Each nation was represented by imaginative and elaborate displays, which were created by the hard work of parents who volunteered their time for the event. The displays included a Viking ship, built by the Norwegian participants, Swedish and Danish groups, a Mad Hatter’s Tea Party to celebrate British literary culture and a play-ice hockey area to show off Canada’s winter sporting heritage. Other areas included tubs of bamboo for Japan and a poster of football star Lionel Messi for Argentina.
The fair opened with students, staff and parents singing songs celebrating cultural diversity. The children waved flags that they had made to represent the many different countries that they feel a belonging to.
Richard Harrold, the Lower School Assistant Principal for ACS Cobham, said:
“The International Fair would be an important celebration at any school, but it is especially so in an international school setting. With each class at ACS Cobham typically representing half a dozen countries or more, a day such as this is a great way to explore each other’s cultures and promote themes of global understanding. By celebrating our rich diversity, we learn to recognise that people are overwhelmingly more alike than they are different.”