culture
Get the authentic cultural experience on your next foreign jaunt. Wander like a local; here, there, and everywhere.
Better Than Beans and Rice
On September 20, 2017, hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico. The storm caused widespread damage and it is estimated more than 4,600 people on the island died as a result from the catastrophe. In the pursing months, the United States struggled to respond to its territory, leaving the island without power and supplies for months.
James KopniskePublished 6 years ago in Wander12 Halloween Traditions Around the World
Calling all Halloween lovers! October is a time for cooler weather, warm drinks, and of course Halloween! This spooky holiday is celebrated around the globe. And every nation that observes it has their own traditions and practices that you won't see anywhere else. After reading this you will want to add these countries to your Halloween bucket list.
Rachel (Queen Wanderlust) đź‘‘Published 6 years ago in WanderIf We Die, We Die
“Baghkda eshum rhem! Baghkda eshum rhem!” The man driving the cramped Jeep was yelling out the window, ringing his left hand towards oncoming vehicles. I can’t exactly remember what he said since I don’t speak Hindi, or whatever dialect he was screaming in, but it stands out in my head as “Baghdad eshum rhem.” At that moment I could only imagine that if I were to ask for a translation from his two countrymen in the back seats, it would be, “If we die, we die.”
10 Facts About Belarus You Never Knew
Belarus? What do you know about it? Small European country… Just to clarify: the correct name of the country is BELARUS; not Belorussia or Byelorussia.
Lubow Dabrowska-SzpakowiczPublished 6 years ago in WanderDifferences
Two years ago, my mom decided she wanted to move back to Poland for "retirement." I remember just hanging out in my room and hearing my parents argue over it. "We were lucky to have won a green card, to have found work, this home..." My dad was saying. "If I would've known you wanted to go back, I would've never put in all these thousands into this house."
What Is Hawaiian Literature
What is Hawaiian Literature? Being someone who has very little background on the topic, I entered my Hawaiian literature class with little to no knowledge on the topic. I didn't even know the English class I had enrolled in was for Hawaiian lit. But curious to learn, I thought about what constitutes as literature. The dictionary defines literature as “written works, especially those considered of superior or lasting artistic merit.” But in the beginning, Hawaiian literature is mostly verbal stories. The stories tell a history of the land, the people, and the culture. Stories are an important part of the culture. Highly educated writer Thomas King discusses the importance and intimacy of a story, and how once you hear a story it becomes yours to tell. The way you tell it will never be the same as how you heard it before. Sometimes the details will changed or be seen differently. However with Hawaiian literature, they tell their stories with the same details as the person before them. It's a part of their culture and history. They started their literature off orally, which is why it is so important that the facts stay the same way, to preserve their history. Later when the missionaries came, written Hawaiian literature started to become more prevalent. They had many newspapers that were made to teach the Hawaiian people of stories. But what is the importance of Hawaiian literature, and who has the authority to create Hawaiian literature, or deem it to be proper and authentic Hawaiian literature?
Bailey ClarkePublished 6 years ago in WanderThe Art of the French Insult
As a boy, I loved a film called National Lampoon’s European Vacation. I rented it on VHS from the local Blockbuster a dozen times before I entered the age of teenage indifference to feel-good comedies.
Nick J WoodPublished 6 years ago in WanderFika, Lagom, & Hygge
Denmark and Sweden both have very rich and overlapping histories. As countries, when you take a look at them from the outside it would seem that they are similar. Both Scandanavian and neighbors, maybe Vikings pop into your head. The views we have can be very skewed until we have our boots on the ground.
Steven AltmanPublished 6 years ago in WanderA New York Yankee in Georgia
Cultural whiplash! Don't let the pictures of New York City and Atlanta fool you. They may both be bustling cities and represent the best each area has to offer, but living in the south for a New York Yankee is very different. We are a family of four extremely diverse people who, looking for a less expensive lifestyle, chose to move a little north of Atlanta. Among us, we encompass the Caucasian, Hispanic, and African American races, but one thing we have in common is a distinctly northern ideology. Don't get me wrong. We like it here. But there are differences.
Monica BennettPublished 6 years ago in WanderThoughts of an Immigrant...
After sixteen years of being away from a place I had once considered my oasis, being reunited with one of my long-esteemed childhood friends in Chicago had been like a breath of fresh air. After being disconnected for years from my culture, my home, my friends, and family, I had started to perceive my heart as a separate entity. A lot of people raised in two different cultures can attest to the fact that sometimes it feels like the mind is one place and the heart is in another.
Paulina PachelPublished 6 years ago in WanderWalls Jumped, Bridges Made
What if your parents decided to move to another country? More importantly, moving to another country without asking you for permission? When we crossed the border I was scared out of my mind. I felt like I was yanked from my clothes and kicked overboard in the dark Arctic waters. I felt exposed and deprived of parts of my identity. That was 10 years ago when I was in fourth grade, but today I feel much different. Now that my family and I live here, in “el otro lado,” as we call it where I come from. I realize something heart-warming and soul-fulfilling as freshly made tortillas. I am a man of two nations and I am prideful to claim that I have two places to call home.
Salvador BravadoPublished 6 years ago in WanderMadeira
Madeira is a popular holiday destination. The Portuguese island offers a mixture of luxury villas, holiday complexes, and wild wilderness. As we flew into the airport it seemed like a maze of holiday houses, swimming pools, and restaurants... Not my cup of tea! We spent the first night in a villa in Canico. If luxury is your thing, this place would suit you perfectly. Palm trees and swimming pools adorned the whitewashed glass-sided pads. All sat proudly in a row overlooking the terquoise water. The interior was dotted with designer furniture and lighting. Each room with its own luxury bathroom, and the cherry on the cake was a large infinity pool overlooking the sea. Just a short walk up the road and we were spoilt for choice with five star resturaunts and top seafood menus. Classy bars and cafes. It was the perfect millionaire's paradise. As for us, we crave adventure! Not relaxation. So we caught the next bus into Funchal, the main city on the island.
Kader FollesPublished 6 years ago in Wander