Though the elegant rows of miniature flags still flutter in a breeze that smells of arroz topado two days after Palo Alto High School’s International Festival 2007, one more thing lingers in the air with the memories of the tasty food and expanded global perspectives. It is clamped into whispers between class work and mutters in the passing period, but in some conversations even during the festival it exploded into verbal, open debate.
How about that comedian?
He was ok…kind of funny, a little bit.
A little harsh, wasn’t he?
Yeah, but didn’t he say he was Japanese and Indian?
Does it make any difference?
In the sense of international cooperation, it did not. Paly’s International Festival opened awkwardly Monday with a speaker who seemed ill-chosen to lead students with his humor. Perhaps a more regulated process for selecting those who open this important festival would yield a more opening tone.
Past work is one of the best indicators of a person’s ideas and intentions for their performance. The comedian mentioned that he often performs for ethnic audiences but that they rarely laugh. After listening to his material, it is not a surprise. Such previous flops, hindered by audiences who hardly understand his joking caricatures of their culture, should be a strong indicator of possible problems.
Even with such background research complete, the school still has to be proactive. In light of some students’ discomfort, the ASB and Student Activity coordinator should make time to listen to speakers and make smart decisions about who will open their ceremony to their students and open their international minds.
Of course, the best international voices for the student body may be those within. Paly is fortunate enough to support an array of international clubs, promoting cultures from Africa, Asia and Europe. Offering presidents or officers within these clubs the opportunity to promote their respective international interests would make students more comfortable in thinking about the world by identifying with their peers and not superiors.
It is important to remember how much work the PTSA and the ASB dedicated to coordinating and overseeing this incredible festival. They worked to coordinate flag bearers, catering, and decorations that set the international scene quite well. In truth, it is a shame that such discomfort permeated such a well-assembled effort.
It is in light of this hard work that slight adjustments in the rules for selecting speakers are so necessary. If we want student and parent work to be completely relevant in creating an international experience for Paly students, we need to for a process that yields the best cultural introduction.