Tag Archives: #SaveJ1

Around the World in 80 Days – Denmark

DENMARK 

Northern Europe
Capital: Copenhangen
Languages: Danish
Predominant Religion(s): Christianity

COMMON CHARACTERISTICS:

  • Denmark is a relatively multicultural country.
  • Danes like to be seen as individuals and like to set themselves apart from one another.
  • Danes can seem guarded, but once you get them talking, they are really friendly and helpful.

FUN FACTS:

  • Danes have a strong sense of irony – often causing confusion to foreigners!
  • The UN World Happiness Report has rated Danes as the happiest people on earth two years in a row, and Danes have a special word for that cozy feeling of togetherness: “Hygge.”
  • 50% of Copenhageners (as well as a large part of the rest of the population) commute by bike to work every day, even if it’s raining.

Family

  • 2-3 children per family is considered normal in Denmark.
  • Children are taught discipline from a young age through small tasks such as taking out the trash or emptying the dishwasher. Many families have pets as companions and to help teach children about responsibility.
  • Denmark is a very family-focused country and visiting other family members over the holidays (such as Christmas) is normal.

USEFUL PHRASES:

  • How are you?             Hvordan har du det?
  • Fine, thanks.               Fint tak.
  • My name is…              Mit navn er…
  • Nice to meet you!        Godt at møde dig!
  • Thank you.                  Tak.

Photo by: Aram Zucker-Scharff {flickr}

Around the World in 80 Days – Bastille Day

One of France’s national holidays is Bastille Day, July 14. This holiday is similar to Independence Day in the United States. Many years ago France had a monarchy. On July 14, 1789, the people of Paris stormed the Bastille, a state prison. In this way the people proved that the power belonged to them, and not to the King. This was the beginning of the French Revolution. Celebrations include dances and fireworks. The people of France celebrate the birth of the Republic, and recognize liberty and democracy. Now Bastille Day includes a military parade up the Champs Elysees. Can you guess where the Champs Elysees is? You can find the answer to this question and many other facts about our world at Infoplease.

Find more Bastille Day information by visiting the seasonal calendar.

Around the World in 80 Days – Food in El Salvador

 

  • Most young people in El Salvador eat meat.
  • Vegetarianism is not common.
  • A typical Salvadorian diet includes beans, cheese, rice, eggs and tortillas.
  • Coffee has fueled the Salvadoran economy and shaped its history for over a century. Coffee in El Salvador has traditionally provided more than 50% of the country’s export revenues.
  • Breakfasts in El Salvador generally include a variety of food, such as eggs scrambled with vegetables (huevos picados), cheese, fried plantains (platanos fritos), mashed beans, and tortillas. Fresh tropical fruits like mango, pineapple, and banana are also a common accompaniment.
  • You can find more info on foods in El Salvador here!

Photos by: Maren Barbee {flickr}, Charles Haynes {flickr}

Around the World in 80 Days – Czech Republic

CZECH REPUBLIC

Central Europe
Capital: Prague
Languages: Czech
Predominant Religion(s): Majority non-religious

COMMON CHARACTERISTICS:

  • Czech people in general are happy with a good sense of humor. They are also ambitious!
  • Czechs have strong family ties.
  • Tradition and culture are very important values for Czechs.

FUN FACTS:

  • Czech Republic has a lot of famous people such as the hockey player Jaromir Jagr, the tennis players Martina Navratilova and Ivan Lendl!
  • Czech beer is said to be the best beer on the world.
  • The US population is 30x bigger than the population in Czech Republic.

USEFUL PHRASES:

  • How are you?             Jak se máš?
  • Fine, thanks.               Dobře, děkuji.
  • My name is…              Moje jméno je..
  • Nice to meet you!        Rád tě poznávám!
  • Thank you.                  Děkuji.

Around the World in 80 Days – Croatia

CROATIA 

Central/Southern Europe
Capital: Zagreb
Languages: Croatian
Predominant Religion(s): Christianity
(Roman Catholic)

COMMON CHARACTERISTICS:

  • Croatian people describe themselves as ambitious and resourceful.
  • Croatian have very strong ties to their family.
  • Croatians are very proud of their heritage and culture, and this sense of pride comes from their long and rich culture, as well as a legacy of foreign invasion and control.

FUN FACTS:

  • Croatia is home to the world’s smallest town: the town of Hum, a sleepy place with cobblestone streets…and that’s about it!
  • The Croatian currency is the Kuna, which is the Croatian word for the marten, a ferret-like rodent prized for its luxurious fur!
  • Croatia is home to the world’s most beautiful sunset…according to Alfred Hitchcock! To find out if you agree, you must visit the city of Zarar.

USEFUL PHRASES:

  • How are you?             Kako ste?
  • Fine, thanks.               Dobro, hvala.
  • My name is…              Zovem se or ime mi je…
  • Nice to meet you!        Drago mi je da smo se upoznali!
  • Thank you.                  Hvala.

“Being an au pair was a beautiful experience for me. Not that I only met new friends from all around the world but I gained a new family and therefore enriched my life.” – Pavica – au pair from Croatia

Photo by: Sergei Gussev {flickr}

Around the World in 80 Days – Language in Peru

Peru has two official languages: Spanish and Cuzco Quechua. There are now over 8 million  Quechua speakers in South and Central America. Twenty-five percent of all Peruvians speak Quechua, and many of them speak no Spanish.

Here are some English words derived from Quechua, which was originally the language of the Incas: coca, condor, guano, gaucho, guanaco, Inca, jerky, lagniappe, lima [bean], llama, pampa, puma, quipu, quinine, quinoa, and vicuña.

Try some Spanish language activities. This site includes an on-line English-Spanish picture dictionary and an on-line Spanish-English dictionary, as well as information, quizzes and pictures to color!

Camp Au Pair – Science/STEM

This week’s Camp Au Pair theme is Science (STEM).

Crafts, recipes, activities, and games related to all things science, technology, engineering and math can be found here on the Camp Au Pair – Science (STEM) pinboard. Try some of these great ideas!

Virtual Field Trips can be a great way for kids to learn and have new experiences. Here are a few places to visit virtually, that fit this theme:

Videos – On YouTube you can find many great videos of with science experiments to do with kids. You can also check out Steve Spangler Science lab videos! Check out the cool slime art!

Movies – The Lego Movie, Big Hero 6, Wall-E and Hidden Figures all fit the STEM theme.

Webcams – You can do a google search for science websites with webcams. Here is a collection of 22 science webcams from around the world.

 

Books – Stop by your local library and look for books on science, technology, engineering and math.

  • Clouds encourages children to look up at the sky and observe the clouds in order to find out what the weather will be. With simple text and folk-art style illustrations, this colorful picture book introduces 11 different types of clouds according to their positions in the atmosphere.
  • Roll, Slope, and Slide is a simple concept book that describes the different kinds, uses, and benefits of inclined planes and ramps. Includes an activity.
  • In a Guatemalan village, the tiny schoolhouse desperately needed expansion. When the money ran out before the project was finished, someone had a creative idea: Why not use readily available soda bottles for the walls? The Soda Bottle School teaches children that thinking outside the box can lead to the perfect solution.

Photos by: Lars Plougmann {flickr}, Frank Starmer {flickr}

 

Around the World in 80 Days – Poland (Christmas in July)

Flashback –

In preparation for Christmas, Patrycja, from Poland, currently residing in Southern Maryland, and her host dad spent all day making traditional Polish pierogi!

She said, “I wasn’t sure if we can actually do it since I’ve never made pierogi by myself before, but we did it!

‘Pierogi z kapustą kiszoną i pieczarkami’ one of the things Poland is most known for! (Sauerkraut and mushrooms)

My mom offered us her help (from Poland), so we had the greatest pierogi maker on our side 😁 We ended up with almost 100 pierogi!

I am really really proud of us and I’m glad I could contribute to this Christmas with a little bit of my own culture!”