UN Day - Many Nations One Voice

Oktoberfest, Thanksgiving, Heritage Day (a.k.a National Braii Day) - all the typical celebrations in any expat community, in any country around the world, illustrating our differences,but to which we all gather in a bid to understand each other or just share a pint of beer or piece of boerewors. Whatever your take on it, it is a way we learn about one another.

GIS celebrated its annual UN Day two days ago. Themed "Many Nations, One Voice" it was spectacularly-organised, even the foreboding dark clouds which burst into a mini tropical storm did not dampen (no pun intended) the enthusiasm. After the speeches, parades, song and dance, the display tables were pulled together and laden with food represented by the more than 30 nationalities represented at GIS. It turned out well and kudos to GIS staff, parent and students!

While the world at the moment seems to be grappling with issues of immigration and identity of its people - it was curiously heart-warming to be part of the GIS UN celebrations. An interesting issue came up, minor granted, but interesting enough - and that was: if of mixed nationality, said students should represent the country of their father. Had me thinking- how important is that really? Is that sentiment not a step away from questioning the legitimacy of one's nationality? One of my best friends is of Irish and South African descent; would that then make her more Irish than South African; and what of the children born and raised in the country of their mother's birth and with closer affinity with those countries than that of their fathers?
Barring this slight issue, or more of a sentiment by a teacher who meant well and which may have been taken out of context with the bigger meaning having been lost in communication, it was a great day; a show of tolerance and truly in line with GIS's motto of "understanding of each other".