Archive for the ‘Life in the World’ Category
Christmas markets around the world
Twinkling lights. Christmas trees. Gingerbread houses. Hot chocholate and mulled wine. And, of course, a chilly night spent traipsing through a city square. What could be more festive than a visit to a Christmas market?
Cafes of Vietnam
If you enjoy drinking coffee and hanging out in cafes, Asia may not be the first place you’d consider as an ideal destination. But Vietnam is a pretty good under-the radar country for coffee and cafe lovers.
Cuisine and culture of Mexico
Food is a wonderful window into a country’s culture. If you enjoy learning about a place through its cuisine then you’ll love this Frommer’s piece that takes a look at popular dishes in Mexico by region.
Travel destinations for food lovers
You’re a foodie and a traveler. But do you have Turkey, Ethiopia or Vietnam on your travel list? Those under-the-radar countries and others are part of this interesting Tripbase article about 10 top travel destinations for food lovers.
East Asian culture in the news
Why is Japanese culture resistant to Facebook? Why do the Chinese lament their high-performing educational system? Here are some interesting cross-cultural snippets from recent news items.
The rise of the Arctic north
We don’t usually think of the Arctic region in terms of geopolitics or economic development. But a new book – “The World in 2050″ -posits that the Arctic will become a global force in the decades ahead, driven both by its untapped natural resources and its impact on climate change.
National siesta championships in Spain
The encroachment of modern life has taken its toll on the siesta. But the Spaniards are not taking this decline lightly, as evidenced by the national siesta championship that was recently staged in Madrid.
Creativity and education across cultures
In previous posts about education across cultures, it’s been noted that one of the traditional strengths of the American system is that it promotes creativity and individual initiative. What is interesting now, though, is that other countries are trying to replicate this U.S. model at the very time that Americans are going in the opposite direction.
Great cities for food lovers
One of the best ways to experience a country’s culture is to eat its food. And, of course, explore its food markets. Gadling recently decided to come up with a list of 20 of the world’s greatest food cities that are not named Paris or New York. It’s a diverse and interesting group, stretching from Australia to Argentina and from Italy to India.
Chinese education, American education
There are many differences in the educational systems of various countries. One of the largest gaps is between the Western and Asian styles of teaching and learning. Those differences were on display again in a recent story about Chinese guest teachers in the United States.
Barbecue traditions around the world
Did you know that some of the best barbecue traditions in the world are found in countries close to the equator? Or that some Moroccans like to put garlic and parsely into sheep spleen before grilling? Or that Columbians may encrust a tenderloin with a pound of salt?
Unlearning conformity in Egypt
It’s common throughout the Middle East, Asia, and some other regions of the world for a culture to value conformity over individualism, and memorization over creativity in education. This topic is covered in a recent article I came across, which discusses how the educational style at the American University in Cairo differs significantly from the typical Egyptian classroom.
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Bob Riel is a writer and a traveler. Go here to read more about Bob, his work and the Travels in the Riel World blog.
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