On February 29, Madison High School hosted its annual international food gala. The evening consists of food and performances from MHS international language students. The school provides a choice between four languages, Spanish, Mandarin, Italian, and French, each represented at the gala.
Students, staff, and parents all fill the MHS cafeteria for the night. Everyone is welcome, even students who don’t participate in a language class. “They put a lot of hard work into the food, and learn about the culture through the process,” senior Ellison Errington said. The Gala is a place where students are able to experience the types of food and cultural performances provided by the foreign language students. “It’s really fun, the environment is really vibrant and there’s good music playing, everyone’s just happy having good food,” senior Mary Johansen said.
The night allows students who may take one language to interact with students from another. You may explore any cuisine you want regardless of the class you take. “Although I’m in Spanish class, I’m most excited to try the Italian section,” said senior Marco Roselli. Being able to widen your horizon amongst the various cultures is just one of the many great benefits of the Gala.
On top of the different cuisines, there are multiple performances from their respective culture. Senior Lukas Kolega, who takes French, performed a song on his guitar. Senior Josef Malinowski performed a song on his saxophone. However, the performances are more than just singing and playing instruments. Some students took the chance to perform culturally significant dances and reenactments to help educate the people in attendance.
The MHS International Gala provides students a chance to express what they want about their selected culture. More importantly, the people who attend get to experience and learn about each culture. The Gala is a night filled with laughs, smiles, good food, and great performances. If you missed it this year, make sure to look out for next year’s date and come out to support the event.