culture

Get the authentic cultural experience on your next foreign jaunt. Wander like a local; here, there, and everywhere.

Adolescence Around the World. Top Story - December 2018.
How different is it to be an adolescent or an emerging adult in a different part of the world? Even though the physical changes of puberty are similar among everyone, cultures differ in how they respond to those changes and when they define themselves as an adult and not teenagers anymore. Culture affects different aspects of young people lives, their relationships with parents, schoolmates, and even their sexuality to their media use.
By Di Rocha7 years ago in Wander
Mundane Adventures
I explored so much of the city today, but I still feel like I barely made a dent in all that I know about it. Today, I exercised my "yes man" attitude and went on a spontaneous adventure exploring the city with Adam, an adventuring teacher from Phoenix who is a part of my cohort, and Kevin. Adam and I actually had two independent thoughts of wanting to explore the town today, and we just happened to bump into each other in the hallway at the same time when heading out. Kevin also happened to come out of his apartment hoping to go on a bike ride, so we convinced him to go exploring together as well. It didn’t take too much convincing as Kevin’s the type who seems up for just about anything. So, we stood in the parking lot for a bit, wondering where we should go, and decided to visit the museums near the Himeji castle after two minutes of contemplation.
By An Tran7 years ago in Wander
Transportation on Point
I have raved about the transportation system in Japan many times before, but I feel that it is necessary to dedicate an entire post on just how exquisite it really is. As I mentioned before, the buses are almost never late. They arrive and leave almost within the same minute as the listed time, and it is only in the outskirts of the country side in the middle of nowhere (where my first middle school is) that the buses are late. And even then, the bus is never late more than five minutes. They are always reliable to get you to your desired destination, and I might as well be a walking billboard advertisement convincing people that Japan’s got the transportation system down to a tee.
By An Tran7 years ago in Wander
Learning Japanese
The Japanese language consists of syllabic scripts, hiragana and katakana, and kanji, Japanese-adopted logographic Chinese characters that are used in the Japanese writing system. It is said that if you know roughly 2,000 kanji, you are officially literate. To me, that seems do-able, but at this time, I would definitely need to focus more than I have been on learning Japanese. I would like to not feel like a tourist during the entire time that I am living here, so the motivation to learn Japanese is high. In addition to being able to speak and read in the native language of this country, learning the kanji would allow me to understand Chinese more than I do since 80 percent of kanji is the same, both in appearance and meaning.
By An Tran7 years ago in Wander
Jante Law
Wandering through a Scandinavian city, some pieces will immediately stand out for you. The old brick buildings in greys, whites, dull yellows, and if in Sweden, reds. The clothing of the people as they shuffle to and fro. Black, white, grey with little bits of colours splashed in from time to time. The buildings and clothings contrasting against the bright blue eyes and blonde hair of the majority of the population. They hold themselves in a manner of quiet confidence, friendliness when approached and eager to help when given the opportunity. Some of the happiest people in the world, they function as one and share a history that is as mixed as it is unique. From Denmark to Norway you will find a societal value that has been ingrained for centuries, dating back to when kommunes (communities) were dependent on the group and individuality was not the priority or heavily encouraged. Helping your family, friends, and following expectations was the way to insure success for yourself, family, and society.
By Steven Altman7 years ago in Wander
A Girl in Costa Rica
I’m writing this while the feelings are still fresh. The sole purpose of this trip was decided in a very unexpected manner, and everything about it turned out the same way.
By Mar 🌸7 years ago in Wander
Why Studying Abroad Makes You More Employable
The idea of doing a study abroad is certainly an appealing one, jetting off to a faraway country to spend a year soaking up the sun on idyllic beaches, exploring new cities and of course enjoying the food and drink. But far from being a glorified gap year, studying in another country means that when you come back, you will have a variety of useful skills that make you more employable.
By Matthew Hutchison7 years ago in Wander
Karaoke and Settlers of Catan
Today, I volunteered to partake in community lessons. The topic of today was taught by Nick Giannini, and it was about the comparison of comic books between the United States and Japan. As simple as this topic may have seemed, the community members were very excited about it, and it gave them a chance to practice speaking English regarding a topic that they are aware of and that interests them. Some of the community members are beginning to recognize me, and they are always so happy to see me. Generally, the people here are hospitable and friendly in every way imaginable, especially the community members. They are excited to not only use their English when they come to the lessons, but they are jubilant when they are able to connect with us teachers further through Line or Facebook so that we can hang out outside of these community lessons. They are nothing short of welcoming, making the initial transition to living in Japan so much easier and smoother.
By An Tran7 years ago in Wander
Better Than Beans and Rice
On September 20, 2017, hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico. The storm caused widespread damage and it is estimated more than 4,600 people on the island died as a result from the catastrophe. In the pursing months, the United States struggled to respond to its territory, leaving the island without power and supplies for months.
By James Kopniske7 years ago in Wander
12 Halloween Traditions Around the World
Calling all Halloween lovers! October is a time for cooler weather, warm drinks, and of course Halloween! This spooky holiday is celebrated around the globe. And every nation that observes it has their own traditions and practices that you won't see anywhere else. After reading this you will want to add these countries to your Halloween bucket list.
By Rachel (Queen Wanderlust) 👑7 years ago in Wander
If We Die, We Die
“Baghkda eshum rhem! Baghkda eshum rhem!” The man driving the cramped Jeep was yelling out the window, ringing his left hand towards oncoming vehicles. I can’t exactly remember what he said since I don’t speak Hindi, or whatever dialect he was screaming in, but it stands out in my head as “Baghdad eshum rhem.” At that moment I could only imagine that if I were to ask for a translation from his two countrymen in the back seats, it would be, “If we die, we die.”
By Rush Eby7 years ago in Wander
10 Facts About Belarus You Never Knew
Belarus? What do you know about it? Small European country… Just to clarify: the correct name of the country is BELARUS; not Belorussia or Byelorussia.
By Lubow Dabrowska-Szpakowicz7 years ago in Wander