Millbrook High School held its annual International Fair on Tuesday, April 15, and Wednesday, April 16. The International Fair was an exciting two-day event that took place in the gym during second-period classes. Students got the opportunity to visit different booths hosted by clubs and organizations at Millbrook. These experiences let the students learn and explore various cultures and get involved with food, dance, and games. It is a great way for students to see all the different programs and clubs Millbrook offers.
The clubs and organizations at the fair were the Arab Student Union, African Student Association, Asian American Student Union, Black Student Union, Chinese Club, French Club, French Honor Society, Hispanic Culture Club, K-Pop Club, Spanish Honor Society, and Stars: Divine Diamond.
At the International Fair, students participated in a “Treasure Quest,” where each booth gave out stamps. To complete the quest, students had to collect six stamps. Once they had all six, they were entered into the raffle, and the teacher of the winning student’s class received a prize. The teacher who won was Mr. Millner’s 2A advanced sculpture class. Their class was treated to different types of candy from all around the world.
The Culture Club had tinikling poles for students to try. Tinikling is a traditional Filipino dance where people step between bamboo poles that are tapped and clapped together. They also had a guessing game where you were given two words that meant the same thing, one in Filipino and one in Indonesian, and you had to guess which one was which. If you guessed correctly, you got a spring roll.
The French Honor Society and French Club came together to create a beautiful butterfly garden. They had a big tent in the middle of the gym. Students designed strings of butterflies that hung down, creating a curtain for the butterfly garden. The clubs also hosted a design station where you could color your own butterfly, then cut it out and add it to the butterfly curtains.
At the Hispanic Culture Club booth, they offered dance lessons and showed off traditional Hispanic art. Students got to rate which piece of art they liked the most. On Tuesday, they served fresas con crema, a traditional Mexican dessert made with fresh strawberries and sweet cream. Then, on Wednesday, they served horchata, a sweet, cold drink made from rice, milk, sugar, and cinnamon. Both delicious treats were homemade by club members.
The Spanish Honor Society also had exploratory activities in which the students could participate. They provided pipe cleaners, tissue paper, and colorful paper for students to use. Using these materials, students made paper flowers and fans. It was a great way to explore Spanish and Latin culture through art.
The Stars: Divine Diamond booth had a poster where students could write then place positive affirmations. They also hosted a fun jeopardy game for students and staff. It was a great way for everyone to engage, share positive messages, and enjoy friendly competition.
The K-Pop Club booth set up a bingo game which tested student knowledge of famous K-Pop songs. They handed out stickers that spread positivity and encouragement, along with stickers of famous K-pop stars. The booth allowed students to express their love for K-pop interactively.
Double dutch ropes were out and ready for students and staff to jump at the Black Student Union booth. Club members served meatballs, beignets, and cornbread. Students could also answer trivia to win candy. The food there was a huge hit; there was a long line just to get some, and many people came back for a second helping.
The food was a huge hit at the Asian Student Union booth as well. Fried rice and ramen noodles were very popular with the crowd. Students were also able to participate in a gambling game called Hoo Hey How, also known as Fish-Prawn-Crab. In this game, you bet on animals, and if the dice lands on your chosen animal, you win money. “I thought the Asian Student Union booth was fun. The food was so good and the double dutch and trivia was so fun to watch,” said senior Maggie Krynock.
The African Student Union displayed posters with interesting facts about Nigeria and Kenya to educate the students. Candy prizes were awarded to the winners of the trivia game. Traditional African music was played in the background while they served plantains and Vimto, a popular fruity soda.
Chinese club members hosted an activity where you could write Chinese characters with the traditional brush, máobǐ, and ink, mò. There was also a game that students could play where they could try to pick different things up with chopsticks. They also let students play with a diabolo, which is a Chinese yo-yo that spins on a string between two sticks. This booth gave people a fun and hands-on way to experience Chinese culture.
The Arab Student Union gave students the chance to try on traditional headscarves and hip scarves. They could also dance to the beats of the darbuka, a drum commonly used in Middle Eastern music and belly dancing. You can even catch clips on social media of our own, Dr. Saunders, trying out the hip scarves and belly dancing!
Overall, the International Fair was an exciting experience for students to learn about the clubs at Millbrook and experience different cultures. Sophomore Charlotte Wilson said, “The International Fair was so much fun! I got to try food I’d never had before and learned cool things about different cultures.” There was something for all students to enjoy, from the booths, games, food, activities, and performances. It was a great way to bring the Millbrook community together. Make sure you check out the International Fair next year!