Walking into our school’s gymnasium this week felt less like going to class and more like boarding a plane for a trip around the world. Our School’s multicultural fair was finally here, and it was very vibrant with many colors, music, and history. As a freshman, seeing the gymnasium transformed into a global kind of festival was one of the coolest experiences of the year so far. The level of detail in the exhibits was truly fascinating to me. At the Albania and Kosovo booth, a student stood very proudly in a traditional red and white vest surrounded by artifacts like the qeleshe ( traditional white felt hat) and a miniature statue of the hero Skanderbeg. Right next door, Bangladesh offered some beautiful henna tattoos, with amazing designs that many can’t do because of how talented the artists are!

The Middle Eastern tables were equally as amazing as the other ones. Syria and Palestine are right next to each other; the students for Syria wore traditional clothing called a Thobe to represent their country, along with a keffiyeh. They also included at their table some sweets, such as Baklava and Barazek. It wasn’t just looking at things, but also looking at all the ancient artifacts on the tables and seeing the beauty of the country. One of the best parts of the fair was how hands-off everything felt. Some of the tables looked like they were made by hand, but not noticeable, but of the time and effort put into some things. At the Egypt table, there was a realistic model of a pyramid; it looked like a student must have made it or put it together. It was a model of a pyramid and golden artifacts that looked like they could belong in a museum. Nearby, other tables were set for Turkey. You could see a miniature of the Taj Mahal (representing the connection of Islamic architecture) and Beautiful Turkish Tea sets.

The African exhibits, including Zambia and Ghana, were a highlight for many. They displayed amazing wood carvings of animals like leopards and elephants, along with traditional drums. You could hear the rhythm of different cultures echoing as you passed by. Making it look so cool and unique. Beyond the cool artifacts and the bright colors, the multicultural fair taught us something important. It was very inspiring to see students step out of their roles as students and become the presenters, sharing family traditions and pride with the rest of us. For just 45 minutes, we weren’t freshmen, sophomores, juniors, or seniors. We were all tourists traveling around the world to discover, get inspiration, and mostly have fun in such unique cultures and traditions.