International Family Day at SSIS (the other school)

Wow, what an impressive event!  It was like a miniature world bazaar with vendors selling food, silk, jewelry, art, toys and too many other items to list.  Below are a few annotated pictures of some of the items we encountered and some of the demonstrations that took place.

The main event for us ended up being a silent auction featuring about 40 baskets for as many countries that were put together by expats.  We ended winning Denmark and Slovenia!  Denmark because it had Legos and a viking hat in it; Slovenia because it was so obviously put together with a lot of loving care that I had to put in for it.  After paying, we returned to the baskets and there was a Slovenian family waiting for us.  After confirming that they were the ones who put the basket (really more of a pull cart / tote that was overflowing like a cornicopia) together, one of the women even packed it up for us to ensure its safe journey home.  Her husband gave me his card in case we had any questions about the things they put in.  I knew I’d made the right choice!

In all, we ended up the proud owners of huge amounts of snacks, candy, dried fruit, condiments, wine, pear and honey liquors, schnapps, tea, hand knitted socks, a scarf, books, dvds, a puzzle, Christmas ornaments, T-shirts, honey, sausage, the viking helmet, a viking figurine, legos and many more great little trinkets and tasty things (and some paté, cod roe and makarel in tomato sauce thrown in for good measure).

Hand painting name scrolls.  The letters are little scenes or animals.  The name on the table is "Sophie".  Cost is 100 RMB - about $15.

A traditional Polynesian war dance.  There was a lot screaming, flexing of muscles and tongues sticking out.

Hand formed sugar lollipops - you can see the fish at the top.

Drum exibition.

Reid by the Denmark basket.  Of course, the two baskets we wanted were at opposites ends of the area.  Reid and I communicated by hand signals.  Someone did bid over us so Reid got to write in the winning bid, which he thought was pretty cool.

The Slovenia basket in all of it's glory.

To the victors go the spoils.  The zebra bag contains the packed up Slovenia goodies.