Thirteen countries, 39 dishes and close to 300 hungry, curious attendees turned a school gathering into a world tour recently, as Our Lady of Mount Carmel School held its first-ever Global Village. Families filled the event to share the food, traditions and heritage that make up their own backgrounds, turning what could have been a simple potluck into a schoolwide celebration of where everyone comes from.
According to San Mateo Daily Journal, the inaugural event brought together families to share traditions, cuisine and heritage, with 13 countries represented and a spread of 39 distinct dishes. The newspaper reported that the gathering drew nearly 300 attendees, a strong turnout for a first-year event at the school.
A Family Affair at the Philippines Booth
Among the families who stepped up to represent their roots were Natalie and Matt Lashinsky, who hosted the Philippines booth. The same report notes that the Lashinskys celebrated their Filipino heritage by sharing traditional Filipino cuisine and culture with the broader school community.
The event fostered cultural appreciation, understanding and unity among students and families.
Part of a Broader Tradition of Cultural Showcases
Events built around the Global Village name are not unique to Belmont. In Amherst, Massachusetts, a similarly named festival aims to bring together individuals from all backgrounds, encouraging dialogue and understanding while highlighting the rich tapestry of global cultures in a fun and engaging environment, according to the town's own description on amherstma.gov. Elsewhere, students at Rock Bridge High School hold an annual week of cultural appreciation also called Global Village, using dance, fashion and cuisine to represent different heritages, as detailed by Bearing News.
Those comparisons suggest Our Lady of Mount Carmel is tapping into a format that other school communities have used for years to get students and parents talking across cultural lines. For a first-time event, pulling in 13 countries and nearly 300 attendees is a notable showing, and it gives the school a template it can build on in years ahead.
