Sheron Long's Blog, page 6
March 23, 2020
A Cultural Heritage of Puzzles
Finding solutions to puzzling times
© iStock/Brightstars
Mental Exercise in These Historic Times
As the daily news proclaims, the world is experiencing something completely unique to recent history . . . and deadly serious. There is no doubt that the corona virus is changing our lives.
We are living the meaning of words and phrases such as pandemic, lockdown, social distancing, self-isolation, quarantine, self-sequestering, confinement, and sheltering in place.
We are seeing government regulations in the news, as well as lists of ways to work remotely or pass the time if we have been asked to stay at home for isolation purposes.
Social distancing at the weekend Paris market
© Meredith Mullins
We read about people in isolation drinking “quarantinis,” exploring new songs by which to wash their hands, and stepping to their windows or balconies to sing together as a...
March 16, 2020
Make Any Meal a Travel Adventure
You can order French bread in Denmark (but not a “Danish”).
In France, just order bread—in French.
© Joyce McGreevy
Food Origin Fun with a Dash of Cultural Awareness
So you’ve just canceled that upcoming trip, but you’re still feeling the wanderlust? Don’t be consumed by disappointment—there’s a travel adventure in the food you consume.
Lunch time scenario 1: Lee and his friend Ana meet for lunch. Lee orders a French dip, French fries and a salad with French dressing.
Intrigued, Ana asks Lee, “What did you have for breakfast?”
“French toast,” says Lee. “Why?”
“Wow,” says Ana with crystal-clear cultural awareness. “You sure love American food!”
In Brussels, nobody eats Brussels sprouts, but many people enjoy spruitjes.
Photo by Pxhere
Lunch time scenario 2: On a culinary travel adventure one summer, I...
March 9, 2020
Respecting Cultural Traditions and Taboos
Travelers can learn much from the Buddhism of Myanmar
© Meredith Mullins
A Traveler’s View of the Buddhism of Myanmar
Not long ago, a crowd of tourists stood mid-street, jostling to claim the best photographic position as more than 1000 monks walked reverently in their procession for food and alms.
This exceptional experience takes place every morning at the Myanmar Mahagandayon Monastery, just south of Mandalay, as the monks prepare to receive their second (and final) meal of the day, which they must eat before noon. The maroon-robed devotees are humble. Their purpose pure.
Locals line the path, ready to give rice to the Mahagandayon monks.
© Meredith Mullins
This day, two obnoxiously serious (or seriously obnoxious?) photographers elbowed each other for the best position. The monks were forced to walk around them.
The photographic elbowing turned to shoving....
March 3, 2020
Travels to the Past—Angkor, Cambodia
The Ta Prohm Temple, intentionally left in its natural state to show what explorers
found in the 19th century.
© Meredith Mullins
Lost Among the Ruins in One of the Most Amazing Places on Earth
Many years ago, I saw a photograph of a multi-rooted tree swallowing an ancient temple in one overgrown gulp.
For me, the siren’s call came through with haunting clarity. It was then and there—through a National Geographic image—that I knew I had to see these ruins, lost in the jungles of Cambodia. Even the name—Angkor Wat—exuded mystery.
Replicating my National Geographic memory.
Who will win this battle—the silk-cotton tree or the remnants of the Khmer Empire?
© Meredith Mullins
For some, the call might come through Lara Croft Tomb Raider (Angelina Jolie) racing through the crumbling Khmer temples.
For some, the call may be just from imagining the life of...
February 18, 2020
The Many Worlds of English
In some cultures, jumpers are pullovers and runners are track shoes.
Photo by Pxhere
Why Crossing Cultures Always Means Learning a Second Language
Most English speakers who travel internationally have, at one time or another, depended on people in other countries to also speak English. Such moments may arise because
even a polyglot is bound to miss one or two of the world’s 4,500 major languages.
your language learning app doesn’t cover how to say, “Could someone help me retrieve my cellphone from the hotel swimming pool?”
long-haul flights, long layovers, lost luggage, jet lag, and an unfamiliar environment have temporarily stalled your progress in speaking a second language.
Or as a public speaker once said, “It’s cool that people Over There are all multilingual and stuff, but me, I just travel where people speak English.”
Humorist Stephen...
February 11, 2020
Memorable Moments: Love is in the Air
Valentine’s Day puts love in the collective spotlight once a year, but as these heartfelt posts from the past remind us, love and its steady stream of “Oh, I see!” moments are a constant.
Why Do Women Love Their Special Someones?
Getting right to the heart of the matter, the OIC Community shares why they love their valentines. Go to the post.
The Paris Wall of Love
A wall in Paris reminds us of the many ways to say “I love you”— language gems that are important in today’s world of far too much disaster, violence, mistrust, and hate. Go to the post.
The Life-Changing Experience of Love
This moving post pairs some favorite words of wisdom with stunning images to illustrate the life-changing power of love and marriage! Go to the post.
For more stories of love, or even for things you love, be sure to visit our ...
February 4, 2020
A Walk on the Winter Side
Winter at an English beach is definitely “chill.”
© Joyce McGreevy
Winter Wanderlust in East Sussex
Rows of wooden beach huts are locked up tight, their colors vibrant as summer memories. Gray waves lunge at the Seven Sisters, chalk cliffs along England’s South Coast. January winds drive sand in fitful circles around deserted picnic tables.
Before beach huts were introduced in the 1900s, changing for a swim was done in a
bathing machine that, for modesty’s sake, was towed out to sea.
© Joyce McGreevy
But here we come in our oilskin jackets, woolen scarves flapping gamely in the wind. We are the winter travelers, hardy wanderers who love to travel out of season. This year, winter wanderlust leads some of us to East Sussex.
Do the Seven Sisters cliffs look familiar? They stood in for the White Cliffs of Dover
in the movie ...
January 20, 2020
London, Lost and Foundling
I spotted one—then several—fascinating artifacts in the pavement. What were they?
© Joyce McGreevy
Historical Markers Lead to Fascinating Discoveries
I’d walked along Marchmont Street often yet never noticed them—small, mysterious objects embedded in the pavement. Unlike London’s “blue plaques,” historical markers at eye level that link figures of the past with buildings of the present, the Marchmont Street objects were easy to overlook.
Some historical markers hide in plain sight.
© Joyce McGreevy
Here was public art at its least public, eloquent objects underfoot, shyly waiting to be seen and heard. Yet they, too, were historical markers, clues to a poignant chapter of London’s past.
Who had set this into the pavement? And why?
© Joyce McGreevy
Shining a Light on History
Marchmont is one of my favorite London streets, a place of...
January 13, 2020
A New Year’s Resolution for Notre Dame
Savoring the moment (two days before the heartbreaking Notre Dame fire).
© Meredith Mullins
Restoration of an Iconic Paris Cultural Symbol
Renew. Restore. Revitalize. Renovate. Refresh. Rejuvenate. Rebuild.
The new year invites certain words into our sphere of action, as we concentrate on new beginnings and life-changing resolutions.
This focus is particularly timely for the monumental restoration project of the fire-damaged Notre Dame Cathedral—a masterpiece of Gothic architecture and a historic cultural symbol for Paris, France, and the world. No matter what religion or spiritual beliefs are personally held, Notre Dame touches people’s souls.
Through rain and snow and gloom of night . . . Notre Dame has survived more than 850 years of challenges. There is hope for the future.
© Meredith Mullins
Living Near An Icon
I live a few minutes from this revered icon...
January 6, 2020
Travel Hacks for 2020
Seen in hindsight, a travel challenge may prove to be a peak experience.
Image by Skeeze/Pixabay
Take a Fresh Look at 20/20 Hindsight
What’s your travel vision for 2020? Now that we’ve journeyed to a new decade, it’s tempting to focus forward. But don’t overlook the vision that’s always 20/20—hindsight.
Hindsight has a bad rep. No critic ever praised anyone for being “hindsightful.” If hindsight were a character, she’d be the younger sibling of over-achievers. As in, “Why can’t you be like your brother Foresight, always thinking ahead? Or your sister Insight, who brings home one A+ after another?”
Hindsight also gets characterized as Woulda, Shoulda, and Coulda—that terrible trio who show up too late to offer assistance, then stand around shaming us for mishaps we cannot undo. Yet hindsight can help us debrief, and more.
Focus backward for a...
