Matador Network's Blog, page 2169

20 stories that make Vancouver proud

Photo: jonrawlinson

REMEMBER HOW great Vancouver was in 2014? Take a look back at the headlines that happened and be proud that you live in one of the best places in the world.

1. VANCOUVER WINS TITLE OF NORTH AMERICA’S MOST LIVEABLE CITY

Forbes lists Vancouver as 2014’s third most liveable city in the world, one spot ahead of Toronto and two ahead of Calgary. Take that, every city in the world that isn’t named Melbourne or Vienna.

2. ARCHAIC LIQUOR LAWS CHANGED

Ridiculously out-of-date BC liquor laws were changed to allow happy hour prices, and starting in spring 2015, grocery stores will finally be permitted to sell booze. Rejoice as we join the current millennium!

3. NEW VANCOUVER BREWERIES OPEN, BEER LOVERS SWOON

Vancouver used to get made fun of for all its coffee shops. Well, move over pumpkin spice lattes — craft beer is here to stay. And if a microbrew isn’t enough, nanobrews are on the upswing, brewed in batches just small enough to get hipsters up in arms and racing their single-speed bikes for the last coveted growler-full. Just this year Main Street, Bomber, and Black Kettle have made waves, more have opened, and seemingly endless beer awards have been assigned. Combined with the new liquor laws, 2015 just might be the Year of the Beer.

4. VANCOUVER PUBLIC LIBRARY DECLARED BEST IN WORLD

Okay, so technically the group of university scholars from Düsseldorf announced this back in December 2013, but you have to feel pretty proud that we have one of the absolute best public libraries in the entire world (tied with Montreal).

5. PEDRO MORALES NAMED MLS NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR

I love him, you love him, and the rest of the MLS merely tolerates our adorable Chilean Whitecap.

6. KITS STREET PARTY KICKS ASS

Fifty-plus bands, forty-plus food trucks, and over 100,000 people made the 2014 Khatsahlano Street Party the best free event of the whole summer. And everyone was extremely well-behaved.

7. EARNEST ICE CREAM NEW LOCATION ANNOUNCED

The Fraser Street staple announced that they’re opening up a second location in Mount Pleasant and we are all crazy excited for a cone of Whiskey Caramel and London Fog.

8. STANLEY PARK NAMED WORLD’S BEST PARK

TripAdvisor pulled together every review they could find and discovered that Vancouver’s Stanley Park is the best park in the world. It placed ahead of New York City’s Central Park, and was the only Canadian one in the top ten. “Enough with the awards already” said no Vancouverite, ever.

9. ICONIC VANCOUVER AQUARIUM REVITALIZED

The self-sustaining non-profit Vancouver Aquarium that you grew up loving got an awesome $25 million upgrade.

10. TRADE IN TOYS FOR TICKETS

The Salvation Army facilitated a pretty amazing deal between Vancouver drivers and Impark. If you were unlucky enough to get a few parking tickets in 2014, the Army accepted a one-for-one trade-in on tickets for kids’ toys, thus making kids happy, keeping us happy, and keeping money out of Impark’s hands. And a Merry Christmas to all.

11. CAT CAFE OPENS

Vancouver took a page out of Japan’s book and opened a cafe that doubles as a cat shelter. If a large white chocolate mocha with extra whip isn’t enough to pick you up, a purring ball of the internet’s favourite animal is always nearby to sit on your lap.

12. WE WIN GOLD x2

Goaltender and Vancouver native Carey Price posts mind-blowing numbers and shuts out both USA and Sweden as the Canadian men’s hockey team steamrolls the world to win Olympic gold. Meanwhile, the women’s team pounds USA 3-2 for the second time in the tournament to win gold.

13. TORTS AND GILLIS FIRED

The experiment in hiring the certifiably insane John Tortorella to coach the Canucks was failed, maddening and terrible. So when Trevor Linden stepped in and hired Jim Benning and Willie Desjardins, we put our torches and pitchforks away. Welcome, Willie and Jim. You’re already making your city proud of you.

14. BENCHES HAILED AS COMPASSIONATE TOWARD HOMELESS

Raincity Housing installed some benches around town that fold out to provide a dry space with a roof for anyone who wants to sleep there. Other citiescoughLondoncough around the world went the opposite direction, instead putting spikes and painful deterrents on benches, earning the scorn of humans everywhere.

15. UBC RESEARCHERS DISCOVER SEPSIS BREAKTHROUGH

Sepsis is a huge killer that is very difficult to diagnose, but in October UBC researchers developed a way to detect the disease much earlier, which could potentially save thousands of lives every year. Saving lives is pretty sweet.

16. COUPLAND EXHIBIT OPENS AT THE VAG

Vancouver-born and raised cultural icon, Douglas “Generation X” Coupland, had his very own exhibit at the Vancouver Art Gallery, reminding us all that “everywhere is anywhere is anything is everything,” which allowed us all try and say with a straight face that things are getting deep at the VAG.

17. COMPOSTING PROGRAM BEGINS

If you’ve been living in an apartment or condo, as per Vancouver etiquette you have to hate having to throw food scraps and organic waste in the trash. But finally, the city got with the times and started rolling out composting to all Vancouver residents. It’s just one more way we’re maintaining our reputation as the greenest city.

18. BC WOMEN WIN SKIING OLYMPIC GOLD & SILVER

Our very own Vancouverite Marielle Thompson and Kelowna’s Kelsey Serwa went 1-2 in women’s freestyle ski cross, earning the tearful respect of Canadians nationwide.

19. LOCAL RESTAURANTS REIGN

Vij’s, Hawksworth, and Farmer’s Apprentice were all recognized as some of this country’s finest restaurants. Vancouver’s gastronomy scene has been on the rise for the last decade and shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon.

20. BEST WEATHER IN THE HISTORY OF EVER

We had NINETEEN consecutive days with zero precipitation this summer. NINETEEN. If you missed any day between July 25 and August 12, you might be crying yourself to sleep tonight. Vancouver millennials have never had a summer that good in their entire lives.

Things US expats want for Christmas

Photo: Katy Kildee

1. For the American craft-beer revolution to be a global phenomenon

I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with San Miguel in the Philippines or Mosi in Zambia — they’re (usually) cold, wet, and dirt-cheap. And, due to the fairly low alcohol content, these local lagers can give you real staying power on a night out. Plus let’s not forget that shitty beer can be just as effective as an enema when you’re a little backed up.

But shitty beer is a lot less tolerable after you’ve fallen in love with the hop-tastic goodness that America’s burgeoning craft-beer industry is churning out. When I do make it back stateside, I have the kind of beergasms that make me seriously question getting on my return flight.

On the plus side, when you do manage to track down truly good beer in a foreign country other than Belgium, it’s like drinking unicorn milk laced with ecstasy. The Hobbit House was my favorite bar in Manila, and that had nothing to do with the staff of Little People. They had Victory Golden Monkey. ‘Nuff said.

2. To be allowed in the Motherland for more than 35 days a year

To be fair, if I showed up now on our fair shores, it’s not like they’d turn me away. They’d welcome me with a standing ovation. But at stage left, there would be a sleazy looking accountant-type licking his lips and punching numbers into a calculator.

I don’t want to bore you with tax talk, so suffice it to say that Uncle Sam can come at a lot of us with his hand out if our time stateside (including connecting flights via US airports) isn’t calculated precisely. Thing is, planning travel isn’t exactly my strong suit unless I get points for screwing things up.

It boils down to a bunch of hard choices. Sure, a white Christmas and mom’s perogies are great, but the weather’s unpredictable and you could wind up grounded at Detroit International. Summer, in all its chlorophyll-drenched goodness, means camping and music festivals, but no football.

All I want for Christmas is to make an expat-shaped imprint in my parents’ couch, but I’m going to book a flight to Copenhagen and ask Santa for a UK passport instead. The Brits are allowed 91 days at home. Why did we fight so hard for independence again?

3. The gratis airline upgrade

As an ‘almost American,’ my frequent flier accounts are tied to hard-to-love US-based airlines with nose-diving mileage award charts (American, you said we’d be together forever?) and revenue-based requirements for status (Delta, it’s over). When Cathay Pacific gave me a full-size Hershey’s bar for dessert and Delta gave me a tenth of a Twix, I was that woman saying: “It’s not the size of the boat but the motion of the ocean, baby.” But no more. I have a greater chance of birthing a kayak than I do of getting an upgrade from my once ‘preferred’ carrier on an international flight.

4. For an American grocery story to materialize in our temporary homeland

Whether you’re a vegan in a soy cheese-free nation craving quesadillas, or you’re like me and believe that everything tastes better drenched in saturated fat (a.k.a, ranch dressing), there’s a totally unavailable food product that you fantasize about.

Being American abroad definitely makes you more creative in the kitchen, although that’s not always a good thing. The five-star breaded chicken entrée on allrecipes.com doesn’t taste quite the same if you mistake dried mint for parsley, and the closest thing you can find to breadcrumbs is stale rice cakes. Even Martha Stewart couldn’t make soy sauce from scratch in a post-Soviet republic.

Say what you want about the USA’s global military presence, if you’re in a country where we have a base, I envy you. Dear servicemen and women, I’m incredibly grateful for your sacrifice to protect our liberties. I’d also be grateful if we could pop into the PX to pick up some Velveeta shells ‘n cheese and taco seasoning. God bless America.

7 reasons you should travel to Cuba

Photo: Sue Kellerman

In light of the surprise news Wednesday — that the United States will begin normalizing relations with Cuba — the end of the long standing embargo seems even more within reach. Under the embargo, Americans cannot legally travel to Cuba except in special circumstances, such as for educational and research projects, humanitarian aid, and family visits. But if you’ve been waiting to take a trip to Cuba for when the embargo lifts, and you are able to get in legally, here are seven reasons not to wait:

1. So you can see the old-timey cars before they disappear

Though Raul Castro recently lifted a ban on buying and selling cars made after the year 1959, Cuba’s truest icon, old-timey cars, are very much a piece of everyday life in Cuba. While almost any piece of tourism media contains a photo of one of these still-running beauties, nothing quite recreates the feeling of stepping out of the airport and into a street filled with them. The time warp not only plays tricks with your head, but makes you feel like you’re a glamorous 1920s movie star stepping into the set of a movie. As the embargo lifts, and policies change in Cuba, newer cars are bound to find their way there, making the old-timey ones a cheap, tourist-y relic.

2. So you can see a country without an insane amount of commercials

Americans are constantly bombarded by commercialism, so much so that many of us don’t even notice the extent of it our day to day. In Cuba, you will undoubtedly be accosted by propaganda once in a while, but you will also experience — potentially for the first and only time in your life — a world devoid of consumerism’s rampant reign. Streets devoid of billboards, commercials, logos, and posters are something that will surely disappear in coming years, as American companies invest and capitalize on the opening Cuban market.

3. So you can enjoy illicit Cuban cigars before they’re everywhere

This might be the best time to buy up Cuban cigars, bring them back to the States and show them off to all of your friends. Soon they’ll be everywhere: Obama’s Wednesday announcement enables Americans to bring back larger quantities of Cuban products, a move that will quickly saturate the market. If you want to experience the nostalgic ideal of sipping on an icy mojito with Havana Club Rum while puffing Cohiba cigar, the time is now, before these luxurious and forbidden experiences become commonplace.

4. So you can enjoy the beaches before they become flooded with tourists

The pristine, white-sand beaches and sparkling turquoise waters of Cuba are sure to become tourist traps, laden with American-owned resorts, Coca Cola-sipping soccer moms, and Cuban peddlers selling American-made tanning oil. Nostalgia for a bag of Pelly (the Cuban version of the Funyun), and a Bucanero will be squashed in favor of cheaper, American-made products like Funyuns themselves and Coors Light. A relaxing and truly Cuban day at the beach will be a mere fantasy.

5. So you can visit a place that isn’t at all Americanized

Cuba is one of the only places in the world that hasn’t been “Americanized” in some way. There are already plenty of big businesses lining up to capitalize on the Cuban market. Though nothing is certain, Cuba’s landscape and romantic look will potentially be marred with the Golden Arches and our favorite green-coffee siren. American companies looking for a whole new market chomping at the bit to try out their first ever McMeal will permanently change the Cuba of today.

6. So you can experience one of the last places on earth where you can truly unplug

Everyone dreams of going to a remote island paradise and unplugging from the world for a few days. Cuba is one of the few places left that you can still truly do this. Most countries in Europe and even many third world countries are increasingly equipped with WiFi cafes or cell phone service access. The embargo has made it very difficult for the Cuban government to obtain the equipment needed to provide its citizens with services that offer internet. Additionally, no American cell phone carriers offer service in Cuba, making it the ideal place to escape from the rings and dings and “You’ve got Mail’s” of the connected world.

7. Because relations may not get better

Nothing is guaranteed for the Cuban-American relationship in the next few years. The two countries have a dramatic past, full of rash and hasty actions. Though it is my hope that the two will find a slow and graceful way to get back on good terms, the possibility that either one might pull out of negotiations still looms large. Due to the changes made by Obama, it is now easier than it has been in years to get there. But nothing is guaranteed. Getting there now requires a lot of paperwork and patience, but it is worth every moment. Why wait and take the chance that this opportunity will all be yanked away again?

How to rhyme Cockney slang

Photo: 7cero

YOU MAY not know that there’s pretty much a whole other language that exists for those born and bred in London, but there is, and it’s called Cockney rhyming slang.

Widely used in the 19th century by working class men and women living in East London, Cockney is still prevalent today. Most people refer to Cockneys as those born within hearing distance of the ‘Bow-Bells’ — the church of St. Mary-Le-Bow, located in Cheapside in the City of London.

Here’s a short guide to help you throw down some slang like a local on your next visit to London.

1. Barney rubble = Trouble

Example: “He’s only gone and got himself in a bit of barney rubble.”

2. Jam jar = Car

Example: “We’ll just take the jam jar.”

1. Boat race = Face

Example: “What’s up with your boat?”

2. Barnet fair = Hair

Example: “Nice barnet.”

3. Dog and bone = Phone

Example: “Just reach me on the old dog and bone.”

4. Bubble bath = Laugh

Example: “You’re having a bubble, mate.”

5. Apples and pears = Stairs

Example: “Up the apples and pears for bed.”

6. Brown Bread = Dead

Example: “He was brown bread by the time the old bill got there.” (Old Bill = Police / Cop)

7. Hank Marvin = Starving

Example: “Let’s eat now, I’m Hank Marvin!”

8. Trouble and Strife = Wife

Example: “Nah, I left the trouble and strife at home.”

9. Jimmy Riddle = Piddle (to urinate)

Example: “Just nipping for a Jimmy Riddle” or “Jimmy.”

10. Rub a dub = Pub

Example: “Meet you in the rub a dub.”

11. Frog and toad = Road

Example: “I’ll meet you down the frog and toad.”

12. Two and eight = State

Example: “Don’t get yourself in a two and eight.”

13. Tom dick = Sick

Example: “I’m feeling a bit Tom Dick.”

14. Adam and Eve it = Believe it

Example: “Can you blooming Adam and Eve it?”

15. Bob hope = soap

Example: “Smells like you need a bit of bob hope, mate”

16. Lady Godiver = Fiver (i.e five pounds / dollars / insert currency here)

Example: “It’s only a Lady Godiver — bargain”

17. Jack Jones = on your own

Example: “Look at you all on your Jack Jones” or “on your Jack.”

18. Ruby Murray = Curry

Example: “Meeting the boys for a pint and Ruby Murray.”

19. Butcher’s hook = Look

Example: “Let’s have a butchers, mate.”

20. Loaf of bread = Head

Example: “Why don’t you just use your loaf?”

Christmas time in Sao Paulo

Photo: Klaus Jessen

1. You can’t avoid Conjunto Nacional’s decorations.

We’re talking bells and Christmas balls built with colorful, recycled garbage. It started as an eco trend a few years ago and stuck. Standing on the corners of Augusta Street and Paulista Avenue, Conjunto Nacional is the unofficial meeting spot of central São Paulo.

2. All shops windows have a “snow” theme and a lot of red velvet — never mind that it’s 95ºF on the streets.

White-sand beaches and palm trees doesn’t go that well with red-nosed reindeers and knit sweaters. As a result, people try to emulate what they think is a US and European Christmas, ginger cookies included. Some people go as far as decorating a fireplace with wool socks.

3. The traffic around Parque do Ibirapuera is way out of control.

As citizens leave for the holidays, the city gets calm, almost surrealistically calm. But not around the biggest and most-popular public green area, Parque do Ibirapuera. Thousands of people gather to see the special show of lights reflected in the lake every night, causing major traffic jams.

4. The streets are alive with revelers.

The Christmas lights on Estaiada Bridge, Paulista Avenue, and Rua Normandia are the main attraction, and people are walking around smiling and taking selfies.

5. Christmas choirs surround all the metro and train stations.

Also, the open piano at Sé station plays Christmas songs. And stuff like this is bound to happen:

6. A giant Santa on a bicycle greets bikers using the Faria Lima cycle lane in front of Iguatemi Mall, the oldest in town.

Not only there: in front of the Mayorship building there is ANOTHER giant, biker Santa. In an year when dozens of bike lanes were inaugurated, this is a refreshing sight. Can you imagine? Bikes in São Paulo?

7. Magazines advise “How to get ready for summer in half a day!” while heavy (and tasty!) cuscuz and farofa recipes abound.

Alas, the biggest dilemma of girls celebrating the holidays in the Southern Hemisphere: enjoy it all, but keep your “biquini body.” It’s a choice: you either eat what’s on the table or endure a crazy workout regime to keep fit. I tend to stay in the first group.

8. Panetonne is everywhere and available in every flavour imaginable.

From chocolate (chocotonne is the Brazilian take on the traditional Italian Christmas bread-like cake) to torresmo (really).

What cooks think of your breakfast

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IN THE MORNING, cooks are scrambling to set up the line in time for opening. Still shaking off the cobwebs from the evening before, we’re at our grumpiest when service begins. So while you may think the most important meal of the day is just an indication of what you’re craving, cooks everywhere are here to tell you otherwise:

Granola served over non-fat Greek yogurt – This is your first stop post-morning yoga. You’re the first person here and we’re just glad you didn’t order something from the hot line.

Oatmeal – You weren’t ready when the waiter finally got to you.

A greasy egg sandwich & Bloody Mary – You’re hungover. Or you’re still drunk and anticipating a hangover. Either way, good choice.

A side of gluten-free toast – The Paleo diet is trending on Pinterest, so obviously you’re doing it. You are going to get relatively upset when you find out we don’t serve gluten-free toast.

A single chocolate chip pancake – You’re either a small child or a freshman in college.

The basic breakfast – You’re boring. Eat at home next time.

Fried chicken & waffles – You probably ordered this with a Southern accent.

An egg white omelet – You remain up-to-date on all health fads. I’m tempted to tell you the yolks are the healthiest part of the egg, just to see to your reaction.

The $10 breakfast buffet – You’re a starving college student and will make at least three trips. You’re getting your money’s worth.

Eggs over-hard – You’re high maintenance and passive aggressive. So if the eggs are cooked soft, you’ll refuse to eat AND refuse to send back the dish.

Corned beef hash – You have no standards when it comes to food. You live by the five-second-rule.

Triple-chocolate muffin – You think that just because it’s served on the breakfast menu, it ceases to be dessert. You’ll probably also order a hot chocolate.

The vegetarian omelet, add bacon – You’re grudgingly trying to choose something healthy. You’ll probably add extra cheese and a side of hash browns, too. At some point, you might as well stop kidding yourself and ditch the veggies all together.

The breakfast burrito – You wish it was lunch and that you’d gone to Chipotle instead.

The fruit salad – You’re going to be disappointed when you see the melon:berry ratio. But that’s what you get for ordering fruit salad.

Anything with pork belly – We get that you’re a hipster, but stop asking for cold brew. We don’t serve it.

Just coffee – You’re just using us as a means to escape the cold. You’re probably going to sit there for the next two hours gossiping with your friends. Enjoy the free refills, asshole.

A bagel with cream cheese – You’re going to be late to class, but there was no food in your apartment.

Eggs Benedict – You’re a parent having breakfast without the kids. And that makes both of us happy.

Huevos rancheros – You’re personality is spicy, just like your taste buds. You’ll hoard our hot sauce bottle for the rest of the morning.

Brie and apple omelet – You’re fancy and pretentious enough to make sure this is prepared with extra virgin olive oil, not butter.

Tofu and vegetable scramble – Hippy and friend to all, you are polite and soft-spoken…as long as the vegetables are locally sourced and organically grown.

Grits – You, wise one, know something that everyone else is ignorant to. Despite their presentation, grits are actually a tasty dish and you will leave satisfied.

Scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, and oatmeal – You don’t have to tell us that you’re a weight lifter on the way home from the gym. Your muscle shirt, meal, and the sweat stain that you leave on the seat says it all.

Anything where you indicate a nut allergy – We know it’s not your fault, but if you knew the process behind preparing an allergy ticket, you wouldn’t have come during the rush.

Make-your-own omelet – You’re a control freak. If you want to dictate exactly what goes into your breakfast, eat at home. There’s a menu for a reason.

The breakfast burger – You’re in the industry. We’re going to send you a side of hash browns and add extra bacon to your burger.

Just hash browns – Everyone knows that hash browns are the best part of breakfast. You get right to the point, and we want to give you a pat on the back and a round of applause.

6 things Romanians love to hate

Photo: zorislav stojanovic

1. Eating vegetables and salads on Christmas Eve

Romanians love traditional food — think lots of pork, in all its glorious forms — for Christmas dinner. Traditional does not include many vegetables. Just before Christmas, there are even public campaigns on television and radio advising people not to eat too much meat during the holidays. While the Romanian housewife is preparing the national dish sarmale, minced pork stuffed in stewed cabbage, she smiles, knowing full well that all these campaigns are completely useless.

2. Fake-breasted girls in a car their sugar-daddy bought for them

Young Romanian girls, often starting in high school, are mesmerized by old, rich men who buy them expensive cars and houses, and make them VIPs literally overnight. Romanians follow the old proverb “Never forget where you come from,” and being bought for your beauty and youth is generally looked down upon. Romanians love to gossip about and condemn the newly rich women while waiting at the hairdressing salon, at the doctor, or while attending some fancy parties or public events.

3. Orthodox cathedrals and churches

The Romanian Orthodox Church has created a terrible reputation for destroying little neighborhood parks in order to raise huge, imposing churches, and many Orthodox priests have recently been accused of fraud, greed, and corruption. The huge Cathedral of Romanian People Salvation started in 2011, and the building of this cathedral has generated many public protests and even international critics. Often, when a Romanian passes by an opulent Orthodox church, he will express disgust.

4. Staying in a queue

Endlessly waiting on line is a traumatic experience most Romanians had to endure during the Communist period, so nowadays waiting in a queue for anything such as bread or fruit at a grocer is a reminder of that dark period. Romanians hate waiting so much that you will find big banners in the supermarkets displaying this message: “We know time is important to you. That is why if you are waiting in a queue more than five minutes, while there are some cash registers that are not opened, we will give you 5 RON.”

5. Celebrating Valentine’s Day instead of Dragobete’s Day

Every year there is public debate about why we Romanians don’t value our traditions, and so easily adopt foreign holidays that have nothing to do with Romanian culture. Ethnographers, writers, and journalists express their anger about Valentine’s Day, suggesting that all lovers should instead celebrate our Romanian protector of love, Dragobete, who is believed to be the son of a legendary woman, Dochia, and the equivalent of Cupidon. The public holiday of Dragobete has been assiduously promoted, so there are parties, concerts, and youth gatherings in clubs. Still, every Romanian knows that flowers smell nicer and chocolate candies taste sweeter on Valentine’s Day than on Dragobete.

6. Saying “Hello” in Hungarian and not in Romanian

This is unforgivable for any Romanian visiting Székely Land, a region in the middle of the country where the majority of the population is Hungarian. Romanians had to deal with many attempts of secession on behalf of the Hungarian minority, who claimed autonomy in the regions where they form the majority of the population. Some nationalist politicians have increased this fear between the Romanian population, so there’s no wonder why Romanians feel the passion of nationalism running through their veins.

This passion for hating the Hungarian nationalists has inspired many jokes that Romanians love to tell at different gatherings and parties. This mutual hate is at its highest when the Hungarian football team comes to play the Romanian national team. This year the supporters who came to Romania from Hungary expressed their hate by throwing large quantities of trash out of the train windows all the way from Hungary to Bucharest. Romanian supporters do the same when they go to Hungary to support the Romanian football team, so the hate is clearly mutual.

Travel bloggers go to Washington

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Americans need more international experiences. And apparently, the government is starting to do something about it.

Last week, The United States Government invited the world’s most influential travel bloggers to The White House. No, the Obamas were not seeking advice on their next holiday vacation. At least, not while the camera was rolling. What they were seeking was a means by which to change the national consensus relating to meaningful international experiences for Americans, specifically in regards to America’s youth and studying abroad.

The White House Summit for Study Abroad and Global Citizenship, which lasted about four hours and takes as long to say, can be watched here. The Obamas, though kindly inviting the world’s top travel bloggers to their snow covered home, were not present at the summit. But there were plenty of high-ranking government personnel, travel aficionados, and otherwise impressive individuals present. Speakers and panel members included Obama’s Chief of Staff, the First Lady’s Chief of Staff, the Deputy National Security Advisor, the Assistant Secretary for Education and Cultural Affairs, the Director of Social Innovation, the Secretary of Commerce, the Editor-in-Chief of Yahoo Travel News, National Geographic writer Robert Reid, the CEO of I3 Media, and the President of George Mason University, among others.

Topics of discussion ranged from the prohibitive costs of study abroad to the need for Americans to speak more languages to the startlingly low numbers of Americans studying abroad each year. A number of staggering facts were dispersed, a number of initiatives were promoted, a number of economic as well as political imperatives were proclaimed, and a number of cultural norms were analyzed. But above all, The US government made it clear they realize both the necessity of international experiences and the fact that we are behind in this regard.

Beneath the layers of well-prepared speeches and gestures of good will, the summit revealed encouraging insight into the government’s awareness and priorities when it comes to the importance of meaningful travel. The government displayed their intentions to make international travelling experiences a more ubiquitous and accessible component of American culture, not because travel is a luxury worth having but because it is a necessity worth realizing. But why is studying abroad international travel so important?

If you don’t have four hours to watch the full summit itself, here are some key takeaways and reasons why the government is so keen to get Americans moving around the globe:

1. When it comes to studying abroad, Americans lag behind many other countries. That is not good for America’s future.

Basically, Americans are far less likely to study, work, live, volunteer, or even travel internationally than most other nations. This is not only a problem because the world is beautiful and fascinating, but also because a lack of cultural understanding and international experiences puts America at a disadvantage economically, politically, and socially. As Deputy National Security Advisor Ben Rhodes stated, “If we are to thrive in the globalized world… we need to get out of our comfort zone.”

2. Not only do Americans need to realize the value of international experiences and education abroad, Americans need to understand the value of travelling to remote and unusual destinations.

Among the varied statistics thrown around was that when Americans DO get abroad, the majority go to England, Spain, or Australia. Government speakers chuckled as they recalled that they too had chosen to study abroad in England or Spain. But each speaker maintained that Americans should get out of that cycle. It’s important to understand and explore all of the varied and dynamic cultures of our world. As the Assistant Secretary of Educational and Cultural Affairs said: “Americans need to learn about all the countries and cultures of the world. Not just a handful.”

Mr. Rhodes conveyed the importance of sending America’s youth to live, work, or study in all the regions of the world but specified Sub-Saharan Africa, Southeast Asia, and Latin America as particularly “dynamic” locations they’d like to see more Americans visit and live.

3. In addition to viewing oneself as an American (Or insert nationality here) citizen, it is important to view oneself as a global citizen. We Americans may share this country, but we humans share this planet.

Throughout the summit the words ‘global citizen’ were stated, emphasized, and echoed almost to the point of redundancy. Yet the phrase was not made redundant despite being overused because the concept of being a global citizen is an essential mindset in the 21st century. Many of our issues are the entire world’s issues. From Ebola to ISIS to climate change, we need to work together as global citizens to combat global woes. In order to achieve this we need to understand, interact, and value the varied cultures and people that make up our deeply interconnected planet. We need to work together. And it will be exceedingly difficult to work together if we first do not seek to experience, relate, and understand each other.

4. Americans need to learn more languages, and at a younger age.

I once met a friendly foreigner that shared a joke with me: “What do you call somebody that speaks three languages? Trilingual. What do you call somebody that speaks two languages? Bilingual. What do you call somebody that speaks one language? American.” The US government (indirectly) declared the imperative for this joke to stop being so hilariously — yet tragically — true. In particular, it was made clear that for a variety of reasons political, economic and otherwise, they want to encourage Americans to study less commonly spoken languages such as Arabic, Chinese, Hindi, and Russian.

5. It is not just for fun or adventure. It is essential.

This wasn’t a warm and fuzzy you should travel because beer in Belgium is delicious and you’ll have a blast in Rio summit. It was made extremely clear that engaging internationally and understanding the varied cultures of our world is a ‘strategic imperative’ for The United States. From prospering economically to combating global issues, studying and living and experiencing the planet’s myriad countries and cultures is an essential component in our ability to thrive in the 21st century.

6. They realize that in most cases, the desire to travel is there.

50% of college freshmen say they plan to study abroad during college and yet less than 10% do so. As was pointed out by many of the bloggers in the audience, and agreed upon by each speaker, a large part of the reason not as many go abroad as would like to is because of cost. Various speakers and attendees stated that international flights and programs are budget strain for many, and when added to the already exorbitant cost of higher ed, not practical for many Americans. Unfortunately, the government did not take after the Germans and offer free higher education to all during the summit. But they did admit higher education is expensive in The US, which is a positive admission. But despite this admission and the lack of any clear way around the costs other than a variety of scholarships, they argued that Americans should travel abroad despite daunting costs. One speaker argued that the cost of studying abroad is high, but the cost of not studying abroad is far higher.

7. Even though cost is an obstacle, the greatest obstacle is mindset.

Cost is certainly prohibitive but what is more prohibitive is the common view among Americans that travel is an expensive indulgence that although desired by many, is not essential or practical. The speakers argued that Americans should begin to see studying abroad as part of their degree, as part of their education, and as a pivotal part of their youth and development.

8. Bloggers are communications experts capable of shaping the minds of a country.

The necessity of convincing the American public that studying abroad is essential is why they invited all those travel bloggers over. The First Lady’s Chief of Staff told the attending bloggers and writers: “The number of people you reach is astonishing.” Bloggers have a unique edge in shaping the mindset and information that reaches nations and their youth. By inviting influential bloggers to the White House as opposed to university study-abroad staff, the US government showed it understands the pivotal role that new media plays in shaping the opinions and culture of the public. They called upon the bloggers present to “get the word out,” to “convince the moms,” and to work with them to create a society that values and realizes that meaningful international experience is essential.

How to tell it's a Finland Christmas

Photo: Visit Finland

1. Santa Claus gets taken to the extreme

Finland is pretty much home to Santa Claus, who is from the northern region of Finland, Korvatunturi (The Ear Mountain), in Lapland. In the weeks leading up to Christmas, Santas can be found in almost every shopping center, supermarket, and department store, including Kamppi in Helsinki, and Stockmanns. We’re used to seeing Santa greet travelers at airports or train stations, especially in Lapland, and we can even send our wish list to Santa in the post. Every single letter, of which the Finnish Santa receives some hundreds of thousands from kids and adults from around the world, gets answered from the “Santa Claus Main Post Office” in Rovaniemi. And if Christmas isn’t enough for us, we can meet Santa Claus every day of the year right by the Arctic Circle at Finland’s Santa Claus Village.

2. Ads for “Sober Santa with a Car” circulate through communities

Finnish guys who have a car and don’t drink alcohol can pick up a part-time job as a “Sober Santa.” This position came about because it used to be customary to give a hired Santa a drink at each household. Needless to say, they were “more than merry” by the early evening, and began causing problems. Ads for Sober Santas adorn Finnish shop notice boards and Internet forums starting from early autumn as families get ready to celebrate Christmas. On Christmas Eve, these Santas go from home to home delivering presents to children, and the money is pretty decent for only a few hours of work — the going rate for a fifteen-minute visit is around 80 Euros (100 USD).

3. Everyone suddenly attends church

Starting from the first day of Advent until the Epiphany, individual parishes organize “The Most Beautiful Christmas Songs” events, which gather around a million Finns every year. That’s almost one fifth of the whole population, amazing considering that a majority of Finns don’t actively participate in events held by the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland other times of the year. Churches and parish halls fill up and we sing our favorite Christmas songs, and often the older, more traditional locations organize several events that are booked up on a first-come-first-serve basis.

4. Breakfast begins with a search for almonds in the porridge

Christmas Eve is where it’s at when it comes to holiday celebrations in Finland, and the excitement starts with breakfast. Warm rice porridge served with sugar, cinnamon and sometimes also butter and milk, is the most popular way to start the day. One lucky person in the family will find an almond in their portion. The almond is said to bring luck to whoever finds it, but in medieval times whoever found a coin or bean in their porridge got to decide who was to perform entertaining tasks for the amusement of the rest of the party.

5. Declaring the Peace becomes a televised event

The holidays really begin when over 15,000 Finns gather at the square in Turku (Finland’s former capital) at 12 o’clock on Christmas Eve. Then the Declaration of Christmas Peace is delivered both in Finnish and Swedish, and is broadcast to over a million people on television and the internet. Most businesses close their doors, and families gather together to pause for a moment of peace before the celebration. This unique tradition has been going since the Middle Ages, with the wording dating to the 1640s. The current format of the event, where the declaration is preceded by a hymn, the Finnish national anthem, and an honorary march, was established in the early 1900s.

6. Sauna visits occur before Santa visits

Although the days when babies were delivered in saunas is gone, the Christmas sauna is a tradition that still goes strong. Almost every Finnish household has a sauna, even apartments, and it’s usually visited on Christmas Eve before dinner. It’s a way to cleanse, relax, and reflect before the celebration. In the past it was believed that elves, gnomes, and spirits of dead family members bathed in the sauna after the family, and throwing beer on the stove was said to ensure a good harvest for the following year. For an unlucky child, Santa Claus sneakily pays a visit while the family is in the sauna, leaving all the presents under the Christmas tree. But really it means that the parents didn’t want to, or couldn’t find a Santa to visit in the evening.

7. Pinterest becomes a go-to for new casserole recipes

During Christmas dinner, we indulge in a series of slightly different, brown-colored casseroles that accompany an oven-cooked ham. Potatoes, swedes (turnips), and carrots mashed into the respective casserole dishes are served, along with with sides of fish, and salads made of salted mushrooms and beetroot. We call this the joulupöytä, the traditional assortment of dishes at Christmas dinner. For dessert, joulutorttu (sweet prune jam pastries), gingerbread cookies, and lots of chocolate truffles are served, and our casserole leftovers usually carry well through Christmas and Boxing Day.

8. Sitting in traffic at the cemetery is expected

At Christmas, the Finnish cemeteries become bright with thousands of candles lighting up the dark winter’s day. The custom of visiting graves of loved ones on Christmas Eve has resulted in the increased use of traffic wardens. They are hired to ensure we experience a smooth visitation and avoid getting into fights about parking over the grave of someone’s granny.

9. People open their homes (and our saunas) to those in need

Recently, Finns have started to offer a place at their Christmas table, or on their sauna benches, to families in need. The stereotypical Finn is stoic and cold, only minding his or her own business, but at Christmas it’s possible to see Finnish mothers on community Facebook groups offering support those not as fortunate. We find both practical and nonmaterial ways to help out. Although so far only a few families have shared this experience, the updates I’ve seen on Facebook have been appreciatively showcased and commented on by thousands.

Mexico by Mexicans v Gringos

Photo: José Luis Manzo Ramírez

Mariachis

Mexicans: The party’s over. Everybody needs to go home…now!

Gringos: Mexico’s greatest national symbol.

Tijuana

Mexicans: A small city on the US border, known for its unruly nature and because it has donkeys disguised as zebras.

Gringos: One of Mexico’s major cities. Other contenders are Mexico City, Acapulco, Cancún, and Puerto Vallarta.

Cancún

Mexicans: The Caribbean!

Gringos: Mexico!

Cinco de Mayo

Mexicans: We commemorate some battle…in Puebla…against some unfriendly dudes.

Gringos: Mexican Independence Day!

Barbacoa

Mexicans: Steamed meat. The perfect remedy for your hangover.

Gringos: Barbecue. Still good for the hangover.

America

Mexicans: Our continent. Football team, loved by a few and hated by everyone else.

Gringos: The US

Mexican Cinema

Mexicans: Pedro Infante, Cantinflas, María Félix, Guillermo del Toro, the Golden Age of Mexican Cinema…

Gringos: Y Tu Mamá También!

Chilli con carne

Mexicans: Say what?

Gringos: The national dish of Mexico

Maná

Mexicans: The worst part of Mexican rock

Gringos: The worst part of Mexican rock

Limón

Mexicans: The necessary companion of every Mexican meal. It’s also good to prepare aguas frescas, to enhance the power of your everyday tea, and keeps your clothes clean, your dog in good health, your hair looking good, and the flies away from home. It’s the best antiseptic, cures liver disease, reduces skin rash, and is the quintessential ingredient of every michelada.

Gringos: Better known as lime. You bought a pack at Trader Joe’s last winter and left them until they all turned brown.

Salsa

Mexicans: Every table’s centerpiece. Located between the salt, napkins, and limes.

Gringos: Tomato sauce.

Bimbo

Mexicans: White bread.

Gringos: Good-looking girl, not very bright.

Nopales

Mexicans: Ubiquitous side dish.

Gringos: You mean you really eat cacti in Mexico?

El Coco

Mexicans: Creature of mysterious origin whose main goal is solving the typical fights over bedtime with children…by eating them.

Gringos: Coconuts, great with vodka!

Corona

Mexicans: Your last resort. You only drink it when there’s nothing else in your fridge, it’s the middle of the night, and there’s not a single convenience store for miles around you.

Gringos: Authentic Mexican beer to be served with lime.

“A la mexicana” / “Mexican style”

Mexicans: With tomato, chili, and onion.

Gringos: Somebody with a sombrero, serape, and maracas.

Sweetbreads

Mexicans: Orejas, conchas, moños, chilindrinas, cocoles, hojaldras, besos, polvorones, bigotes, cuernos, panques, trenzas, pan de muerto, donuts, pies, and cakes.

Gringos: Organ meat

Mercados

Mexicans: So cheap and so fresh!

Gringos: So…organic and so expensive!