The air is bursting
with the savory warmth of a plethora of grilled meats cooking, complemented by
the airy aroma of flour and melting cheese blending to become freshly made Argentinian
empanadas. Thousands of people are closely packed together into a throng of
brilliant colors, succulent smells, and dense heat, admiring the variety of
worldliness on display at the park. It is a cloudy, but comfortable August morning,
and Tower Grove Park in St. Louis is alive with the bustle of the annual
Festival of Nations. The Festival, which occurred this past Saturday and
Sunday, is organized and hosted by the International Institute of St. Louis. It
is a celebration of all nations worldwide, and the beauty of their cultures and
people. As a part of LAMP’s outreach partnerships, LAMP was present at the
Festival, aiding Health Protection and Education Services (HPES) of St. Louis,
in raising awareness about its free monthly health screenings. Therefore,
members of LAMP’s Outreach Team, and various interpreting language teams, were
able to experience the event as both multicultural healthcare advocates, and
decorated members of the local international community.
The Festival was a destination of nonstop
merriment for all ages, from the hours of 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. It fulfilled its
desire of being accommodating to all ages, by featuring several platforms of
cultural exploration, which included: a family craft area featuring art projects
and demonstrations from all over the world, three stage areas with live music and
dance, several information booths from internationally oriented nonprofits in
the community, an entire lane of international food stalls, shopping tents from
all over the world, and many other unexpected giveaways from national
corporations. The variety of options in entertainment and gastronomic pleasures
that were available to attendees demonstrates the International Institute’s
deep comprehension of the lively human spirit. Thus, the Festival captured more
than a brief summary of each nation’s cultural surface; it became an arena of
discovery for all of those who wished to peer into the soul of a multitude of
international vignettes. It became the manifestation of a globalized world,
that for a weekend, stopped orbiting violently, taking a step back to the days
of handmade tradition, and expert workmanship.
One of the most important aspects in exploring the
cultural backbone of any nation is an understanding of the ideals of community
and their role in developing that nation. In accordance with this idea, LAMP
was present at the Festival alongside our local partner HPES. HPES is a local
nonprofit dedicated to providing thorough, high-standard healthcare to anyone
in need. In the hopes of fulfilling its mission, HPES hosts a free, monthly
health screening at the University City Public Library. These events provide
attendees free access to a doctor and accompanying medical records for the
visit. At the screening, patients are able to have various health assessments
performed by the certified physician on duty, which include: blood pressure and
cholesterol checks, a dental exam, a diabetes assignment, an EKG /Pulmonary
Functions examination, a height and weight measurement, a pulse count, a stool
exam, a skin assessment, a vision test, a glaucoma screening, and a hearing
assessment. 
In an effort to ensure that the international
community was aware of these screenings, HPES and LAMP collaborated at the
Festival, by passing out flyers to both festival attendees and booth
participants. The flyers, which were available in multiple languages, informed
readers about the healthcare assessments open to them at the event, in addition
to the upcoming dates available for the remainder of the year, which are
September 19th, October 17th, November 21st, and
December 12th. Both HPES and LAMP were pleased with the resounding
community support for the health screenings, which are expected to grow as a
result of this collaborative outreach in the months to come.
In
conclusion, after such a diverse and interactive weekend, we were left with
this thought by Portuguese theorist Hélder Câmara, “Keep your language. Love its
sounds, its modulation, its rhythm. But try to march together with men of
different languages, remote from your own, who wish like you for a more just
and human world.” And what, more than linguistic appreciation, and inclusion
represents the Festival of Nations?
This article was written by Andrea L., LAMP Portuguese interpreter.
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