Around the world in Blacksburg, VA

I can't believe the world has turned this far. Once again, it's April, the world is in bloom, the sun has returned, and we got to attend another International Fair.

Days before the Fair, the Parade of Nations festoons Main Street with lovely flag after lovely flag

Unfortunately, unlike last year, the weather was about as bad as April can be. Temperatures were in the low 50s, the wind was chilling and the rain varied only in its intensity.

I was so worried that the good people who make this fair happen would be utterly thwarted, and that they'd be disappointed. But everyone was so joyful! They smiled in the rain, and laughed and shouted and helped one another to secure tents which the wind was threatening to blow away. This weekend I just loved people so much.

The Saudi Tent, once again, got our attention right away by inviting us in to try on Saudi clothes.

They gave Miles a backpack with the Saudi flag on it

Me in (partial) hijab:

Miles getting fitted for his keffiyeh.

They talked to us a while and welcomed us with food samples (dates! Spicy rice!) and sent the kids away with Saudi Arabian coloring books. 

You can see the scene here, the tents stretching up and down the streets, the sea of umbrellas... and one bizarre cartoon face in the crowd:

Some kind of Saudi Mascot, I think! Hilarious.

Miles wasn't too happy about being rained on, but Adele thought it a wonderful lark.


The Society for Creative Anachronism also had a tent in the International Fair. The sense I got is these are people obsessed with medieval Europe who wish to incorporate clothing, activities and decor from the period into modern life. Not exactly a nation-state, but I suppose they're promoting medieval Europe as a world culture?
Nothing about this bothered Miles; he got to hold a real sword!:

I got so few pictures outdoors. There was tent after tent selling food, playing music, displaying artifacts, giving out gifts (I got a free Koran in English!), educating and entertaining! Belly dancing, martial arts, drumming and singing were among the way we were attracted to another tent, and another. But I was holding the diaper bag, my purse, at least one cup of liquid refreshment and the umbrella in the windy rain the entire time. I was pretty proud of myself for maintaining a good attitude, let alone pictures. 

Eating their Chinese Chicken & taking shelter

But we ate food from East Africa, Saudia Arabia, China, Mexico and West Africa, and the kids got to learn about geography, play games for prizes, play a Senegalese drum and clap along with the belly dancers and with the Saudi singers:

Inside, there was a KidZone where various local orgs had booths. The Montessori School won most of Adele's attention at first with their books and rocking chairs. Miles did the entire session of Kid Yoga: 

Last kid standing... in triangle pose

The next table over was making homemade play-dough in bags (a new preschool's booth). The next table over was doing origami. We spent the entire afternoon, thank you very much.

Miles and Adele are going through a phase of Bible story enthusiasm. We retired that night with The Jesus Storybook Bible:

When we gave thanks, Miles wanted to give thanks for our family; Adele, for Jesus. And John-the-Baptist (her current favorite Bible character). I added in a thanks for our community that can send us around the world, only 5 minutes from home.