On Wednesday, May 7th from 5:30-7:00p.m., Professors Kirsten Kumpf Baele (German) and Kay Ramey (College of Education) along with their 2nd grade daughters and two university students (Tatum Buckley and Ryann Hankey) proudly represented the University of Iowa at “World Wide Wickham”, an evening of celebration, community, and fun at Wickham Elementary School.
Upon arrival, elementary school students were handed passports, inviting them to embark on a global journey through traditional foods, unique artifacts, and hands-on activities from cultures around the world. The event was a vibrant tapestry of international experiences, fostering curiosity and cultural appreciation among the young attendees. Over twenty-five families representing more than ten countries displayed items important to them.
The German table featured German delights including baked pretzels, gummi bears, and chocolates, alongside products from Germany such as Playmobil toys, Aldi groceries, and a collection of children’s books.
“Parents and children alike were eager to learn about the German-speaking countries and customs. The German table was highly frequented revealing great interest in language exploration among our youngest community members,” said Kumpf Baele. This event, as Ramey identifies, “is an opportunity for young people to explore and connect with their own cultural identities, while also learning about and seeing the value in their friends’ cultural traditions.”
Elementary school children and parents also had the chance to meet university students who are majoring in German and learn about their academic journeys. Ryann Hankey and Tatum Buckley, both second year students at the University of Iowa, stamped children’s passports and talked with them about the cultural significance of the German language and about their experiences at the collegiate level. “At my elementary school the most exciting thing was pizza day—so getting to be part of an event that celebrates so many cultures and sparks curiosity at such a young age was wonderful and reminds me why I chose to study world languages and global issues in the first place”, said Buckley. According to Hankey an event like World Wide Wickham is “essential for developing skills and comfortability in an emerging interculturally connected world. I wish I had this while growing up”.
Cleaning up at 7p.m. was easy; all of the goodies were gone. Who doesn’t like “Gummibärchen” (gummy bears)? Events like these not only enrich the elementary students’ understanding of the world but also strengthen the bond between the university and the local community.