Customs such as Mexico’s quinceañera and West Africa’s tamanin – or talking drum – came alive Tuesday evening at the Bridgeport High School cafeteria.

 

BHS French and Spanish clubs hosted the annual International Fair, an interactive experience. First, students, parents and teachers gathered for a meal featuring food items from various countries and cultures. Afterwards, international exchange students, students with international ties and even one student teacher hosted displays which presented lively information about several different lands.

 

Erika Huezo talked about her home country of Mexico. Highlights of the culture, she said, include the quinceañera – celebrated when a girl turns 15 years old.

 

“It’s similar to the ‘Sweet 16” here in the U.S. – celebrating a girl’s transition into womanhood,” said Huezo. “It’s attended by 12 girls and 12 guys and the dresses are really pretty. There’s a guestbook that everyone signs.”

 

Also popular in Mexican culture are games such as loteria – much like bingo – and various colorful, spicy foods. Huezo even provided some for sampling.

 

Madewa Adeniyi has grown up in Bridgeport, but she has stayed connected to her Nigerian roots. Dressed in authentic traditional garb, she played the talking drum for those who visited her station. Also known as the tamanin, the drum features different pitches based on the tightening of the strings. It would be played in western Africa, Adeniyi said, during important events and stage performances. A personal lover of music, Adeniyi said included in her favorites list is the group Midnight Crew from Nigeria. The group blends pop, rap and Christian music. She also talked about western African art.

 

“There’s so much to see in one piece,” she said, demonstrating a piece featuring the nomadic fulani woman carrying water on her head.

 

Myndi Tran has also grown up in America, but both her parents are natives of Vietnam. She shared that Vietnamese foods are delicious and healthy and provided some interactive play with toys from the region, including the flying dragonfly which challenges concentration and balance. She also talked about the áo dài, the elegant formal wear available in a variety of colors and a wedding style.

 

An international exchange student from the Netherlands, Anne Wilmink told those in attendance that like here in Bridgeport, soccer is a big sport in her home country. She has been attending BHS since the beginning of the school year. She shared various other elements of her culture including the traditional Norwegian klomp – or wooden shoe.

 

Daniella Battaglia is a student teacher for Mrs. Deanna Garrett’s French classes. She was proud to take part in Tuesday night’s event and speak about her Sicilian roots. She is from the capital city of Palermo. She explained to students that – much like the U.S. – her country is a melting pot of several cultures resulting from various dominations throughout the years. That cultural blend is evident in everything from dialect and traditions to arts and food. She also shared fun facts about Italian folklore and pop culture. One element of her roots that she observes every single day is the making of espresso, she said.

 

The above is just a sampling of the interesting cultures shared at the BHS Annual International Dinner/Fair. Teachers say it is a hands-on way for students to learn and truly absorb other cultures. In addition to French teacher Deanna Garrett  and Spanish teachers Jenny Santilli and Alicia Kidd, marketing teacher Trina Runner, school counselor Kristina Robinson and dance teacher Alicia Kinsey combined forces to make the event unique and beneficial for those who attended. Kinsey obliged in teaching Salsa dancing. Foreign language students received a “passport” and a stamp for every station visited.

 

Editor’s Note: Photos from top, of Adeniyi, Battaglia, Tran and Kinsey in action are by BHS Journalism Student Andrea Cooper. Look for a full gallery later on Connect-Bridgeport.