Saturday, 20 November 2004 was probably the shortest journey around the world: visiting 16 countries in three and a half hours.
It was not a real visit, yet just a theme of one social evening named International Social Evening. It is an annual ITC event showing cultures, traditions or any other things that reflect each country where ITC students come from. Even before coming to ITC, as I read in ITC's brochure, I had been acquinted with the story behind it. It was the different costumes worn on the day that amazed me. However, after the last year performance and event, I knew that it is not just a show of costumes from all countries: but what you have in your countries.
Last year, I and ITC students performed very well and was very welcomed by the audiences. It was an experience as the first time dancing on the stage.

This year, I am chosen as deputy of Continent of Asia to present the description of each country as a presenter. I was with Marcella Galindo (Panama), Harssema Solomon (Ethiopia) and Anthony Lamba (Kenya). I was wearing a green Javanese costume with Batik (Thanks Tara's family for this, and Ari, my best friend who helped me wearing the complicated costumes)
As announcers, we have a rule that one can not read text from his/her own country and read when the light for the podium is turned on, and wait some minutes until the audiences are quiet.
There were 16 countries performing this year, a half number than the previous year (32 performances). Each announcer then had four countries' texts to read. These are the countries that performed:

1. Kenya
2. The Netherlands
3. Sri Lanka
4. Colombia
5. Bhutan
6. Uganda
7. Philippines
8. Ethiopia
9. Indonesia
10. Ghana
11. PR China
12. Tanzania
13. Nepal
14. Bolivia
15. Vietnam
16. South Africa Development Countries

I announced Sri Lanka, Ethiopia, PR China and Vietnam. The texts were made from each country's leader and we announcers are editing and adding some texts. Though only some sentences, it gives us view how the life in the country there... far there...

I am sharing the texts in here.

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Rive, harvested from paddy fields is the major food source in Sri Lanka. Rice cultivation methods such as field cleansing, sowing, transplanting, weedeing, harvesting and tidying are bestowed from historical times. Harvesting of paddy becomes a major event in the village, taking the form of a celebration. The village community gathers as a whole to help each other in the harvesting, which is a major operation in the cultivation process. A good harvest is always welcomed by the villagers who will then be assured of the staple food till the nest harvest. Then it becomes a cause for celebration.

To day the Sri Langkan group is performing the rhytm of a popular song which depits the jubilation process of post harvesting celebrations. The song explains the feelings of the delighted community, who is rewarded with a bumper harvest. Their jovial thoughts and expectations are transformed to physicial expressions in the form of singing and dancing

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Ethiopia is a land of plenty with a long and noble history giving rise to ethnic, linguistic and cultural diversity. It has more than 80 unique rich ethnic, cultural and linguistic groups each with its own language, culture, custom and tradition.
THe spectacular Blue Nile Falls, the Great Rift Valley, the Danakil Depression, THe Simien National Park in the northern mountains and the Bale mountainous National Park, which have its own unique flora and fauna are unbelievable natural sceneries.

Ethiopia is a country of numerous interesting and wonderful tourist attractions. The uncommon combination of historical, cultural and natural attractions that mark Ethiopia as a unique tourist destination in Africa is an exciting and unexpected surprise for many tourist. One should see these things for himself if he has to appreciate them. So take a move and visit Ethiopia. You will receive the warmnth of hospitable people there.

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Located on the western shore of the Pacific Ocean, China has a land area of about 9.6 million sq km. From north to south, the territory of China measures some 5,500 km. From west to east, the nation extends about 5,200 km. China has land borders 22,800 km long with 15 contigous countries.
China has a recorded history of more than 5,000 years.

Chinese people have created a glorious and brilliant culture. As is known to all, China is the earliest country that invented compass, papermaking, printing and gun powder. The great wall is a gigantic structure on earth visible from space, has been standing for over 2,000 years.

there are altogether 56 minorities in China, among which 55 are officially recognized ethnic minorities except Han. The 53 ethnic groups use the spoken languages of their own; 23 ethnic minorities have their own written languages and their own cultures.

The dancing is about the traditional life of an inner Mongolian girl and her dreams of the brilliant life in the future.

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Welcome to Vietnam's performance

The martial art namely Vovinam has been founded since 1930 by Vietnam's people. This art expresses the Vietnam's culture, martialism of Vietnam's people and the flexible combinations between tradition and model. Over 70 years of development, Vovinam has been becoming popular in Vietnam and some other countries. Vietnam's people, we pride on that.

Vietnamese students are going to present two forms of Vovinam's programme. One is for beginning, called Beginning Form, very basic actions of martial art. The second is for pre-intermediate level, called Dragon Tiger Form.

Today the 20th November is also the Viatnamese's teacher day. On this reason all the Vietnam's students here would like to send their best wishes to ITC's teachers, Vietnam's teachers in their country and all of you.
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It was such an experience as it was going to be the first time being an anouncer. I believe that there are many more students in the building having good voice, but I do not believe if they have the sense of showing and sharing cultures!

The event itself is really great. It brings you to another world... and I dont know when again I can see the event, or such event like that...

Really, that was something to tell to my children.....

Beltstraat 1-12, November 22, 2004, 05.12 AM.