• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Skip to footer navigation

  • Calendar of events
  • 687 Larch Av, Teaneck NJ
  • 201-836-5187
  • Contact Us
  • DONATE
Ethical Culture Society of Bergen County NJ

Ethical Culture Society of Bergen County NJ

  • Home
  • About
    • Platform
    • From our Society’s President, Susan Lesh
    • FAQ
      • How does Ethical Culture make a difference in society?
      • What social life is there in Ethical Culture?
      • How is Ethical Culture religious?
    • Ethical Brew
    • Ceremonies
    • Philosophy
    • Constitution & Bylaws
    • Our Building Calendar
    • Contact Us
  • Ethical Kids
    • Sunday School
      • Primary Class
      • Elementary Class
      • Junior Class
      • Senior Class
      • Sunday school FAQ
    • Youth Group
  • Leader
    • Wedding Officiant
    • Speaking of Ethics: Living a Humanist Life
    • Leader’s Talks
  • Social Action
    • All Social Action Articles
    • Battling Racism
    • Environmental Action
    • Healthcare
  • Adult Ed
    • Job Club
    • Socrates Cafe
    • Do Tell!
    • Ethical Culture Review of Books
  • News
    • President Column
    • UN Report
    • Platform Addresses
  • Events

Growing Up Global

December 29, 2015

Why should I avoid naming the teddy bear Mohammed? Should I shake hands, bow or kiss on both cheeks? Understanding global practices and perspectives may take a lifetime, but most of our Ethical Culture families would like for their progeny to grow up at home in the world. For some of our international families, there are already direct, first-hand links to far-away places. For many other families, global consciousness takes more deliberate action.

HOST THE WORLD

When my children were young, for a time I was teaching English as a Second Language in the evenings at the Fort Lee Adult School. When the term ended for the summer, my students wanted to continue. So I opened up the basement of my home, and continued English lessons. The lessons grew into friendships. Later, when the man from Brazil could no longer afford his Union City rent, our basement became his home for 5 months. After he left, the family from Italy moved in for six weeks when they were between homes, then the Romanian family after that. Filadelfo, from Brazil, showed his appreciation by fixing things in the house and playing with the kids. He made Feijoada for us on New Year’s Eve and shared pictures of Belo Horizonte. Maurizio and Laura, who came from Parma, decided to contribute by doing all the cooking and food shopping for both families. We ate and played together, my two kids with their little Giorgio and Giulio. My daughters still remember that Non ho fatto niente means “I didn’t do anything.” They heard mischievous Giulio say that to his mom several times a day. All of my guests considered this hospitality an act of great generosity, but it was our lives that had become enriched. My children found that people of other languages, colors and cultures were playful, interesting and definitely not to be avoided.

START SMALL

Not everyone has a chance to host the world. Here are some other ways to expand our horizons. Some suggestions are products, some are practices, and the more intense ones offer new perspectives.

  • Keep an oversized world map on the wall and refer
    to it.
  • Get your child or grandchild his or her own real passport, even if there is no trip planned.
  • Listen to an older person from another country talk about his or her childhood.
  • Have the family practice eating efficiently with chopsticks.
  • Seek out foreign films for children that are dubbed in English.
  • If you have a Christmas tree, decorate it with ornaments from different cultures. Talk about them.
  • Supplement the school’s language program with MUZZY video clips from YouTube or another outside language program. If the school doesn’t have a language program, advocate for one.
  • Follow a sports team from another country and learn as much as you can about the players.
  • Listen to world music at home and/or in the car (Putumayo puts out a vast selection).
  • Sponsor a child from an organization such as Save the Children. Plan to visit that child someday.
  • Look for exchange programs in other countries where your youngster can live with a family.

MEET OUR SYRIAN FRIENDS

There is no substitute for meeting face-to-face. Making a friend from another culture is terrific. Living in another country is even better. At the Ethical Culture Society we offer our Sunday school students a variety of cultural learning opportunities. Now we will have a unique chance to get to know two Syrian families, friends of the Society, and a gentleman from Yemen.

If you don’t have children or grandchildren to bring, enjoy the chance to show some kindness to folks whose experience has been fraught with hardship. If you do have children, please bring them. They can extend a welcome to the seven children from Syria so that, perhaps, they may be made more at home in our world, as well.

Please bring a dish for six (main dish, side or salad, appetizer, or dessert). NOTE: Anything with meat must be Halal. No pork. Vegetarian or fish dishes are fine.

Contact Linda Bennett (201-390-6177) so she can coordinate the dishes.

Primary Sidebar

Sign up for our newsletter.

Upcoming Events

Sun 28

Platform Address: 50-Plus Years on the Front Lines of Reproductive Rights

February 28 @ 11:00 am - 12:30 pm
Sun 28

Job Club Workshop

February 28 @ 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Mar 05

Mindfulness at Midday: Meditation, Movement, and Discussion Group

March 5 @ 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm
Mar 07

Platform: The Culture of Ethical Culture

March 7 @ 11:00 am - 12:30 pm
Mar 07

Ethical Eating for Humane and Healthy People and Planet

March 7 @ 1:30 pm - 2:30 pm

View More…

Being White

Society asks Teaneck to Make BLM Mural Permanent

About Us

Ethical Culture was founded to focus on community and good works, rather than personal salvation. Read more…

We believe in ethics. We believe in people.

Please believe in us.

Ethical Brew

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • Vimeo
  • YouTube

Archives

Footer

Connect with Us

Address: 687 Larch Ave, Teaneck, NJ 07666
Phone: 201-836-5187
Email: admin@ethicalfocus.org

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • Vimeo
  • YouTube

Recent Posts

  • Despite the Snow, Cold, and Covid, Camaraderie Finds a Way February 24, 2021
  • The Power of our Ethical Culture Way of Life February 24, 2021
  • One Step at a Time–and Watch the Ice! February 24, 2021
  • Political reform and gun-law reform rank high in Social Action survey February 22, 2021
  • Goodwill and good luck propelled philanthropist and cultural statesman behind a cosmetics empire February 18, 2021

We believe in ethics. We believe in people.

Please believe in us.

Topics

atheism atheist church book review children civil rights climate change community compassion death democracy Doris Friedensohn Elizabeth Warren environment Ethical Brew Ethical Culture ethical dilemmas ethical education ethics everyday ethics Felix Adler global warming happiness healthcare humanism humanist humanists human rights Israel Joseph Chuman meetinghouse Middle East politics racism religion Robert Gulack Secular Humanism social action Socrates Cafe Sunday School Susan Golden technology Trump unemployment winter solstice world health

What We Do For Fun….

There's always time for play: celebrations, discussions (some in Spanish -- find Conversemos on our calendar on the fourth Tuesday of the month), hikes, picnics, cultural outings, and affinity groups like our monthly Men's Dinners and Women's Dinners.
Kids get into the act
Diane running the show

Important Links

  • Member of the American Ethical Union
  • Ethical Brew
  • Sanctuary Committee
  • BC Gun Violence Prevention
  • NJ Website Designer
© 2021 | The Ethical Culture Society of Bergen County NJ

Copyright © 2021 · Kreativ Pro On Genesis Framework · The Ethical Culture Society of Bergen County · Log in

  • Calendar of events
  • 687 Larch Av, Teaneck NJ
  • 201-836-5187
  • Contact Us
  • DONATE