culture
Get the authentic cultural experience on your next foreign jaunt. Wander like a local; here, there, and everywhere.
Coffee That Deserves a Ceremony
Any Starbucks fans in the house? What's your favorite drink there? Maybe it's a cappuccino that they whip up, maybe it's a mocha, or a latte. Perhaps you like yours served black without all of the extras. Let's see how well we know our Starbucks history. When did the store first open its doors? According to Starbucks' website, their first store opened just under fifty years ago in Seattle's Pike Place Market. The company grew to fifty-five stores by 1989 and went on to have over twenty-two thousand stores as of 2015. That's a lot of coffee!
Jamie WallinPublished 6 years ago in Wander- Top Story - December 2017
‘You Only Lose What You Cling To’
I was front row in the Shrine Room, eyeball to spectacle lens with the chief nun and her big spongy microphone. The setting could scarcely have been better: a beautiful gold Buddha, scent of the Gods, a lovely warm room full of eager acolytes.
Michael ScottPublished 6 years ago in Wander Small Town Lessons
People have a strange perception of what it is like to grow up in a small town. Some people believe that it is boring. Some people believe that there is this wonderful sense of community. And some people are just completely put off by the very concept.
Samantha ReidPublished 6 years ago in WanderThe Oldest Christmas Celebration in Southern Louisiana
My latest adventure goes back to 90 years ago. Natchitoches, LA has been known for their Festival of Lights since before I was born. In 1927, Max Burgdof thought it would be exciting to find a new way to celebrate Christmas. Mr. Burgdof was the superintendent of utilities at the time. He provided a 10 watt Christmas tree bulb to post along Front Street, which is in the downtown area of Natchitoches. Every year since then, Natchitoches adds a new piece to light up the Cane River. This year Natchitoches celebrated their 91st Festival of Lights. They decided to name it Christmas on the Cane. It was such an amazing experience to be a part of. Around 1 PM on Saturday, December 2, there was a parade prior to the concert at 4 PM-6 PM. There were several different artists, vendors, and people from different parts of Louisiana. This day full of activities was set up to welcome December and to celebrate the city's history. Unfortunately I missed the parade, but I was able to hear some awesome music from some of the artists they allowed to perform. Heads up, make sure while preparing to participate in the festivities that you try to make it there early; it helps the process of finding seating downtown and parking. The climate was hot, starting off in the middle of the day, but the darker it got I could feel more of a breeze, so a blanket would be nice to bring, and also a lawn chair. Many people including myself had to sit on the ground due to not bringing a lawn chair. OK! So upon arrival I had to park within the downtown neighborhood so that I would be walking distance to the downtown area where the light show would take place. The admission of the downtown area is $10 per person 12+ years of age and under 64 years old. In order to buy food from the vendors you must purchase food vendor tickets at the entrance of the downtown areas where you purchase your wristbands from. While I was enjoying the festivities I did remember how famous Natchitoches is for their meat pies, so I made sure that I purchased a meat pie from one of the food vendors that was located downtown, but I would honestly suggest for future reference visiting Lasyone's Meat Pies and Maggio's for a daiquiri. These two places are within the city but not downtown. The meat pies from the food vendors downtown were overpriced and the meat pie was fairly hard. However, the actual light show was AMAZING. When I was younger I came to see the lights, but I could barely remember anything. Visiting as an adult literally has left a mark on me in a tremendous way. While Louisiana is full of great places to see holiday lights, Natchitoches is known around the country for its festivities. The fireworks were paired to holiday music, which made the show that much more exciting. Right after the show, the city turns on all 91 lights that are showcased, and seeing the Cane River lit up made me feel like a kid again. I was more excited than I'm sure I was as a child. This year's theme was "Christmas on the Cane." I participated in the kickoff day which was December 2, the first Saturday of December. The Festival of Lights will display their show every Saturday until the last Saturday in December. Each Saturday they will have different live entertainment, art, food, and vendors. If you're looking for something exciting and fun to experience before Christmas this is the ideal event to attend. For more info you can visit their website here.
Krystal NorrisPublished 6 years ago in WanderFlint, Michigan
When I think of home, I think of where my family, friends, and roots are. And home to me is Flint, Michigan. What can I say about Flint? It is where I was born, where most of my family are, and where I have memories. I remember all the places I would go to with my cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents. I lived with my grandma for six or seven years, then I moved to Texas for a better life. But there are things that I miss about Flint. I miss the fun parks, visiting my family, and most definitely the places to eat there. For example, Angelo's Coney Island had the best coney dogs in the world. Especially when you wash them down with some pop (soda). Halo Burger, when I say they have some of the most delicious juicy burgers, MAN!! It gave me heartburn, but it was so worth it at the end. And last but not least, WHITE CASTLE!!! Those tiny burgers are the bomb. I can eat eight of them and still be hungry.
Shante HernandezPublished 6 years ago in WanderMy Visit to Bangladesh
Bangladesh When I arrived in Bangladesh, I saw the streets from the window of the car. Cars surrounded us. There were poor people knocking on our window, begging for money. The people outside were screaming and honking at each other. These were the streets and atmosphere of Bangladesh and I knew what I was in for, but I wouldn’t know that it could change my perspective of Bangladesh and my life.
Saajid IslamPublished 6 years ago in WanderThe Warsaw Dichotomy
Is the pianist good? I wouldn’t know. Every driver seems skilled to someone who’s never been behind the wheel. I love music, but there’s not one atom of musical talent in my body. I can only look with awe at those who know how to make an instrument sing.
Ryan FrawleyPublished 6 years ago in WanderKadikoy During Ramadan
Kadiköy is empty around lunchtime. The once-crowded and noisy outdoor seating area within one of the Istanbul's most youthful and lively bars is now barren, hosting myself, my friends, and three girls chatting towards the fence that barricades the outdoor area. The waiter brings out three large pints of Bomonti beer, our usual choice of Turkish beer, and places each of the perspired glass mugs in front of us. My Turkish friends look around the silent area, and let out an an exasperated sigh at the sight of the unfilled tables and chairs around us.
Jasmine AmeerallyPublished 6 years ago in WanderLife In a Suitcase
The suitcase serves the following purposes to a lot of people: traveling and storage for unnecessary objects or clothes reserved for a specific season. The suitcase contains the most valuable and useless junk one will always want to keep. To business, professional, or leisure travelers, the suitcase serves no more than to store the essential.
Charlotte M.Published 7 years ago in WanderThe Unexplored Culture of Corsica
This island off the coast of Italy, and north of Sardinia, is the forth biggest in the Mediterranean. It is often best known for being Napoléon’s birthplace and not far from Elba where he was exiled. The island has been ruled by everyone from the Genovese Republic to the Italians and is now—somewhat begrudgingly—part of France.
Liza ZimmermanPublished 7 years ago in Wander- Top Story - September 2017
The Last Cigarette
The bus driver is smoking. There are no passengers on the bus; it’s not scheduled to leave for another ten minutes. The window is open beside him, the smoke curling in the warm breeze. It’s not even eight in the morning, and already the sun is pounding the cracked dirt and hot asphalt, the sky as fiercely blue as it was yesterday, as it will be tomorrow. Yesterday, a fire swept over the hills, visible from our neighbour’s patio, and we watched planes buzz overhead, dropping precious water in bright curtains while the tiny figures of men in orange jackets struggled with heavy hoses.
Ryan FrawleyPublished 7 years ago in Wander 10 Myths About Siberia and Why We Should Move There
When we think of "Siberia," most people form a false impression of the place. Many of us would imagine Siberia as a bitterly cold, desolate wasteland, inhabited only by prisoners exiled by Russian tsars for treason or by the Soviet government for being a bit of a nuisance. But in reality, this huge Russian territory, 13-million square kilometres in size, is among the most beautiful, diverse and interesting regions anywhere on earth. Whether you intend to pay a fleeting visit or settle there and morph into the background, at least you will be able to tell the difference between fact and fiction. Let us discover why this awesome location remains so unknown and shrouded in mystery.
Marcus GoslingPublished 7 years ago in Wander