The Homestay Kitchen: Cultural Connections with International Students who Study Abroad - Weaving Birthday Traditions with Cross Cultural Experiences

Weaving Birthday Traditions with Cross Cultural Experiences

11/05/18 • 38 min

The Homestay Kitchen: Cultural Connections with International Students who Study Abroad

In this episode, we dive into birthdays! Jon and Blake's birthdays are one day apart, so we talk birthday plans and what Erin's students have up their sleeves for Blake... while Mary reveals her one big mistake in communication about birthdays with her first ever student.

Key Points From This Episode:

We’re recording in Mary’s empty student room. (Her living room is too noisy because there’s lots of construction sounds next door... like hammering and sawing!) Note the beautifully handcrafted desk, made by Jon. Feel free to overlook the unmade bed. Also, what you can’t see in the picture below, are Mary’s elbows which are quite sharp and pointy!
Erin has decided that Jon is of a “gentlemanly age”
For Blake’s upcoming birthday, Erin will be cooking her 70% approval rating lasagna with garlic toast and Caesar salad.
Blake loves cookies!
The girls (Erin’s students) will bake him tinfuls of cookies. Update: Cookie making occurred at 2 a.m. in secret the night before his birthday.
You may note that there are no potatoes pictured on the cupcakes. Initially there was a potato cupcake, however it was deemed “not pretty enough” and was consequently consumed by the baker.
Blake loves practical gifts. Last year, Erin’s Thai student bought Blake a light bulb for his birthday. It turned into a three store excursion.
Erin’s family always makes homemade cards for birthdays and other holiday events. Her students are included in this, and they make the most amazing, artistic, heartfelt cards... and have such beautiful penmanship!
When Erin’s family sings “Happy Birthday” they incorporate all of the languages of the household (and relight the candles each time). So they’ll sing it first in English, then Chinese, or Japanese, or Thai and sometimes Korean (they host a K-pop fan) - it all depends on the nationality of the students they’re hosting at the time.
Mary’s family doesn’t make a big deal out of birthdays. Erin agrees it’s a cultural thing. Mary’s family has a traditional way of doing things.
Mary usually knits something for Jon. Traditionally she gifts him an “unfinished” item. This year, he’ll receive a sweater that has been on her knitting needles for 4 years!
On the day we recorded this episode... we were 3 days away from Jon’s birthday and Mary still had to seam the sleeves, attach the sleeves onto the body, knit the neckline and the cuffs.
For the non-knitters... fingering weight = love.
For Jon’s birthday: Mary will gift him an unfinished sweater. He will choose something for dinner. Instead of cake, he’s requested Mary’s green onion pancakes.
The first year Jenny celebrated her birthday with Erin’s family, she chose a waffle cake for her birthday.
The first time Mary had a student, she didn’t tell the student it was Jon’s birthday because Mary and Jon don’t make a big deal about birthdays. The next day the student went out and bought flowers and a card for Jon.
From now on, Mary tells all her students about birthdays and all festivities and events.
Mary hosts short-term students and rarely gets to celebrate their birthdays with them. In the first year after they’ve left her home, she will mail them a card. Erin will find her students on social media to wish them a Happy Birthday.
If Mary’s students are with her on their birthday, she has them pick their dinner meal and cake which she’ll make (from scratch).
Erin’s first short-term student always brought home balloons to the birthday person in the family.
“Just Dance” is a very popular video game played at Erin’s house on birthdays.
Blake is the creme brûlee master when it comes to birthdays. Talking about creme brûlee reminded Erin about the time they accidentally ruined a student’s lunch - on the student’s birthday - with the “birthday burrito incident”. Blake had to make reparations in the form of creme brûlee.
Mary’s favourite birthday meal is always weather dependent.
Jon’s has yet to pick his birthday dinner! This is stressing Erin out. Update: Jon was sick on his birthday, so Mary is planning to re-do Jon's birthday on another weekend.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Jon’s Sweater - Redford Pattern Just Dance

Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/homestaykitchen/ Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/homestaykitchen/ Web – http://homestaykitchen.com/

Quotes “But sometimes communication is everything” - Erin (19:20)

“See this is where I learn from my mistakes. If you are a family who does not make a big deal out of birthdays,...

Key Points From This Episode:

We’re recording in Mary’s empty student room. (Her living room is too noisy because there’s lots of construction sounds next door... like hammering and sawing!) Note the beautifully handcrafted desk, made by Jon. Feel free to overlook the unmade bed. Also, what you can’t see in the picture below, are Mary’s elbows which are quite sharp and pointy!
Erin has decided that Jon is of a “gentlemanly age”
For Blake’s upcoming birthday, Erin will be cooking her 70% approval rating lasagna with garlic toast and Caesar salad.
Blake loves cookies!
The girls (Erin’s students) will bake him tinfuls of cookies. Update: Cookie making occurred at 2 a.m. in secret the night before his birthday.
You may note that there are no potatoes pictured on the cupcakes. Initially there was a potato cupcake, however it was deemed “not pretty enough” and was consequently consumed by the baker.
Blake loves practical gifts. Last year, Erin’s Thai student bought Blake a light bulb for his birthday. It turned into a three store excursion.
Erin’s family always makes homemade cards for birthdays and other holiday events. Her students are included in this, and they make the most amazing, artistic, heartfelt cards... and have such beautiful penmanship!
When Erin’s family sings “Happy Birthday” they incorporate all of the languages of the household (and relight the candles each time). So they’ll sing it first in English, then Chinese, or Japanese, or Thai and sometimes Korean (they host a K-pop fan) - it all depends on the nationality of the students they’re hosting at the time.
Mary’s family doesn’t make a big deal out of birthdays. Erin agrees it’s a cultural thing. Mary’s family has a traditional way of doing things.
Mary usually knits something for Jon. Traditionally she gifts him an “unfinished” item. This year, he’ll receive a sweater that has been on her knitting needles for 4 years!
On the day we recorded this episode... we were 3 days away from Jon’s birthday and Mary still had to seam the sleeves, attach the sleeves onto the body, knit the neckline and the cuffs.
For the non-knitters... fingering weight = love.
For Jon’s birthday: Mary will gift him an unfinished sweater. He will choose something for dinner. Instead of cake, he’s requested Mary’s green onion pancakes.
The first year Jenny celebrated her birthday with Erin’s family, she chose a waffle cake for her birthday.
The first time Mary had a student, she didn’t tell the student it was Jon’s birthday because Mary and Jon don’t make a big deal about birthdays. The next day the student went out and bought flowers and a card for Jon.
From now on, Mary tells all her students about birthdays and all festivities and events.
Mary hosts short-term students and rarely gets to celebrate their birthdays with them. In the first year after they’ve left her home, she will mail them a card. Erin will find her students on social media to wish them a Happy Birthday.
If Mary’s students are with her on their birthday, she has them pick their dinner meal and cake which she’ll make (from scratch).
Erin’s first short-term student always brought home balloons to the birthday person in the family.
“Just Dance” is a very popular video game played at Erin’s house on birthdays.
Blake is the creme brûlee master when it comes to birthdays. Talking about creme brûlee reminded Erin about the time they accidentally ruined a student’s lunch - on the student’s birthday - with the “birthday burrito incident”. Blake had to make reparations in the form of creme brûlee.
Mary’s favourite birthday meal is always weather dependent.
Jon’s has yet to pick his birthday dinner! This is stressing Erin out. Update: Jon was sick on his birthday, so Mary is planning to re-do Jon's birthday on another weekend.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Jon’s Sweater - Redford Pattern Just Dance

Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/homestaykitchen/ Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/homestaykitchen/ Web – http://homestaykitchen.com/

Quotes “But sometimes communication is everything” - Erin (19:20)

“See this is where I learn from my mistakes. If you are a family who does not make a big deal out of birthdays,...

Previous Episode

Traditions of Halloween Past and How We Get International Students Involved Today

In this episode, we're talking Halloween! We explore what each of our families does for Halloween and how you can incorporate your homestay student into the festivities. We reminisce about our past Halloween experiences to reveal how sometimes these student situations make us feel old.

Key Points From This Episode:

Mary is prepared for Halloween - her daughter is dressing up as a buzzy bee.
Erin is a reluctant Halloween mother and is need of a Halloween miracle!
She’s hoping Pinterest can save her. Her daughters have Halloween costumes, but her son and students do not. Her teenage students will pitch in and do amazing makeup for her children.
The backup costume for Erin’s Japanese student is a Carebear costume Erin made when she was a high school student.
Last year, Erin and her student successfully sewed four kimonos in 24 hours.
Erin’s children don’t eat all their Halloween candy. This news upset Mary deeply.
Mary didn’t get Halloween costumes growing up and trick or treating was hard. She hoarded the hard earned candy she did get - it was her pay!
Pumpkin carving is a team event at Erin’s house. Together they are carving 8+ pumpkins!
This will be the first pumpkin for Mary’s daughter - it’s bigger than her!
Erin’s students will go trick or treating with her children. It’s good for them (they get candy too!) and for her, there’s more chaperones for the kids on a dark night. Plus it’s fun for the whole family and part of the homestay experience.
Erin introduced Mary to the concept of “Mom and Dad tax” when it comes to trick or treating (or life in general). Mary thinks Erin should Mom and Dad tax students and kids equally.
Mary’s QR Code Costume - Check out her Halloween Flickr photo album here and click here to see her virtual QR code costume.
Mary’s past costumes have been revolutionary and shocking! One year she was “Fifty Shades of Grey”.
Gilmore Girls - Jon & Mary as "Lane & Zach"
Mary has hosted two students before during Halloween and introduced one of her students to the classic 80’s movie “Ghostbusters”.
After hearing about how her student reacted to one of the scenes in the “Ghostbusters” movie, Erin & Mary launched into a “back in my day” reminiscence.

Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/homestaykitchen/ Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/homestaykitchen/ Web – http://homestaykitchen.com/

Quotes

“I just need to know what rating? When you say, ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ what rating?” - Erin (23:36)

“Always family friendly.” - Mary (23:40)

“Thank you. We’re always family friendly on The Homestay Kitchen.” - Erin (23:42)

Next Episode

Canadian Student Life, Parental Pressure Studying Abroad, and a Passion for Music with Jenny

In this episode, we dive in with Erin's student from China, Jenny. She's here on a high school program for a couple years and at the time of the recording, is one of two students in Erin's home. Jenny has a love of music that we explore and hear samples of during the show. She truly is talented and has a passion for life, which we'll hear about as she describes her student lifestyle in Canada, the pressures of studying abroad away from her parents, and what her dreams are for the future after completing her Canadian high school education.

Key Points From This Episode:

Jenny is a 17 year old Chinese international high school student currently living with Erin.
This is her second year living with Erin’s family.
Was placed with a different homestay family for one semester before joining Erin’s family.
Jenny loves to sing (mostly at night) and enjoys K-pop music.
Favourite food experience so far - when we all celebrated Chinese New Year together.
Jenny and her friends are food experts in Victoria.
Jenny shares her love for ASMR cake videos with her littlest host sister.
Jenny talks about the pressures of schoolwork and her plans for university.
Conversations with her parents can be difficult because of the distance and the gap.
Jenny shares everything with her best friend, another Chinese international high school student who understands what she is going through.
Jenny loves to travel. What’s next on her “must see” list?