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Books

Isabel Allende's "Mi Pais Inventado"

Laurel Wolf

04 Apr 2009

Chile

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Read Isabel Allende and Pablo Neruda, but most importantly, read Allende's "Mi Pais Inventado" ("My Invented Country").The book is about the perspective she gained on Chile after living abroad for most of her life, and it has some FANTASTIC insights on Chilean culture.

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Getting Around

Fly if you dare

Mimi Hanaoka

11 May 2009

Iran

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If you’re short on time, don't scare easily, and have good medical insurance that covers evacuations, consider flying within Iran. On the upside, domestic flights are extremely cheap, with some no more than $65 round trip. On the downside, the nation’s main carrier, Air Iran, as a somewhat crash-intensive track record. Buses are a fraction of the cost of air travel, and if you’re on a leisurely schedule, you might enjoy traveling a little closer to the ground.

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Festivals & Events

Sapporo Snow Festival

Erin Kessler

18 May 2009

Japan

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Before coming to Japan, one of the things I had on my "must do" list was the Sapporo Snow Festival (Yuki Matsuri), held every year in February. I'm from upstate New York, so I'm used to long, cold, arduous winters and piles and piles of snow, but I had never seen snow turned into art. It all sounded so magical to me. So, I saved my money that first year in Japan and went to the festival. If you like snow and skiing or snowboarding, this is the place to go. You can combine a few days seeing the ice and snow sculptures with a winter sport. Visit the Hokkaido tourist information center at Sapporo station for deals on ski/snowboarding packages. And, this goes without saying, book your transportation and accommodations well in advance.

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Culture Shock

Covered from head to toe

Amy Adoyzie Lam

11 Mar 2009

Bangladesh

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Seeing women covered head-to-toe, with a sliver where their eyes appear, is very startling for a girl from southern California. Initially, It's unnerving to speak with a woman and not know if she's smiling or scowling. I'm sure there are feminists who wear burkas, and it isn't like our Western culture is free from oppression of women -- but that doesn't mean it won't be unsettling at first. Although the majority of women wear saris or salwaar kameez (tunic and loose pants), there are still many (married) women in burkas. As a woman, you ought to adhere to standards of dress and also cover up. I've gotten used to it, but I sure do miss wearing a tank top and a skirt outside!

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Must Do

Turkish Market and Weihnachtsmarkt

Suzanne Wineke

02 Apr 2009

Germany

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If you’re in Berlin, you must make sure you make it to the Turkish Market in Kreuzberg. Twice a week for several hours, the canal is lined with vendors selling scarves, shoes, produce, and delicious Turkish dips, spreads, olives, cheeses, and pastas—all at cheap prices. And if you’re in Germany during the Christmas season, you must take a trip to a Weihnachtsmarkt—huge outdoor Christmas markets with gifts, lights, music, and most importantly, Glühwein—a delicious spiced Christmas wine served hot, for only a couple Euros per cup.

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Etiquette

Watch your feet!

Anna Schwaber

27 Jul 2009

Thailand

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In most of Asia but specifically in Thailand, you must take your shoes off when entering a home. Also, when it comes to feet, do not prop them up on ledges, chairs, or furniture, as it is considered quite rude.

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Food

Ditch the fork: it’s all finger food here

Rebecca Jacobson

30 Nov 2009

Malawi

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No, your host did not forget the silverware. Malawians tend to eat with their hands, regardless of what’s on the menu. This can feel awkward when there’s rice on your plate, but it’s really the only way to eat nsima, the Malawian dietary staple. Nsima is a stiff, sticky maize porridge, carefully molded into oblong blobs. It’s next to tasteless, but comforting in that mushy, warm, I-don’t-need-to-chew kind of a way. Unless there’s nsima in the meal, many Malawians say, you haven’t eaten. Ball some porridge between your fingers, scoop up a generous quantity of relish, and stuff it all into your mouth. Try to keep one hand clean, or else you’ll end the meal with ten gluey fingers.

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Film

A film worth watching

danielle hayes

04 Dec 2009

Bosnia and Herzegovina

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"Grbavica: Land of My Dreams" is a beautiful, difficult film. Written and directed by Jasmila Zbanic with a slow and steady hand, Grbavica shows the myriad ways that war affects people's lives, including long after it is over. At first, the phrase "land of my dreams" seems an obvious irony--the main characters, a mother and her 12 year old daughter, are struggling to survive both financially and as a family. However, as the the film continues, the phrase resonates. We see that there are ways to sleepwalk through our sometimes surreal world, there are jarring ways to wake up, and there are dreams that linger even in the bright light of day.

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Packing

Chile hands

Matthew Hintsa

10 Feb 2009

Chile

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I wish I had packed gloves for my numb hands while inside my host family's unheated apartment.

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Religion

Explore the diverse faiths of the Andes

Courtney Ng

05 Dec 2009

Peru

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Catholicism is the dominant religion in Peru, but it can't compete with the diversity of the religious traditions and practices of native peoples in the Andes and rainforest. There are hundreds of different cultures present, each with their own unique spiritual beliefs. If you want to take a neat cultural journey not too far from Lima, check out the week-long Fiesta de Agua in San Pedro de Castas, a small town three hours away by bus from the capital. It takes place each year in October, and consists of celebrations and ceremonies that the Quechua-speaking people of the town carry out as they clean their water canals and honor their gods. If anything, the mountain views alone will be a religious experience.

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Politics

The lion and the she-elephant

Mallory Primm

17 Jun 2009

Swaziland

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Politics in Swaziland are a bit complicated as the governing body is a mixture of traditional and Western forms of government. Swaziland is ruled by a king called Ngwenyama, or lion, and the Queen Mother, Ndlovukazi or she-elephant. Swaziland is still working toward fully implementing its constitution, which took effect in 2005. The political system is called Tinkhundla, which consists of a Prime Minister and Parliament, most of whose members are appointed, rather than elected. The king and his advisory council, the liqoqo, work alongside the Parliamentary system to govern the Swazi people. Political parties are technically banned under the wide net of the Suppression of Terrorism Act.

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Music

Tots and senior citizens rumba together

Miguel Torres-Castro

05 Mar 2009

Cuba

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Traditional salsa and rumba music are still very popular in many parts of Cuba. The salsa and rumba dance crowds are generally very diverse, with ages ranging from six-year-olds to senior citizens.

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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

DVDs for a dinar

Adam Lichtenheld

10 Feb 2009

Jordan

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Downtown Amman is littered with DVD stores, where you can get knockoff discs of popular movies and television shows (both Western and local) for one dinar each (about $1.25). For this reason, most Jordanians have been exposed to a plethora of American shows—The Office, Grey’s Anatomy, Sex and the City, Desperate Housewives—whose popularity rivals the Turkish soap opera, Nour. Nour's penchant for dramatic overkill makes American daytime television look disappointingly anti-climatic. I can’t recall how many nights I’ve sat reading on my couch only to be interrupted by that show's obnoxious theme music drifting up to my apartment window.

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Fashion

Bring your black

Chantal Panozzo

02 Apr 2009

Switzerland

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To me, Switzerland often looks like an endless funeral procession--at least in Zurich. Black coats. Black boots. Black skinny jeans. To fit in, wear your black and wear it tight. And leave those white socks and baseball hats at home.

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Dating

Ladies, don't expect any chocolate come Valentine's Day

Saleem Reshamwala

15 Dec 2009

Japan

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On Valentine's Day in Japan, girls buy boys chocolate. Boys buy girls ... nothing. Sorry, that's just the way it is. BUT, fellas, don't think the Japanese chocolate industry is going to let you off that easy. Exactly one month later (March 14th) is White Day, when boys buy girls white chocolate. I once heard that the rule of thumb is that men should spend twice as much on White Day as the women spend on Valentine's Day. If you're budget's tight, it might be a good time to plead cultural ignorance. Though the barrage of White Day advertisements might make that a bit hard to believe...

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Health

Don't let the bed bugs bite

Amy Vaerewyck

10 Nov 2009

Italy

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Raise your hand if you thought bed bugs were just a make-believe creature some parent dreamed up to make for a sweet good-night tiding. If your hand is in the air, you are not alone. But you are mistaken. Bed bugs are a reality (a reality I came face-to-face with at an agritourismo in Italy). The microscopic critters travel the globe in suitcases and clothing, ruining many a good night of sleep. If you have a run-in with them, you'll know it by the nightly episodes of crazed itching. In the morning, you'll think you imagined the itching. Check your limbs for the characteristic multiple-bite trails. One way to prevent these unhappy episodes is to always store your luggage zipped up and off the floor on a chair or something (NOT a bed).

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Slang

Cool, dude.

Ellen Burkhardt

19 Mar 2009

Spain

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In Spain, there are many popular slang sayings; however, most are a bit too inappropriate to post here. One that is used frequently is, "Que guay!" meaning, "Sweet!" or "Awesome!" Most popular among young adults, this phrase crosses all the regional boundaries in Spain and is quite addictive once you start using it. Give it a shot!

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Nightlife

Dress in layers when pub hopping

Naira Kuzmich

22 Sep 2009

Ireland

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When pub-hopping through Ireland in the winter, make sure you layer your clothing. Pair a t-shirt or a light-sweater with a heavy coat that you don't mind getting dirty. Ireland's bar-culture doesn't have a dress-code but even when it's freezing cold outside, the pubs are bustling with heat and activity---so don't wear anything you can't take off or put back on within a moment's notice! And ladies, if you're going to wear short little dresses, take a long, thick scarf with you. It'll keep you warm until you get inside and it'll also act as a backup top when some 18-year-old bumps into you with his first legal Guinness!

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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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