Teachable Moments from Around the Globe Via Postcard

This is a remarkable array of postcards from our friend Angela O. in New Zealand. Angela O. writes: I am Angela O., also known as "LemurKat" (or "Kat" for short). I love to draw and draw almost everyday. My favorites are animals, especially birds because they are colorful, but I also like to try new challenges. I have been sending my art all over the world for almost ten years now and have made thoousands of pictures for others to enjoy. I hope you like these ones! (We sure do love them all but I must say the highlight for us is the Weka with the Ipod in its mouth as it runs away.)
Speaking of this picture Angela O. has written: The Weka is a very naughty bird! She cannot fly but can run quite fast and can swim. If taken far from home, she has been known to make her way back again. She will eat almost anything- grubs, fruit, even baby birds, eggs, mice or garbage. But most of all, she loves shiny things and likes to steal them. So watch out if your camping in the New Zealand forest and keep your doors closed tight!

The Third postcard with a map of New Zealand reads: This is my home country, New Zealand. It is also called "Aotearoa" which means "land of the long white cloud"because of the clouds that cling to the mountains along the central south island. Pictured here is a: Buzzy Bee- wooden pull-along toy for children. Maori Pa, Bone Hook necklace and tiki - all various symbols of our native culture. Tuatara, Kiwi, Cabbage tree and Kina - examples of our fauna and Hora. Pavlova - delicious dessert Chocolate fish - yummy! Silver Fern and NZ flag. Beehive - our parliament buildings. (Wow this is the kind of thing that makes this project so amazing because we can learn so much from one postcard and you sent us six!)

The 4th postcard is of the Kiwi and it reads: The Kiwi is a very special bird. He cannot fly, but has strong legs. Using his long bill he sniffs for tasty grubs to gobble up. His nostrils are on the tip of his beak and he has to snuffle to keep them clear of dirt. (Cute sounds like our Dorkie, Sandi) He comes out at night and has whiskers like a cat. (Wow we didn't know that.) Postcards facts: A little spotted kiwi (Apteryx owenii) in its native habitat. Seldom seen in the daylight, it forages for its food at night in the dense forest.

The 5th postcard reads: The Maori people were here when the Europeans arrived.Often at sports events when our country is playing . The team will perform a  Haka, a war dance. The words go: "Ka mate, ka mate! Ka Ora, Ka Ora! (then repeat)
Tenei te tangata puhuruhuru
Nana nei i hiki mai whakawhiti te ra
A Upane! Ka Upane! (repeat)
Whiti te ra!
"Tis death, tis death! Tis life, tis life!
This is the Hairy Man who brought the sun and caused it to shine,
a step upward , a step upward
The sun shines!
Postcard facts: The modern Maori thrills visitors with the spectacular dances and delightful folk songs of his people.

The 6th postcard reads: This is my city - it is called Christchurch. It is very flat and very much like an English city - we even have a tram! Only around 400,000 people live here. It was once swamp forest, but the early settlers chopped down all the trees and built their city in the 1800's. The postcard shows Cathedral and Chalice in Square, Tramcars, Worcester Street, and Punting on the Avon River.

Many thanks you have inspired us to learn more about New Zealand and the facts and photos you have provided us Angela O. are beyond words we thank you so much!

Hugs from my daughter and I ;-)

http://lemurkat.co.nz

Tuija K. a postcard swapper from Finland has sent us 3 nature inspired postcards! She writes: Thank you very much for your lovely postcards you sent. I have sent your three cards from Finland and I hope you like them (we love them thank you). Do you swap anything else ( no at the moment we only can budget for postcards)? I swap cards, tea, stickers, magnets, and more little things. My name is Tuija and we have three cats and 9 rabbits. I hope you have a lovely day and write me so we can swap again. All the best, Tuija.

Card #1 at the top is done by Finland's Famous painter Martha Wendelin. Postcard #2 bottom left is Finland in winter. Postcard #3 bottom right is a photo of Roses from Tuija K's yard!

Shana is a swapper friend of our and she sent us this postcard, she writes: Thank you so much for the 2 beautiful postcards. Durian is the king fruit of Malaysia. Some western people can't eat Durians because of the smell. But for us, Durian has the best smell and tastes very good. You might try it if you can get it at an Asian supermarket. The skin of Durian is very sharp. It comes only in seasons. Durians is the most delicious fruits in Malaysia, and Rambutan is seasonal like the Durian but Rambutan  is a it smaller. It tastes a bit like Lychee. Its not only in Malaysia , but also in Indonesia, Thailand and the Filipians you can obtain Rambutan. The colors of Rambutans are red or yellow. People can eat them when they mature, its sweet. If you can get it, please try to find them. ( We sure will, we are trying new fruits my daughter and I, thanks you Shana very much for this delicious information.

Anja a postcrosser from Germany writes: Post for You! Hello, here comes a card from the Palatimate region in the south of Germany. The Palatimate region is famous for its fruits, vegetables, and great wines. The card I sent you is designed by Helme Heine a famous author of picture books written for children of your age. Maybe sometime you can have a look at a book written by Helme Heine. We are going to the library this week I can't wait to find some books for our child by Helme Heine!) Many thanks - Anja from postcrossing ;-)

Greeting from the Rivera family all the way in Newark, NJ sending lots of Love Muah Canda and family ;-) Thank you so much.

We welcome Phichamon from Thailand for sending us a brilliant postcard from Thailand. It reads: I'm Phichamon from Thailand. Thailand is a country in Southeast Asia. Bangkok is the capital city. Thailand's major tourist gateway: The Grand Palace, Wat Arun (Temple of the Dawn), Wat Phrakaew (Temple of the Emerald Buddha). When you come to Thailand let me know! - Phicamon ;-)

Germany is very interesting and many countries like ours can learn from their continuous green habits. The Germans love to Bike, walk, take tours, give walking tours, take nature walks, even culture walks. Carmen S sends us yet another two interesting German postcards, thank you.

Here is what we discovered online about Deggendorf, Germany according to (Deggendorf, 2010):


Deggendorf is a beautiful town located in southeastern Germany right on the Danube River and at the western foot of the Bavarian and Bohemian forests. This gives the town a picturesque feel, one that you’re sure to appreciate while you’re there.
As you began your tour through town, you should take notice of its pear-shaped layout that was designed during the medieval period. Fortunately, the town has maintained its medieval fortifications which enables you to fully experience what this town felt like during the medieval times.
You’ll want to make your first stop at the Town Hall located in the center of the town. There you’ll see a beautiful Gothic tower which dates back to approximately 1380.
Next, you’ll want to stroll through the section of the old town where medieval fortifications still remain. Walking along the top of the battlements is a must!
Take note of the mansions that once belonged to affluent members of the town and that have now become town landmarks. The architecture of these beautiful mansions enables you to truly understand what it felt like to reside in the town during the late 1800’s.
Make sure to stop at the Parish Church and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. The churches outlines alongside the outline of the Town Hall, provide for a gorgeous skyline.
The town has a fantastic Cultural Center which contains 4 municipal institutions which, all-together, provide an in-depth history of the town. The institutions are the history museum, the craft museum, the Kapuzinerstadl and the library.
For those who enjoy the outdoors, Deggendorf offers various outdoor activities. In the summer, you can choose from hiking, walking, or biking. A great summertime biking trip is to the clear mountain lakes. During the winter months, the town offers great cross-country and downhill skiing.
The town has much to offer in terms of social events. Various festivals include the Town Hall Music Festival, the Bavarian Dialect Festival, and the Cabaret Weeks Festival. Call ahead to your hotel or check on the Internet to see if any festivals or street fairs will be being held while you’re in town.
If you enjoy the arts, call ahead to Deggendorf’s Municipal Center which offers a fantastic array of entertainment including plays, musicals, and operas to name a few.

Deggendorf. (2010, May 22). Retrieved from mygermancity.com/deggendorf: http://www.mygermancity.com/deggendor

Another interesting Tornado postcard from Roff, Oklahoma. Our friend Sharon L writes: Hope you like the postcard, this is the kind of weather we have had this week. - Sharon L.

This postcard comes all the way from Taiwan. Our wonderful friend Jane Lu writes:  Hello! I'm Jan Lu... Greetings from Taiwan!! I live in Taipei City. On this card you can see the well-known landmark Taipei 101. And I will include some Chinese translation for you! :-) 

Hello = 喂                                   Thanks =    谢谢                                Good Morning = 您好
                       Afternoon = 下午                              Evening =  晚上

We love animal postcards and Hope K. has sent us a fantastic animal postcard, thank you! The card reads: St. Marys is mostly known for the Erie Canal & Grand Lake St. Marys. The lake is the largest body of water in the world built without the use of machinery (Wow what a great fact!) It took 1700 men 8 years to build it with shovels and axes. (1837-1845) They worked sunrise to sunset for 30 cents a day.It was built to feed into the Erie Canal. Happy Postcrossing! - Hope K.

This is a postcard from a postcrosser in Great Britain named Laura. She writes: My name is Laura & I live in Bournemouth, which is on the south coast of England. I have chosen a postcard that shows some places and areas near by. What it does not tell you is that Mary Shelly, who wrote Frankenstein is buried alongside her husband in a church in Bournemouth town center. Hope that is an interesting fact (it sure is wow thank you so very much!) Best wishes & happy lives - Laura.

This postcard is yet another spectacular view from our friend Robbie in Italy. Thanks to you and a few others we have grown even more fond of Italy! The postcard reads: Buongiorno, greetings from the island of Ischia. This card shows the beautiful beach of San Montano, situated between two villages of the island: Lacco Ameno and Forio.

Ischia is one of the most famous seas and touristic spa centers of Italy and the World. The island doesn't have at all the typical appearance of a large arid rock in the middle of the Thyrrenian Sea. Its landscape is varied, including mountains, isolated hills, majestic promontories, slopes, plains and brows of hills. The ancients called Ischia, Pitecusae, Aenaria, Inarime, Arime and Iscla. Best wishes from Italy, Robbie

Many thanks again Robbie for sending us another beautiful postcard with so many facts and drawing we love them!

Greeting from Tucson have reached us yesterday. These three postcards have lots of facts, we love it! They read: Most of these desert plants can be seen in and around Tucson with the exception of Organ Pipe Cactus (found South West of here) and Joshua Trees. Cacti are spiky, but beautiful!


The second postcard reads: Hi! There's a roadrunner that we sometimes see on our property, and yes they truly are a comical sight. But they are also tough enough to kill rattlesnakes!




 Postcard facts: Roadrunner clown of the dessert. The comical roadrunner prefers running to flying and have been clocked at speeds of 15 miles per hour (MPH). They are approximately 22 inches in length and their diets consist of insects, lizards, centipedes, mice and snakes.

Postcard #3 reads: Thank you for your NC and SC postcards. We hope to visit those states when we can travel again. You're always welcome to visit us in Tucson. We have room for family! My husband and I love to sit in the lawn chairs in our yard and watch the colorful sunsets- an almost daily ritual.








Peace  ✌☮ &  Love ♥ Pat D. & John R.

Beki M.thank you,  I couldn't have said it better myself. We have already been letting our child know of the importance of a college education. This postcard is a most interesting and welcomed addition for our collection of global treasures.

Beki writes:  It's never to early to look at colleges! ;-) Syracuse University (SU) is a great school known for their college of broadcasting and men's basketball team! Their nickname is the Orange and their Mascot is Otto, a big orange!                                                    - Beki

From our postcrossing friend Marika in Finland, she sent us this interesting postcard with a Moomin Character. She writes: Hello and Greetings from the Southern Finland small town called Orimattila. Do you like Moomins? This character is  the Groke (yes we happen to be enjoying the interesting Moomin that we are learning about from our friends in Finland). My home town is quiet and known for horses. Even the name Orimattila appoint to horses [Ori = stallion]. Happy Postcrossing! Love, Marika

 Today among the postcards we received is one from Washington, D.C. For our readers who might not know this Washington, District of Columbia (or DC as it is most often referred to) is the Capital City of the United States of America. This is where the White House, Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument and many more! Our current President is Barack Hussein Obama, he is the 44th President of the United States of America.
Many thanks to Lisa L and family for this amazing postcard it is our very first from Washington,D.C.!

Lisa writes:  Hi, I live in Maryland, but work in Washington, D.C. at a bookstore. It is a very fun job in a fun town. So you see the tall thin monument in the picture? My four year old son called it " the pencil" but it's actually the Washington Monument. The space between it and the Capitol is all grass and a great place to fly a kite. Have fun with all your postcards. Sincerely, Lisa L

Lisa many thanks again we love the postcard and especially the facts you have written, we fly kites here in North Carolina too since our little girl was two years old. But that sure is an amazing place to fly a kite when you look back at all the events that occurred on that same spot over the years (we'll send you a postcard or two).

Our lovely postcard from a land well known to inspire love Verona, Italy! And just in time for the opening of "Letters to Juliet". We hope someday to travel as a family to Italy because we are so in love with the land, the food, language, the history and most of all the people. Luca D. from Facebook has fulfilled our wish and mailed us this fabulous postcard of La Fontana di Madonna in Verona, Italy. He writes: Hey there it's my pleasure to show you the third most spectacular Italian town (in tourist opinions) after Rome and Florance. Enjoy it! (we sure love this many thanks)

Other facts we dug up: The Fountain of Madonna Verona, constructed in the female form, dates back to Roman times. The fountain, which was repaired in 1368, is one of the oldest and best-known fountains in the city. The Madonna holds a scroll in her hand bearing the emblem of the city and she sits on a base also of Roman origin on which there are eight sculptured masks from which the water flows. The monument was erected at the wishes of Casignorio della Scala, to celebrate the repair of the city’s aqueduct.

Our Facebook friend Timothy T is who we happily thank for these 5 postcards from Indonesia. He also included 1000 Seribu Rupiah for us to enjoy. This was so interesting, and the postcards are somewhat different from our usual postcards but still a great learning tool none the less. Many thanks Timothy T.

• Delaware was the first state to ratify the United States constitution. It did so on December 7, 1787. 

• Delaware is the only state without any National Park System units such as national parks, seashores, historic sites, battlefields, memorials, and monuments.

• Today about 500 descendants of the original Nanticoke Indians reside in Delaware. They celebrate their heritage each September with the Nanticoke Indian Pow Wow. 

• The log cabin originated in Finland. Finnish settlers arrived in Delaware in the mid-1600s and brought with them plans for the log cabin, one of the enduring symbols of the American pioneer. One of the cabins has been preserved and is on display at the Delaware Agricultural Museum in Dover. 

•  The Lady Bug is Delaware's Official State Bug.