About a three-minute read
As a native of South Korea, I enjoy learning about other cultures around the world. In my family, we have members born in Guatemala, the Philippines, the Marshall Islands, Nigeria and a nephew also born in South Korea. My great-grandparents were born in what is now Czechia.
So, when the Gathering Place hosted a Global Festival recently, Robert and I attended. Spanning 66.5 acres, The Gathering Place is a free multi-millionaire dollar park and offers something for everyone. They have several playgrounds, picnic areas, and indoor facilities like an ice cream shop, restaurant, and recreational lounge. At the boathouse, you can take out a paddle boat or canoe for free and enjoy the water.
The festival was a vibrant celebration of cultures from around the world. We watched Māori performers from New Zealand sing and dance including the famous Ka Mate haka. Experiencing it live was enriching and unforgettable.
My friend stuck up a conversation with a Māori performer, who explained that while many of them live in New Zealand, some migrated to Vancouver and travel the region sharing the Māori traditions. Since it’s winter in New Zealand, they were thrilled to enjoy the warmer weather. (Although this summer day was scorching hot! We bought a snow cone to help cool down.)
Ethnic food was another highlight. We sampled flavorful noodles and other dishes including from Rendang, a local Indonesian restaurant. My friend shared Turkish desserts with us, including Şekerpare, a delicious Turkish cookie as moist as a sponge cake. (I looked up a recipe and discovered yogurt was the secret ingredient.)
Inside the boathouse, we admired a fashion display featuring traditional outfits from the Turkish, Hmong, Israeli, Pakistani, and Chinese cultures. They also featured a model ship from the Marshall Islands. Since my nephew is Marshallese, I enjoyed learning about that nation.
Turkish artists demonstrated Ebru art—sprinkling and brushing color pigments onto a pan of oily water to form images such as flowers, foliage, and lattice work. Once they created the images, they carefully laid paper onto the tray, allowing the image to transfer onto the surface. They gave the art to the kids gathered around. I was fascinated how the artists deftly handled the pigments in the water, easily maneuvering the paints into definite shapes.
The festival reminded me how beautifully diverse the world is. Which culture feels closest to your heart?
Photo Courtesy of Zephyris at Wiki commons at https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Zephyris.
Disclaimer: I didn’t take pictures of the Turkish artists but found an image online that represents what I witnessed.