Intercultural Interests & Experiences

[Mistryss Nite]

Oh, we call that Fat Tuesady or Mardi Gras in most of America. Mardi Gras seems more wild than Pancake Day though.

What does Mardi Gras even mean? Mardi = Tuesday and Gras = ?

It's French for Fat Tuesday. But, it is essentially Carnival--the New Orleans style.

 

[Drohn]

2) My ex was a vegetarian and he stayed in Japan for a semester of his college, so I know something about his experiences. He actually had a lot of problems, because vegetarianism is something of a weird subject to the Japanese and they tend to put fish in almost everything and don't really think much of it. Tofu is very common, but it's not seen as a vegetarian thing and is served along with meat a lot of the time. Said ex did end up breaking and eating fish a few times (mostly for politeness) since fish is everywhere in Japanese cuisine, and he also prepared a lot of his own meals to make sure things were safe. You can google "vegetarianism in Japan" for a few blogs and articles with tips and such to help you out.

That's one of the things I'm worried about. I wouldn't want to offend them, but I'm not willing to stop being a vegetarian either. Saying no when someone offers you something in Japan can be considered rude. I will have to do my best to avoid such situations, but I'm going to guess there will be times when I just have to be "rude". They might go easy on me for being foreign.

 

[Chaos Jackal]

You should have me with you. I'll eat anything you can't. As long as you pay for it, obviously.
Anyway, I also wanted to go to Japan and learn the language. However, I was more intent on learning to speak it, and maybe learn to read a few katakana. The day I'll start learning how to read kanji will be the day I'll be literally bored to death. The language itself sounds very interesting, though.

 

[Scorched Feathers]

Country / State: United Kingdom

What facts / opinions can you share about your country? We're depressing, we drink tea and we enjoy funerals. How sad it is sometimes in Britain. We were highly Industrial a while back. And we have the worst Government ever. Also, we seem to be thrifty, cowering over pennies, while the gap between rich and poor widens.

Which countries that are not your own have you visited? Did you enjoy the experience(s)? I've been to Scotland a few times, but usually only to go shopping while we're on holiday. Dear god Edinburgh is congested. However, Scotland does have some wonderful countryside.

Which language(s) do you speak and how well do you speak them? I speak English, obviously, as well as Basic Spanish, German and Japanese.Other than that, I can say hello in a few languages.

Are you interested in learning other languages? If so, which? And why? The only language I have interest in at the moment is Japanese, with German and Spanish being compulsory, so yeah.

Are you interested in learning about different cultures? Which cultures do you find most interesting? Why? I am interested in learning about Japanese culture, as I would like to move there when I'm older. Other than that, I do take an interest in most cultures.

Are you proud of your own culture? Would you enjoy talking to others about it and helping them understand it? We're too miserable most of the time for me to be proud of our culture most of the time. We have some of the best comedians though. I don't know whether I would enjoy talking to people about us, but I probably would.

Do you consider yourself culturally aware? Can you separate cultural differences from personal differences?
I do find myself Culturally aware, and I can understand if someone has cultural differences to us Brits. Heck, I go to a Language College.

Do you have any other intercultural experiences you would like to share? I don't travel around, like most of my friends. One of them has been to Bhutan, where *an illegal plant* grows wild .

 

[Blob55]

How the hell do you go pancake day -> mardi gras -> carnaval? I mean, pancakes, of all things?

IDK. We just eat Pancakes that day. I guess it's cheaper than hosting a whole festival and Pancakes are yummy.

 

[professorlight]

What does Mardi Gras even mean? Mardi = Tuesday and Gras = ?

It's French for Fat Tuesday. But, it is essentially Carnival--the New Orleans style.

Oh, I get it... gras... grasa. Fat!

How the hell do you go pancake day -> mardi gras -> carnaval? I mean, pancakes, of all things?

IDK. We just eat Pancakes that day. I guess it's cheaper than hosting a whole festival and Pancakes are yummy.

Oh, you have it so much better than us. I hate carnival. For a country that looked up to europe since it was created, we certainly picked up the wrong festivities.

 

[Elite Stride]

Hello my intercultural friends!

A heads up for you all--I've moved this to Member Clubs given the nature of the thread. Enjoy~

 

[King Xerneas]

Country / State:
Oregon/US; repping the west coast ;D

What facts / opinions can you share about your country?
I really don't know what America hasn't shared with the world...

Which countries that are not your own have you visited? Did you enjoy the experience(s)?
Well being of Mexican descent I've been to Mexico countless times. I guess it was fun, Christmas and New Years with the family. I flew over Canada once, and I am planning on going to France for 10 days in the spring, and let me tell you, I am beyond excited for this trip

Which language(s) do you speak and how well do you speak them?
Spanish was my first language, but I primarily speak English. I guess I'm also fluent in French as I've been taking French lessons for about five years.

Are you interested in learning other languages? If so, which? And why?
I would LOVE to learn Japanese. Ya know for all the awesome Japanese things

Are you interested in learning about different cultures? Which cultures do you find most interesting? Why?
I'm really intrigued by all the cultures in Europe. I guess I'd like to know more about British life as I am a sucker for a genuine British accent .

Are you proud of your own culture? Would you enjoy talking to others about it and helping them understand it?
Technically my culture would be Mexican, so yah I'm proud of that. Making differences and all.

Do you consider yourself culturally aware? Can you separate cultural differences from personal differences?
I guess I'm pretty culturally aware.

Do you have any other intercultural experiences you would like to share?
Not really, most people I've met are from the US or spent like a year or two in Mexico. Not much inter cultural mixing happening over here, sadly.

 

[Leaf_Ranger]

(...)
I read several people stating their interest in Japan. Are there others with plans to travel there or planning to practice the language?
(...)

Not anytime soon. I'm afraid of heights and the trip to Japan is waaaay to long but I do hope to go there before dying and also before getting too old!
My next trip will be to Cuba and after Mandela's funeral I'm somewhat in a hurry because I want to visit it while capitalism doesn't invade the island!

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Are you interested in learning about different cultures? Which cultures do you find most interesting? Why?
As long as it's not shoved down my throat like certain American holidays. (I'm looking at you Thanksgiving)

I never really thought much about it, but it happened several times that I heard Americans say Thanksgiving should be an international holiday. Many countries I know, including my own, have different (often multiple) holidays where they come together with the family and celebrate their holidays together. I love spending holidays with my family and I would have no issues adding more holidays to the list, but I am curious about why it's popular for North Americans to want it to be specifically this holiday. Could someone with more insight about the topic explain?

They use a lot of tofu (yuck!) and miso soup should be vegetarian. Can you eat fish? If so, sushi! Onigiri is very good (rice balls usually with other stuff) -- but be sure to google what each kind has...some use fish flakes or have fish or meat inside. I love the kind with Nori Fumi Furikake (rice topping with seaweed and sesame seeds). Here's some Japanese vegan recipes that might help (I use her recipes all the time ^.^): http://justbento.com/category/vegan
Or there is: http://www.neverendingvoyage.com/vegetarian-survival-guide-to-japan/
Plus, Japanese curry is very good!

I love tofu! I made tofu today. I'm also Asian (although I've never been in Asia) so I'm quite used to Asian cooking styles from my parents. My ancestors are from India, but the last couple generations of my family have lived in Surinam (South America) where many Asian and other cultures lived together and cooking styles got shared/mixed. My parents moved to the Netherlands when they were young with my grandparents and I have not yet left Europe (Japan will be my first time). My parents can make the most awesome dishes and use a lot of variety! Cooking is something that has been passed down for generations in my family (and many Indian families), but I have yet to learn all the things my parents do. I miss their food.

I don't eat fish, so I won't be able to eat sushi in Japan. Thanks for the links! Those dishes look amazing! Miso Soup also looks great on Google!

I can't wait to try some of them out when I'm in there.

If you're going to Japan, don't forget to eat Castella cake. It's really soft, tastes great and it was introduced by the Portuguese!

---

(...)
Oh, you have it so much better than us. I hate carnival. For a country that looked up to europe since it was created, we certainly picked up the wrong festivities.

You should see how some cities in Portugal celebrate Carnival: it's a copy of the Brazilian one but, instead of pretty girls in hot weather we have chicks with a few extra pounds showing their fat bellies and dancing to avoid February's cold. -.-' I don't have nothing against fat people but mimicking Brazil while at the same time "forcing" girls to go around the streets dressed in that manner and with cold!? If they were to mimick another Carnival, at least have good taste and mimick the best in the world: the Venetian.

 

[professorlight]

(...)
Oh, you have it so much better than us. I hate carnival. For a country that looked up to europe since it was created, we certainly picked up the wrong festivities.

You should see how some cities in Portugal celebrate Carnival: it's a copy of the Brazilian one but, instead of pretty girls in hot weather we have chicks with a few extra pounds showing their fat bellies and dancing to avoid February's cold. -.-' I don't have nothing against fat people but mimicking Brazil while at the same time "forcing" girls to go around the streets dressed in that manner and with cold!? If they were to mimick another Carnival, at least have good taste and mimick the best in the world: the Venetian.

Poor girls... But I'm sure even in brazil they have only the prettiest girls in the carnival itself, while the average ones are around the place. Obviously the cameras will only focus on those on the floats. It's the same way here. The venetian carnival is better, but not by much. At least it's quieter...

 

[Leaf_Ranger]

Country / State: United Kingdom

What facts / opinions can you share about your country? We're depressing, we drink tea and we enjoy funerals. How sad it is sometimes in Britain. We were highly Industrial a while back. And we have the worst Government ever. Also, we seem to be thrifty, cowering over pennies, while the gap between rich and poor widens.


Are you proud of your own culture? Would you enjoy talking to others about it and helping them understand it? We're too miserable most of the time for me to be proud of our culture most of the time. We have some of the best comedians though. I don't know whether I would enjoy talking to people about us, but I probably would.

I could never understand how Britains can stand up with only two political parties. I know that there a few others (at least I remember some years ago hearing something about a new party being created) but still. Here in Portugal and in practise there isn't that much different, with the power shifting between the center-left and the center-right sometimes with help from a more right party (not extreme right because those don't have a seat in our Parlament) but at least we have other parties not only when voting but also in the Parlament.
I would say for you not to worry about the gap because it also happens here but it is indeed concerning.

How I loved "Little Britain". It was just amazing and to this day I still remember a few number of sketches.

Btw, are British people truly punctual? In Portugal we tend to look up to the British because of your punctuality, despite not applying it to ourserlves (I do!) and even having a (hideous) "costume" of being an hour late to anything. -.-
I guess Montesquieu was right when saying that people from warmer regions are lazy while people from colder areas work more.

---

You should see how some cities in Portugal celebrate Carnival: it's a copy of the Brazilian one but, instead of pretty girls in hot weather we have chicks with a few extra pounds showing their fat bellies and dancing to avoid February's cold. -.-' I don't have nothing against fat people but mimicking Brazil while at the same time "forcing" girls to go around the streets dressed in that manner and with cold!? If they were to mimick another Carnival, at least have good taste and mimick the best in the world: the Venetian.

Poor girls... But I'm sure even in brazil they have only the prettiest girls in the carnival itself, while the average ones are around the place. Obviously the cameras will only focus on those on the floats. It's the same way here. The venetian carnival is better, but not by much. At least it's quieter...

Hum, I think that all girls are supposed to be pretty beacuse they must know how to dance ("sambar" is the name of the way they dance) and it's all about beauty starting with the girl in front and ending with the guy behind so they mustn't allow chubbies.

The only downside I can see in Venetian Carnival is the cost - those masks and clothes are very expensive. If I were to go there I wouldn't, of course, spend all that money though.

 

[Scorched Feathers]

Oh, we have lots of parties, it's just that Labour and Tory are typically the only parties that lead the country.

 

[The Fire Wyrm]

Country / State: England

What facts / opinions can you share about your country?
We're not all obsessive Tea drinkers.

Which countries that are not your own have you visited? Did you enjoy the experience(s)?
France, Italy, America, Jamaica, Antigua, Austria, Sweden, Germany, Japan, Barbados, Wales, Mauritius, Greece, Malta, Turkey, Sicily, Lesbos and other new Europe countries I can't remember the names of.

Which language(s) do you speak and how well do you speak them?
English - Traditional and Simplified.

Are you interested in learning other languages? If so, which? And why?
Japanese, because it's an attractive language and it sounds awesome.

Are you interested in learning about different cultures? Which cultures do you find most interesting? Why?
As long as it's not shoved down my throat like certain American holidays. (I'm looking at you Thanksgiving)

Are you proud of your own culture? Would you enjoy talking to others about it and helping them understand it?
Proud? No. But I would talking to others about it.

Do you consider yourself culturally aware? Can you separate cultural differences from personal differences?
Yeppers.

Do you have any other intercultural experiences you would like to share?
Now that I think about it, Video games are a great way to get cultural info without oversimplifying everything. I like playing Dynasty Warriors, even though I know most of the characters endings are fake, so it encourages me to look up what really happened.

Are you my evil twin from another dimension? OR AM I YOUR EVIL TWIN FROM ANOTHER DIMENSION?

Country / State:
Maryland,USA

What facts / opinions can you share about your country?
We're not all obese, I'm skinny.
The intelligence of our country is not very good if I'm in one of the top 10 Middle Schools in the country and half the kids are not very smart.


Which countries that are not your own have you visited? Did you enjoy the experience(s)?
Visited the Dominican Republic, got sick.

Which language(s) do you speak and how well do you speak them?
English is fluent, but still learning due to being a kid and all.

Are you interested in learning other languages? If so, which? And why?
Japanese and Korean for the video game shizz. Thai and Vietnamese to speak with those relatives that speak very crappy english.

Are you interested in learning about different cultures? Which cultures do you find most interesting? Why?
Everything seems interesting, so yes.

Are you proud of your own culture? Would you enjoy talking to others about it and helping them understand it?
#AsianPride
Yes, we do have an addiction to rice and noodles.
No, we do not all have yellow skin.
No, we do not all spend hours each day playing the violin(Or at least I don't)

Do you consider yourself culturally aware? Can you separate cultural differences from personal differences?
Yes.

Do you have any other intercultural experiences you would like to share?
No

EDIT:NEED TO ALIGN

 

[Drohn]

Which countries that are not your own have you visited? Did you enjoy the experience(s)?
Well being of Mexican descent I've been to Mexico countless times. I guess it was fun, Christmas and New Years with the family. I flew over Canada once, and I am planning on going to France for 10 days in the spring, and let me tell you, I am beyond excited for this trip

What part of France are you visiting? I haven't visited the touristy spots yet, but from the parts I've seen France is really nice and the people there are often very friendly.

If you're going to Japan, don't forget to eat Castella cake. It's really soft, tastes great and it was introduced by the Portuguese!

I do love cake. I'm leaving for Japan sooner than planned, my flight is booked for the 3rd of January! I will do my best to find Castella cake. Thanks for the tip!

 

[King Xerneas]

Which countries that are not your own have you visited? Did you enjoy the experience(s)?
Well being of Mexican descent I've been to Mexico countless times. I guess it was fun, Christmas and New Years with the family. I flew over Canada once, and I am planning on going to France for 10 days in the spring, and let me tell you, I am beyond excited for this trip

What part of France are you visiting? I haven't visited the touristy spots yet, but from the parts I've seen France is really nice and the people there are often very friendly.

Well I'll be going all over France and visiting places like Nice, Paris, Mont Saint Micheal, the Loire Valley, and some other places. In a way I'll get to be visiting Kalos

 

[Mistryss Nite]

Which countries that are not your own have you visited? Did you enjoy the experience(s)?
Well being of Mexican descent I've been to Mexico countless times. I guess it was fun, Christmas and New Years with the family. I flew over Canada once, and I am planning on going to France for 10 days in the spring, and let me tell you, I am beyond excited for this trip

What part of France are you visiting? I haven't visited the touristy spots yet, but from the parts I've seen France is really nice and the people there are often very friendly.

That's because you are Dutch ^.^
The French can be really mean and snobby towards Americans (especially in Paris). But, if there are any French here, perhaps they can explain?