Stepping into the main gym of Fishers High School, students are greeted with the aroma of cultural delicacies, laughter among friends and chit-chat between family members. Dozens of tables line the walls of the gym, decorated with trifold posters displaying the history, traditions and food of a particular country. The atmosphere is welcoming and full of opportunities to learn about different countries around the world.
The Cultural Connections Club hosted their annual International Fair in the FHS main gym and auditorium on April 17 from 6-8 p.m., to showcase the unique, diverse cultures of students at Fishers to students and the community.
Renee Isom, the librarian at FHS and the club sponsor, appreciates how the fair encourages students to learn more about other cultures.
“[The CCC] works really hard to get kids from different cultures and backgrounds to participate and share their cultures,” said Isom. “It’s their food, their dress, the information about their country [that helps] broaden everybody’s perspective [that] here at Fishers High School, we all have a story.”
FHS students had the opportunity to sign up for a booth or performance, and auditions were held a month before the fair. There were five performances of the night, all showcasing talents from Fishers’ students. Each represented a different culture from around the world.
Senior Zoë Bain, who sang a Brazilian Medley, values the opportunity to perform for the international fair.
“I think it is really important to have this event,” Bain said. “I have been participating in this since my freshman year, and it’s been really exciting to be able to represent my culture and take something really personal to me and share it with the community.”
Bain believes the International Fair shows off the different cultures of students at FHS, which allows people to learn about their peers.
“I love that I can see how many people are represented here at FHS,” she said. “I think it’s really important to learn about other people’s cultures and to understand that aspect of somebody’s life when you’re interacting with them, engaging with them and making the school a welcoming place for everybody.”
The International Fair was sponsored by restaurants like Cháo Vietnamese Street Food and HIRO, but aside from establishments, some people made their own food as well. Students had stands with homemade cuisine, each representing a different country, such as Sri Lanka or Algeria.
Junior Maui Aregbe agrees that the international fair helps highlight different cultures at FHS, and believes it can help avoid the creation of stereotypes and discrimination.
“Every culture has something that makes it special,” said Aregbe. “I think that taking the time to learn someone else’s culture and understanding them is really important to being able to fully connect with someone else.”
While the International Fair is CCC’s biggest event, the club also meets once a month to play games and learn about other cultures. On culture nights, such as Kenya night, students celebrate a particular country’s culture by enjoying traditional dishes, doing arts and crafts and playing games.
After attending the fair this year, Aregbe encourages everyone to participate in the international fair the next time it is held.
“Definitely do it,” said Aregbe. “Even if you’re a performer, a volunteer or just a watcher; it’s definitely a learning experience, and it’s really fun.”
