Letter sent to ISB Community
Dec 2020
ISB Community Businesses
Dear Parent Community,
I hope that you all had a wonderful November, a month that reflects many traditions across different cultures. For many of us, it is the time to reflect upon the events of the past year and to spend some time with our families. There are two holidays which lend themselves especially well to large family gatherings around this time of the year, Diwali and Thanksgiving. I do not have much personal experience on Diwali festivals, however, the phrase “Festival of lights” captivated my attention and I want to learn much more.
(By the way, the PA would be delighted to hear from you to share with us more about your traditions.) “Festival of Light”, or commonly known as Diwali is celebrated among Hindu, Sikh, and Jain communities - The victory of light over darkness. For many families from Asian countries in particular, Diwali is a chance to open the doors to friends, family members, and acquaintances to share a large feast.
Thanksgiving, on the other hand, is a typical North-American holiday. The celebration which is mostly celebrated in the US and Canada, commemorates the pilgrims that landed on Plymouth Rock and how they survived their first winter with the help of a group of Native Americans. Throughout the centuries, every family has added their own traditions and stories but what remains the same is that Thanksgiving is an important festivity, centered on being grateful and inviting others into our hearts and homes.
Although I am Venezuelan, half of my mom’s family lives in the US. Because of this, I remember from early childhood celebrating Thanksgiving with the Latin flavours of “Lechon” (Dominican Roasted Pork) green beans, mashed potatoes and gravy. At our table we could not miss pumpkin pies, eggnog and to add up a nodge: “Dulce 3 Leches”!
My take in sharing with you my personal story is that this year has brought up stronger! The value of gatherings, family and friendships and the distance due to regulations has made us value our connections much more! For me, I value diversity and multiculturality; therefore, I am super grateful to get to know each one of you when possible. Even if it is just via a Zoom Coffee Morning!
In Belgium recently we were only allowed one visitor per home, making the celebrations unconventional. However I found that the key elements remained the same – a gathering of family and friends, the warm and inviting smells drifting from the kitchen, and going around the table (on zoom screen) sharing what we are thankful for. It’s the traditions continued and moments shared which remind us that we are all in this together. Now and for always.
As the stores welcome shoppers back this week in Belgium, the Christmas shopping season is revived. Of course, in these times of need, we are mindful of all the individual business owners who have struggled during this most difficult time. Many entrepreneurs within our own school community have been affected.
“Shop local!” means even more this year, as it feels closer to home. Closer to our hearts. And there’s a willingness in the school community to connect. As with so many things, we want to support each other, in every way we can. The Parents Association is excited to announce a new initiative in showcasing the businesses, skills, and talents of our parents. For those Parents who own their own business or have talents for hire, we’d like to promote your skills for free for the next year on our newsletter. We included on our website a section “ISB Community Businesses” to promote YOU! See the section on our website under Community tab.
Parent Association Invites all Parents to support Parents
If you’d like to be included in our directory, please click on the document below to complete our questionnaire. If you have a business logo that you’d like to place on our bulletin, please email it directly to parentcommittee@isbreda.com
Thank you for your help with this new initiative! And may the festive shopping season be a happy, compassionate, and supportive one this year.
Happy holidays!
Ariadna Martinez- Heisterkamp
Parent Association Chair