November

Once we have softened our hearts and become more aware of the world around us (see last month’s Connect), we are poised for the next step-- developing a relationship with the world.  As in all relationships, it starts with a hand shake and the exchange of formalities.  In this get-to-know-you phase, we learn the basic facts about our new acquaintance; we dialogue and eventually share experiences.  With this illustration in mind, may I suggest some simple ways to extend your hand to the world and get to know it just a little bit more. 

• Hang a map in a high traffic area of your house.  We have one in our kitchen, hung low enough for our youngest to have a front row seat.  We took the plastic from a large poster sized frame and covered the map with it before banging it to the wall.  The plastic makes the map easy to write on with erasable markers.  We’ve marked countries we’ve been to, read about, or studied in school.  While washing dishes, our youngest loves to be quizzed on countries and their capitals.  Our older ones have taken to the map when doing their homework assignments, and we find it a ready reference when locating countries mentioned in the news.
• Play geography games.  Now, I’m not the greatest gamer in town; however, I have picked up a few painless ones that pay a world of dividends for the whole family.  Professor Noggin’s Countries of the World card game, for example, features geography questions at varying levels, making it possible for young and old alike to participate.  In the midst of some spirited play over dinner, our family has formed more positive associations with the larger world and learned a few things about it along the way. 
• Read fiction with cross-cultural settings, biographies that acquaint you with international figures or missionaries, or non-fiction fare that might be of interest.  We’ve collected a few favorites over the years.  Personally, I have been inspired by the biography, Small Woman by Alan Burgess (biography of Gladys Alyward), and Roger Steer’s biography of Hudson Taylor.  There is no shortage of good fiction set in foreign lands-- Kite Runner, A Thousand Splendid Suns, Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, to name just a few more recent titles.  For the whole family, It’s a Jungle Out There is a real hoot.  The author, Ron Snell, recounts his childhood as a missionary kid, growing up in the Amazon. Younger Children have a plethora of books from which to choose:  Tikki Tikki Tembo, The Five Chinese Brothers, Counting My Way through Tanzania, and Two of Everything are a few that our children read over and over again.  Books take us into the skin of the characters and give us an insider’s vantage point to a distant land.  Finding books that are well-written is crucial; otherwise, the only lesson learned is boredom. 
• Cook international fare or eat out at ethnic restaurants.  I possess a few international cookbooks-- Chinese and Indian ones get the most use as well as my favorite cookbook, More for Less.  Although cooking foreign at home helps introduce your family to exotic fare, there is nothing quite like going to an ethnic restaurant.  Eating at Indian restaurants is our family’s restaurant of choice for special family celebrations; however, one can also sit on the floor of some Middle Eastern restaurants, eat with your hands, and take in some belly dancing at the same time or watch a master chef cook Japanese specialties over a blazing fire. 

The list goes on, or at least I would like it to.  If you have a favorite, book, game, or recipe with cross-cultural interest, do send it along.  I would love to hear from you.  Visit my blog and post the idea as a comment to this post.