A group of JHop scholars recently took a journey around the world – all without leaving Pinellas County.
Spanish class scholars got the chance to learn about the food, music, and languages of 20 countries during the 49th Annual St. Petersburg International Folk Fair at England Brothers Park.
Countries represented include India, Italy, Vietnam, Scotland, Japan, and Taiwan.
SPIFFS was founded in 1975 to host an international festival in St. Petersburg.
Some of the foods at SPIFFS included mochi, boba, empanadas, pork on a stick, and soft pretzels. The meat patties from Jamaica – which were filled with chicken, beef, or pork – were especially popular.
Clothing for sale included parasols at the Vietnam tent, flower crowns at the Ukraine tent, and hats at the China booth. There was also a coin collector with coins from all the countries at the festival.
Entertainment included fiddlers from Ireland playing traditional songs, and a drum circle.
Scholars received passports and had them stamped at each country they visited.
Ella Frezman, a sixth grader, said her favorite food was the coconuts from Jamaica.
