Opening eyes and hearts
<p>Robert Singletary, left, dressed as a 19th-Century voyageur, tells Mike Andrews of Hayden about his collection of fur trade items at the Multicultural Faire at Lakes Magnet Middle School.</p>
<p>Lakes Magnet Middle School student Magda Staszewska, 12, performs a dance routine Saturday at the Multicultural Faire.</p>
COEUR d'ALENE - There's more than one way to say "Welcome."
Attached to the balcony above the Lakes Magnet Middle School gymnasium, an assortment of colorful signs spoke the language of the world.
In Swahili, the word "Karibu" announced a friendly greeting. In Hungarian, "Udvozoljuk." In Spanish, of course, the message was "Bienvenidos."
On Saturday, those handmade signs welcomed visitors to the second Multicultural Faire, where craftspeople showed their wares, dancers twirled across the floor and tasty ethnic food covered the tables.
"It's turning out fantastic," organizer Dave Eubanks said on Saturday morning. "We figure to have 1,000 people who will come through."
The faire began at 10 a.m. with a bagpipe serenade, the sounds of old Scotland. Then came the Lakes Dance Troupe, gymnasts, Coeur d'Alene Tribal dancers, African drummers and a national champion yodeler named Rod Ericson.
A Celtic Punk band was the final act of the day
"We're trying to open our kids' eyes and hearts... that everything in the world isn't like North Idaho," Eubanks said.
Ashley Booth and Mariah Kircher, both freshmen at Lake City High School, returned to their old middle school to check out the faire.
"We've seen a lot of talented kids," said 14-year-old Ashley. "We have been able to see all the nationalities come to one place. I think it's good for the students to learn from nationalities that aren't their own."
The girls especially liked the pretzels dipped in Nutella, the German specialty.
Mike and Nancy Andrews of Hayden marveled at the wide variety of delicious treats - an international smorgasbord representing Mexico, Japan, Poland and many other countries.
"It's really cool. It's very interesting," Nancy said. "There's plenty of food. I was surprised how much food there was here."