2012 is a special year for Ukraine and Ukrainians. This year, Ukraine and Poland will host the UEFA European Football Championship, the finals of which will take place on July 1, 2012 in Kiev. Ukrainians, and indeed the entire international community of football fans, are looking forward to this grand sporting event. For Ukrainian families living in Dubai, football has become the central theme of the Ukrainian booth at the school holiday. The school itself is an international institution, its international baccalaureate (IB) program is popular among citizens of 81 nationalities who represent students of the school. In December 2011, the Emirate International School in Dubai received the Virgin Radio prize as the best school in the UAE.
"International Day" is one of the main events of the school calendar. There are no lessons at school on this day, and all children, parents and teachers participate in a common holiday. The international and diverse "population" of the school has the opportunity to present their national costumes, culture, music and dance, decorations, traditions, and most importantly - the national cuisine of their countries. More than 3,000 students, teachers, parents and guests of the festival got the opportunity to taste Japanese and Italian cuisine, listen to the performance of the Jordanian choir, watch the performance of the French cancan and Palestinian folk dances.
"International Day" traditionally begins with the Parade of Nations with the ceremonial removal of flags. The Ukrainian group was represented, among others, by Kharkiv, an eighth grade student Lev Kharlashko, dressed in the uniform of the national football team of Ukraine, and Odesa Dasha Naumova in a traditional Ukrainian outfit with a wreath and ribbons. After the parade, the guests of the festival got the opportunity to go around all the stands of the presented countries and learn more about their culture, traditions and national cuisine.
The Ukrainian stand, in addition to national symbols and an informative film about the country (kindly provided by the Embassy of Ukraine in the UAE), attracted a large number of gastronomy lovers with freshly baked pies with cabbage and potatoes, hot dumplings, pancakes with jam and condensed milk, Easter cakes, grated cakes and all favorite since childhood potato cakes. All dishes, fresh and made from natural products, prepared by the caring hands of enthusiastic parents, did not leave indifferent the multinational community, who tasted the cooked treats with approval.
After the gastronomic part, it was time for national music and dancing, while a large group of students in football uniforms of their countries arranged a friendly match. And to the sounds of the game, national music and the buzz of the South African pipes “vuvuzell”, that indescribable atmosphere of a great sports festival was created, which meant only one thing - the time of the UEFA Football Championship is drawing near!
