by Nels Nelsen

St. John Bosco’s annual Culture Fair, which took place November 8th, allowed the student body to showcase and explore the world’s various cultures.

At the fair, multiple tables were arranged, all selling various foods and drinks. English teacher and Junior Board Moderator, Mrs. Michelle Tracy, was running her board’s table for the Culture Fair, where chips, soda and water were being sold. Additionally, she hails from Mexican descent and takes great pride in her Mexican-American culture.

“I think [I’ve] just always found the traditions interesting,” Mrs. Tracy said.

Her family eats tamales at Christmas time, often getting together to make them.

Mrs. Tracy thinks the Culture Fair is important because it helps students and faculty connect with not just their cultures, but other cultures as well. With as diverse of a population as Bosco’s, students are definitely able to do that.

“I just think that having a connection to a culture can enrich your life,” said Mrs. Tracy.

Several students also helped share their culture by selling food, drinks and desserts. For example, the Filipino Club sold traditional entrees, such as lumpia. Additionally, Bosco’s Black Student Union sold a plate with ribs, macaroni and cheese and baked beans. Another student who participated in selling food was senior Noah Wayner, who was running the shaved ice table with his mother.

He sees and does things with his mother’s side of the family more, which makes him deem family as a majorly important aspect of culture.

“The concept of [how] family and food [connect is what’s most important to me],” Noah said.

Noah always wishes to build strong family bonds in things he is involved in. He did so when he played football, and he currently builds these bonds as a part of Bosco’s theater program.

Noah believes that consuming other culture’s foods is the physical way of bringing culture to yourself.

“I think [the Culture Fair] is important because we get to see a lot of different cultures [and] how they celebrate. [That’s [primarily shown through] what their food is like because they are very food-oriented,” said Noah. 

Junior Adrian Irannejad was working a table for the Speech and Debate Club he started. Like Mrs. Tracy, he aligns himself with Mexican culture and sees food as one of its biggest parts.

“In our culture, food brings us together after a funeral or during a party,” Adrian said.

This is extremely important because food is often a huge source of happiness that allows us to bond with others. He also thinks it is important that, as a human race, understand each other.

“I think the Culture Fair here is important because we have students from all sorts of [places], we have [Pacific] Islanders, Mexicans [and] Asians. [Students come] from all over the world,” said Adrian.

It’s important that students learn where their brothers come from because it teaches them to be more receptive toward people who aren’t the same as them. Bosco’s annual Culture Fair allows them to do that.