Around The World In One Night

I have a weakness for buying national costumes for the Bees when I travel. They have a plethora of traditional ensembles from Vietnam to Japan, Myanmar to India. I regretted not buying a hanbok from Seoul when we were there last December. 

One lazy evening last month, when we were fiddling around for some activities, I suggested a fancy dress parade in line with the theme "All About Me". Dressing them up in costumes of different countries was a wonderful way to impart cultures and geographical knowledge of various countries to the Bees, while having lots of hilarious fun! It also reinforced different aspects of individuality to them, emphasizing the fundamental notion that we are living in a highly diverse world, yet reiterating our common humanity in this shrinking planet. 

We laughed till our tummies ached whenever there was a fresh change of costumes, and the vain Bees will parade up and down the living room. Big Bee would painstakingly find matching shoes/socks and accessories while re-enacting national "gestures" like a deep Japanese bow and putting together her palms namaste-style when she donned on her Myanmar costume! And Little Bee would stare at the mirror everytime I changed her, fascinated by her costumes! 

Pure fun indeed! I truly enjoyed myself! 

Introducing Miss Myanmar and Miss Vietnam

Erm, a national costume of Princessland, Cinderella! And a really comfortable yukata from Japan. 

Little Bee wanted to be a ballerina just like her big sister, so I dug out Big Bee's old ballet costume for her and it fit perfectly! Time for ballet classes?