night full of celebrating cultures and is a night to remember.”

The children also had fun learning about the different cultures, tasting the various ethnic food and performing.

“I liked that we could try different food and see the different cultures,” said second grader Katelyn Galoostian. “I liked the dances and skits as well.”

Katelyn performed the Icelandic dance with Suzanna Bodnar, Laura Lund and Amitas. 

Andrew Oh is a fifth grade student.

“I liked that lots of people learned about other cultures than their own and got to like other cultures,” he said.

“We had meat and kimbap at the South Korea table,” Eliot Chun said. ‘Kimbap is Korean sushi.

Cora Dziurgot, Harper Goldsworthy and Samantha Cicuto were helping other kids to make masks, as well as sporting some beautiful Venetian Carnival masks and costumes. Several other students were dressed up in authentic costumes, such as Khaleesi Holguin, Kai-lan Holguin, Valentina Luna, and Xyla Axman, who danced the Mexican Hat Dance.

The event was success with attendee learning a lot about other cultures, enjoying delicious ethnic food, and socializing with friends and family.

  Lori BODNAR