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Deanna Afremov

At the Festival of Nations, there was a performance area that showcased dancing and music from different cultures.

Sophomore Vince Callahan was drawn to the Norwegian food stand located in the middle of the Festival of Nation’s cafeteria. He ordered a thin pancake called lefse, something his grandma makes for him and his family at home.

Callahan attended the Festival of Nations on a Spanish field trip May 1, with around 80 of his peers as well as Spanish teachers Charisse Litteken, Leah Mark and Hanna Anderson.

The Festival of Nations, which was held at the St. Paul RiverCentre, features cultural dancing, kiosks, food stands and informational stalls from over 80 different ethnic groups, according to education outreach coordinator Bridget Ehram-Solberg.

Ehram-Solberg said the two days of the festival reserved for school groups are beneficial because it is important for young people to experience new ways of life.

“Minnesota is a really diverse and growing state, and it’s really important that we interact and engage and learn about all the different cultures that live here,” Ehram-Solberg said. “I think that having two full student days allows (students) to interact and engage and learn more from each other.”

Litteken said she thinks it’s important to teach students about different cultures while they are learning world languages.

“I think historically it’s been a very popular place for world language students or English language learners or world literature students (to go), and it helps them see the bigger world,” Litteken said. “It helps them see things that we would never expose them to in the classroom.”

Sophomore Arfat Jeilani said he went to the Norwegian food stand, where he tried lefse for the first time.

“(The lefse) was very sweet and delicious,” he said. “(The field trip) definitely opened my eyes to different cultures, different foods and different ways of life.”

Litteken said she liked seeing her students experiencing the different cultures at the festival.

“Sometimes students don’t have the opportunity to travel across the world, (so) they can go to St. Paul, and see a little bit of (the world),” Litteken said. “I enjoyed watching my students interact with the cultural exhibits. I am proud of them for trying so many different foods,” Litteken said. “I was proud to be representing Park there.”

Callahan said he is looking forward to attending the festival again next year.

“I would like to return again and maybe focus on countries I didn’t get a chance to (focus on) last time,” Callahan said.

Infographic: Cedar Thomas