May 2017 Highlights

The month of May at our kindergarten was still dedicated to exploring the Indian culture. India mesmerized the children with its diversity.

We were learning about Indian cuisine. We made a real Indian lunch at the kindergarten. First, we made paneer cheese that is used as a base for a vegetarian Indian stew called sabji. We baked chapati bread. In the kitchen they prepared an Indian beverage made out of yogurt, bananas, and water, called lassi. We had halva for dessert. We also invited Krtki over for lunch. We prepared a menu for them. Blaž helped cook the meal, while Jasna was entertaining the children with ball games. When the lunch was ready, the children helped us prepare the space for a meal. We ate on the floor. We laid tablecloths on the floor and decorated them with colorful mandalas. We played some Indian music and lit some scented candles.

We ate the stew without using any cutlery. We used the chapati bread instead.

We ate using our right hands only, just like Indians (because the left hand is used to wipe after you go to the bathroom). We also tried to determine which hand is right and which one is left.

The children ate a surprisingly large amount of food and most of them loved it and would like to eat it again. Some children liked Indian sticks a lot, some didn't.

The most fun thing about it was that the children actually thought that was our lunch. They said things like, »Grandma said she would pick me up after lunch, I guess she forgot.« When I told them we hadn't had lunch yet, they said, »So we're having two lunches today??!«

We went to the farmers market to cook one more vegetable stew, this time using seasonal vegetables. The children realized that the farmers didn't sell all the vegetables that are available at the supermarkets yet. They found out that they couldn't have grown yet because it was too cold here. And that is why the grocery stores usually import them.

They liked our soup as well. But it was more »basic«.

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The children were shopping by themselves.

We also visited the Indian store that Zahi's dad owns. The children saw unusual clothes that belly dancers wear and got little surprise gifts.

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Zahi was so excited about us learning about Indian culture and customs that he even brought Indian toys with him and showed us how he plays with them. Then the rest of the children tried playing with them. He also introduced them to Krtki.

Towards the end of the month, our attention shifted towards Iceland. The children already knew some facts about it. But now they got a chance to hold a real volcanic rock, hear about whales, geysers, glaciers, puffin bird and try Icelandic candy.

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The girls were the most excited about Icelandic horses. Quite a few of them had already ridden that breed of horses/ponies. The boys were amazed by volcanoes and volcanic rocks. Everyone liked the Vikings. When they had to create a poster, there were a lot of Viking ships carrying fearsome warriors sailing around Iceland.

Written by: Saša Markelj, Maja Zajec.