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Books

Bring them from Home

Chantal Panozzo

02 Apr 2009

Switzerland

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At first glance, it appears that almost every other book you’ll find in Switzerland is written in English. Even after living in Switzerland for three years, I still fall for these English-titled, yet German-translated books. But that’s ok. Since the average paperback book costs about $20 and a hardcover $40, your best bet is to bring all your reading materials from home.

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Getting Around

There probably *are* train tickets left!

Emily Gorbaty

03 Apr 2009

India

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After spending three hours in Mumbai's train station desperately trying to buy a next-day ticket to Aurangabad (there was confusion over my lack of a tourist visa, since I had a student one), I discovered the miracle that is TATKAL. TATKAL tickets are not released until a few days before departure and are typically more expensive (but what's 100 Rs when you have no other option?). They are not offered for every journey, but it's definitely worth asking if the ticket-wallah says there are no more berths. Another tip, for women only: there is often a women's quota, but the ticket-wallah won't tell you about it. If there are no more tickets and TATKAL isn't offered for that particular journey, ask if there are any women's quota tickets left.

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Festivals & Events

Tibetan uprising day

Emily Strasser

31 May 2009

India

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In the Tibetan exile communities in India, March 10, Tibetan Uprising Day, is the political event of the year. It commemorates March 10, 1959, when protests and revolt erupted in Lhasa in reaction to the Chinese occupation. In Dharamsala, the day is marked by an address by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and other political leaders, and a march. Some Tibetan students will even travel to Delhi to take part in protests and hunger strikes there. It’s a day that unites Tibetans in Tibet and Tibetans in exile. In 2008, March 10 began a wave of protests all over Tibet that lasted for months. Keep an eye out for news from Tibet in the days following March 10.

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Culture Shock

Which way to face on a "squatter" toilet

Michael Lynch

27 May 2009

Japan

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Many places in Japan still have the old-style toilets commonly called "squatters" in English. It can be confusing trying to remember which way to face when you use one. The easy way to remember is this: you don't want to fall, so face the elevated end...you'll have something to grab hold of!

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Must Do

Human remains: art, after-life, and awe at Sedlec Ossuary

Amy Smith

26 Jun 2009

Czech Republic

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“The Bone Church” sits in a town called Kutna Hora, an hour’s drive outside of Prague. Within are remains of nearly 40,000 people, each bone delicately placed in pyramid-shaped piles or fused together to create an artistically constructed chandelier that crawls down from the ceiling. In the 13th century, an abbot brought earth from Palestine to the cemetery surrounding this Chapel of All Saints. As word spread, locals came to regard the place as part of the Holy Land; the graveyard then a sought after burial site among aristocracy of Central Europe. When space ran short, remains were exhumed and stored in the chapel. Czech legend has it that a blind artist created the famed sculptures of bone, divine visions guiding his work.

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Etiquette

Wait for the other person to lean forward

Kristen Dennison

23 Jun 2009

Venezuela

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After a month in Venezuela, I had finally mastered the kiss-on-cheek greeting. Upon being introduced to a highly respected professor from the local university, I shook his hand and gave the customary peck. I turned around, and was subsequently greeted by my friends' shocked faces and stifled laughter. As we walked out of the room, I realized the importance of waiting for the other person to lean forward to receive the kiss. I also earned scarlet cheeks and the nickname of "la coqueta"--the flirt.

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Food

A tip on tipping in Japan

Michael Lynch

16 Jun 2009

Japan

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So, you go to a really nice restaurant and are greeted by a friendly staff, waited on hand and foot. The steak is mouthwatering, you have your choice of rice or bread, plenty of iced tea, and the waitress checks with you every five minutes to see if there's anything else you'd like. What percentage of the tab is a reasonable tip to leave? Nothing! In some places it's even considered rude to leave a tip. In Japan, you don't tip; excellent food and service is a way of life!

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Film

Go to the movies to watch the flirting (and maybe the movie)

Mimi Hanaoka

11 May 2009

Iran

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Instead of watching films about Iran while at home, try going to a cinema in Tehran. The films they show are hit or miss, but you’ll be able to watch something far more interesting: flirting. There are few social spaces in the Islamic Republic of Iran where the youth can mingle and chat far from prying eyes, and so cinemas are a convenient place to flirt – while queuing in separate, gender-segregated lines, of course.

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Packing

Bring layers

Matthew Hintsa

06 Feb 2009

Chile

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The hardest thing for me to adjust to was the lack of heat in Chilean residences. I arrived in the country in August, about a month before the start of spring, so Santiago was still chilly. At night, when temperatures got down to the high 30s and low 40s, my host family's apartment would be in the 50s at best. What helped me adjust? Lots of layers of clothes. Gloves would've been a good addition to the wardrobe, especially for typing on my laptop. I used almost everything that I packed, which was a broad range of clothes, from a coat and tie to hiking boots and a gore-tex jacket.

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Religion

Religious overtones

Adam Lichtenheld

10 Feb 2009

Jordan

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“Muslim or Christian?” you’ll often be asked—an indication that religion plays a significant role in Jordanian culture. Indeed, Middle Eastern society is heavily informed by Islam; the call to prayer will become the backdrop of your life. But, like in any country, people practice with different degrees of devoutness. On more than one occasion I’ve strolled into a mosque (at the coaxing of locals) and participated in prayer, an experience that is both comforting and tranquil. Understanding Islam is critical for understanding Jordan and the Jordanian people.

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Politics

Politics as usual

Matthew Hintsa

10 Feb 2009

Chile

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Chileans are constantly complaining about their political situations and discussing the political situations of the major world players. In the conversations I was a part of, Obama and the promise of change in the US was always a topic. Domestic political issues ranging from healthcare to pension plans to public transportation funding are always making headlines and thereby fueling conversations. There are no major political struggles that directly impact the well-being of visiting foreigners, although during my visit, all public sector workers stopped working for a period of four days, which caused some disruptions.

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Music

Pop music is American music

Matthew Hintsa

06 Feb 2009

Chile

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The music scene, as I usually discover in any foreign country, is disappointingly yet understandably dominated by US artists. For example, on the seriously high-tech metro trains on the Metro de Santiago's Line 4, the flat-screen TVs on board often show music videos. Having to watch the music video for "I kissed a girl" multiple times a day on public transportation is slightly awkward (from the viewpoint of being an American and realizing what Chileans must think of our culture) and annoying. Rock and metal tend to be popular, and much to my dismay, I never found a Chilean who shared my interest in electronic music (specifically trance). I actually discovered more Chilean artists via the iTunes Music Store and music-geared web 2.0 site last.fm (www.last.fm) than I did from my experience in Chile. If that doesn't say something about the globalization of music, I don't know what does.

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Sports

Hone your basketball skills

Emily Strasser

11 May 2009

India

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Tibetans love their basketball, and they’re good too. How well you play proves your social status. One day, my Tibetan teacher decided to have a fun class outside and teach us basketball words. We went through the words for dribble, pass, shoot, ball, etc. “All right, let’s play,” he said. Unfortunately, we were awful. After about 15 minutes of watching us dribble awkwardly and miss shots, he dropped the ball and said, “That’s enough. See you in class tomorrow.” After that, he seemed to lose his enthusiasm for teaching us. The class was never the same again.

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TV

South African news and scintillating late-night commercials

Mallory Primm

17 Jun 2009

Swaziland

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Swazi TV is a dream for anyone who loves those late-night, locally produced commercials. Some great cheesy local programs in siSwati are sprinkled in with English Premiere League Soccer games. Usually the stations spend a lot of programming time on covering long dry speeches by the King, ribbon cuttings, and formal events. However, most people in Swaziland watch SABC, the South African broadcast, even if it is in Zulu and not siSwati.

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Fashion

Don’t show skin

Mimi Hanaoka

11 May 2009

Iran

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You’ll need to wear Islamically acceptable dress if you’re a woman in Iran, which includes a headscarf and some loose-fitting clothing that covers all of your body, from your neck to your wrists to your toes. Bring loose pants, a few large scarves, and a loose, long jacket. Once you arrive at the airport, look at the women around you and copy how they wear their headscarves. If Tehran is your first destination, head downtown and blend in a bit more by getting a manteau, which many young women wear – it’s a belted jacket that typically falls to your knees that is considered Islamically acceptable.

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Dating

Get married. Or tell a white lie.

Mimi Hanaoka

11 May 2009

Iran

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If traveling with your boyfriend or your girlfriend, introduce him/her as your spouse in the Islamic Republic of Iran. You won’t just receive a withering look from the hotel clerk if you tell him from beneath your government-mandated headscarf that you and your boyfriend would like to share a room together – you’ll probably get separate rooms.

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Health

A drop of water won't kill you

Emily Strasser

23 May 2009

India

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While traveling in India, it's easy to convince yourself that every bite of food potentially contains a strain of death. While it is smart to be cautious about tap water and dairy, don’t let fear ruin your experience. In my group of 15, many who broke the “rules” of eating in India by eating salads or drinking lassis (risky because of frequent power outages and potential spoilage), did not get sick, while those who carried napkins everywhere to clean their plates from every speck of tapwater, did. There is no way to completely ensure your safety, so my best advice is for your mental health is use your common sense, choose your risks wisely, and enjoy yourself!

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Slang

Don't worry, they speak English

Patrick McCue

10 Feb 2009

Norway

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It’s okay, they speak English. They speak it well. I live across the street from a grocery, and the clerks know I’m American. Still, every time I step up to the register they toss Norwegian my way, letting me try my hand at the language they prefer. Usually my Norwegian flounders when the topic strays too far from the price of milk, so they switch to English until I leave and we both call, “Ha det bra!”

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Nightlife

With two bottles of rum, even the bus ride becomes a party

Heather Kirkwood

05 Mar 2009

Cuba

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House parties always consist of pepinos (old soda or water bottles) full of homemade rum, and lots of salsa and reggaeton music. My favorite weekend was when I went camping with my Cuban friends. On our way there, the bus driver pulled over for us so that we could get our second bottle of rum out from the under-carriage; we had passed the first bottle around the bus so many times that one liter didn't even last the first hour!

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Being an American

Photography tips

Simon Bell

02 Jun 2009

United Kingdom

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I'm not sure of the rules in the United States; however we Brits have quirky rules when it comes to photography. Anyone can take a picture of anything they want to in a public place, and this includes anyone. Just don't don't harass someone if you want to take his or her picture. Also keep in mind that photography in Trafalgar is strictly prohibited. If you break out the tripods and DSLR's you can expect a hefty fine. Still, no police officer can force you to delete a picture without a warrant.

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