Davis High Students Share Their Culture

PHOTO: Courtesy photos (in order of right to left) from Uma Armién Funk, Shai Kol, Jongsuk Baik, Verane Shaili Ngassam, and Iryna Monastyrska. Graphic made with Canva element.

By Elina Hibel

BlueDevilHUB.com Staff-

Click on the audio link below each picture to hear the student explain their cultural object or food, and what it means to them.

Uma Armién Funk, Senior

I chose my nagua, which is my traditional Panamanian clothing. I chose it because when you go to Panama and you’re driving from the city to my town, you see vendors on the side of the highway everywhere selling naguas. It’s just kind of like, it feels like a rite of passage to finally own a nagua and be able to wear it. I wear it with pride, and it’s also just very beautiful.

Shai Kol, Junior

So this is an Israeli cookbook, and food and cooking is a big part of how I connect to my culture, and feel at home. 

Jongsuk Baik, Sophomore

It’s (kimchi fried rice) important to my culture because it’s been a staple in a lot of Korean families, including mine, which my dad makes incredibly great kimchi fried rice. It has kept me fed for many years.

Verane Shaili Ngassam, Senior

I’m from Cameroon and my family immigrated here in around 2005. The item I chose is a djembe, which is a type of drum from Cameroon. And, I chose it because where I’m from, music is such an integral part of the culture, and I grew up attending drum circles, and it was just an amazing way to earn strength in the community.

Iryna Monastyrska, Senior

It’s called a vinok. It’s a flower crown that we wear with fig flowers. And it has ribbons that fall on the back. We use it in Ukrainian folk dance, and it’s part of the costume to hold the ribbons up. So when you’re doing spins, it like falls from your head to your arm. It’s my favorite part of the Ukrainian costume. And it looks really cool.