Columbia’s tour of nations

Vinootna and Vijitha Kantety strike a pose from a tradition Indian dance. The two performed at the school's PTA meeting.

Columbia Elementary School students were given the opportunity to experience other cultures when they visited eight different countries.

Well, sort of.

After the school’s April 11 PTA meeting, parents and students got a showcase of arts, languages and other cultural items when booths representing Ghana, Mexico, England, Peru, Italy, Ireland, India and Japan were set up around the school.

Visitors to each country got their passports stamped at every stop.

Each grade level chose a different country to represent.

“Tonight is basically a culmination of getting the students to become more aware of the different cultures in our community and inside our schools,” said fifth-grade science teacher Lisa Grice.

Parents from other countries brought food and personal items from their country to showcase. Some even brought instruments and clothing to give students and parents a taste of their county’s styles and sounds.

Indira Gade moved from India to the United States 13 years ago. Her daughter, Anashree, attends Columbia.

Gade said showing different cultures around the world is an important way for people to understand each other.

“This is very nice way to connect to the different cultures,” Gade said. “We are very happy to show our Indian culture because now people being exposed to India and we are very happy to show them.”