Paris, France: Before the Nazis invaded Paris during World War II, the Louvre distributed its various collections among wealthy French citizens, who hid the artworks in their homes around the country.
Kyoto, Japan: Although you can find fortune cookies in Chinese restaurants all over the world, they are seldom found in China. This is because fortune cookies originated in Kyoto in the 19th century.
Mumbai, India: The Mumbai commuter trains (known as “locals”) see more than 7 million commuters every day; in the rush periods, the trains carry nearly three times the amount of people that the trains are designed to hold. Train employees have named this “Super-Dense Crush Load.”
Nairobi, Kenya: There is a city-wide ban on smoking and it is illegal to smoke on the city streets. There are a number of designated smoking areas, but they are not easy to find.
St. Petersburg, Russia: Visitors to museums in St. Petersburg are often not allowed to wear high heels. The Hermitage is one museum that explicitly forbids high heels because they are noisy and can damage the floor.
Vancouver, Canada: Vancouver is a bustling film and TV city. It’s known as Hollywood North, and after Los Angeles has the most TV production in North America. After LA and New York City, it has the highest film production rate of any other city in North America.
Edinburgh, Scotland: Edinburgh is presumably one of the most haunted cities in Europe. One of its most notorious haunters is the Mackenzie Poltergeist, the ghost of a 17th murderer.
Boston, USA: In 1930, the chocolate chip cookie was invented at the Toll House Restaurant in a town just outside of Boston.
Buenos Aires, Argentina: Buenos Aires is home to the widest avenue in the world. Avenida 9 de Julio is sixteen lanes across and can take several traffic light rotations to get through.
“Staple foods” refers to foods that are eaten so frequently in different parts of the world that they become a major part of daily cuisine, nourishment, and culture. Around the world, staple foods usually include a variety of meat products, fruits and vegetables, and roots or grains. In this week’s blog post, we’ve selected five staple foods from around the world to give you some ideas for your next meal! Keep reading to learn a little about where corn, rice, wheat, teff, and cassava are eaten and what kinds of regional dishes they are used in.
Maize, or corn as it’s known in English, is a grain that was first cultivated agriculturally in Central America. When Europeans came to the Americas, they took the grain with them to grow in Europe. Its ability to adapt to various climates means that today maize is grown around the world. It is eaten throughout Europe, Africa, and the Americas. It is most commonly associated with Mexican cuisine, however, and it is used in most Mexican recipes. Tamales are a very popular Mexican food that is made with masa harina (maize dough) with meat, cheese, and/pr vegetables. You can find a recipe for Mexicantamales here.
Japanese mochi can be almost too cute to eat.
Rice is a grain that is believed to have originated in southern China several thousand years ago. Today, it is commonly found in foods from all over the world. It is predominately found in Asia, but it is also eaten in Africa, the Middle East, Oceania, Europe, and the Americas. Rice comes in many varieties, such as long-grain or short-grain, that are used for different kinds of dishes around the world. Some kinds of rice are sticky, such as Japanese mochi rice, and others are less sticky, such as Jasmine and Basmati rice. Rice can also be made into noodles or desserts, such as sweet mochi in Japan. You can learn how to make Japanesemochi here.
Sally finds some deadly nightshade in “The Nightmare Before Christmas”
Potatoes are starchy roots that first originated in Peru. They belong to the nightshade family that also includes tomatoes, bell peppers, eggplant, and belladonna (also known as deadly nightshade). Today, potatoes are eaten around the world, especially in Europe, the Americas, and Asia. Thousands of different kinds of potatoes grow around the world. Potatoes, though a main source of food worldwide, can become poisonous as they age. Potatoes are commonly eaten as a side dish. Click here to find a recipe for potatoes au gratin, a popular way to cook potatoes in Europe and the United States.
Teff is a small grain that is primarily found in Africa, especially Ethiopia and Eritrea, where it is commonly made into a spongy bread called injera. Today, it is becoming a more popular export to the United States and other countries. Because it is so small, teff is easy to cultivate as long as there is enough rainfall. In Ethiopia and Eritrea, injera is eaten with stews and other meat-based dishes. Learn how to make injera here.
Cassava, like the potato, is another tuberous root. It is native to South America, but today it can also be found in Africa and Asia. Because of its starchy, doughy texture (when ground), it is often made into bread and cakes. Tapioca is made from cassava. Cassava leaves are also edible and offer a good source of protein. Click here to learn how to make Filipino cassava cake.
What’s the major food staple where you live? Share your favorite recipe in the comments below!
Japanese (日本語, pronounced “Nihongo”) is spoken by about 125 million speakers around the world. Although the largest Japanese-speaking population, of course, can be found in Japan, many people in China, Korea, and Hawaii also speak Japanese as a first or second language.
Cowboy Bebop (1998)
Perhaps in part because of its popular culture, including anime (see image at left), manga, video games, and its renowned cinema (Japan boasts such filmmaking greats as Kurosawa Akira and Miyazaki Hayao), Japanese is one of the most popular languages to learn worldwide.
What are some Japanese language basics?
The Japanese language has three alphabets: hiragana, katakana, and kanji. While this may seem overwhelming at first, it is relatively simple to learn two of the alphabets. Japanese uses the five vowel sounds, a – i – u – e – o , as well as the consonants k – s – t – n – h – m – r – w, as well as a nasal N sound. Although Japanese does not have the “F” consonant, some words pronounce the “H” consonant with an F-like sound. Some characters can also be altered to use the “B” and “P” sounds.
You can see these vowels and consonants in action here, in the hiragana alphabet:
Hiragana characters
The hiragana alphabet is a good tool for new Japanese learners. It has fewer than fifty characters and can be used before learning the more complicated kanji. In everyday Japanese, hiragana is used for writing suffixes, prefixes, and filler words that do not have their own kanji. For example, さん (san), which is a suffix respectfully added to a person’s name, does not have its own kanji.
Katakana characters
The katakana alphabet also has fewer than fifty characters. This alphabet is used for non-Japanese words that are appropriated into daily use. The Japanese word for restaurant, for example, looks like this: レストラン (pronounced “re-su-to-ran”).
A few common kanji characters
Because kanji comprises between 2000-3000 characters, many language learners refer back to their knowledge of hiragana and katakana to fill in words for which they don’t know the kanji characters. The kanji you see above are the most common characters you’ll encounter and probably the first ones you will learn after you feel comfortable with hiragana and katakana. Although kanji characters mean things by themselves, they take on new meanings when placed alongside other kanji.
Some words in kanji
For example, the characters you saw above for “sun” and “book,” when placed together, become “Japan” (pronounced “Nihon”).
What are some good resources for learning Japanese?
Interpals users suggest finding a good textbook to start with. jhayes2011 recommends “Kodansha’s Hiragana Workbook” because, as she writes, “the book gives you rip out flashcards which comes in handy, I memorized them in a week it makes it so easy.” Other suggested textbooks include “Genki” and “Minna no Nihongo.”
In addition to our Japanese language forum, there are many good websites for learning Japanese. jhayes2011 uses Japanese Pod 101 and Study Stack. traumgefluester, suggests the website Japanese Level Up and Guide to Japanese. You can also learn a lot about Japan and Japanese here. jhayes2011 also uses YouTube to practice pronunciation. traumgefluester suggests watching the beginner anime Chi’s Sweet Home, which includes the hiragana and kanji characters, as well as the phonetic pronunciation and English translation.
Most important, have fun while learning Japanese! As jhayes2011 says, “Lastly things u can start doing … is watch anime of course, with and without subtitles so that u can get the feel of how stuff is used and u pick of phrases and vocab. And to listen to the music, both helps you to start training your ears to pick up on the dialect and how fast they speak, plus it’s fun and awesome.”
traumgefluester has a lot of advice for Japanese learners:
“Start to listen to a lot of Japanese material. For the beginning it is not about understanding anything, but getting used to the language. It’s also good for your pronunciation. But talking is another training. You should talk to yourself, read out aloud and repeat for example what you’ve seen in dramas.
“As soon as you know the basics, go and find original material. Start with that as soon as possible. Read a lot. Listen a lot.”
What advice do YOU have for learning Japanese? Do you have any favorite resources?
On January 31st, 2014, people around the world observed the 2014 Lunar New Year, also known as the Chinese New Year. This week on the blog, we’d like to give a few facts about the Lunar New Year, as well as what it means to be in the year of the horse.
In China, the New Year is called the Spring Festival. Since the New Year occurs on the eve of spring, many people traditionally spend the weeks between the New Year and the Lantern Festival throwing away useless items and preparing for the coming spring. Most importantly, this holiday is a time for people to unite with their families and spend time together.
It is the biggest holiday celebrated among Chinese and Asian communities around the world. In addition to China, this holiday is celebrated in many other Asian countries such as Korea, Japan, and Vietnam. Furthermore, visitors can attend festivities in cities with large Chinese communities such as San Francisco (United States), Sydney (Australia), Johannesburg (South Africa), and Vancouver (Canada). The dancers in the photo above are shown performing during the festivities in Beijing.
The New Year festivities culminate in the Lantern Festival, which will occur this year on February 14th. In Chinese culture, red symbolizes good fortune and vitality. During the Lantern Festival, red lanterns can be seen throughout the streets of China and in Chinese communities worldwide to welcome good luck into the coming year. It is also called the Yuanxiao Festival because yuanxiao, sweet rice dumplings, are traditionally eaten during the festival. Families gather together during the day to see dancing and play riddle games with the lanterns. At night, festival-goers can enjoy the lit lanterns alongside the full moon.
It’s about the food. Gathering with family is a big part of the New Year. On New Year’s Eve, families get together and enjoy a feast with many different foods. Throughout the holiday, sweet treats are eaten in quantity because they are thought to make life sweeter in the coming year. In addition to yuanxiao, sweet rice dumplings eaten during the Lantern Festival (photo to left), traditional holiday foods include nian gao (rice pudding), long noodles (for longevity), Eight Treasure Babaofan (sweet and sticky rice which contains eight different nuts and dried fruits), and fish.
The year of the horse means ups and downs. The Chinese Zodiac has a twelve-year cycle and each year corresponds to a different animal sign. These animal signs are the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog, and pig. These animals connect with the five elements, which also alter each year. This is the year of the wood horse. See the chart below to find out what year you were born in:
According to the Independent, astrologers predict that this will bring many ups and downs for business owners. Many people – especially those born in the year of the horse – can expect 2014 to be full of conflict and turmoil, but can also use this year to move forward.
What are some festivals around the world that you’d like to attend? Write to us about your experiences and tell us which festivals you’d most like to visit!
This week, we spoke to Audrey (who is from France) about her friendship story with Hyeongju (from Korea). Audrey and Hyeongju found that they had many things in common and were fortunate enough to meet one another in Soeul, Korea last summer! Keep reading to learn a bit about Audrey, Hyeongju, and their friendship that spans nearly 6000 miles!
Interpals: Tell us a bit about each of you.
Audrey: Hyeongju and I are both students. He is a sophomore in university while I’m a freshman. We both like to hang out, meet friends, travel, listen to music and so on. He is studying English and Chinese, whereas I’m studying Chinese and Korean.
IP: How did you meet on Interpals?
Audrey: When I was 15, I was planning a trip to Korea, so I was looking for Korean friends who I could have a chance to meet. I found Hyeongju and sent him a message. Luckily he answered me, and we never stopped contacting since then. We have several common interest (languages, traveling…), that led us pretty much to become good friends.
IP: How and when did you meet in person?
Audrey: We met in Seoul on 2013, July 24th. I was in Korea at that time, and we planned a meeting. We joined each other at a subway station and spent a few hours together wandering around and talking.
IP: What was it like to meet Hyeongju in person?
Audrey: Meeting in person is a really great experience. We had never talked to each other directly before (I mean, “by voice”). We were very nervous at first and were pretty shy to speak a lot. But little by little we felt comfortable with each other, and could happily share a conversation. It was sometimes a bit embarrassing, since English is not our mother tongue. Sometimes we needed a translator for a few words. But it was a really great moment, and we regretted not to be able to meet a second time, because I was leaving the day after.
IP: Do you have advice for other Interpals members who want to meet friends?
Audrey: I would advice other Interpallers to meet any good friend they have, if they have a chance. Even for shy people it’s a very great experience, and it helps us to discover a new culture and so one. I also advice them to take many pictures if possible. It may seem a bit weird, but when Hyeongju and I met, we only took one picture together, which is a little bit regretful.
IP: What’s your favorite thing about Interpals?
Audrey: I love the fact Interpals enables people to meet other persons from all around the world. It helps us to study a new language, to meet new friends share many things with people etc. If Interpals didn’t exist, there are many good moments I wouldn’t have lived.
In the Interpals community, we are happy and proud to see so many friendships form across the globe. We’re thrilled when we hear from Interpals members who make lasting connections and relationships and also find ways to improve their foreign language skills with the friends they meet. This week, we spoke to Giuliano (TheColdplayer) from Italy and Christopher (TheChrississin) from Germany to learn a bit about their experiences meeting friends and learning languages on Interpals!
Were you looking for a language exchange when you joined Interpals?
Giuliano: Not really… firstly I only wanted to improve my English … I was told about [Interpals] by a random stranger. I’d always wanted to just have a chat with some foreigner, and as I didn’t have much time to travel…yep.
Christopher: Actually I looked for people to study Japanese since that language interested me. But later on I dropped it, and just went on with the plan on meeting foreign people and I don’t regret it.
What languages have you improved on Interpals?
Giuliano: English and some Spanish and Chinese.
Christopher: It has helped me with improving my English and Spanish skills. I speak both languages more fluent than I did before. I also acquired some knowledge on Russian.
How did you find the friends who helped you with language practice?
Giuliano: They all said I had an interesting profile so wrote to me.
Christopher: I just browsed the Interpals search for some nice people to talk to since I love talking to new people and I think you can find a lot of really awesome friends who don’t mind to help you. It would be much harder by using other websites or just ask people on the street. I experienced the people on Interpals as much nicer than people in my area and since I love travelling, I also visit some of them. It’s always fun.
How did your Interpals friends help you learn?
Giuliano: We just normally talk, and I learn as I listen to them.
Christopher: The friends who helped me with studying English corrected most of my mistakes and I talked a lot with them over chat and I’ve also done videocalls with them. They helped me really well since I recently made a 94 on a test by Cambridge University and I think I wouldn’t have made it this far without the people I met on Interpals. My Spanish or Latin-American friends have helped my by switching from English to Spanish. Yet I’m not fluent but my grades are getting better.
Have you helped anybody on Interpals learn another language?
Giuliano: Well, there’s this Hungarian girl who studies my language, so I sometimes talk to her in Italian.
Christopher: I helped other people who are studying German, my native language, by explaining them grammatic rules or words and sometimes switching to German. Yet I’m planning on skyping with some friends so their spoken German also improves and they can understand German much better. I’m sometimes helping people on English but that’s not as common.
What advice do you have for other language learners on Interpals?
Giuliano: Not to be shy, because it’s only talking that you actually learn, hundreds of awesome people are there waiting to help you, give it a go!
Christopher: I would recommend to take a lot of time on your language if you want to learn it really badly. English is easy to improve because everyone speaks it but if you study other languages like Japanese, Russian, French or Spanish, I would recommend you to write as many people as possible and try to talk to them in the language you want to study instead of English. Also, keep confident about yourself and don’t be scared to do mistakes, everyone does them.
What is your experience with practicing a language through Interpals? Leave us a comment or write to us at blog@interpals.net.
As you know, we love Interpals friendship stories! We are so happy to hear that people meet through Interpals and develop amazing friendships and relationships.
Soon after Ola M. (Gingerolka) from Poland joined Interpals, she was inspired to found The International League of Awesome (The ILA). The ILA develops video projects as a way to exchange friendship and to share the world with one another. As Ola says, “We’re the group of people from all around the world, who wants to create and share the happiness and joy of being a part of this world.” Today, The ILA boasts members from Finland to the DR Congo to Australia, and many more. Their most recent video is a New Year’s greeting from The ILA members to one another:
We talked to Ola and Jordan K. (kInGi495), an ILA member from Australia, to get a better sense of The ILA community.
Describe The ILA and how it began.
Ola: The whole project has started 2,5 years ago. I was taking part in a competition about volunteering. We were supposed to prepare some presentation, essay or video about volunteering. So I thought it’s a good opportunity for me to find out how volunteering is seen in other countries. That’s why I prepared few questions and asked my friends to answer on them in front of a camera. Unfortunately, the final video didn’t win, but my friends, who participated in it, were very excited and they told me to continue the whole idea of such projects. That’s how The ILA has started. By accident. And I can’t explain what we actually do. Because it’s The ILA – you never know what will come up to our minds
Jordan: I got into contact with Ola through Interpals about three or so years ago while looking for a snail mail pen pal. As for the ILA, Ola had already done a video project with a few of the other members pre group formation and enjoyed the experience. She asked if I’d be interested in doing some projects and I said it would be cool, so pretty much I’m one of the foundation members.
What are your favorite things about the ILA?
Ola: The people, definitely the people. And how they’ve changed during those years. At the beginning, they were all a little scared, a little unconfident – so was I! It was something new to me. But now – we are all different. And I’m sure each member of The ILA can confirm that.
Jordan: Everyone is really supportive of each other, and it’s a pretty relaxed atmosphere. Everyone is mates with everyone if that makes sense. …I’d say the group as a whole is very relaxed, we joke around with each other quite a bit, and I’ve never noticed any sort of animosity between members.
The ILA features members in one of their main series, “10 Facts About.” We asked Jordan a bit about his experience filming “10 Facts About – Australia.”
Jordan: It was quite a fair bit of fun to work on, namely because I got to let my inner larrikin out. Had to redo it once or twice due to camera issues, but it was no problem in the end.
What are your hopes for the future of the ILA?
Ola: I’d like The ILA to be an inspiration for other young people. I wish people learn as much as possible from our videos and try to change their lives.
What would you like the Interpals community to know about the ILA?
Ola: I just want people on Interpals, to know that we exist and that anybody can do something. You don’t have to be rich, you don’t have to be the smartest, you don’t have to be better, taller, faster or anything – you just need TO WANT. And that’s how The ILA has started. We, the members, are not perfect. Nobody is. But as you see – we can do something. And we enjoy it, we love it.
How can Interpals members join The ILA?
Ola: You just need to be open-minded, creative and ready to work. …That’s why the way to join The ILA is simple – you need to do something. After writing to us, we will let you know what to do. Mostly, I ask to make a video. Since we make videos, the people interested in joining should be aware of making the videos in the future. And this is our e-mail address: theilacrew@gmail.com [If you have any questions for Ola about The ILA, please contact her through this email address only.]
Charlie: “The ILA is a great way to make friends from anywhere in the world and more people should try the idea”
Lars: “I’ll say the ILA community’s mission is to build international bonds and friendship to make ourselves realize we’re not all that different no matter where we come from.”
Jenna: “ILA is awesome, just like it says in the name”
Pája: “In my opinion ILA is the best way to make friends, to meet people from all around the world – in online form and share our own creation. I think there is chance for everybody to express his creativity.”
Ire: “I think the ILA is share our different cultures and languages, from state to state, to all with our videos, too. Make friends all over the world, knowing so close their habitudes (and maybe face to face, who know? ), traditions, festivals..”
Joshua: “I think the ILA’s main mission is to bring people from different countries closer to each other, by learning more about them. Ultimately, making this a ‘small world’ ”
Jordan: “Although I have a feeling I’ve answered this already: the ILA is more about mateship than anything else. It shows that we aren’t all that different from one another. We get to meet so many awesome people that we probably would’ve never met if not for the ILA”
Anni: “ILA is wonderful group! Because of ila i have met awesome people”
Morgan: “You can’t explain what ILA is, you have to experience it ^^.”
Benjamine: “I don’t know really what to say, ’cause everybody explained it the best what the ILA is But if I have to say something about the ILA group : ‘ILA group is a place where no one would have thought that different people, from different places and nationalities would complete each other thanks to their differences.’ “
Ainhoa: “The ILA is a great project that, with effort can go so far in the audiovisual world as a way of sharing how small the world is and how globalisation make us so close to each other”
Dayana: “One of the best project someone could think about. Makes us to have great experiences meeting wonderful people you would never imagine. We have fun and learn about many places and cultures and of course aboue many people. The best thing is to call them friends. Friends around the world )”
At the beginning of the New Year, many people think ahead to a fresh start. This is an ideal time to think about how to improve your language skills! We have a few thoughts and ideas for you to consider as you enter 2014 with a plan to make your language practice effective and enjoyable.
1. Try something new every day. This may seem daunting, but keep fairly low expectations to make sure that you will be able to keep this up. For example, listen to a song in your target language you’ve never heard before, read a short story or chapter in that language, or learn a new phrase.
2. Look up at least ONE new word every day. Think of a word you don’t know how to say in your target language and look up the definition on the Internet or in your dictionary. The next day, make sure you remember that word before you look up a new one! If you can’t think of any words you don’t know, perhaps it’s time to start learning a new language!
3. Along the same lines as #2, keep a list of words you don’t know. Whenever you encounter one of these words, just write it down in a notebook or someplace else where you won’t lose it. Then, when you’re looking up a new word each day, you can use this list for quick reference.
4. Take risks. You don’t need to do this every day, but remember that risk-taking is an essential part of language learning. Once a week, once a month, or as often have the chance and you feel comfortable doing so, strike up a conversation in your target language with someone. Eat at a restaurant where only your target language is spoken.
5. Start a conversation in our language forums. One way to do this is to ask a question in your target language that you think would be fun to answer: questions about favorite things, pets or animals, opinions, hobbies, etc. Be creative! Ask a question that you would like to answer.
6. Don’t force it. If you are too tired or preoccupied, allow yourself to take a break. You should be learning a language because you enjoy it. If you feel overstressed, take a step back before you burn out.
7. Have fun! Watch TV shows in your target language. Host a themed party and encourage your guests to speak in your target language (even if they only know a few words). Make language learning something to look forward to.
Any other thoughts or suggestions? Share them in the comments section!
You may have noticed that we love to post about international foods on our Facebook page. That’s because food is one of the few things everyone can relate to – we all need to eat to survive, but, more importantly, we all find joy and recall happy memories through the delicious foods we eat. Desserts give many of us comfort. And while eating sweets all the time is not great for your body, few things compare to the happiness we feel when we indulge in a sweet treat, especially one that is native to our homeland or that we ate often as children.
For this week’s post, we have compiled a list of four desserts (it was hard to limit this number) from around the globe. In the comments section, be sure to let us know what YOUR favorite desserts are and we may feature them in our next food-related blog post!
Baklava (Turkey, Greece)
This heavy pastry originated in the Ottoman Empire, specifically where is Turkey today. It is made with filo dough (a very thin dough that becomes crispy when baked) that is layered with nuts and sweetened with a honey-based syrup. The crispy filo dough, crunchy nuts, and sticky syrup make for a very sweet, deliciously textured dessert that is both irresistible and almost too rich to finish. It is also eaten in the Balkan Peninsula and the Middle East.
Do you love chocolate truffles? Many of these decadent treats are too time-consuming to make yourself, but this Brazilian specialty can be made in under an hour and only require three ingredients. These rich truffles are traditionally served at birthday parties in Brazil. Brigadeiros are also popular in Portugal.
This treat is very popular during the fall holidays in the United States. In the past, it was common for children to eat caramel apples on Halloween, but today they are more often found in candy stores and fall festivals. The basic premise of making them is very simple: just dip an apple in caramel. Then you may add whatever toppings you like, such as chocolate bits and nuts.
Gajar ka Halwa is a light, sweet pudding made of carrots, milk, sugar, ghee, and nuts. It originated in Northern India and Pakistan in the 16th-18th centuries and is popular today at festivals and other special events, especially in the winter. Some popular variations include a sugar-free Gajar ka Halwa and variations that use beetroot.
Cultural Stereotypes That Frustrate Us the Most, Part 2
Awhile back, we asked on Facebook: What are the stereotypes and misconceptions about your home country that bother you most? Using your responses, we addressed the stereotypes that Interpals members wrote about Australia and Bangladesh in a blog post a few weeks ago. Today, we’ll respond to what you said about Brazil.
Capital: Brasilia
Size: At 3.3 million square km, it’s the largest country in South America and 5th largest in the world
Diversity: Brazil’s 199.321 million inhabitants include people of indigenous South American, European, Middle Eastern, African, and Asian roots.
Main language: Portuguese
The Stereotypes:
“There is only jungle and naked woman” -P.V.
“Brasilians are indians, and walk semi naked… it’s all jungle” -A.F.
-Because Brazil is so large, its borders contain about 60% of the Amazon rainforest. Of course, some people still live in the rainforest and in small, rural communities, but Brazil is a very big country with all sizes of towns and cities.
-Until a few years ago, Brazil had many problems with sex trafficking, which likely contributed to the misconception that Brazilian women are promiscuous and walk naked.
“[we] all love carnival…so violent we can’t walk on the streets” -D.D.
“Only has Party, Carnival and whore” -A.P.S.
“That there are only favelas and violence here. That every woman walks naked in the streets dancing the Samba LOL” -D.D.
-One of the most widely televised events in Brazil is the annual Carnaval, held the Friday before Ash Wednesday, which many Brazilians celebrate with parades led by samba dance schools. Big cities such as Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo hold especially large celebrations. Once a year, the rest of the world gets this glimpse of Brazil: a massive party in the streets with elaborately decorated women dancing the samba. The mass media exaggerates the celebration and every violent occurrence during Carnaval, making it seem like an out-of-control, savage brawl. Headlines such as “Brazilians Celebrate Carnival Amidst Music and Violence” give the impression that in Brazil, the violence and the party go hand-in-hand. In reality, thousands of people do not die as a result the festivities, and throughout the remainder of the year, Brazil is not necessarily more or less violent than many other countries.
“Or that Everybody loves soccer, or samba, or speak Spanish” -M.D.R.
“everyone is football fanatics, listen to samba, and the overvaluation of Rio de Janeiro, as if it was the only interesting place to visit here” -R.O.
-Brazil is the only Portuguese-speaking country in the Southern America continent. Many neighboring countries primarily speak Spanish, leading to confusion for outsiders who wrongly associate all of South America with the Spanish language.
- Brazil is one of the prominent figures in football (soccer) around the world: it qualifies for the World Cup every year and has won the cup five times. Of course, this does not mean that everyone in the country loves football or is automatically good at it.
-While Rio de Janeiro is inarguably a very attractive place to visit, with its vibrant city life, surrounding mountains, and landmarks, there are MANY interesting places to visit in Brazil apart from Rio, such as São Paulo, the largest city in Brazil, Brasilia, the capital, Olinda, a well-preserved colonial city on the Atlantic Coast, Manaus, which serves as an entrance to the Amazon Rain Forest, Iguazu Falls (pictured), situated on the Iguazu River between Brazil and Argentina, and Salvador, a historic city with a vibrant culture and sprawling beaches.
Are there more stereotypes that bother you about Brazil or your home country? What do you love most about your home country?
St. Petersburg, Russia: Visitors to museums in St. Petersburg are often not allowed to wear high heels. The Hermitage is one museum that explicitly forbids high heels because they are noisy and can damage the floor.
Boston, USA: In 1930, the chocolate chip cookie was invented at the Toll House Restaurant in a town just outside of Boston.
), traditions, festivals..”
