I went on a worldwide excursion Dec. 10.
It began with a stop in China where I learned about dim sum, a yummy snack that goes well with tea.
I followed that up with a quick stop in Hawaii, where Gloria Aqui taught me how to make bracelets, necklaces and leis out of tea leaves.
I stopped by Iran, too, where Jayron Finan showed me what my name looks like when written in Persian.
You can’t go on an international adventure without trying the food, and I was certainly treated to a feast. Greece offered a spanakopita — cheese and spinach pie — while Kazakhstan greeted me with baursak, a delicious puffy fried bread.
The excursion represented a fascinating cultural education and I didn’t even have to leave Newcastle to experience it.
Hazelwood Elementary School hosted its annual Multicultural Night featuring booths, food and dance with an international flair Dec. 10.
Community members and parents staffed information booths where students and families could learn about the school’s diverse population. I saw booths representing China, Iran, Hawaii, India and Chile, just to name a few.
It was my first Hazelwood Multicultural Night, but I can tell you now, it won’t be my last. In today’s society, it is so refreshing to see a community event that embraces and celebrates different cultures.
I think we forget how important it is to celebrate our heritage. I know I do. We all come from somewhere and, whether we like it or not, it’s a part of our story.
Hazelwood’s Multicultural Night teaches children to be proud of their identity and to appreciate the differences in others.
And the fact that this is an elementary school event is not lost on me. I applaud the Hazelwood PTSA for helping implement a culture of inclusion at an early age.
Contact reporter Christina Corrales-Toy at ccorrales-toy@newcastle-news.com. Twitter: @ByChristinaCT