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Books

"The Last Days of the Incas" -- relive the Inca empire's demise

Courtney Ng

09 Nov 2009

Peru

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Lovers of flowery nonfiction need to get a copy of Kim MacQuarrie's "The Last Days of the Incas." MacQuarrie tells the story of the Inca empire's demise with incredible cinematic detail, planting readers so firmly in the story that they forget all of the book's events happened 500 years ago. Reading this book while working on Inca ruins in the Andean cloudforest was one of the most riveting reading experiences I have ever had. You'll be genuinely disappointed when the story ends -- but then again, visiting any of the sites in which the story is staged will only make you want to pick it up and read it all over again.

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Getting Around

Where oh where to buy tram tickets?

Caroline Mailloux

22 Nov 2009

Poland

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Most Polish cities are very walkable, but they also offer great public transport via tram and bus. As a tourist visiting Krakow, you should know that only SOME tram and bus lines offer a machine to purchase a ticket on the vehicle itself, and of those, most only accept exact change. Because most locals have monthly/yearly passes and city ticket enforcers are so diligent about random checks, I don’t recommend ever riding without a ticket! What to do? Buy your tram and bus tickets at one of the countless kiosks selling drinks, snacks, cigarettes, and magazines located on nearly every street corner. Same price, less hassle! And while you’re there you can try a Polish obwarzanek (bagel).

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Festivals & Events

Be safe at Carnaval

Danielle Taylor

06 Mar 2009

Brazil

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Carnaval in the bigger cities of Brazil is no joke -- it's a lot of fun, but they don't employ thousands of police officers and security guards for nothing. Thieves will rip the earrings right out of your ears and jam their hands into your pockets to fish around for something to steal -- and then get away with it because the crowds pressing into you are so dense. One of my friends got her camera stolen from around her neck when someone forcefully yanked and broke the thick strap (aside from losing her camera, her neck was hurt pretty badly). It's a once-in-a lifetime experience, so go, but bring a disposable camera if you must, leave watches and jewelry at home, and hide your keys and money in your shoes.

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Culture Shock

How to fight the blues: Write a (real) letter home

Kate Harding

26 Aug 2009

Nepal

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Everyone gets the blues after a while in a foreign country. This can be "culture shock" or just plain homesickness. When the feeling becomes unbearable and you just can't force yourself out the door to try something new, consider staying in and writing a letter -- a REAL PAPER LETTER -- about your life abroad. In an email, you can quickly vent all your immediate thoughts, which will mean dwelling on the negative. But letters remain for posterity, so you'll naturally find yourself trying to convey the positive sides of your experience so as not to come off as a total downer to your reader. If that doesn't work, write a simple list of 10 Amazing Things You Saw Today. The simple act of focusing on the positive will force you out of your hole

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Must Do

The House that Built Micro-Finance

Amy Adoyzie Lam

05 Mar 2009

Bangladesh

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If you're in the second-largest city/first-largest commercial city of Bangladesh, you're in Chittagong. And if you're in Chittagong, you're just a couple hours away from Jobra, where micro-financing began in a small hut and earned Muhammad Yunnus a Nobel Peace Prize. When you're in Chittagong, you can ask a local Grameen bank branch (the name of the bank that started it all) to set up a tour at Jobra. Foreigners come through often and they're more than happy to provide more info. You'll get to go to the original hut where women gathered to get their micro-loans to become entrepreneurs and slowly bring about gender equality and development here.

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Etiquette

Kiss right

Adam Lichtenheld

10 Feb 2009

Jordan

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Don’t forget that Jordanian greetings, where two people touch cheeks and feign slight kisses (like the French), begin on the right side. My failure to remember this important detail led to a very awkward encounter with a new acquaintance—let’s just say that we both leaned in and got more than we bargained for.

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Food

Shell out for seafood

John Clarke

05 Mar 2009

Cuba

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Seafood in Cuba is no less than incredible. The lobster there, which I only had a on a few special occasions, stood out as being particularly delicious.

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Film

Hooray for Bollywood!

Emily Strasser

04 May 2009

India

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Prepare to hear the lyrics to popular Bollywood songs in shops and taxis all over India, and the faces of the ten most popular Bollywood stars plastered all over advertisements for chips, phone companies, and just about everything else. My roommate and her best friend practically recite the movies they watch together, high-fiving at the funny parts. I get pleasantly surprised reactions from Indians when I mention a star’s name, or hum part of a song. “You like Indian movies?” they ask, lighting up.

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Packing

Use air-tight bags when backpacking

Michelle Saltis

30 Nov 2009

Belize

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When backpacking, I found it highly useful to have my clothes in air-tight bags. The bags roll up, pushing out all air, guaranteeing more space in one's backpack, as well as clothes that will remain dry in case it rains.

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Religion

Finding my religion

Jonathan Amerikaner

07 Feb 2010

Israel

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You can not come to Israel without noticing the presence of large numbers of religious people, or without sensing the incredibly rich religious traditions. Judaism is of course the national religion, but a significant number of Israelis are Christian and Muslim. My advice is to be respectful of everyone you meet. And be aware that a lot of shops and restaurants close down on Friday afternoon to Saturday evening because of the Jewish Sabbath, and all Jewish holidays are considered national holidays.

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Politics

Don't talk politics in public

Gabriel Shaya

25 Sep 2009

Laos

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When the communists took over Laos, many royalists left the country. A large number have returned, but few have wanted to regain their citizenship. As the government is somewhat wary of this repatriated community, it's usually best to keep things simple and not talk politics with them--at least not in public.

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Music

Learn to embrace the songs that get on everybody's nerves, everybody's nerves

Courtney Ng

29 Oct 2009

Peru

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I've become convinced that all radio stations in Peru have a set list of five pop songs they replay over and over again throughout several months. At times it can feel like your head might explode with how repetitious the radio gets, but remember that there are lots of other unique styles of music in Peru: criolla, or Afro-Peruvian influenced; la chica; and of course, huayna, which might make your ears bleed if you listen for too long. The point is that there is diversity in Peruvian music -- you just sometimes have to hunt it down.

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Sports

Fun with paddles

Jonathan Amerikaner

07 Feb 2010

Israel

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Any time of the year, you will see Israelis on the beach (minus the few rainy days in winter) playing Matkot, a sport played with a small round ball and two paddles. Israelis are serious about this game, so do not interrupt. Instead, join in on the fun and see if you can keep the ball up in the air!

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TV

Can't understand the comedians? That's Kansai-ben.

Saleem Reshamwala

15 Dec 2009

Japan

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A disproportionate number of Japanese comedians come from Osaka, or at least pretend to. The city has a reputation as the funniest, most lively area of Japan, and the local dialect, "Kansai-ben," is often used by comedians, regardless of their actual place of origin. So, learn just a bit and Japanese evening television will start making a lot more sense. The "Kansai dialect" wikipedia page is a bit dry, but has a good vocabulary list to get you started.

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Fashion

Dress for rain or shine, mostly rain

Ann Clark

06 Feb 2009

United Kingdom

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Always have an umbrella and sunglasses in your bag--the weather's notoriously fickle.

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Dating

Don't expect a horse and carriage ride

Ann Clark

06 Feb 2009

United Kingdom

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Unless you've taken his seat, don't expect an English man to approach you in a pub. I find they generally gather enough courage only very late in the evening--at which point the accents are even more difficult to decipher!

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Health

De-carb every once in a while

Courtney Ng

15 Oct 2009

Peru

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If there's one thing that can be hard to adjust to when it comes to Peruvian cuisine, it's the disproportionate amount of carbs. Rice, potatoes, bread, rice, empanadas, alfajores, rice... did I mention rice? Because it's in EVERY dish. Don't get me wrong, I love rice, but at times it seems to dominate meals so much that fruits and vegetables become "treats." The trick to getting your fair share of nutrients is to frequent the fruit carts on corners all over Lima and avoid the rolling "carb carts" that compete with them. Peru has a ton of great fruits (chirimoya, maracuya, avocado) and veggies (tomatoes, corn, rocoto) available, so explore, chow down, and de-carb every once in a while! Your waistline will thank you later.

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Slang

Yeah Lah!

Shawn Campbell

29 Jun 2009

Singapore

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Singaporeans have their own language called Singlish. This does not mean they do not speak English, but rather a mixture of English and whatever their spoken native language is (i.e. Chinese, Arabic, etc.). Practice the words la, las, li, and leh, and you will be sounding like a Singaporean in no time. The catch phrase I was known for was "yeah lah." This is used often within Singlish. Use this phrase and you'll surprise the locals!

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Nightlife

Partying and clubbing is part of life

Laurel Wolf

04 Apr 2009

Chile

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Pretty much everyone over 16 goes to clubs in Chile. Not only has this taught Chilean teenagers how to manage alcohol consumption and sexuality more or less responsibly, but it also makes it less of a social stigma. No adult is going to hold it against you if you go out on weekends. With that said, clubs, especially outside of Santiago, are a snap for foreigners to get in to. Although the required age for entry is 18, as long as you make it obvious that you are foreign, they will let you in. And please don't hold the reggaeton against them. It DOES have a good beat to dance to...

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Being an American

Keep your camera away from the oil fields

Parimita Barooah Bora

16 Nov 2009

Kuwait

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Loves to photograph new places? Be careful in Kuwait. Photography near government, military, and industrial sites, particularly oil fields, is strictly prohibited. If caught, you could receive a prison sentence of up to five years, plus a heavy fine.

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