International Week
Every year in June, the International School of Ahafo hosts the International Week, which provides an opportunity for the school community to celebrate internationalism and to cultivate international mindedness. Each class selects a country of their choice and immerses themselves in its culture throughout the week. In the past, we have celebrated nationalities represented in the school but this year’s event, from 19th to 23rd June 2017, focused on four countries that are not represented at the school: Germany (represented by Sankofa), India (represented by Nkyinkyim), Japan (represented by Gye Nyame) and Jordan (represented by Nyansapo).
The highlight of the week was the International Evening on Thursday, 22nd June 2017, to which parents and the entire MKV community were invited. The library was decorated in a variety of flags with the UN flag signifying international cooperation and our unity in diversity. There were also display boards of what the children had learnt that week, there was even one from the MKV Play Group.
The children were unrecognizable in their stunning outfits and each glance at them teleported the spectator into different places around the world. Sankofa took us to Munich with the girls in plaits and dirndl dresses and the boys in breeches, braces, long white socks and tiroler hats. Nkyinkyim teleported us to India; the girls were in Punjabi suits and the boy wore an embroidered “dupion”. In Tokyo, we met Gye Nyame girls in “furisodes”, colourful kimonos, and boys in “yakutas and hakkamas”. Our final stop was in the Jordanian city of Amman, where we found our Nyansapo girl in a Jordanian traditional dress and the boys in thobes/jalabiyyah and red and white Keffiyehs (headscarves). It was such an enjoyable and fascinating experience.
The night began with performances by our little Germans who greeted and introduced themselves in their native tongue after which they sang a song about the months of the year and waved their flags happily. They also danced polka allegmagna to “Brüderchen komm tanz mit mir”, a popular German song. These Germans are surely a happy bunch!
The Germans were closely followed by the Indians who tried to undo them with an Indian dance, a re-enactment of the epic Hindi love story of Rama and Sita, some interesting fun facts about India and poems about the iconic Taj Mahal, one of the new seven wonders of the world. They also gave us some free yoga lessons and some of the poses demonstrated included Namaste, lotus, tree, warrior, downward dog. India must be our next holiday destination. There was a musical interlude by Mrs. Yvette Jansen Van Rensburg who serenaded us on her flute.
Our Japanese cohorts demonstrated Japanese dining etiquette by teaching us how to use chopsticks and introducing us to Sushi and Puffer Fish, traditional Japanese food. In sharp contrast to this softness, was also a show of Japanese military prowess as we witnessed some Sumo wrestling, a Japanese national sport, and Samurai and Kendo fights, modern Japanese martial arts. The group also gave a graceful performance of the left-right dance and a presentation on Hello Kitty, a fictional Japanese character loved by children all over the world. We also learnt some interesting facts about Japan and how to count from 1 to 10 in Japanese.
Lastly, we followed two Nyansapo students who were attending a friend’s wedding in Jordan. They provided sneak peaks into Jordanian hospitality, coffee making and serving, marriage rites such as formal request for the bride's hand in marriage, engagement gifts, henna nights, signing of marriage binding documents and seeing the bride off. The wedding was accompanied by lots of dancing and there was a baby outdooring nine months later.
Food is such a unique cultural experience and was also at the heart of the week. On Friday, 23rd June 2017, we had an International picnic and sampled exotic dishes donated by our generous parents.
The Principal, staff and students of the International School of Ahafo would like to thank everyone who helped in diverse ways towards another successful International Week celebration. Mothers and friends deserve special mention for helping out with the costumes, make-up and food. The children have enjoyed learning about these different countries and we could not have done it without you..
Thank You! Danke! धन्यवाद ! Arigatou gozaimasu, Shukran Jazilan!!!