Somerville High hosts Multicultural Fair

 By Elizabeth Sheeran

The United States may be a melting pot. But what Somerville High students were serving up at last Friday’s 14th Annual Multicultural Fair was not so much a stew, but an all-you-can-eat smorgasbord for the senses.

No matter whether their great-grandparents arrived by boat from Ireland over a century ago, or they stepped off the plane from Nepal just a year ago, over 250 participating students spent weeks preparing to share their culture for the day, with colorful displays, music, dance, and food. Lots and lots of food.

“Come try some Italian food. It’s all homemade. Everybody loves Italian food,” called out junior Matt Damasceno from the Italy booth, as he dished out sample-sized plates of ziti.

But while Italian food is already familiar and beloved by many Somerville students, more than 40 tables of diverse culinary choices beckoned with the opportunity to take their taste buds on a round-the-world adventure: tangy sauerkraut from Croatia, savory minced-meat Koubeh from Palestine, sweet Choco Bananos from El Salvador, spicy samosas from India…and many, many more.

The live entertainment was just as eclectic. Caitlin Berry belted out Mambo Italiano. And teams of dancers with roots on five continents demonstrated just how many different ways the world can move: salsa dancing to Latin rhythms, shimmying to Caribbean beats, expressing the graceful movements of traditional Bangladeshi dance, or mixing the old and new worlds to create a blend of classic Asian dance with an American twist.

Somerville Schools Mediation Director Alice Comack said the multicultural fair began 14 years ago at a time when the school was experiencing ethnic and racial tensions, and the event has helped foster better cross-cultural relations over the years, creating a very different climate today. “We’ve gone from just tolerating each other to celebrating each other,” said Comack.

“I love it. It’s beautiful,” said junior Hymi Mulugeta, uncovering trays of injera bread and a mixed vegetable dish at the Ethiopia booth. “Every student can get to know different cultures better than just hearing about it.”

“I think it’s awesome,” said senior Loveleen Saini, laying out pakoras at the India booth. “You get to learn so much about so many different cultures, that all intertwine somehow.”

Sharadha Singh, Punam Gurung and Samihana Bastolo, all from Nepal, said they liked learning about other students’ traditions. But it was also a chance for them to proudly wear their traditional clothing – richly-decorated dresses and tunics in teal, purple, gold, pink and red – and to share their own heritage. What do they most want their fellow students to know about Nepal? It’s not part of India, but a separate country, with its own culture.

Pride was a big part of the day for many students.

“It makes us proud to be where we’re from. I’m proud to say I’m Brazilian,” said junior Amanda Ribeiro, sporting a yellow and green Brazilian national soccer team shirt. Ribeiro, who emigrated from Brazil at the age of four, enlisted friends to help dish out a revolving menu over the course of the day, including sweetbreads for breakfast, Brazilian barbecue with rice and beans for lunch, and an afternoon snack of chocolate treats and rich pastries.

Comack said that pride is reflected in the enthusiasm the students bring to the daylong celebration each year, planning all the exhibits, food and entertainment themselves, with limited adult oversight. She said in 14 years, the fair has evolved from an earnest attempt to bridge divides and smooth over conflict, into one of the highlights of the school year.

At the England booth, where students served up English high tea, complete with cucumber sandwiches, senior Mattie Barber-Bockelman agreed. “It’s bigger than prom,” she said.