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Around the World in 80 Days – Sweden

SWEDEN

Northern Europe
Capital: Stockholm
Languages: Swedish
Predominant Religion(s): Christianity (Protestant)

COMMON CHARACTERISTICS:

  • It is common knowledge in Sweden that “time” should be respected at all times – regardless of whether you’re going for an interview or a friendly fika. Meetings will start on time with or without you. The train leaves on time with or without you. Swedes value punctuality.
  • Swedes celebrate summer with an intensity that can only be found in a people who have just endured a long, dark winter.
  • Swedes are usually very straightforward and honest – they say it like it is!

FUN FACTS:

  • Fika is Swedish for a coffee break that is more about socializing than drinking coffee.  Accompanying sweets are crucial. Cinnamon buns, cakes, cookies, even open-faced sandwiches pass as acceptable fika fare. Fika can happen at any time – morning as well as evening.
  • In mid-June, school is out and nature has burst into life. It seems like the sun never sets. In fact, in the north of Sweden it doesn’t, and in the south only for an hour or two. This calls for celebration! Friends and family gather for the most typically Swedish tradition of all: Midsummer. People often begin the day by picking flowers and making wreaths to place on the maypole.
  • A typical Midsummer menu features different kinds of pickled herring, boiled new potatoes  with fresh dill, soured cream and chives. This is often followed by a grilled dish of some kind, such as spare rib or salmon, and for dessert the first strawberries of summer, with cream.

USEFUL PHRASES:

  • How are you?             Hur mår du?
  • Fine, thanks.               Bra, tack.
  • My name is…              Jag heter…
  • Nice to meet you!        Trevligt att träffas!
  • Thank you.                  Tack.

Photos by: Blondinrikard Froberg {flickr}; Ron Cogswell {flickr}; Ben Welsh {flickr}

Around the World in 80 Days – Spain

SPAIN

Southwest Europe
Capital: Madrid
Languages: Spanish (plus recognized regional languages)
Religion(s): Christianity
(predominantly Roman Catholic)

COMMON CHARACTERISTICS:

  • Spanish people love to talk and are usually considered to be friendly, happy and open.
  • Spanish people are generally willing to get involved and to try new things.
  • Most Spanish au pair applicants decide to travel abroad after finishing their degree, so they are in their twenties when they apply to the program. They are very attracted to the USA and its culture.

FUN FACTS:

  • The Twelve Grapes is a Spanish tradition which takes place at midnight on New Year’s Eve –  the tradition consists of eating a grape with each  bell strike and, according to the tradition, that leads to a year of prosperity!
  • Spain is well known for its Holy Week traditions, so the Easter Break (or Semana Santa) is an exciting, fun-filled time in Spain with processions and celebrations going on well into the early hours!
  • Spain is famous for its stunning islands, and millions of people worldwide travel to its islands each year – the Spanish themselves consider their islands “paradise.”

USEFUL PHRASES:

  • How are you?            ¿Cómo estás?
  • Fine, thanks.:              Bien, gracias.
  • My name is…:             Me llamo …
  • Nice to meet you.:        Encantado/a de conocerte.
  • Thank you.:              Gracias.

Photos by: Chris Oakley {flickr}; Tommie Hansen {flickr}

Around the World in 80 Days – South Korea

SOUTH KOREA  

Asia
Capital: Seoul
Languages: Korean, English

  • The idea of being an au pair is not common in South Korea.
  • Applicants from South Korea are motivated by the opportunity to experience American  culture and to improve their English.
  • Applicants do not have difficulty affording the program fees.
  • Young people in South Korea have the freedom of their family to socialize and date.
  • Curfews are very common.
  • South Koreans are generous, warm, kind, and extremely hardworking.
  • Most young people in South Korea eat meat.
  • Vegetarianism is not common.
  • A typical South Korean diet includes rice and kimchi (seasoned cabbage) and lots of vegetables as a traditional meal, but many people like western food such as bread, steaks, pasta and pizza.
  • English is compulsory in South Korea.
  • English is taught beginning in elementary school through university. English education in South Korea used to focus on written English but this is changing to focus more on spoken English.

    Photos by: Tomscoffin {flickr}

Around the World in 80 Days – Bobotie

Ingredients

  • 1 lb cooked mince (ground beef – with onion in oil or butter, salt and pepper and one  tablespoon tomato paste for flavor – parsley)
  • 1 big onion
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 1 slice bread soaked in milk
  • 1 tablespoon curry (paste or powder – I use paste)
  • 1/4 cup coconut (not sweet) or almonds
  • Juice of one lemon
  • 2 tablespoons vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon Apricot jam or 1 dessert spoon honey
  • 3 cups milk
  • 3 eggs

Instructions

  1. Fry the onions in butter and add curry – allow to become darker.
  2. Beat the eggs and milk together. Add lemon juice into curry then Apricot jam, coconut, bread & vinegar.
  3. Add mince beef and one third of milk & egg mixture. Bake for ten minutes in pyrex dish uncovered at 325 F.
  4. Then pour over the balance of milk & egg mixture and leave in oven until brown.

Photo by: James Thompson {flickr}

Around the World in 80 Days – South Africa

SOUTH AFRICA

Southern Africa
Capital(s): Pretoria, Cape Town, Bloemfontein
Languages: English, Afrikaans, Zulu, Xhosa, Southern Sotho, Tswana, Northern Sotho, Venda, Tsonga, Swati, Ndebele
Predominant Religion(s): Christianity

COMMON CHARACTERISTICS: 

The South African people are proud people who live together in a nation of diversity. Many different ethnic groups exist in South Africa celebrating their many different traditions and cultures together.
South Africans love sport! The most popular spectator sports are soccer, rugby and cricket.
South Africans are described as loyal, friendly, hard working and committed people.

FUN FACTS:

Three of the five fastest land animals live in South Africa – the cheetah (63 miles per hour), the wildebeest, and the lion.
The only street in the world to house two Nobel Peace prize winners is in Soweto. Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu both had houses on Vilakazi Street in Soweto.
The world’s largest diamond was the Cullinan Diamond found in South Africa in 1905. It weighed 3,106.75 carats uncut. It was cut into the Great Star of Africa, weighing 530.2 carats, the Lesser Star of Africa, which weighs 317.40 carats, and 104 other diamonds of nearly flawless color and clarity. They now form part of the British Crown Jewels.

USEFUL PHRASES:

South Africa’s 11 official languages have resulted in colorful additions to the English language, particularly in the use of colloquial terms such as:

lekker – nice, enjoyable
yebo – yes
braai – barbecue
cheers – goodbye and thank you

Photo by: Theo Crazzolara {flickr}

Around the World in 80 Days – Latvia

LATVIA

Northern Europe
Capital: Riga
Languages: Latvian
Religion(s): Christianity
(predominantly Roman Catholic/Lutheran)

Common Characteristics:

  • Latvia is a small nation, but Latvians are very proud of their heritage.
  • Latvians are hard working, polite and responsible.
  • Latvians can be reserved when you first meet them, but they are friendly and helpful after they get to know you – friendships are genuine.

FUN FACTS:

  • Aleksandrs was a famous Latvian explorer. He moved to Venezuela in 1939. His most  famous discovery was Angel Falls and he named the river, from which Angel Falls flows, Gauja. He also named 3 other rivers in Venezuela after Latvian Rivers such as Daugava (Riga), Venta (Kuldiga, Ventspils) and Ogre.
  • The capital of Latvia, Riga, is the largest city in the Baltic States and is famous for some of the best Art Nouveau architecture in Europe.
  • Walter Zapp invented and built the first Minox ”Spy Camera” in Latvia.

USEFUL PHRASES:

  • How are you?      Kātev iet?
  • Fine, thanks.       Paldies – labi.
  • My name is…      Mani sauc…
  • Nice to meet you.     Prieks iepazīties.
  • Thank you.           Paldies.

Photo by: Ricardo Liberati {flickr}

Mother’s Day

Mother’s Day in the U.S. is Sunday, May 8.

Mother’s Day recognizes mothers, motherhood and maternal bonds in general, as well as the positive contributions that they make to society. It was established by Anna Jarvis, with the first official Mother’s Day was celebrated at St. Andrew’s Methodist Church in Grafton, West Virginia, on May 10, 1908.

Mother’s Day was officially established by President Woodrow Wilson as a holiday in the United States in 1911. The celebration of mother;s in not unique to the United States, however. More than 40 countries celebrate in some way! How about your country? Do you celebrate Mother’s Day? If so, this is a good opportunity to share culturally how you celebrate. Compare and contrast between the two countries! You can read about how several countries celebrate Mother’s Day here.

You will find great ideas for projects you can make with your host children here on the Au Pair in America Mother’s Day pinboard.

How about printable cards to color? Or a tin can butterfly planter! Try making some salt dough to capture hand or footprints.

Photo: Mrs. Flinger (Flickr)

Spring Break Activity Ideas

Looking for some fun ideas for Easter and Passover celebrations and spring break activities? Check out the Au Pair in America Pinterest board for lots of great ideas!

Easter Egg lunch

Passover crafts and ideas   

Bake and decorate chick cupcakes

Easter egg hunt in the dark?

Paper plate bunny basket

Make a foosball game out of a shoebox

Go on a scavenger hunt at the park

Make finger leg puppets

Play the Draw A Monster Game

Photo by Michael

Going Unplugged

Phones, tablets, and laptops are wonderful tools to stay connected and informed, but we need to be careful not to let them become distractions from real life interactions and most importantly our responsibilities.

jason-howie-flickrAu Pairs – Imagine for a moment that you went to the hospital and you were in the care of doctors and nurses.  How would you feel if those doctors and nurses who were there to care for you were more interested in texting or using their personal computer than caring for you?  How would that make you feel, about yourself and about them?  Would you think that you were getting good treatment Would you feel like paying the bill?

Life as an au pair, it is a fine balance between employee and family member. You live with your host family and participate with them as a member of the family, but you also have clear responsibilities as a childcare provider. Being a childcare provider is truly one of the most important jobs I can think of, because you are helping to shape our next generation.  What message are you sending them when you would rather interact with a computer than with them? How will they feel about themselves and about you? Children feel as though everything is about them. They will see this as a rejection of them and they will be more likely to act out.

It also poses a safety concern when you are not paying enough attention to the children in your care.  Accidents happen, but when an adult care giver is close by and appropriately supervising the chances of a major injury dramatically reduce.

During work hours, communicating with friends and family in the following would not be considered acceptable (limited use should be discussed with your host family). If you have a break or nap time, this would be a suitable time and of course communicating with the family, APIA staff or directly regarding the children to set up playdates or the like:
-Texting
-Talking to friends on the phone
-Chatting with friends online
-Using Skype or FaceTime
-IMing
-Emailing
-Updating your status on Facebook
-Using Snapchat, WhatsApp or any other app or social media site
-Watching videos on YouTube, Netflix, etc.
-Tweeting on Twitter
-Uploading photos on Instagram
-Anything else online unless it is going to approved child sites such as Nickjr.com together with your host children

Think about this — even if you work 45 hours a week, that leaves you 123 hours per week for all of that other stuff, or about 70 hours (if you are getting the recommended 7-8 hours of sleep per night). Your host parents will give you guidelines for your use during work hours, please follow them.

Host Parents – You need to be clear about what you consider acceptable during work hours to avoid misunderstandings.  Taking a short phone call while still being attentive to the children, checking email during nap time, researching activities to do with the kids, etc. Set clear expectations and be specific to your au pairs. Also, please understand that you are dealing with a new generation of people who are very accustomed to being plugged in at all times.  Their intention is not to be rude, they don’t necessarily realize how their actions will be perceived.  Please use this information as an opportunity to begin a dialogue on the issue.

Know that there will be times that your au pair needs to make calls or emails to communicate with you, APIA staff, school or personal appointments, etc. Time differences may make communicating with their family at home challenging. Communication between you and your au pair is crucial.

Lunar New Year

Lunar New Year is is the most important holiday in China. Tied to the Chinese lunar calendar, the holiday began as a time for feasting and honoring ancestors as well as deities. Lunar New Year celebrations begin on February 1st.  The year 2022 is slated to be the year of the tiger. The tiger is known as the king of all beasts in China and the zodiac is associated with strength and bravery.

Chinese people celebrate Lunar New Year with the traditional greeting, “Kung hei fat choi”  Sounds like (gung – hay – fah – choy) in Cantonese!

Lunar New Year covers a long span, not just one day. Two weeks is the typical time frame. Traditionally this time is used to celebrate with family and friends. It’s important to start the new year with a clean home. Red envelopes are handed out to others, typically children or young people, containing Lucky Money. Foods are important in the celebration and have meaning. Long noodle dishes, for instance, represent longevity or long life, while dumplings represent wealth. Interestingly, fortune cookies are not authentic Chinese treats, though enjoyable and fun, you can read more about their unique history here.

You can read more about Lunar New Year here.

Crafts, recipes, activities, and games related to Lunar New Year can be found on the APIA Winter Pinterest board. Try some of these great ideas!

Arts & Crafts:

Kids in the Kitchen:

Virtual Field Trips can be a great way for kids to learn and have new experiences. Here are a couple of virtual field trips that fit this theme:

Videos – Online you can find many examples of celebrations. Please review the content for appropriateness for your own host kids before watching with the children.

Webcams – You can do a google search for Lunar New Year celebrations with webcams. Here is a popular one for the upcoming season:

Books – Check out your local library or bookseller for books to order / reserve and pick up /read online: