Hoosier Motor Club Blog

Indianapolis, IN - Nov. 19, 2009 - Americans who will be traveling during their Thanksgiving and year-end holidays can spice up their “get there, gobble and go” family customs with a little imagination and help from a travel agent at any AAA Hoosier Motor Club service center.

AAA operates the largest leisure-travel agency network in North America and has unique relationships with the world’s most trusted travel providers. Additionally, AAA offers exclusive vacation deals and benefits not available from any other travel agency.

Travel services are available to members and non-members, but members enjoy access to special incentives and benefits.

Tips for Celebrating Away from Home
Consider celebrating the holidays with a winter holiday cruise, a Thanksgiving tour or a New Year’s vacation.

“Families and friends can gather for the holidays by combining their travel plans and going as a group,” said Greg Seiter, public affairs manager for the AAA Hoosier Motor Club. “Taking a holiday cruise together, going on a tour or visiting a city associated with the season can make lasting memories.”

For those interested in celebrating away from home as a group, consider the following:

• Select three or four different trip options that involve various locations, lengths of stay and prices and then choose as a group the one that is most attractive.
• Work with a travel agent to make sure all reservations are booked and confirmed, and everyone has a common contact they can turn to for trip information.
• Most resorts, cruise ships and holiday destinations have special meals, parties or activities for guests. Often these can be some of the most elaborate and fun activities of the year. Make reservations for your favorites.
• If gift-giving is part of the celebration, consider making the trip your present to each other.
• Investigate what special treats or activities may be available for children. A visit from Santa Claus on a cruise ship, finding a New Year’s party for teens, or just playing and watching the traditional football games may help to keep everyone in the holiday spirit.
• If seniors are included, make sure they know the group is considerate of any special needs they may have including adopting a somewhat slower pace, ensuring dietary needs are met or accommodating accessibility or medical issues. By proactively investigating these issues either with a travel agent, or directly with a tour or cruise operator, you may increase the odds the entire family will be able to travel together.

Stays with Family and Friends Can be Combined with Other Travel
In some circumstances, you may want to continue your family tradition and have everyone gather at grandma’s home for the holidays. This doesn’t mean getting there and journeying home can’t be half the fun. Things to consider are:

• If you can compress the time spent celebrating in one place, you may have a night or two left over to spend at a comfortable bed-and-breakfast or a nice hotel.
• Go to AAA.com and use the AAA TripTik Travel Planner to see what cities, towns or special destinations may be along your travel route or a convenient distance from where you will be. You can book hotel rooms, arrange car rentals and get information on attractions and other destinations using AAA’s feature-packed travel planning tool. All online visitors have access to many of its features, although AAA members are entitled to special benefits and discounts.
• Remember that some attractions, parks and businesses close during the holidays, so ask about holiday schedules before you go. Others have special seasonal activities and events.
• Consider the weather, but don’t let it scare you away. If you are going to be in snow country, holing up in a cozy cabin or lodge might be appealing, or make skiing and snowboarding part of your trip. If you are heading south where the weather may be balmy, bring clothes that will be appropriate for the warmer temperatures.

If you have a bit more time before or after the holiday, a three-day cruise or a quick trip to a favorite city for shopping, dining and nightlife may be an option. New Year’s Eve in any big city is sure to feature a great variety of opportunities for fine dining, dancing and music.

Indianapolis, IN - Nov. 19, 2009 - AAA is projecting that 38.4 million Americans will be traveling 50 miles or more away from home over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend; a 1.4 percent increase over last year when 37.8 million traveled.

The number of travelers by automobile is expected to be 33.2 million in 2009 compared to 32.5 million last year; an increase of 2.1 percent, while the number of travelers by air is expected to be 2.3 million compared to 2.5 million in 2008; a decline of 6.7 percent.

Travelers going by other modes of transportation, including trains, watercraft, buses, is expected to be 2.9 million compared to 2.8 million last year, an increase of 1.2 percent.

In 2009, Thanksgiving travel dropped 25.2 percent in the wake of the ongoing housing and financial crisis. This year’s expected increase in travel reflects improved consumer confidence from one year ago, better financial market performance and a growing sense among many consumers that the worst of the global economic crisis is behind us, AAA said.

Number of Thanksgiving travelers going by air continues to decline
Eighty-six percent of Thanksgiving vacationers are expected to travel by automobile, while only six percent say they will go by air. In October, the time when most people make decisions in regards to Thanksgiving travel, average gasoline prices were approximately 54 cents cheaper than they were in October 2008. Despite increases in gasoline prices during the last month however, most people are not expected to change their decision in regards to their preferred mode of transportation since airline seat availability becomes more limited and ticket prices tend to increase as a given holiday approaches.

This year’s decrease in the number of air travelers continues a decade-long trend in which air travel as a percentage of total Thanksgiving travel has declined substantially. Since 2000, the number of Americans traveling by air during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend has dropped an astounding 62 percent. While much of this decrease can be attributed to ongoing economic difficulties, the air travel experience itself has undergone a substantial change since the 1990s with stricter airport security, more frequent flight delays, reduced capacity, added surcharges and fees all contributing to the decline. 

Average spending will be $718 and average distance traveled will be 815 miles
Thanksgiving travelers expect to spend approximately $718 per household this upcoming holiday weekend. With the focus of Thanksgiving in most cases being directed on time spent with family and friends, it is not surprising that only 15.7 percent of spending will be for accommodations, while 32 percent will be for transportation. 

Food and beverage will absorb 21 percent of spending and shopping will account for 16 percent. Entertainment and recreation will account for 10 percent of spending on average. “Other” or miscellaneous spending is five percent.

Thanksgiving travelers will journey an average of 815 miles roundtrip this upcoming holiday weekend. More than one-third (37 percent) of travelers will journey 250 miles or less round trip and slightly less than one-quarter (24 percent) will log between 251 and 700 miles. An estimated 38 percent will travel more than 700 miles round trip.

Airfare, lodging and rental car costs will all be lower
According to AAA’s Leisure Travel Index - a monitor of pricing in 20 popular cities across the U.S. for hotel and car rentals, as well as 40 pairs of cities for air travel pricing - the lowest average published airfares over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend are expected to decrease four percent from last year to an average of $170 per roundtrip ticket. Car rental rates are down three percent to an average of $44 per day for a mid-size car versus $45 per day last year. Rates for AAA Three Diamond lodgings are expected to be 11 percent less than in 2009 with travelers spending an average of $128 per night. Vacationers planning to stay at AAA Two Diamond lodgings will pay 13 percent less than last year; an average of $92 per night.

Holiday Forecast Methodology
AAA’s projections are based on research conducted by IHS Global Insight. The Lexington, Mass.-based economic research and consulting firm teamed with AAA earlier this year as part of an agreement to jointly analyze travel trends during the major holidays.

AAA has been reporting on holiday travel trends for more than two decades. For purposes of this forecast the Thanksgiving holiday travel period is defined as trips that include travel of 50 miles or more away from home during the period from Wednesday, Nov. 25 to Sunday, Nov. 29. 

The complete AAA / IHS Global Insight 2009 Thanksgiving holiday forecast can be found at AAA.com/news.

In cooperation with AAA, IHS Global Insight has developed a unique approach to forecasting actual travel that explicitly considers current economic conditions, past holiday travel trends and behavior, and the recent assessment of pre-holiday American travel intentions derived from a survey of 1,350 American households.

The intentions figures act as a leading indicator, but do not constitute the forecast itself. Instead, travel intentions overlay other key travel drivers along with past trends in an effort to project what Americans will actually do. The approach recognizes that Americans do not always behave as they say they will.

The actual travel figures come from the ongoing travel panel database of D.K. Shifflet & Associates, the premier source of American travel volume and behavior. DKSA interviews more than 50,000 American households per month in an effort to track trip incidence, composition, behavior, and spending…all after the trips have been taken.

Indianapolis, IN - Nov. 18, 2009 - AAA Hoosier Motor Club is offering a new software program that improves driver safety by improving the minds of drivers. The software is called DriveSharp, which is produced by Posit Science, the leading developer of brain fitness programs. DriveSharp is a set of game-like computer exercises shown in studies to improve reaction time, reduce crash risk and increase control in most driving conditions.

After thorough review, DriveSharp is being recommended by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety and is being distributed by the AAA Hoosier Motor Club.

“Part of making our nation’s roads safer is helping mature drivers who wish to stay active - a quickly growing population - maintain or improve their driving safety,” said AAA Foundation CEO Peter Kissinger. “We are very excited to partner with Posit Science in bringing this unique technology to everyone looking for ways to take more control over their safety on the road.” 

DriveSharp consists of two computer exercises that improve reaction time, visual processing speed and driving ability. DriveSharp’s technology has been extensively validated in studies funded by the National Institutes of Health and in leading science and medical journals. 

The technology has been shown in studies to cut crash risk in half, to improve stopping distance by up to 22 feet at 55 miles per hour and to assist drivers in maintaining their driving skills as they age.

“With DriveSharp you’re tracking two, three or even four moving objects at one time,” said Roselyn Snell, a 67-year-old experimental user of the software. “That relates to my driving, because you have to keep your eye on everything on the freeway — the cars moving behind you, in front of you, and changing lanes.”

This technology is now available for the first time to the public in a product designed to improve reaction time and control on the road. AAA Hoosier Motor Club is now offering the program, which normally retails for $89, to its members at a discounted price of $69 from now through the end of 2009.

“We are addressing the number one driver safety device - the driver’s mind,” said Greg Seiter, AAA Hoosier Motor Club Public Affairs Manager. “This is an important breakthrough in helping our members to evaluate their driving risk and to then do something about it. The studies show that on average just 10 hours of training will help people drive longer and safer. That’s a great result and something we all want.”

For more information on obtaining the DriveSharp software at a discount, visit http://www.aaahoosier.com/news/drivesharp.htm?zip=46203 or call 866-599-6463 to order your copy today.

About Posit Science
Posit Science is the leading provider of scientifically proven brain fitness software. It works with more than 50 scientists from prestigious universities to design and test its programs. Articles in more than 30 leading science and medical journals show that the company’s patented technologies significantly increase processing speed, improve memory and attention, and enhance quality of life. For more information, visit www.PositScience.com or call 1-866-599-6463.

Market Overview
A potent mix of dollar weakness, growing international economic activity and better than expected retail sales data has helped oil prices move higher this week.

On the international front, news indicating the gross domestic product of Japan grew 4.8 percent in the third quarter of this year has signaled to many the potential for returning international oil demand. In the U.S., an increase in retail sales of 1.4 percent in October fed optimism regarding the American economy as well. 

With regards to the strength of the U.S. dollar, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke suggested Monday the Fed would eventually instill policies that would strengthen the U.S. dollar in the long term. At the same time, Chairman Bernanke also suggested low interest rates - an ingredient that contributes to a weak dollar - will remain in place for some time to come. As such, it appears the U.S. dollar will remain relatively weak for the foreseeable future.

An interesting snapshot of the broader U.S. economy and specifically the mood of American motorists will come soon in conjunction with the Thanksgiving holiday. The number of travelers who hit the road during the long holiday weekend will provide insight into how consumers feel about spending money on gasoline and other travel-related expenses. An increase in travel by car may suggest consumers are feeling better about the broader economic picture and that retail gasoline prices are at levels comfortable enough to not hinder their travel plans.

In November of 2008, retail gasoline prices were trending decidedly lower, away from the summer’s record highs amidst disintegrating fundamentals and spurred by the worst economic meltdown in decades. The national average retail gasoline price at this time in 2008 was $2.10 per gallon for self serve regular. Interestingly, beginning in November of last year, retail prices were falling an average of 2 cents a day heading toward a low price in late December.

However, comparing the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday to last year’s in terms of retail gasoline prices is not exactly an “apples-to-apples” comparison. Today, the economic picture is perhaps best described as murky, with mixed signals on the direction of oil and gasoline fundamentals emerging weekly. One component of market oil prices that is clear, however, is that prices are being propped up by U.S. dollar weakness. All told, for the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday, consumers can likely expect a national average price at least 60 cents higher than last year’s price.

One interesting side note on current oil supply levels is attracting renewed attention in the media and the markets. The massive amount of oil currently being sequestered on large ocean going tankers is approaching ten-year highs. According to some estimates, there may be as much as 143 million barrels of crude oil currently onboard ships floating in various waters around the world. To put the sheer magnitude of this supply in proper perspective, 143 million barrels of oil is enough to satiate U.S. oil consumption for an entire week.

The 2009 International Festival, sponsored by AAA Hoosier Motor Club, runs tomorrow through Sunday at the West Pavilion, Indiana State Fairgrounds (1200 E. 38th Street, Indianapolis). This event presents the unique opportunity to travel the world in just a few steps. At every turn, a different culture is represented with colorful displays, traditional dress, music, movement and dance along with food and drink.

Two stages provide non-stop entertainment that is based in the art, culture, and expression from all corners of the globe while students and children are given special attention in one of the most concentrated cross-culture learning experiences available anywhere.

The International Festival is an annual celebration of central Indiana’s rich ethnic and cultural diversity. Hosted by the Nationalities Council of Indiana, this year marks the 33rd anniversary of the festival. More than 50 ethnic or national affinity organizations plus other groups, businesses and individuals interested in focusing on central Indiana’s diversity will host booths at the event.

The festival is designed to feed the body, mind, and spirit with tempting foods, educational experiences, and artistic performances from every continent. Volunteers in traditional dress in dozens of booths share stories of their ethnic heritage and many offer authentic foods and displays of cultural items. On stage, talented performers showcase the beautiful choreography, exciting rhythms, and traditional dress of their native lands.

One of the primary missions of the International Festival is to provide students and teachers with an enriching cultural and educational experience. Thousands of school children and their teachers will visit the festival tomorrow and Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. These students will have a unique opportunity to learn about diversity and explore their own ethnic roots as they “travel” the festival using student passports provided by the Nationalities Council and the Eli Lilly Foundation. Also featured in conjunction with the passport program will be the WTHR SkyTrak weather around the world display. Students will research seasonal weather patterns in countries around the world for entry on their passports.

Special reduced prices are available for school hours.

Among new features at the International Festival in 2009 will be Italian Street Painting, Dance lessons from Arthur Murray International Dance Studio, an appearance by the Umdabu Dance and Percussion Company from South Africa and an appearance by “Dora” from Nickelodeon Jr’s hit TV series, “Dora The Explorer” Saturday & Sunday.

Visitors will find interesting gift shopping opportunities at the International Festival in the International Marketplace. Items from around the world made by artisans and producers whose work conveys their native heritage and culture will be featured.

Representatives from the two Indiana U.S. Senators and U.S. House of Representatives will participate in a Naturalization Ceremony as part of the 2009 International Festival. More than 150 people will become the newest U.S. citizens in a special ceremony on Friday at 3 p.m.

Special discounts give families a chance to save on admission.
Advance sale discount tickets will be available at www.indyinternationalfestival.org. Discounts for those showing a AAA Hoosier Motor Club membership card will be available at the door.

Advance Adult - $7
Gate:  Adult - $9
Child (6-12 years) - $6 Flat Rate

International Festival Hours
Tomorrow and Friday (reserved for school field trips and other groups of school-age children) - 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

General Public Admission, Friday, Nov. 20 - 2 p.m. to 9 p.m.
General Public Admission, Saturday, Nov. 21 - 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
General Public Admission, Sunday, Nov. 22 - noon to 6 p.m.

Arthur Murray International Dance Studio Professional dance instructors from the nationally recognized Arthur Murray Dance Studios will teach Festival-goers international dances on-site at the event!  Learn the basic steps of international dances such as the Merengue, Bolero, Tango, Cha Cha and Samba as you enjoy the sights, sounds & tastes of the world at this year’s International Festival. Register to win free in-studio dance lessons too! 

Italian Street Painting  Using chalk as a medium, madonnari (street painters)  will transform the  concrete floors of the Indiana State Fairgrounds West Pavilion into a color-splashed gallery for the International Festival’s 20,000+ visitors. Festival-goers and students will have a chance to try their hand at this ancient art-form all weekend. Our primary madonnari will be local artist and muralist Vandra Linder.

Umdabu South African Dance & Percussion Company  In African culture, there is always a reason for the dance. A celebration of the harvest, a baby naming ceremony or to prepare for a hunt, dance is essential in African culture. The Umdabu Dance Company will showcase four of their cultural dances at this year’s International Festival on Saturday only. The Umdabu Dance Company is a Birmingham, Alabama based dance theater dedicated to the preservation and presentation of traditional and Contemporary South African history and culture.

Explore the Continent of Africa in a BIG way!  The Nationalities Council will partner with the Geography Educators’ Network of Indiana to present the National Geographic Society’s Giant Travelling Map of Africa. Measuring 26′x35′ and weighing 102 lbs., this giant map of Africa is the world’s largest map of the continent. Students across the globe use this map as a tool to explore the continent in a variety of unique ways! The giant map is designed as a geo-game board to introduce students to the power of map and the diverse geography of Africa.

Dora The Explorer Meet the star of the hit Nickelodeon Jr. Series, Dora The Explorer, on Saturday & Sunday! Dora the Explorer introduces kids to Spanish words, encourages movement, and gives viewers the skills and the confidence needed to overcome challenges.

Student Passport Program  Explore your ethnic roots and interact with people from various cultures as part of the Festival’s education outreach program. The Eli Lilly Foundation provides students with a Student Passport which students present at the Culture Booths throughout the day. By displaying knowledge of the country’s currency, language, customs and traditions, students collect stamps in their Student Passports.

Travelers should be thinking about less cumbersome and possibly less expensive methods of getting their vacation “stuff” where it needs to go, now that most airlines are charging extra fees for a second piece of checked luggage, or even a first piece in some cases, AAA says.

“For many consumers, travel frequently includes the need to transport sporting equipment, holiday gifts or the fruits of shopping excursions either to or from a vacation destination,” said Tom Wilt, managing director of AAA Partnership Programs. “Now that most airlines are trying to maximize revenue by charging an extra $10 or $20 per checked item, travelers should be re-examining the best ways of getting what they need, where they need it.

“Relinquishing your grip on a favorite tennis racket or fishing rod may be unnerving for some, so go ahead and take these items with you on the airplane; especially if they will fit your carrier’s policy regarding carry-on luggage or can be packed in an oversized piece of checked luggage,” Wilt continued. “If knowing your favorite piece of equipment is on the flight with you is not a priority, however, shipping ahead may make sense. This is because things that may fit in a third bag or a box such as holiday gifts or backpacking gear not only add to the cost of a trip, but are frequently an ongoing juggling challenge when getting to and from the airport.

“Not all airlines are charging extra for checked luggage, so this is the first point to consider,” Wilt said. “If you do plan to fly on a carrier that charges extra for bags, then consider shipping items you need directly to your destination rather than dragging them to the airport, going through the necessary security checks and retrieving them after your flight. There are a variety of specialty shipping companies who handle over-sized items such as snowboards, golf clubs, SCUBA gear, surfboards and bicycles. Some even provide door-to-door service. For other items, a package delivery company such as UPS may be your best choice. Regardless of what company you use, insure what you send.”

Wilt said two people flying with four checked bags can easily add $40 to $80 to the price of their total trip expense. Charges are usually higher for over-sized items and international shipping typically costs more than items carried on domestic flights. 

Check with your airline to find out what can be shipped, prices, and any special handling or packing requirements. 

While the cost of shipping may exceed the recently imposed checked baggage fees, these charges will at least partially offset a portion of the cost of using a delivery service. Some consumers may also feel the extra shipping costs outweigh the hassle of checking and retrieving multiple items at the airport.

Using the AAA Show Your Card & Save ® program, AAA members can receive a 15 percent discount on packaging materials and five percent on domestic shipping at the more than 4,300 The UPS Store® locations nationwide. In addition to great savings, certified packing experts can also help air travelers pack their items, even if this requires building a custom-made box for an oversized object.

When it comes to worries over the potential of lost luggage, The UPS Store has a variety of options that allow travelers to track their luggage and other “stuff”  as it is being shipped, such as UPS Next Day Air®, UPS 2nd Day Air®, UPS 3 Day Select (sm), and UPS Ground. By planning ahead and shipping early travelers can choose lower cost shipping options. The other key to making sure your things are waiting for you on arrival, is to make certain relatives, hotel staff or other responsible parties know you are shipping items to them and they are prepared to accept delivery and secure your items.

Another alternative to taking everything you need for your trip to the airport is to rent items you may need at your destination. While it may be comforting to bring your own bicycle, golf clubs, skis or surfboard, renting these items may make the most sense for all but the most avid enthusiasts. Your travel agent can frequently advise you whether rental items such as these are available at your destination.

AAA’s Show Your Card & Save program is the largest member discount program in the world offering more than 164,000 locations for savings worldwide including 110,000 retail locations in North American and popular online retailers including Target.com, FTD.com and more. Visit AAA.com/discounts for a complete list of retailers and offers.

The 2009 Indy International Festival will be held at the West Pavilion at the Indiana State Fairgrounds Thursday through Sunday. 

The festival, sponsored by AAA Hoosier Motor Club, is a mix of entertainment, food, cultural booths, a naturalization ceremony, parade of nations and more. For the 33rd annual International Festival, attendees will be able to create chalk art works on canvases that will convert the concrete floors of the West Pavilion into an Italian-themed gallery. 

Each of these eight approximately 4′ by 3′ works of art will recreate a famous master’s work or will create an ephemeral work in “The Spirit of Italy.”  Each of the eight will also reflect the Spirit and Place theme of Inspiring Places (with the addendum of Interesting Faces). 

Simplified images, such as Inume Pass by the artist Hokusai, will be outlined like a large coloring book page. Chalk, kneepads and reference images will be provided for the festival-goer artists.

Vandra Pentecost Linder, co-owner of Linder Design of Indianapolis, is an award-winning artist who will lead and coordinate the Maddonari project at the International Festival. She has served as creative director for several mural projects bringing public-participatory art to many Indianapolis neighborhoods. Pentecost Linder said: “This year’s International Festival’s Madonnari event is an exciting invitation for the public to participate in and observe art in the making, interacting with the international community of Indianapolis to promote an appreciation of artistic processes, and a deeper appreciation of art and world cultures. Join me and members of our international community as we create artwork in the tradition of Italian Street Painting.”

Interaction with the public is at the core of the tradition of Italian street painting, or art of the Madonnari, (pronounced: mah-doan-are-ee) dating back to the 16th century. The term Madonnari was given to 16th-century itinerant street painters who traveled from city to city during holy festivals, creating reproductions of religious art (typically the Madonna) for food and modest tips. They created images in public squares and in front of churches using bits of broken roof tiles, charcoal, and white chalk. After the festivities, or with the first rain, both the painting and the painter would vanish.

By World War II, chalk painting had all but vanished as a form of expression. The tradition returned in 1972 when a few remaining Madonnari and a group of businessmen put together the first festival of street painting in Grazie di Curtatone, Italy, to record and publicize the work of those considered to be the last practitioners of this traditional art form. The oldest of the painters were in their 90s. Since then, the festival has become a competition that has drawn younger painters and larger crowds. The festival remains popular and street painting festivals around the world are modeled on the event.

The rich culture of Persia, known to us today as Iran, will be explored through stage performances and through one-to-one outreach to the larger community at the 2009 International Festival, sponsored by AAA Hoosier Motor Club. 

The Festival will be held Thursday, Nov. 19 through Sunday, Nov. 22 at the West Pavilion, Indiana State Fairgrounds, 1200 E. 38th Street, Indianapolis. 

The Persian community is but one of dozens of nationalities to be spotlighted at the Festival. Families and individuals living in central Indiana who have ties to foreign lands around the world use the Festival to showcase their cultural heritage with on-stage time as well as food and cultural booths. The result for visitors is a virtual trip around the world, without leaving home.

Two stages provide non-stop entertainment that is based in the art, culture, and expression from all corners of the globe.  Students and children are given special attention in one of the most concentrated cross-culture learning experiences available anywhere.

Six-year-old Donya Zandi of Indianapolis embodies the cross-cultural spirit that is the heart of the International Festival.  Donya was born in the U.S. to first-generation Iranian immigrant parents living in Indianapolis. To help her appreciate where her parents are from, the family speaks mostly Farsi at home. 

When Donya joins her parents at get-togethers with other Persian families here in Indianapolis, she is adept at reciting from memory the beautiful poetry of the Persian poet Hafez in the language of her heritage. Her mom and dad involved her in the “Mahtab” Children’s Persian Dance Group as a way for her to teach others about Iranian culture while at the same time learning it herself. 

Her father, Firooz Zandi was born in Iran and still has the majority of his family living there. He says, “The value is for people to learn something about Iran other than hearing about the mullahs on television every day. The value is for people to see our 3000-year-old culture, and for us to teach about that culture to our children. Iran is not what you see on television.”

The Persian community is relatively small in the Indianapolis area, but the families who have moved here for work or education are putting down roots that will help keep their culture alive as generations such as Donya’s become assimilated. 

Shayda Bradley is president of the Society for Promotion of Persian Culture (SPPC).  Bradley says, “We think we have about 500 families in Indianapolis. Because this group of people is well-educated, they would like to keep the Persian community alive so that they can keep their heritage and culture. They want to be more active in the community. Our plan for the future is to grow the knowledge of our heritage for our children–the second and third generations–by creating schools.  We have a small school currently at Carmel High School on Sundays to keep the language alive. Our major goal is within the next five years to build a building so that we can have a community center.”

She goes on to say that the efforts of the Nationalities Council of Indiana, hosts of the International Festival, have been very helpful in opening the door to greater community awareness and appreciation. She says, “We feel that performing at community events such as the International Festival is a great way for the community to get to know us. (The audiences) are very kind and very interested.  Last year after our Festival appearance we couldn’t keep up with the requests to perform.  We are not entertainers per se, but we enjoy bringing our culture live to the community.”

At the International Festival, there will be performances by three Persian dance groups, one from the Indiana Persian School along with the adult “Aftab” (sunshine) dance group and the “Mahtab” (moonlight) Children’s Persian Dance Group. 

Parvin Holmes is manager of the Aftab and Mahtab groups. She says, “To encourage people to be interested in Persian culture, I thought dance, music and art are the best ways to reach people and get their attention.  For me, the easiest was dance because I know that Iranians love dance.  So I started (the Aftab group) with five ladies between 25 and 30.  Each year I work to build the program and make it better.”  Holmes explains that bringing in the children’s group (Mahtab) allows a new generation to be able to express the Persian culture while at the same time bonding with other children from Iranian homes and exploring their common ethnic heritage.

Mohammad Kaviani, a lecturer in the Department of Economics at IUPUI who was born in Iran highlights that culture beyond music and dance: “When we say culture, it covers many subjects including languages, literature, politics, religion, food, and celebrations of some different occasions. I would say that the salient feature of Iranian culture is literature. It is very rich and is becoming more and more known in the west. For example, there are the works of Rumi, Hafez, Saadi, and of course Khayyam among others. These are but a few well-known Iranian poets, philosophers that are more familiar in the west.” He goes on to describe how the Persian culture (Iran is a name given to the country by and for those outside the country) goes back thousands of years.

Kaviani also says, “The difference between Iran’s current religious regime and the beautiful poetry and literature of Iran’s past needs to be known. The current regime is an institutionalized religion of the Shiite branch of Islam. The poetry and literature are the exact opposite. Sufism is the Islamic version of mysticism and it is very prevalent in Persian poetry and literature.

Six-year-old Donya Zandi is a young American of Persian descent who is able to recite from memory long passages of beautiful ancient Persian poetry in Farsi. It’s clear that her parents, her friends in the local Persian Community, and the Indianapolis community at large are encouraging her to be a well-grounded leader of tomorrow and a living bridge between cultures. 

That spirit of education, cultural appreciation, and diverse celebration is also what the International Festival is all about.

For many young people, growing up in Indiana means living daily around people who have homogeneous backgrounds. 

The Hoosier state’s farmlands and small towns are not, in general, culturally or ethnically diverse. For other young people who come from Indiana’s urban centers, hearing different languages spoken and living amongst deep cultural diversity is a daily fact of life.

For both groups of young people there is an important occasion that presents the opportunity to put diversity or its absence into perspective with first-hand encounters with the world’s cultures. 

That opportunity is on “School Days” at the International Festival where more than 7000 elementary, middle, and high school students from across Indiana will spend a half day at the Festival on Thursday and Friday, Nov. 19 and 20, 2009 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

This year, the International Festival dates correspond with “International Education Week,” an annual program sponsored by the U.S. State Department with lesson plans for American students that provide a better understanding of geo-political issues as well as world cultures and ethnicities.

At the International Festival, sponsored by AAA Hoosier Motor Club and held at the West Pavilion of the Indiana State Fairgrounds, students will be entertained by performing artists and groups representing the countries of origin of many nationality groups who now call Indiana home. The students will explore their ethnic roots and interact with people from various cultures as part of the Student Passport Program sponsored by the Eli Lilly Foundation. Each student will receive a passport and then have it “stamped” as they work their way around the dozens of cultural booths at the festival. By displaying knowledge of each country’s currency, language, customs and traditions, students collect those stamps. 

A featured part of the Student Passport Program is the WTHR SkyTrak “Weather Around the World”. The station’s chief meteorologist, Chris Wright encourages students to research seasonal weather patterns in countries across the globe. The students are then encouraged to fill this information out on the back of their Passport.

The International Festival is hosted by the Nationalities Council of Indiana. For 2009, the Nationalities Council will partner with the Geography Educators Network of Indiana to present the National Geographic Society’s Giant Travelling Map of Africa.  Measuring 26 feet by 35 feet and weighing more than 100 pounds, this giant map of Africa is the world’s largest map of the continent. Students across the globe are using this map as a tool to explore the continent in a variety of ways. The giant map is designed as a geo-game board to introduce students to the power of mapping and the diverse geography of Africa.

Arthur Murray International Dance Studios will be getting students up and dancing familiar social dances from around the world. On stage, featured entertainers such as the Umdabu Dance Company of South Africa and the Celtic band Highland Reign will provide special performances specially-tailored for their student audiences.

Teachers across Indiana are provided with pre-festival visit materials and information so that students can more fully participate, learn from, and enjoy their day at the International Festival. The educational focus of School Days is a vital part of the outreach mission of the 2009 International Festival.

Special discounts give families a chance to save on admission.
Advance sale discount tickets will be available at www.indyinternationalfestival.org. Discounts for those showing a AAA Hoosier Motor Club membership card will be available at the door.

• Advance Adult - $7
• Gate:  Adult - $9
• Child (6-12 years) - $6 Flat Rate

International Festival Hours

• Thursday and Friday, Nov. 19 and 20 (reserved for school field trips and other groups of school-age children) - 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• General Public Admission, Friday, Nov. 20 - 2 p.m. to 9 p.m.
• General Public Admission, Saturday, Nov. 21 - 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• General Public Admission, Sunday, Nov. 22 - noon to 6 p.m.