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Tom Hanks once described being a grandfather as "parenthood fantasy camp" — all of the fun with none of the responsibility. But there are also an increasing number of grandparents taking on the role of primary caregiver around the world.
2018-09-05
Whatever names or nicknames grandparents go by, their love for their grandchildren leaves an impact that lasts into adulthood.
Here's what people call their grandparents in 16 countries around the world.
Japan
A girl walks with her grandparents at a Tokyo park.Itsuo Inouye/AP
Grandma: Oba-chan, Sobo
Grandpa: Ojiisan, Sofu
Ukraine
A Ukrainian WWII veteran puts his military cap on his grandson's head during Victory Day celebrations in downtown Kiev.Viktor Pobedinsky/AP
Grandma: Baba
Grandpa: Gigi
Mexico
Tamara Alcala Dominguez spends time with her grandmother Petra Bello Suarez in their home town of Molcaxac, Puebla state, Mexico.Pablo Spencer/AP
Grandma: Abuela
Grandpa: Abuelo
South Africa
Several hundred protesting grandmothers gather in Durban, South Africa, to demand more government support as caregivers for children orphaned by the AIDS epidemic.AP
Grandma: Gogo, Ugogo
Grandpa: Umkhulu
Kenya
Grandmother Janet Kitheka collects her adopted "granddaughter" Lucy at the end of the school day in the village of Nyumbani, Kenya.Ben Curtis/AP
Grandma: Bibi
Grandpa: Babu
India
Grandmothers hold their grandchildren in Morena, India.Saurabh Das/AP
Grandma: Awa
Grandpa: Tata
Israel
An Israeli girl and her grandmother wear an orange ribbons during Jerusalem Day celebrations in Jerusalem, Israel.Uriel Sinai/Getty Images
Grandma: Savta
Grandpa: Sabba
Romania
Aneta Enache works at her sewing machine while her granddaughter Madelina, 10, does her English homework in the living room in Dilga, Romania. Sean Gallup/Getty Images
Grandma: Bunica
Grandpa: Bunic
Italy
Marisa Vesco embraces her nephew during a visit to Cossato, Italy.Gaia Squarci/Getty Images
Grandma: Nonna
Grandpa: Nonno
Greece
Five year-old Zoi stands on a chair to cast her grandmother Anna's ballot at a polling station in the town of Nafplion, Greece.Vangelis Bougiotis/AP
Grandma: Yaya
Grandpa: Pappoús
Philippines
Sixty eight-year-old Socorro Pestelos playfully blows bubbles with her grandchildren at a Manila park.Aaron Favila/AP
Grandma: Lola
Grandpa: Lolo
Ireland
Shelia O'Leary, aged 94, is pictured with her father Thomas Francis Byrne's medals, which he earned for bravery and injuries sustained outside the General Post Office building in Dublin, Ireland.Charles McQuillan/Getty Images
Grandma: Maimeó
Grandpa: Daideó
Russia
Grandparents and their granddaughter walk in a park in Saratov, Russia.Shutterstock
Grandma: Babushka
Grandpa: Dedushka
France
An elderly woman with her grandson in the Luxembourg Gardens, France.Shutterstock
Grandma: Grandmère
Grandpa: Grandpère
Germany
Grandparents and their grandchild cross the old Main Bridge below Marienburg Castle in Wurzburg, Germany.Shutterstock
Grandma: Oma
Grandpa: Opa
South Korea
South Korean Lee Keum-seom, 92, left, weeps as she meets with her North Korean son Ri Sang Chol, 71, during the Separated Family Reunion Meeting at the Diamond Mountain resort in North Korea.Korea Pool Photo/AP
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Talia Lakritz is a Life correspondent at Business Insider covering politics and power through a visual storytelling lens. She has reported from the White House as well as military installations, mansions, and museums across the country, bringing readers inside fascinating places through immersive features.Previously, she wrote for The New York Jewish Week and SciShow Space.Talia holds a BA in English with a concentration in Creative Writing from Barnard College of Columbia University and ordination as an interfaith minister from One Spirit Learning Alliance. She hopes to one day visit all 50 states and all 14 public presidential libraries.Politics and power:
