Yearly Archives: 2013

Celebrate International Education Week in Your Host Kid’s Classroom ~ Nov 18-22.

International Education Week is an opportunity to celebrate the benefits of international education and exchange worldwide. This joint initiative of the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Education is part of our efforts to promote programs that prepare Americans for a global environment and attract future leaders from abroad to study, learn, and exchange experiences in the United States. Participation of all individuals and institutions interested in international education and exchange activities, including schools, colleges and universities, embassies, international organizations, businesses, associations, and community organizations is encouraged.
What can YOU do?

  • Prepare an Global Awareness Presentation for your host child’s class and present it during International Education Week. 
  • See our Facebook page for instructions
  • Ask me for help. You will receive a special Global Awareness Certificate!

·       For more ideas on fun ways to participate, visit:  International Education Ideas

Summer Safety Tips

Dehydration: The little ones, especially, forget to drink or to tell you that they need to drink. If you find the children not looking well and/or getting cranky toward the afternoon, it might be because they’re tired, or it might be because they’re dehydrated. Remember: By the time a person feels thirsty, he’s already partly dehydrated, so drink to prevent thirst, not to quench it. Common symptoms of dehydration are crankiness, headaches, aches in the joints and weariness. And don’t allow your child to fill up on juice or soft drinks; these are dehydrators. Water or child-appropriate hydrating drinks are best.

However, if you or your child has severe dehydration (dry mouth, sunken eyes, reluctant to drink, unable to pee or cry, high fever, lethargy), call for emergency help and have your child sip an electrolyte-replacement fluid (such as Pedialyte).

Hot Cars: Don’t EVER leave children alone in the car — not even for a moment. Besides the danger of abduction, the temperature in a car can skyrocket in minutes. And, if you see an unattended young child in a vehicle, please call 911, the police or other emergency personnel. Your call could save the child’s life.

Drowning: Always actively supervise children in and around water. Infants and children can drown in bathtubs, swimming pools, ponds or almost any other water. Toddlers aren’t strong enough to lift themselves back out of a toilet, bucket, container or wading pool.

sunscreenSun Protection: Children’s skin and eyes are more sensitive to ultraviolet rays. Babies should be protected from direct sun entirely. Toddlers, preschoolers and older children should be covered well in sunscreen (SPF 30 or higher) at least one half hour before going out in the sun. Sunscreen should be reapplied every hour or so, and it should be reapplied after the child has been in water. Don’t forget ears, hands, feet, lips and under the eyes. Also, make sure your child wears a hat and sunglasses when out in the sun for any length of time.

Au Pairs Celebrate Flag Day

Global Awareness celebrates Flag Day with a Flag Day competition.  Au Pairs were asked to submit their creative expression of their country’s flag.  We had so many wonderful entries.  I’d like to say a big thank you to Hollie Cottrell for her entry.Holly, UK And though she didn’t take a prize, she put a huge smile on my face for taking the time and patience to make such a beautiful flag/cake!  Yum. 

 We are so proud of our talented au pairs!

 

First Place ~ Sabine Formanek, Austria

Second place ~ Lena Petelko, Ukraine

Ukraine, Olena Petelko

Third Place ~ Mia Ng, MalaysiaMalaysia, Mia

     

 

Flag Day promotes International Team Work!

The best team prize went to :  Nitzan Dorenboim, Israel and Freddy Eixner, Germany ~ see how they made a German/Israeli flag out of cupcakes!

For the history of Flag Day and what it’s all about go to:  http://www.usflag.org/flag.day.html

Drive Safely in the Rain!

 

We’ve had a lot of rain on the Shoreline, and driving can be very dangerous!  If possible, stay in!  But if you must go out, please pay attention to these driving safety tips:

1. Keep both hands on the steering wheel at all times! Keep all distractions, such as cell phones or even the radio, off and away from you. It is illegal to talk or text on your cell phone while driving!

2. Turn on your headlights.  This will make it easier for you to see what is in front of you; thus, preventing any accidents.

3. Keep a minimum of a good five car length from the car in front of you. You never know what other drivers are going to do or what could happen to you! If that feels too close or too far a rule of thumb is 1 second of following distance per 10 miles per hour. That holds true especially in bad weather.

4. Drive at or below the speed limit to the extent that you are comfortable with, and can see far enough in front of you to appropriately make driving decisions..

5. Be aware of hydroplaning. This is where your vehicle travels on top of the water and has NO or very little contact with the ground. Your traction is reduced significantly. To safely get out of a hydroplaning situation let off the gas and steer straight or slightly in the direction you must go. Do not make sudden motions and remain calm.

6. Avoid flooded roads. Never drive through standing or flowing water in a road way unless you have no choice or you are able to follow someone else to judge the depth of the water. Flooding the engine of your car can cause the engine to stall, and deep water can actually float your car and take it off the roadway.

7. Turn on the defroster if the windshield begins to fog. In hot, muggy weather, air conditioned air (which cannot contain as much moisture) will usually clear the inside of the windshield faster than non air conditioned.

8. Be aware that brakes can be affected by water. Wet drum type brakes are especially prone to decreased stopping power after driving through deep water.

9. Watch for splashing from potholes and pools of water that accumulate at clogged storm drain pipes and low areas of the pavement. Highways also develop “ruts” where the heaviest traffic tracks, and you may be able to position your vehicle while remaining in your lane to avoid these.

10. Beware of driving in the rain, especially at night. Motorcycles or even other dark-colored cars can be camouflaged amongst glistening raindrops on side windows and mirrors. It’s best to have a light colored car that isn’t easily camouflaged in the night.

Learning how to bellydance!

Our May cluster meeting for a “first” for all!  Karla, one of our wonderful au pairs, taught us how to bellydance.  Let me tell you, it is not easy.  The moves for the lower part of the body are difficult in themselves but add the upper body, scarves, and finger chimes to the mix, and we were in awe of Karla’s accomplishment with the age-old art.  Take a look!

Corinna’s mom was visiting so she joined in the fun!  What a great sport!Karla, Bellydancing, 2Karla, Bellydancing

Make a Bird Feeder with Host Children

Recycle a soda bottle into a bird feeder.  Some inexpensive wood spoons, bird seed, a cord to hang it with and a tree to hang it in is all you need.

 

Then you and the host kids can watch the birds flock to the feeder!   Have the kids color pictures of the birds that visit.  Take photos, too.  Identify the birds and keep a little photo album of the birds that visit your feeder

May 5: Tacos for Cinco de Mayo

Kid Friendly Tacos

    taco-truck-lunches-medMake lunch a fiesta by turning tonight’s leftovers into tomorrow’s tacos. With a simple make-your-own taco seasoning recipe, you can easily flavor meat from tonight’s dinner and add a variety of toppings on a tortilla. Who needs taco trucks parked in the nearby lots when you can make your own tasty tacos?

Taco Seasoning Recipe
Start with this easy taco seasoning, and add it to the meat of your choosing! The seasoning will store for up to six weeks in an airtight container, so you can make multiple batches.

Makes about 3/4 cup

INGREDIENTS
1/4 cup chili powder
1/4  cup salt
3 tablespoons ground cumin
1 tablespoon paprika (use smoked paprika for deeper flavor)
1 tablespoon cornstarch
2 teaspoons ground coriander
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Meat, fish or beans

INSTRUCTIONS

  1. Whisk together all ingredients and transfer to an airtight container.
  2. Add two tablespoons (or to taste) of taco seasoning and 2-3 tablespoons water per pound of meat, fish or beans. Stir to combine; simmer 5 minutes.

Taco Lunch Inspiration
Now comes the fun part. Use your seasoned leftovers and try some of these delicious combinations, which include adult and kid-friendly options.

Chicken

  • Adult Option: Combine mashed black beans, shredded grilled chicken, grilled red pepper slices, diced tomatoes, pickled jalapeño slices, sliced green onions, salsa and sour cream on a flour tortilla.
  • Kid-friendly Option: Season ground chicken and spoon it into a crunchy taco shell. Top it with a dollop of queso, shredded lettuce and salsa.

Pork

  • Adult Option: Lay pork on a warm tortilla and top with grilled pineapple slices, diced red onion, cilantro leaves and canned chipotles in adobo sauce mixed with sour cream.
  • Kid-friendly Option: Line a tortilla with sliced pork, and top with shredded pepper jack and cheddar cheese, diced avocado and orange sections.

Beans

  • Adult Option: Mix leftover white rice and black beans with chopped green chiles and taco seasoning. Top with greens, salsa, shredded pepper jack cheese and a squeeze of lime in a flour tortilla.
  • Kid-friendly Option: Heap refried beans mixed with a pinch of taco seasoning onto a crunchy taco shell and top with guacamole, shredded cheddar, shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, salsa, sour cream and sliced olives.

Fish

  • Adult Option: Use leftover mahi-mahi, tilapia, or any favorite fish and top with shredded Napa cabbage, tomatillo salsa, sliced avocado, minced fresh cilantro and lime juice in a warm flour tortilla.
  • Kid-friendly Option: Stack a couple breaded fish sticks in a flour tortilla or a crunchy taco shell. Top with shredded lettuce, shredded cheese, salsa, sour cream seasoned with a pinch of taco seasoning and a squeeze of lime.

Tip: Eat tacos on the go! Season the meat the night before and build the ingredients in a portable container, and refrigerate overnight. Put tortillas in a plastic bag. In the morning, pack it all, with a spoon, in an insulated lunch box. You’ll have a portable taco truck at your desk or in the lunch room!

Happy New Year, Thailand!

Songkran-2013-Thailand-New-YearSongkran 2013 Dates

When: 13th – 15th April, 2013
Where: Thailand

Water Festival in Thailand (Songkran) –
You will get wet on the 13th of April – if you happen to be in Thailand. It’s a given that you won’t escape the water pistols, the water balloons and buckets of water as the Thais celebrate Songkran, the Thai New Year. Songkran festival is also known as Thailand Water Festival!

‘Songkran’ (from the Sanskrit word Sankranti, signifying the sun’s shift from one zodiac to another) heralds the beginning of the solar year and is the most important festival for the people of Thailand. The festival is celebrated over three days, ‘Mahasongkran’ on the 13th of April marks the end of the old year, Wan Nao (14th April) is the day after and April 15 is Wan Thaloeng Sok when the New Year begins. Sonkgran is akin to the Indian festival of Holi and the Chinese festival of Ching Ming. Though it is celebrated all over Thailand, it is in Chiang Mai that the Thais hold the very important ritual of bathing the Buddha and people from all over come to be witness to this event.

On Thailand New Year’s Day, people in Thailand say prayers to the Buddha, clean temples and houses, offer alms to the monks and sprinkle scented water on elders as a mark of respect. The pouring of water is symbolic of the cleansing of the spirit, mind and body. The water is also supposed to wash away bad luck – so consider yourself blessed if you get drenched! Happily, Songkran falls during the hottest time of the year and the water is a welcome relief.