The Volunteer View

Our IVE volunteers are a wonderful group of caring, involved and supportive parents. We think that when you get to know them a little you may find that you have a lot in common! This month, we sat down with Lucy Zou, the chair of our upcoming Multicultural Fair, Passport to the World. This event will take place on Friday, April 25 from 5-8 PM in the IVE multipurpose room.

Reporter: There is a lot of excitement about the upcoming Multicultural Fair. Can you tell us a little bit about the event?

Lucy: This will be a multicultural exchange night to share cultures. School families will share cultures they are from or they know. There will be booths for represented cultures with posters, maps, traditional clothing (worn or displayed), household items, art, pictures, postcards, flags, food etc.

Reporter: I heard that there is going to be entertainment, can you give us some details?

Lucy: We will have cultural performances starting from 6:30 pm, which will include a song sung by all students who are in attendance. There will also be games, arts and crafts to do.

Reporter: Rumor has it that there will be actual passports at the Fair – is that true and how will they be used?

Lucy: Kids will receive a passport at the door. They need to find out the answers of questions for represented cultures by visiting all the booths. They will receive stamps and win a prize after finishing all questions!

Reporter: I have been around IVE for about 10 years and I do not remember ever having a Multicultural Fair in the past. Why did the PTA decide to create a Multicultural event?

Lucy: Our wonderfully diverse community is great treasure for all of us at IVE. We want to find it out and enjoy it. The Multicultural Fair is an event that everyone can participate, even for ESL people like me. It will help us get to know each other better by sharing what makes each of us unique and will help to build closeness in our community. So, here comes the first ever Multicultural Fair!

Reporter: I have seen you around the hallways of IVE quite a bit, so I know you have volunteered a lot of your time at school. Why did you agree to chair this new event?

Lucy: It was a hard decision. Although I volunteer as much as I can and enjoy working with teachers and other parents, it is only my second year at IVE and English is still a great challenge for me. But my observation of a cultural event at Cougar Ridge inspired me greatly. I believe it will benefit our whole school so much as a world community. My confidence increases with strong support from Kristen, our PTA president and Jennell , our principal. So, I decided to do it although I have nothing but passion.

Reporter: Is this event open to the community? Do you think it would work for all ages?

Lucy: Yes, it’s also open to the community. All ages will find something interesting.

Reporter: I would like to get involved, how can I volunteer to help with the Multicultural Fair? Do I need to be from another country to participate?

Lucy: Anyone who would like to volunteer is very welcome. Please let me (zoufamily@gmail.com) or Kristen (kallenbentsen@hotmail.com) know. You don’t have to be from another country to participate. For example, you may want to share some pictures and items you collected on your trip to another part of the world.

Reporter: I know you were a little concerned about the interview because English is not your native language. Can you tell us where you were born and how you ended up in Issaquah?

Lucy: I am VERY concerned about my English for many occasions. I have many jokes about my misunderstanding things and being misunderstood I was born in Shandong province, China. I came to the US for graduate school at North Dakota State Univ. in Fargo and got married there and my son was born there. Then, my family moved to Los Angeles and spent 4 sunny and droughty years there. Finally, we settled down in Issaquah after my husband got an offer from Microsoft. I really enjoy the beautiful nature and nice people here. Even the rain doesn’t bother me very much.

Reporter: Can you tell us a little about your family?

Lucy: A 4-person family with a 7-year old son (1st grader) and a 5-year old daughter (preschooler). I especially appreciate the growing opportunities my kids bring to me. I couldn’t imagine I would chair the first Multicultral Fair at IVE when I asked the question “what does PTA stand for” last year.

Reporter: Can you share a little about either your current or previous work experience -include anything that might have helped prepare you for this event?

Lucy: I was a software engineer for many years, first in wireless telecommunication, then in higher education. I used to be in my own cubicle/office all day long. Now I am a 24/7 mom and mainly drive around and talk to all sizes of people. I am still learning to switch from in depth, logical thinking to fast changing, spontaneous talking. I guess what my previous work experience have helped me is the attitude to face challenge to turn impossible to possible.

Reporter: What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?

Lucy: Do I have spare time? I would consider all I do now as hobbies if I were still in my previous career, such as cooking, cleaning, driving etc. I have long list of books to read and lots of interests to explore, especially outdoor adventures. Hope I’ll have more spare time after my daughter starts kindergarten.

Reporter: Name one thing that most people would be surprised to learn about you.

Lucy: During our family trip back to China at the end of last year, I found my kids were attracted by the beauty of Beijing Opera when they don’t even know what were sung. So did I. Amazingly, I found a Beijing opera interest group in Bellevue after I came back. I’ve joined the group and am looking forward to have Beijing Opera experience in the US.