by Meredith (USA) | Apr 26, 2012 | Adoption, Motherhood, Nigeria, World Interviews, World Moms Blog Writer Interview, World Motherhood, Writing
Where in the world do you live and are you from there?
I live in Lagos, Nigeria, and I have lived here for almost three years. My two children, husband and myself moved here in July 2009. I am not originally from here. I am from the United states and grew up mostly in Illinois.
What Languages do you speak?
Does Dora the explorer Spanish count??? đ I am sorry to say that I really donât speak another language other than English (and a few phrases in Yoruba). In my defense, I did take Spanish in high school and Italian in college.:) English has become such a global language. When I travel, I always make a point of trying to learn a few phrases in the native language. It never fails. I will ask a person a question in another (more…)
Meredith finds it difficult to tell anyone where she is from exactly! She grew up in several states, but mainly Illinois. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education from the University of Illinois at Champaign/Urbana which is also where she met her husband. She taught kindergarten for seven years before she adopted her son from Guatemala and then gave birth to her daughter two years leter. She moved to Lagos, Nigeria with her husband and two children in July 2009 for her husband's work. She and her family moved back to the U.S.this summer(August 2012) and are adjusting to life back in the U.S. You can read more about her life in Lagos and her adjustment to being back on her blog: We Found Happiness.
More Posts
by Melanie Oda (Japan) | Apr 24, 2012 | Eye on Culture, Holiday, Humor, Japan, Life Lesson, Motherhood, Parenting, World Motherhood
I had really hoped this year would be the year.
The year I could put the Hina Matsuri (Girls’ Day) dolls out in the living room where we could enjoy them. It’s such a nice tradition: displaying beautifully intricate (and sickeningly expensive) dolls in traditional seven-layered kimonos for the weeks leading up to Girls’ Day on March 3rd, when the whole family pauses to pray for the health and well-being of daughters before feasting on feminine, cutesy foods, like tiny sushi and soup with delicate candy colored balls, followed by pink and green omochi (sticky, sweet rice cakes) for desert. Â Ladies magazines are full of hina (imperial princess) themed recipes. This year I think we’ll try the “parfait sushi,” which is sushi rice layered with eggs and other colorful ingredients in a glass so it looks like a parfait. I’m also thinking of ordering a Hina Matsuri themed ice cream cake from Baskin Robbins (known here as 31 Ice.)
Of course, the best laid plans of mice and moms often go awry. Or something like that. (more…)
If you ask Melanie Oda where she is from, she will answer "Georgia." (Unless you ask her in Japanese. Then she will say "America.") It sounds nice, and it's a one-word answer, which is what most people expect. The truth is more complex. She moved around several small towns in the south growing up. Such is life when your father is a Southern Baptist preacher of the hellfire and brimstone variety.
She came to Japan in 2000 as an assistant language teacher, and has never managed to leave. She currently resides in Yokohama, on the outskirts of Tokyo (but please don't tell anyone she described it that way! Citizens of Yokohama have a lot of pride). No one is more surprised to find her here, married to a Japanese man and with two bilingual children (aged four and seven), than herself. And possibly her mother.
You can read more about her misadventures in Asia on her blog, HamakkoMommy.
More Posts
by World Moms Blog | Apr 23, 2012 | Guest Post, Motherhood, Social Good, World Motherhood, World Voice
World Moms Blog contributors and friends at the inaugural “GAVI Global Tea Party” to raise awareness for life-saving vaccinations for children in the developing world.
In January of this year, my friend, Jen Burden, the founder of World Moms Blog, invited me to attend the very first grassroots advocacy party for the UN Foundationâs Shot@Life campaign at her house, here, in New Jersey. The theme of the party was âAround the Worldâ and featured international food served in shot-sized glasses which we purchased for a $1-$3 donation.
Now, as a stay-at-home mom of two young boys, I jump at any opportunity for a fun night out with my friends! But I soon realized this night would be very special. How often do you know your actions are actually saving a childâs life?
Shot@Life seeks to âeducate, connect and empower Americans to champion vaccines as one of the most cost-effective ways to save the lives of children in developing countries.â The money raised at this party went directly to purchasing vaccinations to immunize children against four deadly diseases: pneumonia, diarrhea, measles and polio. $20 is all that is needed to fully vaccinate one child, but sadly, 1 in 5 children around the world still lack access to these life-saving vaccinations.
Jen spoke that night about why she became a Shot@Life Champion. (more…)
World Moms Blog is an award winning website which writes from over 30 countries on the topics of motherhood, culture, human rights and social good. Over 70 international contributors share their stories from around the globe, bonded by the common thread of motherhood and wanting a better world for their children.
World Moms Blog was listed by Forbes Woman as one of the "Best 100 Websites for Women 2012 & 2013" and also called a "must read" by the NY Times Motherlode in 2013. Our Senior Editor in India, Purnima Ramakrishnan, was awarded the BlogHer International Activist Award in 2013.
More Posts
by World Moms Blog | Apr 22, 2012 | 2012, International, Motherhood, World Moms Blog Itinerary, World Motherhood, World Voice
This week we have five countries in five days!
We’re honoring World Immunization Week with Shot@Life and the GAVI Alliance!
We will start the week by running a very special social good post from a devoted reader who has attended two of our community outreach events for life-saving vaccinations for children in the developing world. It will be interesting to read Amy Pohl’s perspective from New Jersey, USA!
On Tuesday, we’re headed to Japan to hear from Hamakko Mommy. She tells us about a lovely tradition in Japan leading up to Girl’s Day, and how her plans to actually observe the tradition went awry right from the get-go.
Also on Tuesday, We also have a second social good post on Wednesday from Ghana, where the GAVI Alliance will be introducing for the first time, 2 vaccines at once in a grand effort to help save the lives of children from pneumonia and rotavirus.  Dan Thomas of the GAVI Alliance will be reporting!
Wednesday, we’re in Massachusetts with Courtney Cappallo. She talks about a day every parent dreads: a child’s first sleepover. Come read about her own experiences, and learn some very useful sleepover tips! (more…)
World Moms Blog is an award winning website which writes from over 30 countries on the topics of motherhood, culture, human rights and social good. Over 70 international contributors share their stories from around the globe, bonded by the common thread of motherhood and wanting a better world for their children.
World Moms Blog was listed by Forbes Woman as one of the "Best 100 Websites for Women 2012 & 2013" and also called a "must read" by the NY Times Motherlode in 2013. Our Senior Editor in India, Purnima Ramakrishnan, was awarded the BlogHer International Activist Award in 2013.
More Posts
by Ruth | Apr 20, 2012 | Culture, Eye on Culture, Family, Motherhood, Parent Care, Parenting, Ruth Wong, Singapore, World Motherhood
Have you ever thought about why youâre having kids?
Some have kids because they think itâs part of the âmarriage progressionâ, they want to carry on their bloodline or because everyone around them are having children.
Others feel that they want to leave a legacy through their offspring. Then there are those who do it simply because they have a strong desire to have children.
In Asia, itâs not uncommon for people to want to have children to ensure that thereâs someone to look after them when they turn old. In fact, thereâs even a Chinese idiom ć
»ćżéČè â which translates to mean âraise children to safeguard your old ageâ.
Indeed, in Asian societies that have been strongly influenced by Confucius teachings, such as China, Japan, Korea and Singapore, the practice of filial piety is still seen as an important social value and esteemed as virtue to be inculcated in oneâs children from a very young age.
Children are not only expected to respect and obey their parents, itâs also deemed their duty to look after their parents in old age. (more…)
Ruth lives in Singapore, a tiny island 137 kilometres north of the equator. After graduating from university, she worked as a medical social worker for a few years before making a switch to HR and worked in various industries such as retail, banking and manufacturing. In spite of the invaluable skills and experiences she had gained during those years, she never felt truly happy or satisfied. It was only when she embarked on a journey to rediscover her strengths and passion that this part of her life was transformed. Today, Ruth is living her dreams as a writer. Ironically, she loves what she does so much that at one point, she even thought that becoming a mom would hinder her career. Thanks to her husbandâs gentle persuasions, she now realises what joy she would have missed out had she not changed her mind. She is now a happy WAHM. Ruth launched MomME Circle, a resource site to support and inspire moms to create a life and business they love. She has a personal blog Mommy CafĂ© where she writes about her son's growing up and shares her interests such as food and photography.
More Posts
by Asha (Nigeria) | Apr 19, 2012 | Childhood, Culture, Family, Humor, Husband, India, Motherhood, Nigeria, USA, World Motherhood
At first glance, I appear to be a typical Indian-American woman. My parents immigrated to the U.S. in the 1970âs. My father is a physician. My mother holds strong opinions on the merits of silk versus French chiffon saris.Until recently, I lived in New Jersey, and really, what Indian-American doesnât? My investment banker husband and I have 3 children who attended Hindi class every Friday night for years.
You should know, however, that there are aspects of my life that Indians frown upon.
The aforementioned husband is Nigerian, a people distrusted in this era of 419 scams by Indians and non-Indians alike. And even more damning to a subcontinent that fetishizes degrees, I walked out of a top law school after a week and never looked back.
Upon closer examination, I am NOT a typical Indian-American. From the standpoint of most Indians, truth be told, I am a dud. (more…)
Where in the world do you live and are you from there?
