The Official Student News Site of Parkway West High

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The Official Student News Site of Parkway West High

Pathfinder

The Official Student News Site of Parkway West High

Pathfinder

Students attend 16th annual Festival of Nations

The+park+was+totally+packed%2C+and+if+you+stood+at+the+top+you+could+see+throngs+of+people%2C+sophomore+Julianne+Pautrot+said.+The+Festival%2C+which+was+held+in+Tower+Grove+park%2C+lies+just+beyond+the+entrance+arch.
Dani Fischer
“The park was totally packed, and if you stood at the top you could see throngs of people,” sophomore Julianne Pautrot said. The Festival, which was held in Tower Grove park, lies just beyond the entrance arch.

During the summer, students travel all over the world, experiencing new cultures and creating lifelong memories. Then, one ordinary weekend in August, the world comes to St. Louis through the annual Festival of Nations in Tower Grove Park.

The festival, hosted by St. Louis’ International Institute since 2000, has long been a way for students to learn more about other cultures while still staying within a thirty minute drive. According to the International Institute’s website, “More than 140,000 visitors gathered in beautiful, tree-lined Tower Grove park for two days of free, non-stop ethnic music, dance and the most diverse array of food in town.”

“My favorite part about the Festival of Nations was the food booths, because not only did you experience neat traditions with so many of your senses, but it was also very cool to hear different languages being spoken about each food item,” junior Sophia Malpocker said.

Representatives from 41 countries hosted food booths at the festival, each one different from the next. The food ranged from a French bacon booth to fish pastries at the Japanese booth.

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“I’ve tried a lot of food from other countries, but every single booth there had something I hadn’t ever tried before,” sophomore Juliane Pautrot said. “It was definitely an eye opening experience and a tasty one at that.”

Some teachers even use the festival to give their students the chance for extra credit, such as  history teacher Kristen Collins.

“I’ve been giving my students in both my AP and regular World History classes the opportunity to earn extra credit to attend the Festival of Nations for eight years now. I really do it because I want my students to try to experience world cultures outside of my classroom, and I love that this festival is a true showcase for so many different cultures from all over the world in one beautiful setting,” Collins said.

As for next year? Students and teachers are already planning their next trip to the festival.

“In future years, I’m definitely going to go,” Malpocker said. “Even after my second year going I still haven’t experienced nearly everything there is to offer.”

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Dani Fischer, MANAGING EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Grade:  12 Years on Staff:  4 If you were a fictional character, who would you be?  Biggie Cheese Does the toilet paper go over or under on the roll?  I don't care enough to put the roll on the holder; it just sits on the counter. How many alarms do you set in the morning to get up on time?  One on my alarm clock that I snooze every five minutes for 20 minutes. Favorite Quote:  "People are capable, at any time in their lives, of doing what they dream of." -Pablo Coelho, the Alchemist
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The Official Student News Site of Parkway West High
Students attend 16th annual Festival of Nations