International night showcases diversity of students, teaches new dance moves
Watkins Mill High School is the epitome of diversity.
On December 3, students from all over gathered in the cafeteria to bring the world together. International night was both enjoyable and educational. Students worked hard to create stands representing their countries: Cambodia, Honduras, India, the Netherlands, the Philippines, and Pakistan.
All the stands were filled with information to teach the students something new. While working on these stands, some even learned something new about their country. “I actually learned [why] India’s national flower is a Lotus. I knew it was a Lotus but I didn’t know why,” senior Anagha Pratheep said.
International night brought new flavors to people’s taste buds. “Our food looks really weird but it tastes really good,” said sophomore Matthew Villanueva, host of the Philippines stand. The Philippines stand hosted delicious Pancit, and the Netherlands stand featured Poffertjes, Stroopwafels and Gouda cheese.
The Watkins Mill cooking classes made delicious foods including empanadas and Papa a la Huancaina. “Food is a main part of culture… Food is basically around how everyone comes together,” senior Melissa Torres said.
Olas, the B-Boys and the African dance crew set the mood of the night with their astonishing performances. All eyes were glued to the center of the room the moment the music began. Each group brought something a little different. Preparing for the night took a lot out of the dancers, “I’ve been doing it for a month, but some of the girls started about two weeks ago,” sophomore Megan Dakwa said.
Watching the performances at international night was just as fun as it was preparing for it. “I had a lot fun practicing,” Dakwa added. “It’s really fun to put my culture out there.” The room was filled with so much energy that not even principal Carol Goddard could hold back from busting a few moves.
The rest of the night was danced away. Olas members offered to teach specific Hispanic dance moves to those interested, and members of the African dance crew taught some moves of their own. Once people got the hang of it, the dance floor was covered with all sorts of people indulging in the universal language of dance.
International night is a good representation of what Watkins Mill stands for. “I think Watkins Mill is really diverse and it’s nice to see all these cultures together. It shows that the US is a melting pot of cultures,” sophomore Chase Deist said. “I really think that’s great.”
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