Matador Network's Blog, page 2069
August 19, 2015
11 things Americans ask (and get totally wrong) about Australia
Photo: Cavale Doom
1. Do you see kangaroos wandering around daily?
There’s a conception that the kangaroo in Australia is equivalent to the squirrel in America — but kangaroos do not, in fact, roam the cities of Australia or beg for food outside restaurant patios. Living on the Gold Coast, the only time I saw kangaroos was at the zoo… just like in America.
I know we’ve all seen the viral video (below) of the two kangaroos fighting in the street, but that would be like asking me if horses walk around my neighborhood because I am from Indiana and there are lots of farms. Yes, it can happen; and if it does, there likely is a viral video associated with it — because it’s rare, or we wouldn’t all be watching a video of it.
2. Do you encounter deadly animals on the regular?
Yes, there are deadly animals in Australia, and lots of them. But I lived in a city, just like most people in Australia, and giant spiders don’t tend to bother you in big cities. Funnily enough, crocodiles and sharks typically avoid city streets too. It’s the same as anywhere else in the world — don’t be stupid in the natural habitat of a deadly animal, and usually you’ll live. Cities aren’t natural habitats for most deadly things.
3. Do you visit the Outback often?
Speaking of deadly animals, this is where you would find a lot of them — mostly because it is so uninhabited. Ninety percent of Australia’s population lives on the coast (I mean, who wouldn’t?), so it’s pretty expensive to travel to the Outback. In fact, it was cheaper for me to book a round trip to Asia than it was to visit Uluru, so no, tthe majority of visitors to Australia don’t strap on their safari hats and hop on horseback like Nicole Kidman Australia to gallop across the red dirt.
4. Do you eat vegemite every day?
There are some cultural boundaries you cannot cross, and vegemite is the definition of an acquired taste. Yes, some travelers learn to love it, but I could never spread that warm, salty, brown substance over a piece of bread… just like Australians can’t bring themselves to deep fry Oreos at the State Fair. Everyone has their limits.
5. Is Foster’s really Australian for beer?
I’m curious to learn where this concept comes from, because I rarely saw Foster’s on tap at the pub or sold by the can at the bottle shop. You could order a Budweiser at more places than a Foster’s beer.
6. Does everyone hate you because you’re American?
This is a concept many of us struggle with as Americans; but one of the most important things you learn after traveling is that most people aren’t thinking about us. Do you think about if you like Australians or not? No, you wonder if kangaroos really do fight in the streets.
There absolutely are places in the world where Americans are disliked, but from my experience these typically are politically-oriented opinions and the everyday person in Australia, just like in America, is pretty much unconcerned with politics. Do you know the reaction I heard the most when someone heard my accent? “Are you Canadian?” and when I said “No, I’m from the States,” it was “Were you a cheerleader in high school/was your high school like the movie Mean Girls?”
7. Do you live in Sydney?
No. Do you live in New York or LA?
8. Isn’t it super expensive to live there?
Yes, it is, but here’s the thing — they have a livable minimum wage. In Queensland, the state I was living in, minimum wage was upwards of $15 an hour. As an Australian friend told me, “You can be a receptionist in Australia and drive a BMW.” The relationship between what you earn and how much everyday life costs is so much more even and fair in Australia that I was saving money without trying, even though rent, alcohol, groceries, hair stylists etc. were pricier Down Under.
9. Do they speak English?
Not kidding, I was asked this more than once. Yes, Australians have a different accent from us and their slang can be pretty confusing, but I can assure you, they speak English.
10. If the seasons are opposite in Australia, what month is it there right now?
My all time favorite. I’ll let you answer that one for yourself.
11. Why did you leave?
Ah, the toughest question to answer. For most people who travel to Australia, leaving isn’t a choice — it’s a necessity of your visa. At some point, the beautiful beaches, warm, sunny days, high wages and high quality of life come to an end because, to put it simply, you weren’t born there. Most of us would give anything to go back a little longer, even if it weren’t permanent; but unfortunately that’s not the reality for most Americans. 
11 Seoul street foods, where to find
Japchae hotteok from Namdaemun gate 2 gets rid of all the stresses of life. #blog
A photo posted by Seoul Eats By Yoonie and Danny (@seouleats) on Jul 3, 2015 at 4:20am PDT
Over by Namdaemun Gate 2 is the city’s famous hotteok food cart; it’s so popular the owner’s said to be a millionaire.
Hotteok is normally leavened flour filled with sugar, cinnamon, and nuts then fried till it becomes a delicious caramel donut, and the owner here does the dessert version well, but her most popular recipe sees sesame-soy sweet glass noodles, carrots, and spinach stuffed inside the donut then basted with a fruit-seasoned soy sauce. I know, sounds odd, but just try it.
2. Ramen hotdog and hotteok on a stick — Namdaemun
A photo posted by Seoul Eats By Yoonie and Danny (@seouleats) on Jun 25, 2014 at 5:18am PDT
There are many variations of this chopstick-skewered, fried hotdog. It can be plain i.e. just battered and deep fried. It can be studded with french fries; it can even be covered with spikes of ramen.
3. Red bean cakes — Namdaemun
Goldfish bread stuffed with red bean and corn
A photo posted by Seoul Eats By Yoonie and Danny (@seouleats) on Nov 11, 2012 at 5:48pm PST
You can get these pretty much anywhere in Seoul, but Namdaemun’s are spot on. Basically, these are custardy waffles filled with sweetened red bean. And they’re pretty darn good, especially as a warming wintertime treat.
4. Poo bread — Insadong
A photo posted by Seoul Eats By Yoonie and Danny (@seouleats) on Oct 27, 2012 at 10:38pm PDT
No, there’s no poo inside but there is red bean that could be…just don’t imagine it too much. It’s true, Koreans love cute poo. There are even children’s books about the transformation of a dog turd into a beautiful flower. No joke. It’s a classic. The poo bread started from Samziegil building and then spread like… ^&%^ all around Korea. It became so popular that there’s even a Dung Cafe. They have delicious poo-shaped desserts and drinks there.
5. Mandu — Bukchon
A photo posted by χυℓιηg (@xxxulingxx) on Apr 22, 2015 at 12:15am PDT
Koreans are famous for their dumplings, and the place to get the best street food version is down the alley right next to the Ssamziegil building. Here, they stuff a large dumpling skin with lots of meat, tofu, and veggies then fry it up. They’re big enough that one will be an adequate snack, but you’ll surely want a few more.
6. Tteokbokki and tweggum — Jongno 3-ga exit 5’s Nakwon
A photo posted by Seoul Eats By Yoonie and Danny (@seouleats) on Nov 10, 2013 at 5:52pm PST
Ok, this woman is like my aunty so you have to be nice to her. My aunty works tirelessly to bring high quality Korean street food to the hungry masses. Her tteokbokki (spicy rice cake noodles) are chewy and with a sauce that has just the right amount of heat. Her soondae (blood sausage) are not too gamey. But the best things on her cart are the fried goods — you have to try her fried squid and sweet potatoes. The coating is crisp and just done just right. I like getting a bag of it to eat on the go.
7. Mayak kimbap — Gwangjang Market
A photo posted by Seoul Eats By Yoonie and Danny (@seouleats) on Mar 12, 2015 at 6:23pm PDT
I have a general rule about food carts: Don’t eat the rice rolls — I’ve just seen too many people get sick from them (especially in summer). This rule does not apply to the mayak kimbap in Gwangjang Market, because they’re always sold too quickly to go bad.
Mayak kimbap translates to narcotic kimbap; people really do get addicted to these, and you’ll see customers taking dozens of orders home with them to give to friends or family. When you dip the little seaweed-wrapped morsels in the mustard/soy sauce, you’ll get it.
8. Bindaetteok — Gwangjang Market
A photo posted by Seoul Eats By Yoonie and Danny (@seouleats) on Oct 27, 2013 at 7:31pm PDT
The one thing you have to eat at Gwangjang Market is the bindaetteok (crispy mung bean pancakes). Almost every stall makes them, and they must be eaten hot and fresh. My favorites are Pakgane and Sunheene.
9. Hong Cup’s Fried Chicken — Hongdae
5 things Hispanics born in America want you to know
Photo: Ben Seidelmen
I was born in the United States, specifically in New York City. My father was a Chilean immigrant, and my mother a Hispanic American born in the US as well. If you are reading this, and you know someone who is a Hispanic born in the United States, here is a list of 5 things they probably want you to know about them:
1. We are just as American as you are.
Many times people look at us and ask us where we are from. When we respond we are from a certain state, the response is typically “No, really…where are you from….originally?” What Hispanic Americans want you to understand, is that this is our country too. Even though our parents may come from other countries, this is the place of our birth. We are not here illegally, or undocumented. We went to the same schools, we learned everything the white, black and Asian kids learned. We know the culture. We listen to the same music, watch the same television shows, and enjoy the same movies. Although we may visit the countries our parents came from, it will never be as familiar to us as this one. We pledge our allegiance to the same flag. We are American too.
2. We must speak Spanish, there is no choice.
There is no way around this one. If you are Hispanic, and your parents are Hispanic, you need to speak Spanish, period. Being born in the United States does not give us a free pass on this one. This is because of the shaming that often occurs within families. Sadly, a Hispanic that does not speak Spanish will often be singled out and made to feel less of him or herself. Most households believe that not speaking the language makes you not proud of your heritage. Even worse, they believe that a Hispanic who refuses to speak the Spanish language is considered to be “Americanized” in the sense that they have lost an important part of who they are by opting to only speak English. This is what we have to deal with. Now here is where it gets tricky. We want to be recognized as Americans yet there is nothing more shameful to our own family members than being an “Americanized” Hispanic, ironic isn’t it?
3. Other Hispanics think we are arrogant.
There are several Hispanics in the United States that were born in other countries, and have come to the United States for various reasons. Often times, they consider the Hispanics born in this country to be rather arrogant and cocky. They think we consider ourselves better than the rest, simply because we were born on the “other side” of the river, so to speak. We don’t struggle with the things they may struggle with, like ordering a meal at a restaurant for example. However, just because we speak English does not mean we look at ourselves as high and mighty. Sadly, this is just a misconception.
4. We have a hard time fitting in.
The Americans don’t find us American enough, and the Hispanics don’t find us Hispanic enough. This is a struggle we face constantly. We have the best of both worlds, yet we can’t find a 100% mesh with either side, and honestly I don’t think there will ever be one. Hispanics born in other countries will look at you funny if you mispronounce a word in Spanish, or even worse, don’t know the definition. Try explaining to them that you were born here, and that’s a whole other story. We never hear the end of it.
5. We love our dual heritage.
We love everything about being Hispanic. We love our food, our music, our diversity. We watch Spanish Soap Operas with our grandmothers, and dance to music while we clean our kitchens, or cook our dinners. This is who we are. We cannot change it. We will not change it. We are proud of who we are and where we come from. Yet we still love America, its freedom and everything it stands for. If that is not what makes up this amazing melting pot, then I don’t know what is!
A Turkish summer dream [vid]
THERE’S SOMETHING about watching fishing boats return to their harbor sunset, while bobbing up and down in warm, turquoise water, that makes you feel the urge to pinch yourself. You’ve got to remind yourself this isn’t a dream. You’re here. In Turkey. And it’s incredible.
That’s the sensation that overtook me so many times while traversing Turkey’s Turquoise coast, the sensation that I was living in a dream. From the cobblestone back streets of Alaçatı, to eating freshly caught octopus in Kaş—Turkey does not disappoint. You have to see this coastline to believe it. It’s a place where ancient gods once walked, and one where it feels like they may still walk today.
Powered by Turkey Home.
August 18, 2015
20 awesomely untranslatable words
HERE ARE A FEW instances where other languages have found the right word and English simply falls speechless.
1. Toska
Russian – Vladmir Nabokov describes it best: “No single word in English renders all the shades of toska. At its deepest and most painful, it is a sensation of great spiritual anguish, often without any specific cause. At less morbid levels it is a dull ache of the soul, a longing with nothing to long for, a sick pining, a vague restlessness, mental throes, yearning. In particular cases it may be the desire for somebody or something specific, nostalgia, love-sickness. At the lowest level it grades into ennui, boredom.”
2. Mamihlapinatapei
Yagan (indigenous language of Tierra del Fuego) – “The wordless, yet meaningful look shared by two people who both desire to initiate something but are both reluctant to start.” (Altalang.com)
3. Jayus
Indonesian – “A joke so poorly told and so unfunny that one cannot help but laugh.” (Altalang.com)
4. Iktsuarpok
Inuit – “To go outside to check if anyone is coming.” (Altalang.com)
5. Litost
Czech – Milan Kundera, author of The Unbearable Lightness of Being, remarked that, “As for the meaning of this word, I have looked in vain in other languages for an equivalent, though I find it difficult to imagine how anyone can understand the human soul without it.” The closest definition is a state of agony and torment created by the sudden sight of one’s own misery.
6. Kyoikumama
Japanese – “A mother who relentlessly pushes her children toward academic achievement.” (Altalang.com)
7. Tartle
Scottish – The act of hestitating while introducing someone because you’ve forgotten their name. (Altalang.com)
8. Ilunga
Tshiluba (Southwest Congo) – A word famous for its untranslatability, most professional translators pinpoint it as the stature of a person “who is ready to forgive and forget any first abuse, tolerate it the second time, but never forgive nor tolerate on the third offense.” (Altalang.com)
9. Prozvonit
Czech – This word means to call a mobile phone and let it ring once so that the other person will call back, saving the first caller money. In Spanish, the phrase for this is “Dar un toque,” or, “To give a touch.” (Altalang.com)
10. Cafuné
Brazilian Portuguese – “The act of tenderly running one’s fingers through someone’s hair.” (Altalang.com)
11. Torschlusspanik
German – Translated literally, this word means “gate-closing panic,” but its contextual meaning refers to “the fear of diminishing opportunities as one ages.” (Altalang.com)
12. Wabi-Sabi
Japanese – Much has been written on this Japanese concept, but in a sentence, one might be able to understand it as “a way of living that focuses on finding beauty within the imperfections of life and accepting peacefully the natural cycle of growth and decay.” (Altalang.com)
13. Dépaysement
French – The feeling that comes from not being in one’s home country.
14. Schadenfreude
German – Quite famous for its meaning, which somehow other languages have neglected to emulate, this refers to the feeling of pleasure derived by seeing another’s misfortune. I guess “America’s Funniest Moments of Schadenfreude” just didn’t have the same ring to it.
15. Tingo
Pascuense (Easter Island) – Hopefully this isn’t a word you’d need often: “the act of taking objects one desires from the house of a friend by gradually borrowing all of them.” (Altalang.com)
16. Hyggelig
Danish – Its “literal” translation into English gives connotations of a warm, friendly, cozy demeanor, but it’s unlikely that these words truly capture the essence of a hyggelig; it’s something that must be experienced to be known. I think of good friends, cold beer, and a warm fire. (Altalang.com)
17. L’appel du vide
French – “The call of the void” is this French expression’s literal translation, but more significantly it’s used to describe the instinctive urge to jump from high places.
18. Ya’aburnee
Arabic – Both morbid and beautiful at once, this incantatory word means “You bury me,” a declaration of one’s hope that they’ll die before another person because of how difficult it would be to live without them.
19. Duende
Spanish – While originally used to describe a mythical, spritelike entity that possesses humans and creates the feeling of awe of one’s surroundings in nature, its meaning has transitioned into referring to “the mysterious power that a work of art has to deeply move a person.” There’s actually a nightclub in the town of La Linea de la Concepcion, where I teach, named after this word. (Altalang.com)
20. Saudade
Portuguese – One of the most beautiful of all words, translatable or not, this word “refers to the feeling of longing for something or someone that you love and which is lost.” Fado music, a type of mournful singing, relates to saudade. (Altalang.com)
This post was originally published on October 9, 2010. 
The 16 most inspiring travel photos this week
EACH WEEK we choose our favorite images from readers, fans, and travelers, who tag their photos with #travelstoke and post them on our Instagram account. These pictures provide a daily dose of inspiration, and challenge us to photograph the world in innovative ways.
Here’s this weeks editors’ picks of people finding some serious #travelstoke:
1. Alberta, Canada
A photo posted by Jake Graham (@jakecdgraham) on Aug 10, 2015 at 4:58pm PDT
2. Santorini, Greece
Foreign words English doesn't have
Photo: College Degrees360
1. Kummerspeck
German for “grief bacon.” It refers to the weight you put on while overeating for emotional reasons.
2. Luftmensch
A Yiddish word for a dreamer or a social misfit.
3. Tsundoku
A Japanese word referring to the act of buying a book and then never reading it.
4. Chi Ku (吃苦)
Chinese for “to eat bitterness.” This refers to the ability for one to endure hardship without becoming a bitter person.
5. Toska
A Russian word referring to spiritual anguish with no apparent cause.
6. Kreng-jai
A Thai word that directly translates as “awe heart” or “deferential heart.” It sort of means “consideration,” but often is used to reference the deference you might to someone else’s interests even at the expense of your own.
7. Pochemuchka
A Russian word for a person who asks too many questions.
8. Goya
An Urdu word meaning the suspension of disbelief one feels while hearing a really good story.
9. Esculhambação
A Brazilian Portuguese word referring to the mess that comes about as a result of organizational incompetence.
10. Koi no yokan
The feeling you get when you meet someone for the first time and think you’re going to fall in love with them.
11. Backpfeifengesicht
A German word referring to a face that needs a slap.
12. Hanyauku
A RuKwangali word for the act of tiptoeing across hot sand.
13. Verschlimmbesserung
A German word for an attempted improvement that just made things worse.
14. Pålegg
A Norwegian word meaning “things which might be put in a sandwich,” or, as it might be translated in the American south, “sandwich fixin’s.”
15. Cwtch
A Welsh word that most closely translates to “safe place,” but actually refers to a certain type of affectionate hug — by giving someone a “cwtch,” you’re providing them with a “safe place.”
16. Sisu
A Finnish term that basically means the quality of being a badass. The word is usually equated with the Finnish national character.
17. Inat
A Serbian word that refers to the act of arguing with someone solely because you like arguing with them. It’s a more complicated concept than that, though, and can also be equated to the English aphorism of deliberately “cutting off your nose to spite your face.”
18. Mokita
A Kivila word that means “the truth we all know but agree not to speak of.”
19. Won
A Korean word referring to the feeling of reluctance a person gets when letting go of an illusion.
20. Yakamoz
A Turkish word for the reflection of moonlight on water.
21. Waldeinsamkeit
An amazing German word referring to the feeling you get when you’re alone in the woods.
22. Lítost
A Czech word that the writer Milan Kundera defined as “a state of torment created by the sudden sight of one’s own misery.”
23. Culaccino
An Italian word referring to the circle of condensation left on a table after picking up a perspiring glass.
h/t: MentalFloss, Lingholic, The Guardian, Bored Panda and the commenters on our previous untranslatable words article
Matador Network's Blog
- Matador Network's profile
- 6 followers
