Category: American Culture

April Holidays

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April is known for many things: the start of spring, Arbor Day, as well as Easter & Passover. But did you know it’s also known as National BLT Sandwich Month and International Guitar Month 🤟🎸?

A B.L.T Sandwich ( Bacon, lettuce & tomato )
Kirk Hammett – guitarist for Metallica

Here are a few more lesser known holidays to celebrate in the month of April…

The first Saturday of April is International Pillow Fight Day. “What is International Pillow Fight Day?” you ask. Read all about it here.

Sometimes getting dressed in the morning can be a challenge – no worries! On April 6th come to work/school in your pajamas for National Pajama Day.

No Housework Day on April 7th says it all. Take the day off from your household chores and rest; maybe watch a movie or drink some wine- do the dishes tomorrow, they can wait!

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April 7th is also National Coffee Cake Day, so why not grab a cup of coffee to pair with this sweet treat. Not sure what coffee cake is? Check out this YouTube video and learn all about this deliciously mis-understood “breakfast” food.

Hug Your Dog Day is on April 10th – Show your dog some love with a big hug. Don’t have a dog, maybe consider adopting one!

National Siblings Day is on April 10th. If you have a brother or sister, reach out to them to send your love. If you don’t have a sibling, maybe consider volunteering with Big Brothers Big Sisters – “a mentoring organization that pairs adult volunteers with children to help them develop positive relationships and reach their full potential”.

National Pet Day 🐶🐱 is April 11th. Do you have a pet? Maybe you want another pet? Check out the ASPCA and adopt a new cat or dog today.

If you love bread and cheese, Grilled Cheese Day on April 12th is perfect for you. Check out this video on how to make the world’s greatest sandwich:

And finally, if you’re tired of all the music streaming services, maybe head to your local record store on April 20th for National Record Store Day. Check out this list of the top ten record stores in New York City. 

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W1 Tourism Presentations

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New York City, as everyone knows, is a famous tourist destination. Some of its most well-known landmarks include the Empire State Building, Times Square, and Central Park.

This weekend, Lynne’s W1 class did an amazing job introducing the W2 and W3 classes to some other great, lesser-known places to visit in New York, including the Irish Hunger Memorial, the Noguchi Museum, Historic Richmond Town, the African Burial Ground, Federal Hall, Fraunces Tavern, Roosevelt Island, Green-Wood Cemetery, Dykeman House, the Eldridge Street Synagogue Museum, Gracie Mansion, the Merchant’s House Museum, and Castle Clinton.

The Irish Hunger Museum

Merchant’s House Museum

Green-Wood Cemetery

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Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

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Vocabulary Preview:

Civil rights movement: n., actions between 1954 and 1968 taken to change laws of racial discrimination

Protests: n., a gathering of people who believe the same thing and want others to learn about it.

Abolish: v., to eliminate or stop something completely

Segregation: n., when all of one kind of people have to be together; for example, racial segregation.

Boycott: n., to stop buying or using something as a protest

Unconstitutional: adj., an act or belief that is not part of the ruling document of a country

Orator: n., someone who speaks powerfully and well

Martin Luther King, Jr. was an important leader in the civil rights movement in America in the ‘50s and ‘60s.  He used peaceful protests to secure basic rights for people of color, including the right to vote.  It was by nonviolent methods that he helped abolish the racial discrimination and segregation laws that were in place at the time.  These laws ruled where people of color could sit or walk or even go to school.

His first efforts in the civil rights movement were inspired by the Montgomery Bus boycott.  This began in 1955, when an African American woman named Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on a bus for a white man, as the driver had told her to.  Parks was arrested and fined. Subsequently, people of color refused to ride the buses at all, and this boycott continued for over a year.  Eventually, the Supreme Court ruled that these laws were unconstitutional.

King went on to work hard helping people of color, changing many laws and attitudes in America. He became known as a great orator, and his speech “I Have a Dream” is one of the most famous in this country’s history.  Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated when he was 39 years old, while still trying to improve the lives of others.  We mark his birthday nation-wide as a federal holiday and try to increase our awareness of the racial problems that still exist in America.

Sign From Segregated Nashville Bus Number 351

Civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. addresses the crowd at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., where he gave his “I Have a Dream” speech on Aug. 28, 1963, as part of the March on Washington.

The speech was ranked the top American speech of the 20th century in a 1999 poll of scholars. The speech has also been described as having “a strong claim to be the greatest in the English language of all time.”

Sources:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Have_a_Dream

AFP via Getty Images

To listen to King’s famous speech:

https://www.npr.org/transcripts/122701268

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Daytime and Evening Holiday Parties

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HOLIDAY PARTIES (Jingle Bell) ROCK!

There was plenty of good cheer, food, and fun at the University Settlement’s Holiday Parties this year. The Daytime and the Evening classes contributed dazzling dishes from their home countries. The music, the festive decorations, and the games added to the fun. Both teachers and students celebrated the winter holiday season and had an excellent time together!

Setting up for our Daytime students was as much fun…
…as the party!

We played games to see who would eat first:

and then we ate!

Waiting to eat.

Abby and her students:

What’s a party without presents and reindeer?

And Joe and Christine celebrated with their students!

Our Evening classes had an equally good time!

The games were so exciting!

Time to eat!

All our friends together, celebrating:

Our Evening teachers:

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And then the dancing started….

AND A GOOD TIME WAS HAD BY ALL.

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Let’s VOTE!

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Vocabulary

Privilege: n., a thing or a right that is given to you

The voting booth: n., the private place where you vote

Make your voice heard: expression, to give your opinion

Funding: n., financial support

A good wage: n., expression, fair and acceptable payment for a job 

Job security: n., expression, being sure of keeping your job

Polling place: n., where you go to vote (the public place)

Candidates: n., people who are running for election

Factual: adj., ideas based on truth

Trusted experts: n., people who tell the truth and whose opinions you value

Elections… ballots… nominees… what does all this mean for you?

Voting in America is a right, a privilege, and – always – extremely important.

This document explains it all to you:
Click to access 2024_NFY_Voting-Guide.pdf

Why?  

You may feel that you do not have much money or power, but in the voting booth, your choice is equal to everyone else’s.  As an American citizen, you are able to make your voice heard about what really matters to you.

Reasons to Vote:

■ You care about clean air and clean water. The government makes laws that can protect or hurt the environment. 

■ You have family members in another country who want to move to the U.S. The government makes rules about who can move here and how easy it is. 

■ You are in school or have children in school. You want the school to provide a good education. The government makes rules about teacher training, programs, and testing. It decides what kinds of programs receive funding.

■ You are looking for a job that offers a good wage and job security. The government guides the economy. That affects how easy it is to find a job, how much companies can pay workers, and what benefits companies must provide.

Where?

On Election Day, people vote in different sorts of places. Your voting site might be a school, a church, a community center, a fire station, or another neighborhood building. You must go to the correct polling place. The place you go to vote will depend on where you live.   

After you register to vote, you will receive a card confirming your registration and indicating your polling place.

How?

Firstly, inform yourself.  Watch television, read newspapers, and explore the internet to learn how the candidates stand on issues that are important to you.

Here are some useful links:

■ Rock the Vote  www.rockthevote.org
Targeted towards younger voters, this site seeks to inspire and inform on building political power in young people.

■ Vote 411    www.vote411.org
Countrywide, personalized information on candidates and where they stand on what you’re voting for.

■ Project Vote Smart      www.votesmart.org  
Free, factual information on candidates in simplified, straightforward language.

Prepare to vote, from anywhere > United States Coast Guard ...

Watch debates, watch television, read newspapers, and consult with trusted experts.

For fascinating fun and a bit of history, this site has information, explanations, and ads going back to the beginning of televised election commercials.

http://www.livingroomcandidate.org/

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April is Arab American Heritage Month

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From actors like Rami Malek and Tony Shalhoub, musicians such as French Montana and Shakira, to politicians such as George Kaseem and James Abourezk, Arabic Americans have contributed to the fabric (1) of American history and culture. 

Arab America and the Arab America Foundation launched the National Arab American Heritage Month initiative in 2017, with just a handful (2) of states participating.

In 2022, Congress, the U.S. Department of State, and 45 state governors issued proclamations commemorating the initiative.

Check out the video below to learn more about Arab American Heritage Month, why it’s so important, and how we can all be better Americans by learning about each other’s heritage!

Phrases: 

1. The fabric of (something) –   the basic structure of (something)

2. Just a handful- only a small amount

References: National Arab American Heritage Month – Arab America Foundation %

List of Arab and Middle Eastern Americans in the United States Congress – Wikipedia

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St. Patrick’s Day!

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It’s almost St. Patrick’s Day in NYC!

Originally, St. Patrick’s Day began in Ireland as a Catholic holiday, but over the years it has grown into a festival of Irish culture. A week-long celebration of Irish music, theater, and visual arts takes place in many regions of Ireland. Family get-togethers are also important, as people sit down for a special meal. The feast of corned beef and cabbage, though, is an American tradition; in Ireland one is more likely to find bacon or a savory roast chicken on the table. 

Although the St. Patrick’s Day Parade has become a part of celebrations in Ireland these days, it’s the result of an American influence, where the tradition was created by homesick Irish immigrants. More recently, St. Patrick’s Day has become a highly marketable and promoted event in Ireland, resulting in an attractive draw for tourists visiting the country.

The NYC St. Patrick’s Day Parade dates back to March 17, 1762, when it was first organized by a group of homesick Irish immigrants and Irish military in the American colonies of NYC. Participants enjoyed  the freedom to speak Irish, wear the color green- which was banned in Ireland at the time, sing native songs, and play the bagpipe.

These things gave powerful meaning to those people who fled their homeland.

Join in the fun! Come to the St. Patrick’s Day Parade!

The NYC Parade is held on March 17th and begins precisely at 11:00 AM. The Parade marches up Fifth Avenue beginning at East 44th Street and ending at East 79th.  

Reference: CUNY Baruch: NYCdata | Uniquely NYC (cuny.edu)

  1. Homesick- adj the feeling of missing your home
  2. Banned-adj not allowed
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