Houston Blog
My blog from Houston, Texas. Updated most weeks, usually on Sundays.
In a week of several notable events, including a Pep Rally to support our sports teams on Thursday morning, a careers evening (also on Thursday) in which a huge number of our parents generously gave up their time to advise our grade 9 to 12 students, and a Grade 4 Rock’n Roll concert on Friday morning, it was “Go Texan Day” on Thursday that really stands out in my mind as being something special.
This was a sensational event in which our primary students were given the opportunity to experience the culture and traditions of Texas, all without leaving our campus. After being divided into various groups, the students learned about cowboy hats and boots, cattle branding, line dancing, ropes, indigenous culture and Texan songs, as well as getting close to snakes and other wild animals, having a close encounter with longhorn cattle and even the chance to have a pony ride.
Awty International School exists to build profound understandings between people from diverse countries and cultures, something that we believe is essential in preparing our students to play a significant role in building a better world. It is important to remember, however, that before we can truly understand another culture, we must first have a deep appreciation of our own identity and culture.
That is why ‘Go Texan Day’ was so important in my view. For our American students, it helped to deepen understanding of local culture. For our many students whose cultural origins lie in other parts of the world, ‘Go Texan Day’ provided an ideal opportunity to understand the culture of the host country in which they are now living and studying.
‘Go Texan Day’ was thus a fabulous time to build truly authentic two-way bridges of understanding – and in a thoroughly enjoyable way.
Go Texan Day - just one part of a fabulous week
Sunday, 12 February 2012
In a week with many special highlights, ‘Go Texan Day’ stands out.