Category Archives: Uncategorized

Around the World in 80 Days – Turkey

TURKEY

Southeastern Europe and Southwestern Asia
Capital: Ankara
Languages: Turkish (official), Kurdish, Dimli (or Zaza), Azeri, Kabardian

  • The idea of being an au pair is becoming common in Turkey.
  • Applicants from Turkey are motivated by opportunities to improve their English and travel.
  • The job potential of an au pair improves upon her return to Turkey.
  • Applicants sometimes have difficulty affording the program fees.
  • Young people in Turkey have the freedom of their family to socialize and date.
  • Curfews are not common.
  • Turkish people describe themselves as family-oriented, active, and energetic.
  • English is the most common foreign language option offered.
  • In public schools, classes focus on written skills. In private schools, English education begins at the primary level and will have classes taught by a native English speaker.
  • Those who do not attend university study certificate programs, start working, or get married and start a family.
  • The academic year in Turkey starts in September and ends in June.
  • The educational opportunities of the Au Pair in America program are very important to Turkish applicants.

Photos by: Hyeong Seok Kim {flickr}; Binder.Donedat {flickr}

Around the World in 80 Days – Thailand

THAILAND

Southeast Asia
Capital: Bangkok
Languages: Thai
Predominant Religion(s): Buddhism

COMMON CHARACTERISTICS:

  • The Thai Smile, a unique characteristic of Thais. Thais smile at other people easily even when they do not know them.
  • Thai Tolerance – Thais are very patient. When they are stuck in traffic for hours, they still smile. It is unlikely to hear the honk of the car in the street. People just stay calm.
  • Friendliness – if you are lost, you can ask anyone for directions. Even if those you ask are not able to communicate with you in your language, they will do everything they can to help you in a friendly and warm manner.

FUN FACTS:

  • Bangkok’s real name is “Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahinthara Ayuthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom Udomratchaniwet Mahasathan Amon Piman Awatan Sathit Sakkathattiya Witsanukam Prasit.”
  • Thailand’s coastline is 3,219km long and has 1,430 islands, the most famous of which is Koh Phi Phi Lee, which was featured in Danny Boyle’s film “The Beach.”
  • Thailand was home to the first internationally-known conjoined twins, who were given the informal name of “Siamese Twins.” Eng and Chang were born in 1811 and moved to the U.S. where they both married, had children and lived to the age of 62.

USEFUL PHRASES:

  • How are you?          Khun Pen Yang Rai?
  • Fine, thanks.            Sabai dee, Kob Khun.
  • My name is…           Chan Chue…
  • Nice to meet you!        Yin Dee Tee Dai Phob Khun.
  • Thank you.            Kob Khun Krub (m) / Ka (f).

Photos by: Alexander Annenkov {flickr}

Around the World in 80 Days – Switzerland

SWITZERLAND

Western Europe
Capital: Zurich
Languages: German, French, Italian, Romansh
Religion(s): Christianity
(predominantly Roman Catholic/Protestant)

COMMON CHARACTERISTICS:

  • Swiss people are very friendly and polite.
  • Small is beautiful: Swiss are modest and reserved in a pleasant way. It’s impolite to be too loud.
  • Traditions, quality, punctuality and perfectionism mean a lot to the Swiss. People in Switzerland take their time to fulfill duties and tasks perfectly instead of being overhasty.

FUN FACTS:

  • Switzerland has more than 1,500 lakes, and 70% of Switzerland is covered in mountains.
  • Chocolate is a major Swiss export – just 18 Swiss chocolate companies make 172,376 tons of chocolate in one year.
  • In Switzerland, it is illegal to keep just one guinea pig. You have to keep them in pairs.

USEFUL PHRASES:

  • How are you?             Wie goots Ihne?
  • Fine, thanks.               Dangge, guet, und Ihne?
  • My name is….             I heisse….
  • Nice to meet you.        Fröit mi.
  • Thank you.                  Merci vielmal.

Photos by: Highlander411 {flickr}; Wallace Howe {flickr}

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)