RBHS’ annual Global Village will be held during A and B lunches March 4th to March 8th. The week-long event provides a chance for students to not only experience but also share traditions from a variety of cultures.

The Global Village event begins with International Music Day on Monday, followed by International Art (Henna) Day on Tuesday. International Dance Day is then held on Wednesday, which precedes the fashion show on Thursday, where students get to represent their own or another culture by wearing traditional clothing. Lastly, the main fair is held on Friday, with students being able to set up booths and present food or traditional items from a specific culture. 

Sophomore Haneen Gadban said that growing up she felt outcast due to there being a lack of cultural appreciation in her schools, which led her to love the Global Village event so much.

“I love Global Village because it makes me feel proud of my culture,” Gadban said, “Growing up, I’ve never had a Global Village or cultural day at any of my schools because my schools were predominantly white [which made me feel] alienated.”

The International Cultural Organization (ICO), helps organize and run the Global Village. RBHS junior and leader of ICO, Audrey Terherst said that she encourages students to be unafraid to participate in the cultural traditions of their peers. 

“My goal every year is to break the stigma of ‘culture appropriation,’” Terherst said. “[I push] students every year to explore different cultures and even wear [traditional clothing from] different cultures. I think it’s beautiful to represent a culture even if it’s not your [own].”

Prior to Global Village, a large amount of preparation takes place. Students either sign up or are chosen for the fashion show and the cultural booths. Some booths share traditional food, and Terherst said a large part of the planning is making sure that they have enough food for all students and faculty.

Sophomore Patricia Diaz-Torres said that there are a multitude of ways to be educated on a specific culture and its traditions such as indulging in their cuisine and participating in popular dances.

“I like learning about other cultures through their dances and food,” Diaz-Torres said, “People always think of learning culture through appearance, locations, or language, but there [is] more that represents culture.”

Gadban also said she thinks Global Village is a unifying event for the school, allowing RBHS students from different cultures and backgrounds to come together and be seen and included. 

“Global Village is great because [RBHS] is already very diverse with students attending from all over the world,” Gadban said. “[Global Village] brings a sense of belonging to all of our students at [RBHS and] brings our community together.”

What is your favorite part about Global Village? Let us know in the comments.