INTERNATIONAL FLAVOR: Talbot students travel the globe at event

Herald News
Members of the Durfee High School Asian Club perform a "coconut dance" at an International Night event held at Talbot Middle School last Thursday. Photo by jack foley.

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By Herald News Staff
Tue Apr 21, 2009

Fall River - Talbot Middle School celebrated world culture last week at its International Night.

Weeks of planning went into the event long before the doors opened, with students and teachers making colorful displays, studying other cultures and reading about current events from around the world.

All of the hard work culminated at International Night last Thursday, where students greeted people and handed out programs as they walked through a hallway decorated with flags made by the sixth-grade students.

At the end of the hallway, the Talbot orchestra played cultural songs above the commons area. A group of tables invited people to “visit” each of the 13 represented countries/regions: Portugal, Spain, Lebanon, Brazil, Italy, Mexico, Puerto Rico, the Azores, Greece, Africa, China, Cambodia and Vietnam.

The tables were decorated with information and pictures about the country/region, as well as some artifacts and foods.

Shortly into the event, visitors and students made their way into the gymnasium where a “World Cup soccer tournament” was held by the physical education teachers and students.

After the soccer event, music and dance performances were held in the auditorium. First, the jazz band played a few numbers, including “Vida La Vida.” Next, the Cambodian dance group from the Asian Club at Durfee High School took the stage and performed the “Coconut Dance.”

To end the night, Azorean folk dancers performed some dances traditional to the Azorean islands.