As world officials gathered in Copenhagen last week for the United Nations climate summit, another international gathering assembled on the North Shore.
Local au pairs from Sweden, Thailand, Czech Republic and a host of other countries got together for a holiday party, sharing company with others who are all far from home this holiday season.
The group of about 40 child care providers work with the agency Cultural Care Au Pair, whose local program coordinators, Joanne Dooley of Beverly and Debbie Stephanides of Salem, organized a holiday party last Wednesday night at Prince Pizza on Route 1 in Saugus.
Some of the au pairs brought desserts from their home countries that are typically prepared around Christmas time.
In a function room at the restaurant with a fireplace decorated with stockings, the au pairs ate pizza and Goldfish crackers and drank soda, and Dooley and Stephanides ran a gift raffle.
The au pairs talked with each other, shared stories about their jobs and laughed. They also took a little time to tell The Salem News about customs in their homelands, why they became au pairs and about their impressions of life on the North Shore.
Hanna Birk, 20
From: Germany
Au pair with the Rodgers family, who run Green Meadows Farm in Hamilton
What Christmas dessert did you bring for the party?
"German cookies, from my grandma, it's her recipe."
In your first two months here, what are some highlights?
"I've been to New York and Boston. I tried lots of seafood, but I did not like it," she said with a wince.
Why did you become an au pair?
"I didn't know what to do with my studies, and I want to learn English and see America."
Lisa Scadden, 18
From: Australia
Au pair with a Marblehead family
You're from another English speaking country, but are there differences?
"I didn't expect Australia and America to be so different, but it's very much more laid-back in Australia. New England has a higher amount of stress."
Highlights of your au pair experience?
"To travel and meet new people and different cultures. I've been to the Grand Canyon, L.A., New York, Niagara Falls, Baltimore, Washington, D.C., Las Vegas, San Francisco."
What Australian dessert did you bring?
"ANZAC biscuits. It stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps. Wives and moms used to send them to the troops in World War I."
Are there challenges?
"Missing home is hard. I miss my mom and my dad. The weather is different. I'm always cold here. I wear my coat inside."
Sara Torkelson, 19
From: Sweden
Au pair in Middleton
What Swedish dessert did you prepare?
"Swedish buns. It's the first time I baked them for myself."
Is your lifestyle different at home?
"It's strange that back home I can go out and have a drink; here, it's 21."
Cultural differences?
"Most American moms trail after their kids. They will fall, but boys will be boys, that's OK."
Mengue Zhang, 23
From: China
Au pair in Georgetown
What do you like about being an au pair?
"I think of how the families raise their kids and I learn a lot. I really appreciate it. I think Chinese kids are very spoiled."
Differences in Chinese and American lifestyles?
"We make most foods from scratch."
What Chinese holiday dish did you prepare?
"We don't have Christmas, we have Chinese New Year. I made a Chinese dessert: egg tart. ... That was my first time baking."
Graziele Alves, 21
From: Born in Brazil, raised in Austria
Au pair in Manchester
Do you like being an au pair?
"I'm very excited every day. Every day you learn something new about the American way."
Why, what do you like?
"I love Dunkin' Donuts," she said with a laugh. "I die for it. And Burger King is also better than in Austria. ... I've been to New York three times; it's good to travel around."
Is it hard?
"You miss your family. At home, I can do anything, and here I have to be a little bit careful what you do."
Blaire Marten, 20
From: Australia
Au pair in Middleton
What was it like to move here?
"Culture shock: the food, and the way we live is different. Even the houses are different. Everyone has two-story houses here, and they all look the same."
Challenges?
"In Australia, we drive on the other side of the road. That was a big adjustment."
Caroline Akerlund, 20
From: Sweden
Au pair in Boxford
What Swedish Christmas food did you bring?
"Saffron buns and ginger bread."
Differences from life in Sweden?
"The food, especially how they cook here. Everything is so quick, and how you buy it done."
Do you like Boxford?
"I love it. It's true country. I'm from the country with horses, dogs, woods and hills, and I love it ... It's great to have two families: one in Sweden, and one in America."
Cultural distinctions?
"How American people raise their kids. They're so overprotective here. It's always, 'Careful, careful!' They can't see kids fall down, but they have to fall down to learn."
