Passport Experience

Swahili Lesson
Tour Guide: Angela Rogers
Location: Sanctuary Stage
9am - 9:30am

Swahili is a Bantu language spoken primarily in Kenya, Tanzania and Mozambique. Several words have been acquired from other languages – even the word “Swahili” itself, which is Arabic for “of the coast.”

Activity
Tour Guide: Kathy Hopwood
9:30am - 10am

Navroz is an ancient festival that marks the beginning of the Persian new year on March 20-21. The week-long, spring celebration includes "jumping the fire" as a way to say "goodbye" to winter. Kids also pick wildflowers and carol from house to house while distributing them.

Krik? Krak! Storytelling
Tour Guide: Evelyn Ballard
Location: Sanctuary
10am - 10:30am

In Haiti, krik? is a request to tell a story. Obliging listeners answer krak! This call-and-response format relies on oral folktales Haitians have passed down from generation to generation. Just like fables, these stories often carry moral lessons.

Festival of the Barriletes Gigantes (Giant Kites)
Tour Guide: Kathy Hopwood
Location: Sanctuary
Time: 10:30 am - 11am

Guatemalans celebrate All Saints Day Nov. 1 with colorful hand-made kites. Youth spend months making the barriletes out of tissue paper and bamboo that fly over cemeteries to honor past loved ones. The cities of Santiago Sacatepequez and Sumpango celebrate on a grand scale with some kites 65-feet wide.

Albanian Wedding Dance Valle Pogonishte
Tour Guide: Hattie Roland
Location: Sanctuary
11am - 11:30 am

Albanian dance has a long history that reflects the cultural influences of the civilizations that occupied this Balkin nation. The most popular – the Valle Pogonishte danced at celebrations and the Vallja e Beqarit when the newlyweds burn the bachelor’s scarf.

Henna Body Art
Tour guide: Sophia Rabe
Location: Foyer of Sanctuary
9am - 11:30am
**Due to limited space, stop by this location to sign up for a time slot.

People have used henna for more than 5000 years. Its original purpose was medicinal, but started to be used as body art once it was discovered the paste left a temporary stain on the skin. Today, henna is a symbol of joy used at weddings, births and victories.

Thanaka Face Painting
Tour Guide: Sam Haines
Location: Sanctuary
9am - 11:30am
** Due to limited space, stop by this location to sign up for a time slot.

There isn’t a more distinct image of the Burmese people than their golden-painted cheeks. Thanaka paste is made from the ground bark of the sandalwood tree. The cosmetic is used as decoration but in a country as sunny as Myanmar its high SPF is its most precious quality. Single leaves covering an entire cheek are a common motif.