A

archipelago: a group of islands closely scattered in a body of water. Hawaii is a beautiful archipelago and the only island state in the United States.

asado: a term widely used in South America, particularly in countries like Argentina, Uruguay, and Chile, to refer to a traditional barbecue. During our trip to Argentina, we enjoyed a traditional asado, relishing the smoky flavors of grilled vegetables and fresh chimichurri sauce under the open sky.

avocado: an evergreen tree in the laurel family, and its fruit is botanically a large berry with a single seed. I made a delicious smoothie with banana and avocado. It is often used in salads, sandwiches, and guacamole.

Aztec: a member of the indigenous people dominant in Mexico before the Spanish conquest of the 16th century. The Aztec Empire was located in central Mexico. The Aztec civilization left behind pyramids and artwork that continue to fascinate archaeologists and historians today.

B

baklava: a dessert made of filo pastry, filled with chopped nuts and sweetened with honey. During our trip to Greece, we indulged in freshly baked baklava and enjoyed a cup of coffee.

banda: a Mexican music style featuring instruments like trumpets, clarinets, and drums. She loves listening to banda music, especially songs with lively brass melodies. Famous banda artists include Banda MS and La Arrolladora Banda El Limón from Mexico.

Bharatanatyam: a classical Indian dance form that originated in Tamil Nadu. It is known for its graceful movements, expressions, and rhythmic footwork. She has been learning Bharatanatyam for five years and recently performed at a cultural festival. It is similar to other classical dance forms of India, such as Kathak and Odissi.

C

cardamom: a spice with a strong, sweet aroma, used in cooking, baking, and traditional medicine. Pemba, the Sherpa, added a pinch of cardamom to the tea to enhance its flavor. Cardamom is like cinnamon or cloves, as it adds warmth and fragrance to dishes. The Sherpa people live in the mountainous regions of Nepal and Tibet.

cenote: a deep, water-filled sinkhole formed in limestone. It is created when the roof of an underground cavern collapses. Cenotes are primarily found in the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico. The explorers marveled at the crystal-clear waters of the cenote.

chayotes: green, wrinkled squash-like vegetables that belong to the gourd family. Chayotes are commonly used in Mexican, Central American, and Caribbean cuisines. I added diced chayotes to the soup, and they gave it a deliciously crisp and fresh taste. Read about Mexico.

D

database: a structured set of data stored electronically, often managed by a database management system (DBMS). The company's new database allows employees to access client information quickly and securely from anywhere.

disparity: a noticeable and often unfair difference between people or things. There is a significant gap in education quality between urban and rural areas in the United States. Disparities can refer to differences in wealth, opportunities, or healthcare treatment.

E

enchilada:

edelweiss: a small white flower that grows in the mountains of Switzerland, especially in the Alps. It symbolizes purity, bravery, and devotion. The climber was thrilled to find a rare edelweiss blooming on the rocky slopes of the Alps.

engineer: a person who designs, builds, or maintains engines, machines, or structures to make life better for everyone. Engineers also design bridges like the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. Every year, on September 15th, we celebrate Engineer's Day in India.

F

frankincense: an aromatic resin obtained from trees, has been used for centuries as a perfume or incense. It was highly valued and traded along ancient trade routes in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. The room was filled with the warm, earthy aroma of frankincense as it burned softly in the corner, creating a calming atmosphere for the evening gathering. Read about Christmas Day.

frond: the leaf or leaflike part of the fern. To Māori, the elegant shape of the fronds stood for strength, stubborn resistance, and enduring power. The Black Caps’ helmets proudly display the silver fern frond, a symbol of New Zealand’s sporting spirit.

fynbos: a small belt of natural shrubland or heathland vegetation located in the Western Cape and Eastern Cape provinces of South Africa.

G

gentian: a plant with bright blue, purple, or yellow flowers, commonly found in the mountains of Switzerland. Some species are used in herbal medicine and bitters. The deep blue petals of the gentian stood out against the green alpine meadow.

guacamole:

gumboot: gumboots dancing, a traditional South African dance form. The dance was developed by workers in gold mines. The gumboots dance performance captivated the audience with its energetic rhythms and storytelling.

H

hieroglyph: a picture of an object representing a word or syllable as found in ancient Egypt. The archaeologist carefully studied the hieroglyphs carved into the temple walls, trying to decode their meaning.

HyperText Markup Language (HTML): a markup language that web browsers use to interpret and compose text, images, and other material into visible or audible web pages. Learning HTML is essential for anyone interested in building and designing websites. W3Schools is a popular online platform that provides free tutorials on various programming languages, including HTML.

I

lagoon: a shallow body of water separated from a larger body of water (such as an ocean or sea) by a narrow landform, like a barrier island, sandbar, or coral reef. Pulicat Lake, India’s second-largest lagoon, is famous for migratory birds, especially flamingos. Chilika Lagoon, India’s largest coastal lagoon, is located in Odisha.

ibex: a wild mountain goat with long, thick ridged horns and a beard. An ibex nimbly leaped across the rocky cliffs, effortlessly navigating the steep Alpine terrain of Switzerland. The Alpine ibex can climb near-vertical cliffs with ease, thanks to its specially adapted hooves that provide excellent grip

Inca: a small group in Peru that established a vast empire, ruling over much of the west coast of South America. The Inca Empire included parts of modern-day Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia, Argentina, Chile, and Colombia. Today, the intricate stonework of Inca ruins, like Machu Picchu, continues to amaze architects, archaeologists, and tourists alike.

J

Java: a programming language widely used for building web applications, mobile apps, and enterprise software. Java was designed by James Gosling at Sun Microsystems. W3Schools is a popular online platform that provides free tutorials on various programming languages, including Java. She used Java to develop a cross-platform application for her software project.

jalapeño: a very hot green chilli pepper, used especially in Mexican-style cooking. She added chopped jalapeños to the salsa for an extra spicy kick. Mexico is one of the world's leading producers of jalapeños and there is a wide variety of them grown in the country.

K

khadi: a hand-spun, handwoven fabric made from natural fibers like cotton, wool, or silk. Khadi is commonly used to make clothing, scarves, and home furnishings. It is closely associated with India's independence movement, as Mahatma Gandhi promoted it as a symbol of self-reliance and resistance to British rule.

kiwi: a flightless New Zealand bird with a long downcurved bill with sensitive nostrils at the tip. New Zealand's national symbol, the kiwi bird, draws wildlife enthusiasts eager to observe it in its natural habitat.

L

Laguna Pueblo: a Native American tribe in New Mexico, United States. The pueblo was established in the 1600s, though the ancestors of the Laguna people lived in the region for thousands of years.

lucha libre: a style of professional wrestling that originated in Mexico. Carlos watched an exciting lucha libre match where the masked wrestlers performed incredible high-flying moves. Masks are an important part of lucha libre, often representing a wrestler’s identity and legacy.

logistics: the process of planning and managing how goods move from where they are made to where they are needed. Satellites help by providing location information, ensuring packages arrive at the right place on time.

M

mariachi

moccasins: the footwear of many indigenous people of North America. Hunters, traders, and European settlers wore moccasins because they were durable, flexible, and comfortable.

myrrh: a resin extracted from the bark of trees that grow in dry, arid regions of Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, and India. Myrrh is widely used in perfumes and essential oils, and it plays a key role in aromatherapy to promote relaxation and well-being.

N

nirvana: a special state of peace and happiness, being free from sadness, anger and wants. Buddha reached Nirvana by meditating, learning the truth, and teaching others to be kind and wise. Siddhartha Gautama, who later became known as the Buddha, was born in Lumbini, Nepal, around 623 BCE.

norteño:

Nullarbor Plain: a vast, treeless expanse in southern Australia. Traveling across the Nullarbor Plain offers passengers a unique opportunity to experience Australia's remote outback landscapes by train.

O

odyssey: a long and eventful or adventurous journey or experience. Our family vacation turned into an odyssey as we traveled across the country, visiting many exciting places. Do you want to travel in space?

operating system: The layer of software that manages a computer's resources for its users and their applications. Bill Gates revolutionized the tech industry by creating Windows, a widely-used operating system.

P

papyrus: a tall, aquatic plant that grows along the riverbanks of the Nile. The ancient Egyptians used papyrus to make paper and to build boats. They made mats, rope, sandals, and baskets. Read about the country: Egypt

Q

quinoa: a nutritious grain-like seed, rich in protein, fibre, various vitamins and minerals. Quinoa thrives in the high-altitude environments of the Andes mountains in South America.

R

Rayleigh scattering: the process where sunlight interacts with tiny particles in Earth's atmosphere, scattering shorter blue light waves more than other colors, making the sky appear blue. Lord Rayleigh was a British physicist and Nobel laureate, known for his work on Rayleigh scattering and for discovering the element argon.

S

salsa: a) a spicy or savory sauce, usually made with tomatoes, onions chili peppers, and other ingredients, b) a lively and energetic dance style that originated in the Caribbean. She danced salsa with effortless grace, spinning and swaying to the lively rhythm of the music.

smoke signals: one of the oldest forms of long-distance communication. Smoke signals was a form of visual communication used over a long distance by Native America tribes.

squash

T

taco: a taco is a traditional dish of Mexico consisting of a folded or rolled tortilla filled with various ingredients such as meat, cheese, beans, lettuce, salsa, and other toppings. Emma ordered a crunchy taco filled with beans, cheese, and fresh salsa. Tacos can be made with soft or hard tortillas and come in many varieties.

tamale:

tortilla:

tomahawk: a tomahawk is a type of single-handed axe. It traditionally resembles a hatchet with a straight shaft. For outdoor enthusiasts, tomahawks are valuable for shelter construction, firewood processing, and wilderness survival. Read about Native America tribes.

totem poles: monumental carvings found in western Canada and the northwestern United States.

tinsel: a type of decorative material consisting of thin strips of sparkling material attached to a thread. It was originally a metallic garland for Christmas decoration.

turaco: a green bird with a long tail, a tall crest, red eyes, and a red beak, found in the forests and savannas of South Africa. Turacos have a beautiful crest of feathers that helps them stand out in their natural habitat.

U

URL: web address that specifies the location of a resource on the internet, such as a website, file, or document. Please send me the URL of the website so I can check it out.

V

veld: a Dutch-derived word that broadly refers to open, grassy areas or rural landscapes. Humans are believed to have inhabited the veld for thousands of years, making it one of the world’s oldest regions. The wildlife safari took us across the vast veld, where we saw herds of wildebeest grazing. See also South Africa.

yodelling: to sing by rapidly alternating between the chest voice and a high falsetto. During the festival, Ursula impressed everyone with her amazing yodelling skills in the mountains. It is commonly associated with the Alpine regions of Switzerland, Austria, and Germany but is also found in other cultures.

W

wigwam: a semi-permanent domed dwelling. The Native American tribe built a wigwam using wooden frames and woven mats for shelter during the winter months. The children learned about Native American history by building a small wigwam in the schoolyard.

X

xerophyte: a species of plant that has adaptations to survive in an environment with little liquid water. The cactus is a well-known xerophyte that thrives in arid desert conditions. In India Rajasthan and Gujarat are the main spots having xerophytic vegetation.

Y

yaks: large, shaggy-haired mammals found in the Himalayan region of Central Asia. While trekking in Nepal, we saw herds of yaks grazing peacefully on the slopes. Yaks are commonly used to transport goods across rugged terrain.

Z

zebra crossing: a marked crosswalk is a pedestrian crossing marked with white stripes. She waited patiently at the zebra crossing before walking across the busy street. By instilling these habits early on and leading by example, we can empower our children to navigate the roads safely.