By Alexandra Lopez Petalas, Year 11
This past Saturday, May 4th was LGB’s annual Kermesse. This long lasting and exciting tradition at our school attracts people of all ages and nationalities. The campus is filled with many international stands consisting of a diverse range of food, from Brazilian brigadeiros, to Spanish paella, to Greek pastitzio. There were many different booths, most of them placed outside the Grand Bâtiment. Not only were there stands for each country, but there also were stands led by students trying to raise money for different causes like the Rotary Club’s stand, which was making bracelets and serving gluten-free food.
This year, the school took on a new initiative, the sustainability effort. This is the first year that this took place and it was quite a success! After buying food from a stand, they would give food to you in a reusable cup, plate, or bowl. For example, the Tropical Islands stand was serving their granitas in reusable cups. These reusable dishes cost an additional 2 chf as a deposit. After finishing the food, you would go to the Eco-Point, which was located outside the Vieille Maison and as you returned the dish, they would give you your 2 chf back. This was a wonderful way to decrease the plastic use at the Kermesse and remind us all that our small actions can make a big difference.
The food at the stands ranged from a variety of different flavors, although the stands didn’t only have food! For example, the Korean stand was selling Laneige lip masks and hydrating face masks, and the Cypriot stand was selling a rose water spray.
Every year, there are usually a couple of small rides, but this year, there was the most thrilling roller coaster ride of all years. The ride fit about 12 people in pairs and they would rotate upside down and forwards at the same time. In the primary school, there also were lots of bouncy castles that the younger years enjoyed. On the football pitch, there were ongoing games – this year, a Kermesse Football Tournament took place. All these activities targeted children and adults of all ages.
Overall, the most important thing that the Kermesse brought us this year, as it does every year, is the feeling of community that we get, seeing our classmates, teachers, and even alumni walking around campus, trying food from a variety of different cultures. Each booth wonderfully encapsulated the country itself and felt like home. This year’s Kermesse (like every year’s), was cautiously and incredibly well-orchestrated by the whole PTA, without whose work, this event would have been impossible. Thank you to everyone who participated and for making this event wonderful!
