Not just because of the sweet, lyrical and at times comical way the words roll off my tongue. Or the way it reminds me of those late nights held tightly in a handsome Italian's arms. I'm in love with Italian because of how the language is formed.

Over the years French style and the French way of life has been coveted by women the world over. In fact I would go as far as to say we are obsessed with the skinny, chic ladies from over the pond who know that they just have that ‘Je Ne Sais Quoi”.

All that Willa wants to do after she climbs Mount Meru is to treat herself at Pizza Hut. I was not very surprised to find a local in the area around Shoppers Supermarket, the Plaza. Around the area one could see parked Land Rovers, unusually clean and seemingly out of place, lacking the African Savannah in the background. Arusha Town is quite a different landscape to explore. It is bustling with cars and its walls remain peeled by unforgiving humidity. The windows oxidized by the tropical rains. It is an urban area that grew despite the biome that surrounds it. This part of nature did not expect to be paved over or built on top.

Note: this content appeared in my Quora answer to the question "What are some ugly truths about Turkey?"

Every year during the Hmong’s most feastive celebration is the Hmong Noj Tsiab Peb Caug, a time of new year and end of harvest time celebration for the Hmong people around the world. This event usually took place between late November to December every year. When you attend this event, historically you can expect Hmong people to enjoy a feast ful of delicious food items and dishes directly prepared and gathered from their year long harvest gains. The Hmong people also took advantage of this time to be all decked out on their fine “zam” or newly made clothes as they parades for the courting opportunity of meeting new suitors that could end in a permanent relationship and marriage for the young people. However startling these prospects were to all attendees , one thing that will go unnoticeable were the vibrant color and rich details of the Hmong clothes, particularly the Hmong woman’s skirt.

If you’ve visited Argentina, chances are you’ve been offered mate more than you’ve heard the words Boludo, Boquita and Fernández, which is saying a lot (and I mean a lot). If, on the other hand, you’ve never been properly introduced to this cultural heritage and ultimate herbal witchcraft, allow me to pave the way for you.

Sonaron ka Baas

Albert Hall Museum, Jaipur

All languages have abbreviations and contractions (sometimes much to the consternation of translators and interpreters) and Japanese is no exception. The Japanese love shortening their language in new, catchy ways. These shortenings can range from common everyday items, to situations, and even people's names!

There can be few things in this wonderful world as sweet as birdsong. Be it the chorus of shrill excited chatter that pre-empts a storm or the dawn and dusk expressions of joy as they anticipate the feeding frenzy known as the crepuscular zone. Many of us have woken to the harmonic beauty of birds calling throughout our lives. It's something that I have been fortunate enough to enjoy across the world from Yorkshire to Africa via Asia and even parts of the Middle East. Until that is, I moved to Malta.

Canadian Thanksgiving has come and gone, but American Thanksgiving looms on the horizon. This is a time of stories about the relationship between the pilgrims and the indigenous peoples, and those tales are often far from accurate. Their interactions were not as positive and mutually beneficial as we tend to pretend they were, and the arrival of pilgrims to the Americas marked the beginning of a long, painful history for the people who lived here first.