BRIDGING CULTURES FESTIVAL UNITES SENIORS OF DIFFERENT LANDS.

Byline: Susan Abram Staff Writer

GLENDALE - Sometimes a little word like ``hello'' can go a long way.

That was the lesson learned Thursday as more than 100 seniors gathered inside the Glendale Adult Recreation Center to munch on cookies favored by different cultures and listen to presentations as part of a Festival of Friendship.

The festival aimed to open communication among members of the various ethnic groups that use the center. Of the 375 seniors who visit each day for low-cost lunches or recreational activities, about 65 percent do not speak English.

``The problem we've had here is that few people speak English,'' said Carlos Gonzalez, a center volunteer who helped organize the event. ``Communication is so important. It's beautiful to learn something new about people from different countries.''

The predominant groups, Armenians and Filipinos, followed by Koreans, Latinos and people who were born in this country, hesitate to mingle with one another, said John Pierce, supervisor of senior services.

``I think this is an important first step toward integrating the users,'' Pierce said. ``I think the festival gave them a certain feeling of acceptance.''

During the festival, seniors learned how to say hello in five languages, including Spanish, Armenian, Korean, Tagalog and English. Through short films and presentations and interpreters, the seniors learned that the Philippines is a country composed of more than 7,000 islands and is the third-largest English-speaking nation in the world, that the Korean national flower is the Rose of Sharon, and that the formal name for Mexico is the United Mexican States.

``It's very good to see people from other cultures in one place,'' said 85-year-old Young Choi, who also takes part in the Korean Senior Center. ``All cultures can work together toward the success of the United States.''

The center is heavily used, and the city in January approved a plan to remodel its facilities. The main recreation center has not undergone major improvements since it was first built in 1947.

Construction is expected to begin in the fall, said Nello Iacono, the city's director of parks and recreation and community services.

The estimated $4.4 million project includes a new main building, which will be constructed where the tennis courts are located, just off Louise Street and Colorado Boulevard.

The overhauled center will be built on approximately 20,000 square feet of land, compared with the current 9,000 square feet, Iacono said.

CAPTION(S):

2 photos

Photo:

(1) Emma Grigorian of Burbank, right, and Ashot Ajand of Glendale speak about Armenian culture during the festival.

(2) Jaeok Kim, left, Christine Kim, center, and Jaeok Im, wear traditional Korean clothing at the festival for seniors.

Evan Yee/Staff Photographer