Representing

Recently, I got wind that other parents at J-dog and V-meister's school have been coming in to give the children cultural presentations. One French mother has been doing weekly language lessons. Someone else did a flamenco dancing presentation, and yet another parent taught the kids a Scottish jig.

Clearly, it was time for the Lithuanians to represent.

So yesterday, my friend V and I (who really should be added to the cast of characters on this blog) treated our childrens' classmates to a short lecture about all things Lithuanian. V dressed up in traditional Lithuanian garb and I festooned myself in amber jewelry. We brought out ye old medieval map and pointed out Lithuania's three main cities. Did you know, children, that there are about as many Lithuanians living in the country of Lithuania as there are people in Cleveland, Ohio? Lithuania is very small, but also very special.

We talked about knights and castles, and recounted the legend of the Great Duke Gediminas who had a prophetic dream prompting him to build a castle high on a hilltop around which the capital city of Vilnius later grew. The castle still stands today and you can go inside. Can you imagine, children, an iron wolf telling you in a dream to build a castle on a hill? That Duke Gediminas sure was one wild and crazy guy!

We discussed the freezing Baltic with it's precious amber offerings, and explained that Lithuanians love nothing more than slinging back a few and going for a dip in the cold Baltic during the dead of winter. Then we passed around chunks of "Lithuanian gold," enticing the children with the possibility that there just might be petrified bugs inside. Can you imagine, children, a mosquito trapped in tree sap that is more than ONE MILLION YEARS OLD?

We presented the flag and the national crest. We talked about the ancient folk tradition of weaving while my friend V twirled around in her colorful woolen ankle length skirt. We counted to ten in Lithuanian. We showed the children a "surprisingly comfortable" wooden clog and whipped them into a right frenzy with a circle dance during which there was a great ruckus and lots of loud stomping, much to the chagrin of the Montessori teachers who stood smiling and wringing their hands nearby.

Finally, we passed out rye bread and Lithuanian candy, which was enthusiastically consumed. Everyone had a jolly time and then we went home. It will be a tough act for other nationalities to follow.

Later, over dinner with the family, my husband asked J-dog and V-meister if anything special had happened at school that day.

They said no.

Still, it was totally worth it. I'll bet any money we make the spring newsletter.


My Friend V