Au pairs from many countries came together to talk about what their country and culture mean to them.  Practicing public speaking and educating one other was the goal for the day.  We heard about Brazilian beaches, French races, Austrian skiing, German town squares, Dutch cultural values, Chinese hotpots, Mexican pies (delicious recipe, Ana’s mom!) and Czech friendships.  I shared a cherish gift I received during my own time in Japan from an elder who wrote to me this Zen saying, “White cloud comes and goes and the mountain is blue.”  We talked about the challenges faced on exchange and remaining steady within ourselves.  On top of all this, we tasted pies that represented the US (apple pie), Washington state (marionberry pie) and Thanksgiving (pumpkin pie).  Pictured below, these strong young women who shared.