Why Study the World's Cultures?
Over the weekend, the daughter and I went to Washington DC to see the museums enjoy the incredibly hot weather, and the Smithsonian Folklife Festival (https://festival.si.edu/) which is located outside of the Smithsonian Museum of American History (which had excellent air conditioning). This year, the two countries in the festival are 1) Catalonia and 2) Armenia. The Folklife Festival is a celebration on the sights, sounds, language, food, and dance form a particular country. There are activities (such as the Human Tower), demonstrations such as cooking, script making, jazz fusion, rug making, and other activities that are unique to a particular culture.
| Catalonia Sitting Area and main stage |
| Armenia Tent |
My daughter and I had a great time walking through the tents, learning about these regions, and experiencing different foods. It reminded me of an event her school used to have every Fall called, "International Night." Each family volunteered for a country, and the parents would set up a display as well as las food items from that country. Kids would dance in the middle of the gym. Parents and administrators would help the parents of "nations" get organized around the gym. It was an opportunity for us to learn about other peoples in the world and develop an understanding about where they come from.
We should take the time to extend beyond our comfort zones and learn about other peoples' in the world, especially as many of these people are in your backyard. Why study the world's cultures? It is easy to label people who dress differently, eat different foods, or talk differently as outsiders. But if you take a little time, you soon realize that they have the same concerns, worries, and hopes as we do. They want to live in a safe place, raise good children, and have a job to support their family. That's the promise of America. Thank you for reading the blog! If you have any questions, please leave them in the area below.
