It is that time of year again; Lunar New Year is upon us. 2018 is the Year of the Dog, which is part of the 12-year animal zodiac cycle. For more information, read here. More than one billion people around the world are preparing to celebrate. Although Lunar New Year has its roots in the ancient […]
Culture
Profile: Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico: A Brief Profile Fast Facts Capital: San Juan Population: 3.4 million Currency: US Dollar Languages: Spanish and English Citizenship: USA Geography: Puerto Rico is an archipelago or island chain located between the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, west of the Virgin Islands and east of the Dominican Republic. Landfall Hurricane Maria […]
Diverse Identities Within Borders
We often think of a country’s border as a defined albeit arbitrary demarcation of culture, language, traditions, mores, and values. A germane question to ask, considering the recent unrest in Catalonia surrounding an independence referendum from Spain is: what exactly is national identity? How do we define and understand it? What are the parameters and […]
History and Culture Tango in a Cup of Yerba Mate
Yerba mate tea is much more than the latest craze touted by health aficionados, which there are many. Conveniently packaged in tea bags, cans, and bottles, and now commonly sold in a variety of shops, mate has hit the mainstream. Nevertheless, what exactly is yerba mate? Moreover, what cultural meaning does it have? Like coffee […]
Greetings Matter: Handshakes Are Not Always Acceptable
We do it all the time; we meet new people at work, school, conferences, social mixers, and beyond. We offer our hands, close our grip briefly, and then let go. For many of us, handshakes are the only way we know to greet someone. It is taught and reinforced time and again. Handshakes, therefore, are […]
The Significance of Labor Day
Labor Day signifies various things for many in the United States of America: a long holiday weekend, a barbeque by the pool, the unofficial end of summer, the start of a new school year, and discounts at our favorite stores. Nevertheless, Labor Day honors the American Labor Movement. A movement filled with complex and unique struggles […]
