Around the World

Saturday 7 November 2009 | general

Some daycare centers seem to attract a certain international clientele. Every year, the school sponsors an International Day when families can show off their heritage and learn a little about the world at the same time. The kids receive passports; each country receives a stamp. The kids arrive and it’s an endless cycle of visitors and visits.

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This year, at Mexico’s booth, seasoned grasshoppers were available. I’m not certain they were a hit with the kids, but I took a handful to try. Salty, crunchy, proteiny, Israelitish. “We use as snacks, for tacos — that kind of thing,” says the host. “Not quite what you find in the typical Mexican restaurant,” K comments later.

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While I was munching salty grasshopper, L was visiting her friend. Actually, since I tend to refer to L as “the Girl,” I suppose I could call this young lady, J, the Friend. “We hear L’s name all the time at home all the time,” J’s father tells me.

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Not surprisingly, we hear J’s name at home all the time. For a while, L declared that her baby doll — generally referred to as “Baby” — was “J”, but that lasted only a few days. Perhaps it was odd to have a best friend and a baby with the same name.

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L sees an elephant — her favorite — at the India and hustles over for a quick visit. This particular elephant is not supporting the world on its back; indeed, it seems to be supported by a soccer ball. I’m sure there could be some kind of symbolic significance, but before I have a chance to think further, L is off, returning to K. As usual, I tag along behind.

3 Comments

  1. Indians play polo with elephants. Perhaps that is an elephant-sized polo ball.

  2. hello again from France , Sunday afternoon , a bit of leave raking before more rain to come !! a few comments
    we did a world and european get-together within our secondary school : it was great : with a lot of exotic food , photos , the same as your fair ;
    we also did something which gave material for a school exhibition : a job family tree : very interesting to study old , bygone jobs and when more up-date jobs started in a family : a very good project ;

    I found an awesome site for your students : it’s called : 365 sonnets : a Canadian teenager’s love affair with iambic poetry ;fantastic ;

    my favourite brother-in-law is from Polish origins ; J.P. Pietrzak ; his parents came to work in the coal -mines in the north of France : they have settled there and started a family ; there are many Polish associations , bakery and dancing classes ,a lot of solidarity …..; it is very vivid in the north : they are so artistic and lively ; it’s always a pleasure to visit them and hear about their country and ancestors ;

    back to work and grading , …… have a nice week

  3. czasem cos co dla nas wydaje sie na pierwszy rzut oka nie do zjedzenia, dla innych kultur to codziennosc, pamietam jak w Australii kolega z Indii namawial mnie pol dnia na smazone larwy os, w koncu sie skusilam i okazalo sie ze sa przepyszne, od tamtego czasu nie jadlam jeszcze zadnych dziwnych potraw, pozdrawiam