Ireland

Embracing their Irish heritage, the Characters love to do an Irish accent, play a jig or a dirge on the fiddle and flute as well as try out step-dancing.

 Poland

 Embracing their Polish Heritage at the International Houses in San Diego. Poland was the feature. Other family members have been to Poland many times and speak fluent Polish. Their late great-grandfather was a 1st generation Pole here in America.

India

Friends and missionaries in India gave us these lovely authentic salwar kameezes from India. The Charaters have used them for many things including a unit on India for grade-school children's assemblies to a school report on White Tigers (above).

 Argentina

The poncho is authentic from missionary friends to Paraguay who visited Argentina.

A similar one was made for Wesley

Speaking of Argentina, how about that 2014 World Cup Final? The boys got in on the fun that day too!

Russian Routine

Kristina's tour guide in Russia inspired a "Russian Routine" complete with accent she did for the 1st season of an America's Got Talent taping in Hollywood, CA. Host Regis Philbin, judges: Brandy, David Hasselhoff, Piers Morgan and the entire audience enjoyed hearing her speil of a Russian KGB agent looking for Simon Cowell (then excecutive producer of the show) wanted for 'opinions against the talented'.

International

Other countries besides the U.S. have always been intriguing to the Characters. Kristina has collected the 'Dolls of the World' Barbies since the originals came out in the late 1970's. Wade and Kristina have traveled to several countries in Europe, Canada and Mexico. Kristina's knowledge of German from her opera days in college lended to her being able to read the street signs in Sweden among other things! All the Characters share in International delight as it is fun to portray and be a part of another culture! Scroll down to see some of thier experiences!

 Countries along the Baltic Sea:

Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Estonia and Russia

Having been to these countries, gives a good feel for the people and their culture; like the Ballet and beautiful architecture of the catherdrals in Russia.

Did you know that the shot that started the Bolshevik Revolution in 1917 was from the battleship Aurora in St. Petersburg, Russia?

It is appreciated when something in this country is reperesented or similar; like Solvang, CA patterend after Copenhagen, Denmark. Danish author Hans Christian Anderson's works like the Little Mermaid and The Snow Queen have special meaning and connection.

Little Mermaid statue in Denmark Harbor

Hans Christian Anderson Museum in Solvang, CA

 Queen Kristina of Sweden's Palace in Stockholm

Folk outfits are an inspiration, like this one of a baby they saw at a toy store in Finland

and lots of folk out performing in the medieval city of Tallin, Estonia

Argentina

Inspired by the Argentina flag, these Paso Doble dresses were made for a recent Gold Rush event. Miners from Argentina in Colonial CA were very skilled at findng gold.

What family from Argentina would not be complete without a pet llama?

That plays the piano?