Last Friday epitomised one of the very reasons why we chose to come to Johannesburg, uproot the children from their idyllic British lives & set up shop here in South Africa. International Day at the children's school - a Parade of Nations, flags waving, national anthems being murdered by the school band…..
84 different nationalities were represented - and the sense of pride was palpable….. especially for us Welshies!! The children have never lived in Wales but I think have a decent enough Welshness about them - even though they were born & brought up in England, with a stint in Brussels & now Joburg. As the AISJ School Director, Andy Page-Smith said: "it doesn't matter if you don't hold a passport for that country or indeed if you have never lived there, if you feel an affinity to a place then it's great! " - or something along those lines.
I arrived early, along with the other Mums that had committed to prepare & serve food from their home nations. The table was decorated - with one of our Mums having the genius insight to bring along a Golden Jubilee edition of OK!.
All the tables looked great - a lot of effort had been put in. We then hurried down to the field to enjoy the spectacle of The Parade of Nations. I didn't really know what to expect but it was just marvellous - having been in France for the Jubilee Celebrations and then in transit for the Olympics, this was the closest I was going to get to the Opening Ceremony!! 84 countries - some just with one or two children through to the US & South Africa! WOW - there are a lot of them! Then the flags are hung side by side along the top of the hill - a true Rainbow Nation.
Back to the gym, and a feeding frenzy! Piranhas have nothing on High School students - all our food disappeared - especially the trifles! Interesting explaining a trifle to a Ghanaian gentleman…..custard, how do you explain that!
84 different nationalities were represented - and the sense of pride was palpable….. especially for us Welshies!! The children have never lived in Wales but I think have a decent enough Welshness about them - even though they were born & brought up in England, with a stint in Brussels & now Joburg. As the AISJ School Director, Andy Page-Smith said: "it doesn't matter if you don't hold a passport for that country or indeed if you have never lived there, if you feel an affinity to a place then it's great! " - or something along those lines.
I arrived early, along with the other Mums that had committed to prepare & serve food from their home nations. The table was decorated - with one of our Mums having the genius insight to bring along a Golden Jubilee edition of OK!.
All the tables looked great - a lot of effort had been put in. We then hurried down to the field to enjoy the spectacle of The Parade of Nations. I didn't really know what to expect but it was just marvellous - having been in France for the Jubilee Celebrations and then in transit for the Olympics, this was the closest I was going to get to the Opening Ceremony!! 84 countries - some just with one or two children through to the US & South Africa! WOW - there are a lot of them! Then the flags are hung side by side along the top of the hill - a true Rainbow Nation.
Back to the gym, and a feeding frenzy! Piranhas have nothing on High School students - all our food disappeared - especially the trifles! Interesting explaining a trifle to a Ghanaian gentleman…..custard, how do you explain that!
Makes me proud of what we have done & excited for who the children will be when they are adults!
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