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ethnic food and speaking different languages. 7
“The concept of diversity encompasses acceptance and

respect,” said Navy Lodge Bethesda Manager Ana Herrera-
Ruiz. “It means understanding that each individual is different,
and also recognizing our differences. It is an exploration of
this difference in a safe, positive and nurturing environment. It
is about understanding each other and moving beyond simple
tolerance to embracing the rich dimensions of diversity con-
tained within each individual.”

Several Navy Lodge Bethesda employees shared their
cultural background.

Jennifer Pineda and Rowena Vary spoke of their Filipino
culture.

They brought pancit — rice noodles with vegetables and
chicken — and lumpia, both of which are eaten on someone’s
birthday.

Musicians play traditional Peruvian music during Navy Lodge
Bethesda’s diversity celebration Oct. 14. (U.S. Navy photo by

Seaman Matthew Hobson)

“Traditionally they prepare it for a birthday party because
they have a saying that ‘If you eat a long noodle, you’re going
to have a long life,’” Vary said.

Navy Lodge Bethesda Assistant General Manager Nicole
Nnoko said the dress she wore to the event was one Cameroon
women would wear to a wedding. She discussed other aspects
of Cameroon culture, such as the fish stew she made and the
many dialects spoken in the African country.

“We speak English and French as our official languages
so we’re just like Canada, but we have a bunch of traditional
languages,” she said. “So, if your parents are from two dif-
ferent tribes you’d know two different languages. And then
we have a language that everyone speaks for the people that
didn’t go to school — a mixture of English and French; it’s
called pidgin English.”

Housekeeping Supervisor Delfina Fuentes moved to the
U.S. 20 years ago from Guatemala and became a U.S. citizen
in 2007. She wore a traditional outfit from her village in Gua-
temala and brought tamales to share with those at the event.

“I left my country and came for a bigger opportunity here,
and I found it,” Fuentes said. “I am so glad to be here. My village
is very far, far away. I cannot imagine how far I am from home.
I bring my mother now, and I feel at home right now with her.”

The diversity celebration included music and dancing from
Peru, with displays featuring items from multiple cultures.
Countries represented by NSA Bethesda’s Navy Lodge staff
are Cameroon, Chile, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Germany,
Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Peru, Philippines, Spain and
the U.S.

FEBRUARY 2017 | MILITARY CLUB & HOSPITALITY