International Dinner (yr2)

One of the biggest, most loved events at the school is the International Dinner. There were 500 chairs, and around 250 bleacher seats in the gym. Plus Many Many other people standing. We were told the prediction before the night was 600 people, but the predicted count after was closer to 800.

The evening begins with performances by all the grades and language classes. The songs come from all over the world! My 'talented' fourth-graders showed off their amazing ukulele skills. They played a Hawaiian tune and Hakuna Matata. Some sang, while the others took turns on the ukuleles.

As interesting and impressive as the performances are, the real treat comes after the show. Dinner! There are table with food made from our parents/school community. Real, homemade goodies from around the world all in the small cafeteria and lobby. Emphasis on the small! It didn't feel overly crowded in the gym, but the cafeteria was crazy! The teachers have to dismiss students before we can go for food. This of course means we stand there for a long time while at least one kid has been left behind by parents more interested in deliciousness. Can't really blame them though.

Eventually, I found my way to the cafeteria and created a worldly platter or wonderfulness! Soup from Canada, Plov from Uzbekistan, potato salad from Germany, fried cheese from the Netherlands, Indian curry and little bits of so much more! Last year, I borrowed a page from Grandma Ree's cookbook and took a peanut butter/chocolate dish. This year, I discovered buffalo sauce here in Riga, and so I took Buffalo Chicken Dip.

Spending several hours at the school on Saturday evening may not be ideal. But fun performances and food certainly make it better!