Fellow Ta Hintze, located in Puebla, Mexico, was invited to act as a judge for the annual International Cultures Fair at the Universidad Popular Autonoma del Estado de Puebla (UPAEP). Two students opened the festivities with a brief speech, and then Director Javier Bolio Hernández cut a ribbon to make the opening official.
The Fair showcased 9 English-speaking countries and 4 U.S. states. Each booth was manned by groups of students who organized costumes, booth decorations, and 20-30 minute presentations on different aspects of their chosen culture. In addition to the spoken presentations, students also demonstrated examples of dance, music or food customs to audiences. Hintze served as a judge for the New York booth and afterwards was free to mingle with the rest of the student groups.
The New Zealand group demonstrated a Maori haka war dance, the Nigerians and Hawaiians presented traditional dances, and the New Yorkers exhibited a salsa danced by two couples. The students got into the roles they were playing and made the information they were presenting come to life.