Who says that lunchtime at school has to be loud and rambunctious? Last October, our teachers visited a school that had lunch right after morning recess. The students had already had time to run around and exercise, but then it was time for a calm, quiet lunch. They sat all together at a table with placemats they had made themselves (sewn or knitted). The shades were drawn, the candles were lit, and it was lovely.
We decided to try it ourselves, and we are glad that we did. It fosters community. We sit and talk together, share food, and just relax. It's better for digesting anyway, and it's nice to have a quiet time of togetherness in the middle of a busy, focused day.
We teachers also try to have something for us all to sample and share. Sometimes it's just popcorn, which makes the whole school smell good. We have also brought in stroopwafels, Poky, fig newtons, and a variety of other interesting foods. We look for something from another country, but anything ethnic or unusual will do.
So it was that Miss Shirk brought it rambutan to share right before our Christmas break. I must admit, I had never seen it before, much less tasted it. But we all dug in and enjoyed it. I originally thought we were supposed to eat the hairy looking outside, but I was informed otherwise, thankfully. Once we peeled them, the fruit inside was tasty -- a little like moist coconut actually.
So, we will continue our hunt for unusual foods to broaden our students' cultural horizons, and we will continue to pull a few tables together, light a few candles, and enjoy each other's company for a while each day at lunch time. It's a good tradition to have.
