This weekend I ate Grenadian Lambie, clapped along with an Indian cultural dance performance and rode in an Iranian friend’s car seat.
It was a cultural tsunami.
Unfortunately I forgot my camera for all of these events. So it’s time to paint you a picture with my words … and borrow other friend’s photos from their Facebooks.
Thanks pals.
Friday was the little Indian talent show called Sitaron Ki Raat.
It wasn’t so little. My mild expectations for a laid back night were blasted when the hundreds-strong crowd pressed into the lecture hall for a night of all things Punjabi. Apparently there is a large Indian contingent represented at SGU. Speakers blasted the staccatos of the sitar with a heavy drum line while bhangra dancers, comedians and song-smiths had entirely too much fun on stage.
Here is a video I was able to track down on YouTube of this year’s performance – my personal favorite from the lengthy show.
In the mix, they tossed a performance by the orphan children of Bel Aire Home along with a hip hop routine from the school’s dance club. The Bel Aire children sang Katy Perry’s “Fireworks” while members of the audience waved sparklers in the air. I will never be able to listen to the song again without getting a small lump in my throat. Those children are so inspiring.
On the way home our wonderful Iranian neighbor Sayeh offered to give us all rides home. To make everyone fit, I offered to ride in the car seat. I don’t know that this counts as a cultural event, but we all had a good laugh and it was a great ending to an impressive night.
