My World My People

Compassion Quotes by great legends to make this earth a better place to live - Happy Living!

2016-04-27T12:52:00.003+01:00

“No one has ever become poor by giving.” - Anne Frank

Anne Frank was a typical teenage girl……..she kept a diary. However, the diary Anne kept was anything but typical. You see, Anne kept a diary of her experiences as she and her Jewish family hid from the Nazis during World War II.

“If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other.” ― Mother Teresa

Mother Teresa (1910-1997) was a Roman Catholic nun, who devoted her life to serving the poor and destitute around the world. She spent many years in Calcutta, India where she founded the Missionaries of Charity, a religious congregation devoted to helping those in great need.

“It is easy enough to be friendly to one's friends. But to befriend the one who regards himself as your enemy is the quintessence of true religion. The other is mere business.” ― Mahatma Gandhi

“Compassion hurts. When you feel connected to everything, you also feel responsible for everything. And you cannot turn away. Your destiny is bound with the destinies of others. You must either learn to carry the Universe or be crushed by it. You must grow strong enough to love the world, yet empty enough to sit down at the same table with its worst horrors.” ― Andrew Boyd

“Mama was my greatest teacher, a teacher of compassion, love and fearlessness. If love is sweet as a flower, then my mother is that sweet flower of love”
-Stevie Wonder

Here are the values that I stand for: honesty, equality, kindness, compassion, treating people the way you want to be treated and helping those in need. To me, those are traditional values - Ellen DeGeneres

“No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.” ― Aesop

Little is known about the ancient Greek writer Aesop (c. 620 B.C.E.–c.560 B.C.E.), he was said to have been a slave who earned his freedom through his storytelling and went on to serve as advisor to a king. Both his name and the animist tone of his tales have led some scholars to believe he may have been Ethiopian in origin.

“Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them, humanity cannot survive.” ― Dalai Lama XIV

Dalai Lama means Ocean of Wisdom; Tibetans normally refer to His Holiness as Yizhin Norbu, the Wish-Fulfilling Gem, or simply Kundun, the Presence.

Compassion Quotes by great legends to make this earth a better place to live - Happy Living!

2016-03-24T07:08:00.000+00:00

Compassion quotes - My World My People from My World My People

Didn't know about these secrets for thick and strong hair, Did you?

2016-03-17T05:57:00.002+00:00

Here we suggest some home remedies which are 100% natural for a sensational hair without leaving home. Hydration and softness is the primary objective we want to achieve with just a few Euros and a little time to prepare the recipe and then to relax and enjoy a natural and effective treatment that is effective to get thick hair naturally.

To do this, you only need a very ripe banana, two tablespoons of honey and a tablespoon of plain yogurt. To get our super moisturizing mask, follow a series of simple steps we can all do at home.

Ø Rosemary oil:

The natural rosemary oil ties best for combating this problem as it stimulates blood to the hair roots that that makes the hair strand thick and healthy. Along with rosemary oil, we can also use coconut oil, almond and olive oil. A wise idea is for you to put together all sorts of these natural oils with rosemary oil. The latter massage treatment accelerates the outcome and guarantees considerable thickness to the hair.

Ø Fenugreek:

This natural home remedy also works best and his very effective to reduce thinning of hair strands. These seeds contain ingredients that reverse hair loss and split ends. The protein and nicotinic acid provided to hair by this home remedy make hair thick naturally. The first thing you should do is to add fenugreek to water and keep it aside for the entire night. In the morning grind these seed to get a paste. Use this paste as a hair strengthening mask and once 30 minutes are over, wash it with warm water. This remedy should be performed every alternate day for a week for getting thicker hair.

Ø Onion juice:

The sulfur content of onion juice make is a very reliable and effective treatment for getting thick and long hair. Apart from this, any bacterial infection could also be treated with this natural home remedy. You just have prepared a paste of one or two onions and then collect all the water from this paste. Use this water on your hair and keep it for 20 minutes. Now it is best to use shampoo hair for remaining the odor and residue of this treatment. An alternate remedy is to mix aloe gel with onion juice and use this recipe as a hair mask. This is an easily available home remedy for treating thin hair, split ends and hair loss problem.

Ø Beetroot:

Beetroots make it place to this list because of as it has all the necessary ingredients which are responsible for strengthening the hair from its roots and make it stronger. It is packed with protein and minerals like potassium, phosphorus, calcium plus vitamins B and C, which promote thick and strong hair. For making your hair long and strong use one full beetroot, make a paste and then mix them with a bit of carrot juice. Use this mixture on scalp for 20 minutes for naturally treating weak and thin hair.

Ø Eggs:

Our super restorative and hair thickness mask is made with eggs, one tablespoon extra virgin olive oil, an avocado and two tablespoons of mayonnaise. It’s a bit sticky but the result is amazing. To prepare, we will crush the avocado and mix with remaining ingredients until a homogeneous and compact mix. Once you have it ready, we begin to apply on hair from roots to tip. When we have applied, we cover our head with plastic cap. Now you must use the dryer for 15 minutes to give warmth and make its effect correctly. Wait 40 minutes to remove the mask and then wash your hair with your regular shampoo. The result will be healthy, hydrated and thick hair. It should be repeated at least once a week to maintain the thickness and softness of hair.

Ø Banana:

First remove the peels, add the banana in a blender and crush it for a few seconds. Once you’ve got thick putty, add yogurt and honey and stir everything until a homogeneous mixture of the three ingredients. Once you have finished, let stand a few minutes. When you’re ready, you can begin to apply yourself a mask all over your hair. Now it’s time to relax. The mask requires 30 minutes to show its effect to get thick hair. When the time has elapsed, remove the mask with lukewarm water. What will be the result? The result will be clean, super hydrated and smooth hair.

Source: http://www.wisehomeremedies.com/how-to-get-thick-hair-naturally-fast/

They love to scream ...so cute!

2016-03-16T05:19:00.002+00:00

Relationship can not be judged just because of happiness, but can be found out in everywhere if you can.

Dogs have an exciting vocal range that many people may not be aware of.

Some dogs scream, some growl, and some can even talk or sound like the can talk. But this dog certainly wins the cake for having the most energetic vocal range, find out why!

Wow ....A baby discovers her hands for the first time!

2016-03-16T05:05:00.003+00:00

Sometimes their reactions are so different for the things that belong to them.

This little girl's reaction once she realizes she has two hands and that the fingers don't come off! You can literally see the wheels turning as she explores this new learning experience.

Source: MSN

Reasons to be in France

2016-03-15T05:56:00.001+00:00

1. Feeling the warm summer breeze in your hair as you cycle through fields of golden sunflowers in the Loire Valley.

2. Champagne: drink it at St Pancras, drink it on the Eurostar, then drink it in the eponymous region, surrounded by the vines that provide us with the world’s best bubbles.

3. Strolling through the old town of the ‘pink city’ Toulouse to the strains of an accordion.

4. Going green? By holidaying in France, your carbon footprint couldn’t get smaller – unless you stay in Britain.

5. French museums are dedicated to subjects as diverse as chocolate (in Biarritz), corkscrews (Ménerbes) and comic strips (Angoulême).

6. From the shores of Normandy to the white and sandy idylls on the Ile de Ré, beach lovers are spoiled for choice – and don’t forget the beaches surrounding the inland lakes.

7. The iconic chariot that is the Citroën 2CV. It’s hardy, is only two horsepower and celebrates its 60th birthday this year.

8. Paris: From cocktails at the Ciel de Paris restaurant on the 56th floor of the Tour Montparnasse to the catacombs beneath the Place Denfert-Rochereau, the capital has everything anyone could ask of a city.

9. France gave the world Michelin stars and dozens of the world-famous chefs who earn them.

10. You can spend five hours sitting in a pavement café watching the world go by and the waiters will simply befriend you rather than move you on.

11. What other country thinks nothing of naming its towns Condom, Brest and Largeasse?

12. Watching the Sun set over the rocky island of Mont St-Michel in Normandy, the orange sky reflecting from the still shallow water that surrounds it.

13. It gave us Coco Chanel, Christian Dior, Christian Lacroix, Yves Saint-Laurent and a host of famous fashionistas to model their designs – including the first lady, Carla Bruni.

14. In the countryside, the men really do wear berets.

15. The Gallic shrug; it says so much without a single word.

16. Standing in fields of deep purple lavender and breathing in its heady scent in the Luberon, upper Provence.

17. Two-hour lunch breaks. All the shops may close, so if you can’t beat them, join them in their three-course meal, complete with two different wines and a café noir to finish.

18. Its 800,000 hectares of vineyards produce hundreds of wines, each boasting a different ‘terroir’ (that untranslatable term that denotes a wine’s character).

19. Watching the arcade wing of Château de Chenonceau rise from the morning mist over the river Cher in the Loire Valley.

20. The magnificent Millau Viaduct that hangs over the Tarn valley, its white pylons towering up into the azure sky. It’s the world’s highest bridge and an awesome sight from whichever angle you approach it.

21. Spirits: from the well-known cognacs of Remy-Martin and Martell to the lesser-known whiskies of Brittany and the various eaux de vie (fruit brandy) particular to nearly every village in the country.

22. Standing in Paris’s Musée d’Orsay and taking in the magnifi cent works of Monet, Cézanne, Manet, Renoir and Degas.

23. The snow-capped peaks in the Alps and Pyrenees, extinct volcanoes in the Auvergne, rocky outcrops of Corsica and the rolling hills of the Gers. This country offers every kind of landscape.

24. The French jazz scene in the cellar bars of Paris.

25. With Roman architecture such as the Pont du Gard and the amphitheatres at Nîmes and Arles, who needs Italy?

26. The feeling of tranquillity and peaceful solitude as you watch a golden eagle soar high above you in the Mercantour national park.

27. This is the country that gave us cinema and, 60 years later, directors such as Francois Truffaut and Luc Besson have shown us it can be an art form rather than just entertainment.

28. You can bed down in a chic chateau, gypsy caravan, tree house, a yurt or anywhere else that takes your fancy.

29. Spotting wild horses and flamingos in the Camargue.

30. There’s no better place to sink your teeth into a warm croissant with creamy butter and sweet strawberry jam.

Reasons to be in BRAZIL

2016-03-14T11:24:00.001+00:00

1. Brazil Beaches

More than 2,000 beaches stretch along Brazil's shoreline and more than 1,000 islands dot the Atlantic Ocean within the country's limits. While many of them are densely populated, many are preserved ecological sanctuaries.

2. Amazing Landscapes & Ecosystems

The Amazon River and Rainforest andIguaçu Falls are the most famous natural attractions in a country that has 62 National Parks and hundreds of conservation units. Brazil holds several records for its wildlife numbers and diversity. As one of the responses to the urgent need to preserve seriously endangered natural treasures, ecotourism and responsible travel initiatives are on the rise, making it possible for more travelers to enjoy Brazil in a sustainable way and opening up perspectives for local communities.

3. Cities and Towns

Despite all the questionable aspects of 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil at the heart of the wave of protests in the country's streets, the tournament has been a catalyst for several changes for the better in the host cities and beyond; many of the newly launched cultural attractions, such as the ones in Belo Horizonte, have depended greatly on the support of private institutions.

4. Brazilian People and Culture

For hundreds of years, Brazilian culture has been in the making by people with a very diverse ethnic and cultural heritage. A glorious mix of contributions is imprinted in the culture that generated easily recognizable expressions such as bossa nova, capoeira, and the yellow soccer jersey. Strong cultural resilience sustains, for example, the efforts of indigenous peoples and African-Brazilians as they reaffirm their sense of identity through strife. And it's safe to say that the people who have created Brazil are, as a rule, friendly to foreign tourists.

5. Celebrations & Events

Yes, we have Carnival. And because it's a countrywide celebration, up-and-coming cities are gradually drawing more attention as options to leaders Rio, Salvador, Recife and Olinda.

However, there's much more to the Brazilian calendar. For example, many international travelers have discovered that Reveillon, the Brazilian New Year, is as much fun as Carnival. Here's a sample of the diversity of Brazil's festivals and events:

6. Brazilian Cuisine

From open fire pits tended in the open fields of Rio Grande do Sul by gaúchos, the South American cowboys, to upscale restaurants abroad, barbecue is one of the trends that have brought international attention to Brazilian food.

Great chefs, inspired by the country's diversity of native ingredients and regional traditions, are writing a whole new chapter in Brazil food. One of the best ways to get in touch with this diversity is through one of Brazil's many food festivals.

7. Travel-Friendly Weather

Not all the time, not everywhere. And when it rains, sometimes it pours (on and on) as in Natal this World Cup. But in Brazil, the right timing can improve your year-round chances of finding a place where the sky is blue and the temperature invites you to be outdoors. Northeastern coastal cities like Fortaleza have about 300 days of sunshine a year. Fall and winter travel in a great part of Brazil is delightful, with cool sunrises, a general shedding of sweaters during unbelievably bright sunny days and clear, chilly nights that are perfect for cuddling by the fireplace.

8. Brazil Hotels and Pousadas

Places to stay that could be destinations in themselves, such as rainforest lodges; better hotels, increasingly demanded by a growing business travel industry, andcharming pousadas in the most attractive destinations are some of the trends in accommodations in Brazil.

9. Tourism is a Priority to Brazil

Brazil's Ministry of Tourism and state and city administrations are investing as seriously in the area as the private sector. That translates into better roads, more jobs, an improvement of community life, and many other benefits that are turning Brazil into a more desirable destination than ever.

10. Brazil is a Gateway to South America

Brazil has awesome neighbors. Make it your hub to some of the greatest attractions in South America, such as:

Source: http://gobrazil.about.com/od/culturehistorylanguage/tp/Top-Reasons-to-Visit-Brazil.htm

Reasons to be in ITALY

2016-03-14T06:55:00.002+00:00

Food: Italy is a pasta lover's paradise; but don't forget the pizza and the gelato.

Romance: Whether you're strolling atmospheric Venice or sipping wine, Italy enchants.

History: The ruins of ancient Pompeii and the leaning tower of Pisa breathe antiquity.

Art: The big hitters—Botticelli, Michelangelo, Raphael, Caravaggio, and more

Shopping: Few things say quality or style like "made in Italy."

Stunning landscapes: Tuscany, the Amalfi Coast, the Cinque Terre, to name just a few

THE VATICAN

The home of the Catholic Church, Vatican City, a tiny independent state tucked within central Rome, holds some of the city's most spectacular sights, including St. Peter's Basilica, the Vatican Museums, and Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel ceiling.

ANCIENT ROME

The Colosseum and the Roman Forum are remarkable ruins from Rome's ancient past. Sitting above it all is the Campidoglio, with a piazza designed by Michelangelo and museums containing one of the world's finest collections of ancient art.

VENICE'S GRAND CANAL

A trip down Venice's "Main Street," whether by water bus or gondola, is a signature Italian experience.

PALLADIO'S VILLAS AND PALAZZI

The 16th-century genius Andrea Palladio is one of the most influential figures in the history of architecture. You can visit his creations in his hometown of Vicenza, in and around Venice, and outside Treviso.

RAVENNA'S MOSAICS

This town off the Adriatic Sea, once the capital of the Western Roman Empire and seat of the Byzantine Empire in the West, is home to 5th- and 6th-century mosaics that rank among the greatest art treasures in Italy.

GALLERIA DEGLI UFFIZI, FLORENCE

The Uffizi—Renaissance art's hall of fame—contains masterpieces by Leonardo, Michelangelo, Raphael, Botticelli, Caravaggio, and dozens of other luminaries.

DUOMO, FLORENCE

The massive dome of Florence's Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore (aka the Duomo) is one of the world's great feats of engineering.

PIAZZA DEL CAMPO, SIENA

Siena is Tuscany's classic medieval hill town, and its heart is the Piazza del Campo, the beautiful, one-of-a-kind town square.

BASILICA DI SAN FRANCESCO, ASSISI

The giant basilica—made up of two churches, one built on top of the other—honors St. Francis with its remarkable fresco cycles.

PALAZZO DUCALE, URBINO

No other building better exemplifies the principles and ideals of the Renaissance than this palace in the Marches region, east of Umbria.

THE RUINS OF POMPEII

When Vesuvius erupted in AD 79, its fallout froze the town of Pompeii in time. Walking its streets brings antiquity to life.

RAVELLO, ON THE AMALFI COAST

Nowhere else better captures the essence of the gorgeous Amalfi Coast than Ravello. Perched high above the Tyrrhenian Sea, it's the place to go for your blissful dolce vitamoment.

LECCE, PUGLIA

With its lavish Baroque architecture and engaging street life, Lecce takes the prize for the most appealing town in Italy's deep south.

VALLE DEI TEMPLI, SICILY

The Greek influence in Sicily dates to ancient days, as is borne out by these well-preserved temple ruins.

Source: http://www.fodors.com/world/europe/italy/experiences/top-things-to-do-in-italy-2822106

Reasons to be in RUSSIA

2016-03-13T11:32:00.001+00:00

Many foreigners from ex-Soviet republics and non-CIS countries strive to live in Russia.

From time to time Russia becomes influenced by economic crises. Volatile economy scares away those, who come to Russia to make quick money or build a career (immigrants from Asia, Europe or Northern America), but less materialistic foreigners still feel a strong interest in this country. Why do they find Russia so appealing? Let’s try to figure it out.

1. TOLERANCE

Russia is a highly tolerant country. Various polls have shown that Europeans and Americans are not nearly so tolerant of other faiths and beliefs as Russians.

Being in Paris, I saw a native Frenchman frowning at the company of African immigrants. He was not directly hostile, but he clearly did not like them. In Russia, tolerance is not just a political correctness stunt, but the way of world perception. Indeed, there are more than 180 peoples living in Russia. For many years people of different cultures and nationalities have been making a great contribution to the Russian development. Russia will gladly accept new members into its multinational family, if those are ready to live and work there.

2. LIVING IN RUSSIA IS INTERESTING

This huge country is a real kaleidoscope of different cultures, natural and urban panoramas.

Russians themselves are particularly interesting specimens, unfettered by any conventions.

3. REAL HUMAN RELATIONS

Yet, Russians cannot be called ordinary people. They differ from uptight Asian nations or Europeans, who always follow the rules of courtesy and respect the concept of private space.

When Russians smile, they do it sincerely. When they truly detest something, they are unlikely to conceal it. Russia is the only place, where you can have “a heart-to-heart talk”, i.e. you can say whatever comes to your mind.

4. SPIRITUALITY AND INTELLIGENCE

Russians have a reputation for being spiritual and intelligent people, regardless of their social status.

You may be surprised to learn that a lovely girl you are talking to buys products and medicines for an old lady, who lives nearby and cannot do it for herself. She does it every day and does not regard this act as something extraordinary.

A down-to-earth technician may reveal himself as a big fan of classical music and Renaissance art. Likewise, a bus driver may switch on a classic rock song and the better part of passengers may sing along to it in English.

5. DISPUTE

Dispute is a unique phenomenon of daily life in Russia. In fact, it is quite hard to imagine a real dispute in any other western or eastern culture unless it is scientific debates. In Russia, a meeting or a holiday fest may result in a heated discussion on any possible topic, and it is commonly known that truth is born of arguments.

6. A STABLE LIVING BASE IN RUSSIA

A major part of Russia lies in stable and seismic-safe zones.

Besides, the bulk of the Russian territory is notably raised above sea level. As a rule, greenhouse effect makes climate for the population of Russia better and not worse, as in other parts of the world. For instance, Russian winters become milder.

Russia is well-provided with fresh water (remember Lake Baikal), fossil fuels and minerals. Furthermore, such renewable resources as hydropower are immense and their number is constantly rising. All in all, Russia has almost everything needed for a good live.

7. ALL FOR ONE, ONE FOR ALL!

The time of troubles and the pursuit of a crazy idea – either it is the elimination of a threat to mankind or dare a space flight – seem to draw Russians together. United by a common belief, they form an integrated whole. And it is damn good to feel that you are a part of something big and great!

8. TALENTED AND GIFTED

Russians are people of many talents. Never-ending problems make this nation very resourceful.

If you look upon the development of science and technology, you will realize that many inventions and breakthroughs become possible thanks to native Russians and Russian immigrants. Nowadays, this trend is still present. It is nice to live in Russia, surrounded by such gifted people.

9. RUSSIAN ART

We have posted many articles on Russian writers, poets, composers, musicians, singers, architects and other representatives of Russian art. And we will post even more.

If you live in Russia, you have a chance to immerse yourself into its rich history and touch upon the treasures of world culture right where they were created!

10. BEAUTY

Being a seasoned traveler, I am probably allowed to say that Russian women are the most beautiful in the world. There is no other place where I have met so many gorgeous people. Even in foreign countries and tourist strongholds Russians can be easily distinguished by their beauty. In simple words, if you see an attractive girl on the beach, feel free to greet her in Russian by saying “Privyet!” (“Hi!”).

Certainly, a life in Russia has its drawbacks, but there are no perfect countries in the world.

Source: http://todiscoverrussia.com/to-live-in-russia/

Reasons to be in POLAND

2016-03-13T11:22:00.001+00:00

ü Poland boasts a friendly population of hospitable people that are welcoming and genuine, giving travellers a unique look into the culture of this natural beauty.

ü Poland is a tourist hot spot with over a million travelers flocking to their lush forests, beautiful seascapes, and modern metropolis.

ü The museums, palaces and art scenes of the historic country are among some of the most amazing in the world with world class exhibits and these are operating year round.

ü If winter sports are your cup of joy then Poland provides you with the scenic Tatras range or the Carpathians which contain some of the most amazing skiing conditions available.

ü During the summer hiking, biking, backpacking, and camping are king with many lakes, forests, and mountains to entertain the most experienced outdoorsman.

ü For those with a more urban liking, the modern cities of Warsaw and Cracow offer world touring concerts, music gigs of all genres and a vibrant night life.

ü The Polish people are devoutly religious and there are numerous cathedrals scattered across the nation such as the Basilica of Our Lady of Lichen and the Eastern Orthodox Metropolitan Cathedral in Warsaw with its beautiful gothic architecture and rich history.

ü Poland has been a melting pot of sorts melding eastern and western culture and through history this fact has developed Poland into an advante garde of the arts, sciences, and mathematics producing masters of astronomy Nicolaus Copernicus, and the master composer Frederick Chopin. Poets and writers Jan Kochanowski, Adam Mickiewicz, Boleslaw Prus, Juliusz Slowacki, Witold Gombrowicz, Stanislaw Lem and, Ryszard Kapuscinski all were from Poland.

ü Poland also boasts a cuisine that has been influenced by surrounding countries and occupations and is truly original of the region. Poles allow themselves a generous amount of time to prepare and enjoy their hearty meals

ü Poland is the perfect European adventure for a wide variety of interests and likings and should be explored to be truly appreciated; you are assured there is something on for everyone.

ü Poland is also a shopper’s paradise. Polish jewellery made of silver and amber, hand-made table cloths, crystals, china, ceramic, Christmas tree decorations, Easter eggs, ginger cookies from Toru, and vodkas with herbal extracts, such as Zubrówska and Goldwasser are well known.

Source: http://www.365tours.in/poland/reasons_to_visit.htm

Reasons to be in GERMANY

2016-03-13T11:06:00.002+00:00

Germany

Germany is an ideal destination for studying! Higher education at world-class level, bustling cities, beautiful landscape and plenty of people from all over the world. Get to know more about Germany!

STUDYING IN GERMANY – THE RIGHT CHOICE FOR YOU!

1. YOU HAVE A TOP-CLASS DEGREE RECOGNISED AROUND THE WORLD!

German higher education is one of the best in the world! Whether it’s cars or education, people everywhere recognise “Made in Germany” as a seal of quality. You can benefit from Germany‘s long and famous university tradition especially in the fields of engineering and science. A German university degree is highly respected by employers around the world.

2. YOU HAVE A DIVERSE RANGE OF STUDY OPPORTUNITIES!

Germany’s higher education system has something for everyone! There are almost 450 state-accredited universities with some 17,500 degree programmes in Germany. German universities offer degree programmes in every possible subject and academic level – be it bachelor’s, master’s, state examinations or doctoral degrees. General universities focus strongly on scientifically oriented study in a wide range of disciplines. Universities of applied science, on the other hand, are very practice-oriented. If you’re more interested in artistic subjects, you can enrol at a college of art, film or music.

3. YOU CAN STUDY IN ENGLISH!

More and more courses and degree programmes are being offered in English, especially at the master’s degree level. This is good news if you don’t know any German or if your German isn’t good enough yet. You’ll find an overview of international degree programmes in Germany in the large DAAD database.

4. YOU ARE NOT ALONE!

Around twelve percent of students at German universities come from foreign countries, just like you. You can make friends from around the world, become acquainted with different countries and expand your horizons. The universities offer support to make your start in Germany as easy as possible. There are many mentoring programmes available, such as “Buddy” and “Tandem” programmes.

5. YOU PAY VERY LOW TUITION FEES – AND SOMETIMES NONE AT ALL!

Students normally don’t have to pay tuition fees at German universities, and if so, the fees are very low. Most German universities receive considerable financing from the government. Bachelor’s degree programmes are usually tuition-free at public universities. Some master’s degree programmes, however, come with tuition fees, but they’re not as high as in other countries.

6. YOU HAVE VERY AFFORDABLE LIVING EXPENSES!

Compared with other European countries, the cost of living in Germany is reasonable. The cost of food, rent, clothing and cultural activities are equivalent to the EU average. There are also a number of concessions available to students. You can receive reduced prices at theatres, museums, opera houses, cinemas, swimming pools and other institutions. All you have to do is present your student ID.

7. YOU CAN BENEFIT FROM MANY SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMMES!

As an international student with outstanding academic achievement, you have good chances of receiving a scholarship to finance your studies in Germany. The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) is one of the largest scholarship organisations in the world and offers countless scholarship programmes. No matter what your country, subject or status, you’ll find a scholarship that matches your profile and needs in theDAAD scholarship database! And not only does the database contain programmes offered by the DAAD, but also many other organisations in Germany.

8. YOU LIVE IN A SAFE COUNTRY!

Germany is a safe country – also on an international scale. The police are reliable and help you in every situation. Whether you live in a big city or in the country, you can move freely day or night without having to take any special precautions.

9. YOU LIVE IN A DIVERSE COUNTRY IN THE HEART OF EUROPE!

Beaches and mountains, medieval city centres and pulsating metropolises, and above all, lots of nature. Germany is a diverse country with many facets! Living in Germany means living in the middle of Europe surrounded by many other countries. Whether you’d like to visit Paris, Prague, Rome or Copenhagen, you have a wide range of destinations at your doorstep. Within a couple of hours by train or plane, you can experience an entirely different culture and language. Weekend trips are no problem and affordable.

10. YOU LEARN A LANGUAGE WHICH CAN OPEN MANY DOORS!

German is one of the ten most spoken languages in the world. Some 185 million people worldwide can speak German. You can still study in Germany even if you don’t know German, but having some knowledge of the language can make everyday life easier and help you make friends faster. Knowing a foreign language also looks great on a résumé! Nobody says that German is an easy language, but there are many ways to learn German – in a course, with a tandem partner or with German flatmates.

For more information about admission: https://www.study-in.de/en/plan-your-studies/fields-of-study/

Coca-Cola Tricks - Don't think we would drink after seeing this

2016-03-06T10:26:00.003+00:00

1) Caffeine, Sugar and Aspartame: These products are invariably present within the sweetened soft drinks. Coca Cola and Pepsi have been under lawsuits in some of the developed countries against using Aspartame which causes several diseases. Children should be strictly restricted from consuming products with Aspartame. Furthermore, caffeine and sugar are very addictive leading to another set of diseases like diabetes and a life-long habit of inducing caffeine in the body.

2) Kidney Failures: The sweet sugar is definitely not the reason for a failing kidney but the artificial sweeteners are. Hence consuming Diet versions of Coca Cola or Pepsi have proved to produce more impairment than the sweet versions.

3) Metabolism Level Decreases: A glass of warm water can speed up you metabolic rate but may taste awful after a workout session. A can of Coke can surely be tasty but it really decreases the metabolism and helps in destroying the fat burning enzymes in no time. Thus a can of either Diet Coke or simple Coca Cola after a rigorous workout or busy day is strictly not advisable.

4) Obesity and Diabetes: Obesity was never a major problem when Coca Cola or similar products were not introduced. But with an advent of these products, a major portion of the population is turning obese which includes children and teenagers.

Obesity is the root of diseases that affect heart, lungs, and kidney. Researchers have also been proving that obesity may be a cause to trigger cancer cells.

Similarly, patients with diabetes must never touch beverages like Coke or Pepsi since it increases level of sugar in blood by twofold. Non-diabetic persons should avoid these drinks in order to keep diabetes away.

5) Teeth and Bone Damage: The pH level of Coke or Pepsi is 3.2 which are quite high. This pH level decides the acidic nature of a liquid. Hence these beverages are acidic in nature and can dissolve bones and enamels very quickly.

6) Reproduction problems: A research has shown that the cans of Coke or Pepsi are coated with such chemicals that may lead to reproduction problems with regular consumption.

Source: http://www.healthy-drinks.net/6-harmful-effects-of-drinking-coca-cola-coke-or-pepsi/

Surprising way of making pan cakes - we did not know about this !

2016-03-06T09:04:00.001+00:00

Have you never cooked breakfast for children — or drunks? Been a Boy Scout? Have you never had an attractive woman spend the night in your bed? There are few things an American man must know how to cook, but pancakes are one of them. The good news is they're easy — almost as easy from scratch as from a box mix. Here's how:

Pancake Recipe Ingredients
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 ½ tsp baking powder
½ tsp salt
1 egg, beaten lightly
1 ½ cups milk
2 tbsp butter, melted

Sift together first three ingredients (to prevent lumps). In a separate bowl, mix egg and milk, then add it to flour mix, stirring until just smooth. Then stir in butter. If you want to mix it up, throw in blueberries, a tiny dice of apple, or bits of banana. Grease a griddle or nonstick pan with cooking spray or a little vegetable oil. Heat pan on medium for about ten minutes. Pour batter to form pancakes of whatever size you like. Cook first side until bubbles form on top, about three minutes; then flip and cook other side until it, too, is brown, about two minutes. Serve immediately with butter and syrup or hold briefly in warm oven. Serves four.

Source: http://www.esquire.com/food-drink/food/a5774/make-pancakes-0509/

Secrets of Meditation - Shocking and Surprising !

2016-03-03T11:10:00.001+00:00

10 Surprising Secrets No One Told You Yet About Meditation

By Tom Casano

For thousands of years and across countless cultures, humans around the world have been meditating. Whether you're new to meditation, or you've been practicing it for a while, there are always new and fascinating things to discover about this age-old practice.

To the uninitiated, meditation appears mysterious and downright strange. To the well-practiced however, it's just a normal part of their daily routine.

So how does meditation really work and how are you supposed to do it?

Read on to discover some surprising secrets about meditation.

1. Your Mind Will Quiet Itself

As opposed to actively trying to quiet your mind, when you meditate, your mind will quiet itself -- all on its own. Whether you are following your breath or chanting a mantra, you'll eventually start to just be present, to "just be." If you try to tame your thoughts, they'll just multiply instead. When you notice a sunset or you look up at the stars, all of your thoughts seems to disappear as you become more present to the moment. And that is how your mind quiets itself when you meditate, by becoming more present.

2. It Doesn't Have to Take More than a Few Minutes

There are no hard rules that your meditation session has to take 30 minutes. Who says you can't be present and meditate when you have a few spare moments to yourself? While a daily formal practice is preferable, you can be present while you're standing on line or waiting for a friend. You can incorporate meditation into your daily life any way that works for you.

3. It's as Simple as Observing Your Breathing

While meditation can seem mysterious and obscure to someone who has never tried it before, it actually couldn't be more simple. In Zen meditation, you simply observe your own breathing. You sit quietly and keep following and watching your breathing, as it goes in and out. In and out. And that's basically it. Easy, right? However, your mind will wander, you and you'll have to keep returning your awareness back onto your breathing. Simple, but not easy.

4. Noticing How You React When Your Mind Wanders

For most beginners, when you start meditating you'll notice that your mind wanders. Before you know it, you've been thinking about what to eat for dinner for the last few moments without even realizing it. If you get frustrated when this happens or if you beat yourself up, you'll create more distress. Instead, it's important to gently return your awareness back to your anchor (your breath), with the warmest compassion you can give to yourself. This is part of the process of meditation.

5. Anyone Can Meditate

Contrary to popular belief, there are no age restrictions on meditation. Whether you're 90 years old, or your 5-year-old daughter wants to give it a whirl, go for it! There are very few limitations on who can meditate. There's no discrimination on your ethnicity or gender. Even if you don't consider yourself "spiritual," plenty of people who don't consider themselves spiritual meditate just for the health benefits alone. Christians, Muslims, and Jews alike can practice it. And if you have ADHD, research suggests that meditation will help you to concentrate and focus more.

6. You Can Meditate In Any Position

When you picture someone meditating; you usually imagine them in the lotus position, sitting cross-legged on the floor. But you can actually meditate in any position. The lotus position is usually recommended because it helps you stay focused. But you can also meditate while sitting in a chair, laying down, or even standing! Whatever body position you choose, you should feel comfortable and relaxed.

7. You Can Be Present Anywhere, Anytime

While I'm not suggesting that you try to meditate in the middle of a rock concert or while your 2-year-old is throwing a tantrum, you can be present anywhere, anytime. There is a very beautiful walking meditation in Zen, where you stay mindful of each step as you walk. No matter where you are, you can be mindful and aware of how you're feeling and what you're hearing and seeing. You can even meditate on a train or at your desk. Give it a shot.

8. Observe The Feeling Within Your Body

As Eckhart Tolle writes extensively about, being present is natural and actually easy when you bring your attention to what it feels like inside of your body. Even if you don't feel anything remarkable going on inside of you, when you bring your attention to the "aliveness" and sensations you feel within your legs, arms, and torso, you'll become more present, and your mental chatter will begin to quiet down. This is how your dog lives his life -- present to his body.

9. You've Always Known How to Be Present, You Just Had to Re-Learn

Have you ever noticed the look in a baby's eyes when they're looking into your eyes? There's no worry or regret, no disappointment or judgement. Babies are present in a way that seems very appealing to adults. They're not absorbed in their own thoughts like adults are. You've probably had this experience of "no thinking" right when you're about to fall asleep or after waking up. It can be argued that being present is our natural state.

10. There is No "One Right Way" To Do It

There are countless schools and techniques for meditation. According to an ancient Hindu text, the Vigyan Bhairav Tantra, there are 112 ways to meditate! In some traditions, you focus on the breath, while in others you focus on a mantra. There is Zen, Transcendental Meditation, Vipassana meditation, mantra meditation, and so on. You can experiment with different meditation techniques or even create your own.

Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tom-casano/

FACTS ABOUT TATTOOS

2016-03-03T10:19:00.001+00:00

Chloe Simpson

A fact that you probably didn’t know about tattoos, is that your skin is pierced 50 to 3000 times per minute by the needle in the tattoo machine when you get a tattoo.

When we look at someone’s tattoo, we actually think that the tattoo is on the outer layer of the skin. But, tattooing is a body modification, made by inserting ink into the dermis layer of the skin to change the pigment. Appearances are deceptive, because the ink is in fact in the second layer of the skin, below the epidermis.

The first electric tattoo machine was invented by the tattoo artist, Samuel O’Reilly in 1891 and it was based on the electric pen invented by Thomas Edison.

Not all tattoos are the same. If you already have one and the experience with that tattoo was painless, before going to another tattoo artist, check out the recommendations and his work and portfolio. The level of pain depends significantly on the experience of the tattoo artist and the location of the tattoo.

A very interesting fact about the tattoos is that in the past, they were used for transmitting secret messages across enemy lines during the war.

Tattoo removal can cost more than the tattoo itself, so make sure to choose a design that you can wear your whole life. The removal of tattoo is long and painful process. So, think well before tattooing and if in doubt, it is better to wait until you are sure.

Throughout history, some people were tattooed by force, with the purpose of identification. The most bizarre example is the identification system for the prisoners in Nazi concentration camps during the Holocaust.

The longest tattoo session lasted for 50 hours and 10 minutes and it was achieved by the tattoo artist Dave Fleet who tattooed James Llewellyn at the Grosvenor Casino, Cardiff Bay, UK.

According to a study, more women than men in the US have tattoos.

Americans spend whopping $1.65 million on tattoos each year.

The most popular designs are heart tattoos and angels tattoos.

‘Tattoo’ is one of the most misspelled words in the English language.

Tattoos are a reflection of the desire for rebellion, but they often are true works of art. Whether they carry a strong personal message or represent a memory of special moment, the tattoos should have a special meaning for you, because they will follow you for life. Whether you have a tattoo or not, we have selected a few interesting facts about tattoos that you might not have known. Today, tattoos are really common and are used as a way to express your personality and style. Take a look at these interesting facts about tattoos!

Source: http://www.interestingreality.com/interesting-facts-about-tattoos/

Weird Facts About Dogs

2016-03-03T09:47:00.002+00:00

Did you know dogs aren’t actually color blind? How about that the Newfoundland has webbed feet to help it swim? Or, that a third of all pet owners have admitted to speaking to their dog over the answering machine when they weren’t at home? Read these and other weird facts about dogs – and some about dog owners in this list from RichStevens.com

100 Weird Facts About Dogs:

1. It is a myth that dogs are color blind. They can actually see in color, just not as vividly as humans. It is akin to our vision at dusk.

2. Dogs DO have better low-light vision than humans because of a special light-reflecting layer behind their retinas
3. A German Shepherd guide dog led her blind companion the entire 2100 mile Appalachian Trail

4. If never spayed or neutered, a female dog, her mate, and their puppies could produce over 66,000 dogs in 6 years!
5. Dogs’ only sweat glands are between their paw pads
6. Like human babies, Chihuahuas are born with a soft spot in their skull which closes with age
7. The breed Lundehune has 6 toes and can close its ears
8. Teddy Roosevelt’s dog, Pete, ripped a French ambassador’s pants off at the White House
9. President Lyndon Johnson had two beagles named Him and Her
10. Franklin Roosevelt spent $15,000 for a destroyer to pick up his Scottie in the Aleutian Islands
11. In Roman times, mastiffs donned light armor and were sent after mounted knights
12. The Russians trained dogs during WWII to run suicide missions with mines strapped to their backs
13. A dog’s mouth exerts 150-200 pounds of pressure per square inch
14. … with some dogs exerting up to 450 pounds per square inch.
15. A one year old dog is as mature, physically, as a 15 year old human
16. The U.S. has the highest dog population in the world
17. France has the 2nd highest
18. The average city dog lives 3 years longer than a country dog
19. 87% of dog owners say their dog curls up beside them or at their feet while they watch T.V.
20. Dogs can be trained to detect epileptic seizures
21. 15 people die in the U.S. every year from dog bites
22. In 2002 alone, more people in the U.S. were killed by dogs than by sharks in the past 100 years
23. Gidget is the name of the Taco Bell dog
24. Newfoundlands are great swimmers because of their webbed feet
25. Basset Hounds cannot swim
26. Greyhounds are the fastest dogs on earth, with speeds of up to 45 miles per hour
27. Bingo is the name of the dog on the side of the Cracker Jack box
28. The bible mentions dogs 14 times
29. Three dogs survived the sinking of the Titanic – a Newfoundland, a Pomeranian, and a Pekingese
30. The Labrador Retriever is the #1 favorite breed in the U.S., Canada, and the U.K.
31. Obesity is the #1 health problem among dogs
32. An estimated 1,000,000 dogs in the U.S. have been named as the primary beneficiaries in their owner’s will
33. An American Animal Hospital Assoc. poll found that 33% of dog owners admit to talking to their dogs on the phone and leaving answering machine messages for them while away
34. Dog’s nose prints are as unique as a human’s finger prints and can be used to accurately identify them
35. At the end of the Beatles’ song “A Day in the Life”, a high-pitched dog whistle was recorded by Paul McCartney for his sheepdog
36. 70% of people sign their pet’s name on greeting and holiday cards
37. 58% put pets in family and holiday portraits
38. There are only 350 Cisky Terriers in the world – perhaps the rarest breed
39. The phrase “raining cats and dogs” originated in 17th century England when it is believed that many cats and dogs drowned during heavy periods of rain.
40. Dogs have no sense of “time”
41. Humans have kept dogs as pets for over 12,000 years
42. The largest breed of dog is the Irish Wolfhound
43. The world’s smallest dog breed is the Chihuahua
44. The St. Bernard is the heaviest
45. Only dogs and humans have prostates
46. But dogs do not have an appendix
47. Every dog on earth likely descended from a species knows as the Tomarctus – a creature that roamed the earth over 15 million years ago
48. The oldest known breed is likely the Saluki – originally trained by Egyptians to help them track game.
49. In 1957, Laika became the first living being in space via an earth satellite
50. … while JFK’s terrier, Charlie, father 4 puppies with Laika’s daughter
51. An African wolf dog known as the basenji is the only dog in the world that cannot bark
52. There are 703 breeds of purebred dogs
53. Dachshunds were originally bred for fighting badgers
54. The world’s smartest dogs are thought to be (1) the border collie, (2) the poodle, and (3) the golden retriever
55. … while the dumbest dog is believed to be the Afghan hound
56. A dog’s smell is more than 100,000 times stronger than that of a human’s
57. … which they need because their eyesight is not as keen as a human’s.
58. Dogs judge objects first by their movement, then by their brightness, and lastly by their shape
59. Chocolate contains a substance known as theobromine (similar to caffeine) which can kill dogs or at the very least make them violently ill
60. George Washington had thirty six dogs – all foxhounds – with one named Sweetlips
61. All dogs are identical in anatomy – 321 bones and 42 permanent teeth
62. Smaller breeds mature faster than larger breeds
63. Female dogs are only ready to mate – “in heat” – twice a year for a total of roughly 20 days
64. Puppies sleep ninety percent of the day for their first few weeks
65. Rin Tin Tin was the first Hollywood dog star
66. … and he really signed his movie contracts – all 22 of them – with a pawprint
67. The Wizard of Oz’s Toto was played by a female Cairn Terrier named Terry
68. Their vision is not fully developed until after the 1st month
69. Dogs have two times as many muscles to move their ears as people
70. The longer a dog’s nose, the more effective it’s internal cooling system
71. An elderly woman was saved by her 12 pound Yorkshire Terrier who fought off an 80 pound Akita and survived with only 9 stitches
72. U.S. Customs dogs “Rocky” and “Barco” were so good at patrolling the border that Mexican drug lords put a $300,000 bounty on their heads
73. Dogs are all direct descendants of wolves
74. Wolves and dogs can mate to produce fertile offspring
75. Female wolves have been known to travel great distances to regurgitate full meals for their hungry pups
76. Cerberus was the tri-headed dog that guarded the underworld in Greek mythology
77. Female dogs bear their young for 60 days before they’re born
78. Dogs’ sense of hearing is more than ten times more acute than a human’s
79. Humans can detect sounds at 20,000 times per second, while dogs can sense frequencies of 30,000 times per second.
80. The earliest dog fossil dates back to nearly 10,000 B.C.
81. Bloodhounds are prized their ability to single out and identify a number of scents simultaneously
82. Dalmatian puppies are born completely white.
83. The Ancient Chinese carried Pekingese puppies in the sleeves of their robes
84. Boxers are so named because of their manner of playing with their front paws
85. All breeds of dog have been found to attack livestock – from 3 month old puppies, all the way up to thirteen year old poodles
86. A dog’s heart beats up to 120 times per minute, or 50% faster than the average human heartbeat of 80 times per minute
87. The oldest dog on record – a Queensland “Heeler” named Bluey – was 29 years, 5 months old
88. Davy Crockett had a dog named Sport
89. Dogs were first domesticated by cavemen
90. Dogs live 15 years on average
91. Many foot disorders inn dogs are simply an issue of long toenails
92. More than 5,000,000 puppies are born in the U.S. every year
93. More than 1 in 3 American families own a dog
94. Average body temperature for a dog is 101.2 degrees
95. The Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts both offer merit badges in dog care
96. Dogs are natural pack animals
97. They are naturally submissive to any creature with higher pack status – human or canine
98. After birth, puppies’ eyes do not fully open until they’re about 12 days old
99. Dogs with little human contact in the first three months typically don’t make good pets
100. The Chihuahua was named after the state in Mexico where they were discovered

Source: http://www.cesar.com/live-the-life/just-for-fun/100-weird-facts-about-dogs.aspx

Interesting facts about Eyes

2016-03-03T08:22:00.002+00:00

15 Facts You Probably Didn't Know About Eyes

You’ve had your peepers since you were born, so you may think you know them pretty well, but here are some fun facts you may not know about eyes:

1. The average blink lasts for about 1/10th of a second.

2. While it takes some time for most parts of your body to warm up to their full potential, your eyes are on their “A game” 24/7.

3. Eyes heal quickly. With proper care, it only takes about 48 hours for the eye to repair a corneal scratch.

4. Seeing is such a big part of everyday life that it requires about half of the brain to get involved.

5. Newborns don’t produce tears. They make crying sounds, but the tears don’t start flowing until they are about 4-13 weeks old.

6. Around the world, about 39 million people are blind and roughly 6 times that many have some kind of vision impairment.

7. Doctors have yet to find a way to transplant an eyeball. The optic nerve that connects the eye to the brain is too sensitive to reconstruct successfully.

8. The cells in your eye come in different shapes. Rod-shaped cells allow you to see shapes, and cone-shaped cells allow you to see color.

9. You blink about 12 times every minute.

10. Your eyes are about 1 inch across and weigh about 0.25 ounce.

11. Some people are born with two differently colored eyes. This condition is heterochromia.

12. Even if no one in the past few generations of your family had blue or green eyes, these recessive traits can still appear in later generations.

13. Each of your eyes has a small blind spot in the back of the retina where the optic nerve attaches. You don’t notice the hole in your vision because your eyes work together to fill in each other’s blind spot.

14. Out of all the muscles in your body, the muscles that control your eyes are the most active.

15. 80% of vision problems worldwide are avoidable or even curable.
Source: https://vsp.com/eyes.html

Beautiful Canada

2016-03-03T07:04:00.001+00:00

Canada Travel

Key Facts

Area:

9,984,670 sq km (3,855,102 sq miles).

Population:

35.5 million (2014).

Population density:

3.6 per sq km.

Capital:

Ottawa.

Government:

Constitutional monarchy.

Head of state:

HM Queen Elizabeth II since 1952, represented by Governor General David Johnston since 2010.

Head of government:

Prime Minister Stephen Harper since 2006.

Electricity:

120 volts AC, 60Hz. North American-style flat two-pin (with or without round grounding pin) plugs are standard.

Whether you’re a hardcore adrenaline junkie, a wildlife enthusiast or a city slicker looking for cutting-edge culture, Canada ticks all the boxes. The world’s second largest country racks up an astonishing diversity of landscapes; vast prairies rise abruptly to glacier-topped mountains; rugged, unspoiled coastlines give way to immense forests and emerald lakes; and Arctic waters lap upon frozen tundra. Incredibly, this wilderness is also home to cosmopolitan cities, quirky towns and remote indigenous settlements.

Canada’s people are as varied as the landscapes; from the Arctic Inuit and the Francophone Quebeckers to the British expatriates and burgeoning Asian community, this is a multicultural land where around 20% of the population are foreign-born.

Canadian cities are progressive, vibrant and regularly feature on lists of “best places to live." Toronto, a veritable patchwork of charming neighbourhoods, has an idyllic beachside location on the shore of Lake Ontario, while Canada’s capital city, Ottawa, contains a clutch of fantastic museums and the pretty Rideau Canal for ice skating in winter. Montreal’s skyscrapers belie its French heritage, but look closer and you can stumble upon historic, cobbled streets and centuries-old customs.

A stone’s throw from the Canadian Rockies, booming Calgary flashes its oil wealth and flaunts its cowboy traditions during the annual boot-stomping Stampede. Chilled-out Vancouver, meanwhile, seems to have it all: mountains, beaches, an incredible downtown park and a cosmopolitan dining scene. And across the Georgia Strait, Vancouver Island is just the tonic if the city life gets too tough. Not that it ever does here.

For something wilder, ski steep chutes in British Columbia, kayak secluded bays with whales in Nova Scotia or learn to lasso at an Albertan ranch. Capture grizzlies on camera in the Yukon, watch mammoth icebergs drift past the Newfoundland coast, or soar over Niagara Falls by helicopter. Tour vineyards, dig for clams or feel giddy gazing at the Northern Lights. In Canada, it seems, the options are endless.

Source: http://www.worldtravelguide.net/canada

Germans have no sense of humour!

2016-03-02T11:00:00.003+00:00

Are Germans Rude? Killing the Stereotypes

by BENNY LEWIS

Rather than learning languages for academic or professional reasons, I do it to vastly improve my travel experience by allowing me to socialize almost entirely with residents of the country I am visiting.

Even though all the studying I did in for my exam in Berlin prevented me from socializing as much as I would have liked, after spending four months there I can say that I have a better understanding of German (and in particular Berlin) culture, and I am ready to challenge the silly stereotypes that too many people have of the Germans and the German language.

German sounds horrible!

It might be true that more typical languages that English learners tend to go for like French and Spanish can sound pleasant to listen to even if you don’t understand them, but it’s better to think outside of those limitations. Comparing German to Italian, for example, is like comparing ice cream to pizza. The most enjoyable food doesn’t have to be “hot” and certain aspects of communicating in German can be more pleasant than in other languages.

English and German are in the same language family (Germanic), so a lot of what makes German sound “different” can actually be its similarities that we don’t notice in English and may not expect to encounter in other languages. Listen to this video of what English sounds like to non-natives (from an Italian perspective) and you’ll get a better idea of how strange it can be!

English also has weird strings of consonants that can cause problems to non-natives but seem totally normal to us. Words like catchphrase and thousandths have several consecutive consonants together that German doesn’t outdo much (definitely not as much as a language like Czech).

The tone and musicality of German is actually something that makes it much easier to understand and leaves less room for misinterpretation, as is the case in other languages. The clear separation of words vastly helps you to understand them (compared to French for example where words are merged together when spoken). I find the discussion of whether this is “pretty” or not to be totally irrelevant myself. We may as well argue about which colour is the “best”.

Why are they so angry?

This superficial argument is like saying you understand what the elephants are thinking as you see them through binoculars on safari. Without the right context and understanding of how German works, any conclusions you might make may amount to nothing remotely close to the truth.

The clear way that Germans speak is something that we would tend to do in English if we were angry and wanted to make it clear what we are angry about. For example, you can imagine an angry mother sternly warning her son: “Don’t – you – dare – do – that!” clearly enunciating each word.

This is a style of expressing anger in English. Applying it to German just doesn’t work in the same way. In understanding what they were saying I can generally say that from my (albeit limited) experience, Germans lose their temper way less than many English-speakers would do. In fact, Germans tend to be way more patient from what I’ve seen. What sounds harsh to the untrained ear can actually be a funny joke or helpful advice etc. when you listen to the actual words.

When you actually pay attention to what they are saying, rather than applying the wrong non-verbal cues (using English tone and body language rules) to imagine what you think they are saying, you’ll see that they are talking about the same things you and your friends talk about in other languages.

They all speak English and will never help you with your German

As expected, when I announced that I’d be in Berlin for this mission (rather than some small unknown village), many people told me that I’d find it extremely difficult to convince Berliners to help me with my German, since they all speak “perfect” English.

Like in other places there are people who did poorly in school, or don’t expose themselves to foreigners enough to maintain a good level. But for the most part, they do indeed have a better level of English than southern Europeans or some Asian countries.

Despite this, it was extremely easy to convince Germans to help me.

Even in my first week I was successful and for the main three months of the mission I almost never spoke English with Germans – the few times I did were because other foreigners (not learning German) were present or in my final weeks before leaving. When they saw how devoted I was to my project they were happy to give me lots of encouragement to boot!

This confusion is another issue that results from the Germans being accused of something that is actually entirely the lazy learners‘fault. Germans are actually usually really helpful so if you look like you are undergoing medieval torture as you struggle to speak the language, they’ll want to save you from that discomfort and may speak English because of that.

I made sure to make it clear that I was enjoying myself, that I was devoted to making serious progress and used all my usual social (Language Hacking) tricks when out and speaking with new people, and without exception I never even had to work hard to convince anyone to help me, even when my level was quite poor. They simply went with the flow. Sadly the flow many expats command is “German is too hard and Germans don’t want to hear me try” and that mantra becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.

German is one of the hardest languages in the world

Since I’ve also learned other “hardest languages” in the world, like Hungarian and Japanese, I will discuss this ridiculous concept another time soon. But first, I can confirm that German itself isn’t particularly inherently harder than many other languages in the world. It all depends on the learner and his/her attitude.

Expats I met who had been living in Germany for a long time would complain about how German is too hard to speak, and I could see very clearly and told them very frankly that this complaint and devotion to believing in it was what was actually holding them back from speaking it.

I was attempting the exact same language as they were – the main difference I see is that they simply focus on the negative and look for more reasons to prevent them from speaking it. An optimistic approach can dramatically change their potential to make progress. What helps me to get through languages quicker is not some magic part of my brain that has sprouted up in recent years to turn me into a language-guru–it’s actually the ability to focus on the positive and have new information about the language help me to progress rather than hinder me.

But simply telling someone “Chin up! It’s not that bad!” is not enough, since there are aspects to the language that can seem intimidating at first, especially if its your first foreign language and if its explained to you in traditional dull academic ways.

Because of this I will be writing in great detail about Why German isn’t as hard as you thinkand will take all the “hardest” aspects of the language and attempt to explain them in such a way as to turn some pessimists into optimists and help struggling learners dramatically improve their progress by attacking what I feel is the route of the problem for a lot of them: the wrong attitude that German is hard.

I learned German for five years in school and the wrong attitude kept me believing that aspects of German were too complicated for me to get my head around them, and so I did poorly in my exams and never truly dived into properly speaking German until this year. Starting over fresh and forgetting the overly technical way that the language was explained to me in school saved me from being doomed to never speaking it.

In my book hacking the German language: giving short-cuts to get around seemingly difficult aspects, explaining a better way to look at the Accusative, Dative, Genitive problem, and seeing that the word order and remembering vocabulary is actually way easier than people think it is. Sometimes all you need is to hear these things explained in the right (non-overly-technical) way and it all makes perfect sense. This guide will not attempt to replace any courses, but augment them for learners already vaguely familiar with the language but feeling intimidated by it.

I am positive that what I have to say can help people to progress in their German, as I have been giving this advice to other learners throughout my time in Berlin to help those struggling with the language themselves and it worked to help some of them get out of their shell and finally speak.

Are Germans strict/rude?

There are many stereotypes I won’t even dignify with a response, but the strict one comes up a lot. I imagine this is influenced by the “German sounds harsh” idea, and perhaps gets combined with the Germans’ fame for efficiency. How well they design cars was the least of my concerns for my time there though.

I did find it curious that Berliners would almost always wait at red traffic lights before walking across the road, even when there were no cars for miles. Most other places I’ve been would have people “jaywalking” in this situation quite frequently (I personally consider the red man a suggestion rather than a rule; it’s a good suggestion only if cars are actually on the road).

You will also see bus stops indicate the minute the bus is expected to arrive at any given stop – I remember how hilarious Brazilians found this concept when I mentioned it to them, but I think things like this are helpful and it’s something I’ll miss in other countries. Conveniences like this have come so naturally to me over the last few months that I simply consider other countries as doing it wrong to be honest.

One thing that may influence the idea of them being “rude” is that I did find Germans to be very honest. Nobody will ever argue about this being bad, but some Germans tend to be very frank about the truth and this will probably hurt your feelings if you are too sensitive. I actually found it quite refreshing, but it took some getting used to!

So, if you’re sensitive about your weight etc. you should probably not ask Germans if those jeans make you look fat!

But this isn’t rudeness. You could argue that many other countries are way too sensitive – to the point of dancing around issues and never being direct enough.

Germans have no sense of humour!

When Germans laugh and smile, it’s because something is genuinely funny. I don’t like the inauthentic “thank you for shopping at Wal-mart” smile that is sometimes overused in places like the states. Many European countries don’t go around laughing and smiling at every single thing, and this means that when they do smile/laugh you know its genuine.

What this means is that if someone doesn’t laugh at your joke (either because they do think it’s funny but not enough to guffaw out loudly, or because it’s actually a terrible joke) you might think that they don’t have a sense of humour. I don’t know if it’s my personality or being Irish, but I didn’t find this at all in Germany and found many Germans quite hilarious and content people.

Anywhere you go requires a change in mindset

The fact of the matter is, if you truly believe any of the above headings, you will filter out any information that doesn’t support it and only look for confirmation, and you’ll probably find it. I know this because I did it myself when I refused to be open minded about a culture I didn’t like in the past. I’ve met people who insist that I’m not “really” Irish because I don’t drink, and not surprisingly if they spent time in Ireland, most of it was in pubs.

If I had a weird stereotype of all Belgians being hair stylists for example, I could confirm this by spending all my time in Belgium in hairdressers. No matter where you go, you will find your stereotypes answered if you look for them. I prefer to start with a clean slate if possible and get to know the people as directly as possible. Perhaps more Germans are rude, strict, humorless and angry than I think, but because I wasn’t looking for these signs, I didn’t find them.

After discovering all the interesting cultural differences, what I usually find is that we aren’t that different after all. Its one reason I can feel at home so quickly in many places. Berlin was one of these places and I will miss it!

Source: http://www.fluentin3months.com/german-stereotypes/

9 Comments Which Upset French People

2016-03-02T10:46:00.001+00:00

Whether you are quoting a famous song, trying to be funny or just being totally naive, some statement or questions are going to upset / irritate / annoy or simply just rub a French person the wrong way. Here is my top 9 list of comments to avoid if you want to make or keep French friends.

By Camille Chevalier-Karfis

1 – “Voulez-vous coucher avec moi, ce soir ?”

Even though it’s quite a popular song, this sentence doesn’t mean “would you like to have a friendly sleep over”. It means “would you like to have sex with me, tonight”. Yet you have no idea the number of students by Skype who innocently said this to me, as an example of the little French they knew. This makes for quite an embarrassing lesson opener… For more on this subject, you may be interested in my article on French Sex Vocabulary (warning, explicit).

2 – “How much did you pay for it?”

French people don’t like to talk about money, and it’s not very common to buy a pair of shoes and say how much you paid for it. Even if you had it at a bargain price, you won’t say how much it cost. You can say it was a great deal “c’était une bonne affaire”, but don’t actually say the price.

3 – “So, everybody cheats in France, right ? Wink-wink”

No, we don’t. Only our politicians do :-) Honestly, between them and the French movie industry, no wonder why the world thinks everybody in France is sleeping with everybody else (voulez-vous coucher avec moi ce soir ?) But we don’t. I mean, no more than any other countries… Read my article on why French women don’t date, it’s quite enlightening.

4 – “The French workers are lazy”

We do get 5 weeks of paid vacation, and many employees do work 35 hour weeks. But many people also work much more, so it’s not true, and lots of research points to the fact that French workers are very productive so it’s not fair to say we are lazy. Anyway, you didn’t expect to say this and get a smile in return, did you?

5 – “Oh, You’re French? Where in Paris do you live? “

That one is sure to fire up my husband! We get it ALL the time when travelling but we also regularly get contact requests on our site from people saying that they are visiting Paris and would love to have a one on one lesson with us. We tell them, sure, just take the 3.5 hours train + 45 minute drive to Paimpol where we live. France is a large country, and don’t assume every French person knows that little Paris street you visited on your last trip. Of course, real Parisians won’t notice anything wrong with that sentence :-)

6 – “Où sont les tchampsss Eely zees”.

Ok, that’s a tough one. French names are very difficult to pronounce. But French people don’t realize it, they seem to think it’s common knowledge and will often get aggravated with tourists who butcher their most precious landmarks. So point to the map, or better, if in Paris learn the pronunciation of the main Parisian monuments. Or at least, add “désolé(e) pour la pronunciation” (sorry for the pronunciation). BTW, Les Champs-Elysées are pronounced roughly “lay shan(nasal) zay lee zay”.

7 – “Je voudrais une bière” during a gastronomic meal in France

This is a stereotype, and I know many tourists who love wine, and know a lot about it. And French people do drink beer. However beer is mostly enjoyed with a light lunch, or as a before dinner drink, and is almost never served during a fancy gastronomic dinner. Your choice is water, red/white wine or Champagne (if it’s being offered to you). Any other drink would be considered inappropriate by the French.

8- “I looooove your accent”

French people usually have a strong accent when they speak English. English speakers usually find it really cute, and cannot imagine the person is actually trying to make an effort to speak with a decent accent. But most of the time, they are. Believe me… I lived in the US for about 16 years, and couldn’t shake my French accent. And it really bugged me when people told me “oh, so you are French” after I only said “hello”… It’s natural, and they didn’t mean any harm by it, I know, but still…You can say something like: “vous parlez très bien anglais et vous avez un petit accent tout à fait charmant”. But spare our feelings, and keep the: “you sound just like Maurice Chevalier” for yourself :-)

9 – “Are you really going to eat THAT !!”

Yep. I am. Get over it.

Source: http://www.frenchtoday.com/blog/9-things-you-say-that-rubs-french-people-the-wrong-way

Caste System in India

2016-03-02T10:06:00.003+00:00

The caste system is a form of hierarchical, kin-based social organization of great antiquity found in South Asian societies. The term, from the Portuguesecasta,is frequently contrasted with such other social categories as race, class, tribe, and Ethnic group. In India, caste—together with the village Community and the extended family—forms the main element of Social structure. This system consists of hierarchically arranged, in-marrying groups that were traditionally associated with a specific occupational specialization. Interrelations between castes arose out of the need of one caste for the goods or Services of another. These relations are governed by codes of purity and pollution.

The wordcasteitself is homologous with any of three different indigenous terms.Varna,which was an ancient, all-India classification system consisting of a fourfold division of society, perhaps arose out of a blending of the nomadic Warrior culture of Aryans with the settled urban,agrarian culture of the Indus Valley. The religious textRig Vedaspells out and justifies this stratification system, putting the Brahman or priest at the top, followed by the Kshatriya or warrior, Vaisya or landowner and trader, and Shudra or artisan and servant, in that order. Later a fifth varna of Untouchables developed, called Panchama, to accommodate intercaste offspring. The word caste may also be coterminous with the wordjati,which is a hereditary occupational unit. Hindu texts say that jatis, of which there are several thousand, emerged out of Intermarriages between varnas. Modern theory holds that jatis developed as other social groups like tribes or those practicing a new craft or occupational skill became integrated into the classic varna system. This process continues today as groups on the fringes of Hindu society become part of it by claiming a jati designation. Lastly, caste may refer to gotra,which is an exogamous descent group within a jati. It may be anchored territorially, and its members may hold property in common.

The caste system rests on the following principles. (1) Endogamy. The strictest rule of caste is marriage within the jati. Arranged marriage at adolescence ensures this. (2) commensality. Caste members are restricted to eating and drinking only with their own kind. (3) Hereditary membership. One is born into the caste of one's parents. (4) Occupational specialization. Each caste has a fixed and traditional occupation. This makes it an economic as well as a social system. This aspect of caste is the one that has been affected most by modernization and Westernization. (5) Hierarchy. Castes are arranged in some kind of order, each caste being superior or inferior to another. Since not all castes are found in every Village or every part of South Asia, and which one is superior to which others varies from region to region, hierarchy is the dynamic element of caste.

Underpinning the entire system are notions of purity and pollution. Words for these two ideas occur in every Indian language. Each term has a certain amount of semantic fluidity. Pure means "clean, spiritually meritorious, holy";impure means "unclean, defiled," and even "sinful." The structural distance between castes is measured in terms of purity and pollution; higher castes are pure in their occupation, diet, and life-style. Caste rules govern intercaste relations, determining the social and physical distance that people of different castes have to maintain from each other and their rights and obligations toward others. An equally important feature of caste rank is the notion of serving and being served, of giving and receiving. Castes may be ranked by the balance between the intercaste transactions in which one caste is a giver and those in which it is a receiver of goods, services, gifts, or purely Spiritual merit. The seeming contradiction between the power and position of the Brahman versus that of the king or the Politically and economically dominant caste can be resolved in light of the transactional aspect of caste, which creates varied realms of differentiation and ranking.

Individuals accept their position in the caste system Because of the dual concepts of karma and dharma. It is one's karma or actions in a previous life that determine one's caste position in this lifetime. The only way to ensure a better position in society next time is to follow one's dharma or caste duty. So closely are notions of salvation in Hinduism tied to caste duty that a Hindu without a caste is a contradiction in terms.

Although an individual's caste is fixed by his or her birth, the position of a caste within the system is changeable. A caste as a whole may accumulate wealth that would allow it to give up manual labor and adopt a "cleaner profession," thereby raising their comparative purity. Today the process of "Sanskritization," in which a lower caste or a tribal Community imitates high-caste behavior, is an attempt to move up the caste hierarchy. The most common changes are switching to a vegetarian diet and holding public prayers using high caste forms and Brahman priests. In daily life secularization and Western education lead to an undervaluing of caste identity on the one hand and a compartmentalization of the self on the other. The latter phenomenon occurs when an Individual varies his behavior according to the context (e.g., at work he adopts a secular self without observing caste taboos, but at home he is a caste Hindu).

Caste becomes a potent force in a modern democratic political system when it becomes a caste block whose Members can affect the outcome of elections. At local levels this can lead to a monopoly of power by one caste, but no caste is large enough or united enough to do so at a national level. Another modern trend is to be found among migrants from rural parts who tend to settle close to each other in the city, forming a caste neighborhood. Often they form caste associations for civic and religious purposes (e.g., celebrating Independence Day or performing religious recitals). In addition they may petition for government benefits, set up student hostels, commission the writing of a caste history, or in other ways promote the welfare of their group. In recent times some high castes have resented the privileges now flowing to low castes and have even taken the matter into their own hands in intercommunal strife.

Source: :http://www.everyculture.com/South-Asia/Castes-Hindu.html#ixzz41jr44WXE

Wonderful Romania

2016-03-02T10:01:00.003+00:00

Identification. The name "Romania," which was first used when the three regions of the country were united in 1859, reflects the influence of ancient Rome on the nation's language and culture. The three regions—Walachia, Moldavia, and Transylvania—are relatively culturally uniform. An exception is the Hungarian community in Transylvania, which has its own language and traditions and considers itself Hungarian. The Roma (Gypsies), who are scattered throughout the country, mostly in small camps on the outskirts of towns and cities are in many ways culturally unassimilated.

Location and Geography. Romania is in southeastern Europe at the north end of the Balkan peninsula, bordering Ukraine and Moldova to the north, Hungary to the northwest, Serbia to the southwest, Bulgaria to the south, and the Black Sea to the east. The land area is 91,699 square miles (237,500 square kilometers). The Carpathian Mountains cover about one-third of the country; they surround the Transylvanian Plateau and divide it from the other two main regions: Moldavia in the northeast and Walachia in the south. The Transylvanian Alps in the central region contain the highest peak, Mount Moldoveanu. The eastern and southern regions are characterized by rolling plains.

The Danube River stretches through the country for six hundred miles, forming its southern border with Serbia and Bulgaria and emptying into the Black Sea in the east. It is a source for irrigation and hydroelectric power.

Serious environmental problems include soil erosion and water and air pollution from unregulated industrial development. Because of economic hardship, the government has been slow to enforce laws that place restraints on industry.

Demography. The population was estimated to be 22,411,121 in 2000. Ninety percent of the people are Romanian, 7 percent are Hungarian, and 2 percent are Roma. The remainder is made up of Germans, Ukrainians, and others. Estimates of the Roma population range from 400,000 to one million; it is difficult to pinpoint because of the Roma's nomadic lifestyle. Before World War II, there was a large Jewish population, but almost 400,000 Jews were killed during the Nazi years, and many of the remaining Jews emigrated to Israel after the war. Today the Jewish population is estimated at less than 10,000. The German population has also decreased significantly. In the 1980s,Ceaucescu's government charged citizens large sums for permission to leave the country, a policy Germans felt was aimed specifically at them. Since Ceaucescu's regime fell in 1989, many Germans have emigrated.

Linguistic Affiliation. The official language is Romanian, which has Latin roots that date back to the Roman occupation of the area but also contains words from Greek, Slavic languages, and Turkish. In the fourteenth century, the country adopted the Cyrillic alphabet, but it later reverted to Roman lettering. Magyar (the language of ethnic Hungarians) and German are spoken, as are Serbian, Ukrainian, Slovak, Czech, Bulgarian, and Turkish. The language of the Roma population is Romany, although many Roma combine that language with Romanian.

Symbolism. The flag consists of blue, yellow, and red vertical stripes that symbolizeTransylvania, Moldavia, and Walachia, respectively. The coat of arms, adopted in 1992, consists of a gold eagle against a blue background holding a cross in its beak, a sword in one claw, and a scepter in the other. Emblazoned on the eagle's chest are the symbols of the five provinces: Walachia, Moldavia, Transylvania, Banat, and Dobruja.

History and Ethnic Relations

Emergence of the Nation. The first known inhabitants of present-day Romania were called Dacians. They were conquered by the Roman Empire in 106C.E.Roman domination of the region lasted only until 271 but had a formative and long-lasting influence. Many Romans stayed and intermarried with the Dacians, helping to shape the customs and language of the region.

From the 200s through the 1100s, there was a series of invasions by various tribes from the north, including the Magyars and the Saxons. The northern region developed into a principality called Transylvania, the south into a principality called Walachia, and the east into Moldavia. Throughout the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, Walachia and Moldavia battled repeated invasions by the Ottoman Empire. They eventually succumbed around 1500 and spent more than three hundred years under Turkish rule. In 1601, the principalities of Moldavia, Walachia, and Transylvania were united for the first time under Prince Michael the Brave. During Michael's reign, Romania maintained a degree of sovereignty, but after his death, the Turks again dominated the region. They ruled through Greek officials who abused their power to exploit the peasants.

In the late 1700s and early 1800s, the Ottoman Empire was weakened by a series of defeats to the Russians. In 1821, an uprising in Walachia against the Greek rulers ended in the execution of the Romanian leader Tudor Vladimirescu, which further fanned desires for independence. The 1829 Treaty of Adrianpolie replaced Greek rule with Russian. In 1834, the Russians withdrew. In 1859, Prince Alexander Cuza was elected ruler of a united Moldavia and Walachia; three years later, the country was renamed Romania (then spelled Rumania). Cuza attempted to redistribute land and improve the living conditions of the poor, but those policies were unpopular with the upper class; in 1866, Cuza was forced to resign and was replaced by Prince Carol. In 1877, Carol led a successful joint revolt of Romanian and Russian troops against the Turks. The Congress of Berlin of 1879 marked the end of Turkish domination. Romania became a kingdom in 1881, and Prince Carol was crowned king.

Despite the nation's independence, the situation of the majority of the people remained unchanged. In 1907, increasing discontentment gave rise to a peasant revolt, in which the country estates of the nobility were burned. The army suppressed the uprising, killing ten thousand people.

In 1914, King Carol died and Ferdinand I took his place. Two years later, Romania entered World War I, joining the Allies in their fight against the Axis powers (Austria-Hungary and Germany in particular). After the war, the Trianon Treaty doubled the size of the country, uniting Moldavia and Walachia with Transylvania, Banat, Bessarabia (present-day Moldova), and Bucovina (today in southern Ukraine). In the years after World War I, afascistmovement called the Iron Guard won a large following in response to threats from the communist Soviet Union and rising unemployment.

Ferdinand died in 1927 and was succeeded by his son, Carol II, in 1930. Carol II resorted to military suppression of the opposition. In 1938 he outlawed political parties, and the head of the Iron Guard was executed.

At the outbreak of World War II, Carol II was forced to give up significant portions of the country to Russia and Hungary. His son Michael took the throne in 1940, but the real power fell to Marshal Ion Antonescu. In an effort to recoup Soviet-occupied territories, the country aligned itself with the German forces, participating in the invasion of the Soviet Union in 1941.

In August 1944, King Michael took power back from Antonescu. Romania joined the Allied forces but was soon occupied by Russia. After the war ended in 1945, most of the occupied territories were returned, but the Russian communists retained control. They abolished the monarchy in 1947, replacing King Michael with a puppet government under the leadership of Petru Groza. Business and industry were nationalized, and farmland was taken from the peasants and reorganized into government-run collectives. The communist leadership also imposed harsh penalties for expressing opposition to the government, imprisoning dissidents or putting them to work in extremely dangerous labor projects. Gheorghe Gheorghiu-Dej served as chief of state throughout the 1950s and was responsible for many of the Stalinist policies. In the early 1960s, he worked to distance Romania more from Soviet influence.

In 1965, Nicolae Ceausescu assumed the presidency and presented a new constitution. He initiated large-scale development projects, mainly with money borrowed from other countries. Many of those projects failed, sinking the country into debt that Ceaucescu attempted to pay off by exporting virtually everything the country produced, leading to severe shortages of food and fuel. The secret police kept the people in line through terror while Ceaucescu and his family, who controlled most of the government, continued to plunder the country for personal gain.

In the 1980s, worsening food shortages, along with the toppling of other communist regimes in Eastern Europe, stirred unrest. Protests in 1987 were put down with a combination of military force and extra food distribution. In December 1989, protests in the city of Timisoara were met with gunfire, and hundreds of citizens died. Other protests broke out across the country, and the situation escalated until troops refused to follow orders and joined the protesters. Ceaucescu and his wife attempted to flee the country but were halted by the army and brought to trial. Both were found guilty of murder and put to death by firing squad on Christmas Day 1989.

A party called the National Salvation Front assumed power, and in 1990 free elections were held. Ion Iliescu, the leader of the National Salvation Front and a former Communist Party member, won the presidency, and a new constitution was adopted in 1991. Iliescu put down student protests against the government by calling in twenty thousand coal miners to create a counter demonstration and later used the same tactic to force Petre Roman, a liberal prime minister, from office. Despite widespread dissatisfaction with Iliescu's leadership, he won reelection in October 1992. Four years later, voters replaced him with the reform-touting Emil Constantinescu of the Democratic Convention of Romania. Despite positive changes during his term, the December 2000 elections were a contest between Iliescu and Corneliu Vadim Tudor of the right-wing Greater Romania Party, who espoused a hard-line fascist ideology. Iliescu won the vote of a disillusioned, bitter, and frightened populace.

National Identity. The majority of residents share a common culture and history dating back to the Dacians. National identity is informed by pride in the country's resilience and ability to withstand attacks from the Austro-Hungarian Empire and the Turks and later from the Soviet Union. Many Hungarians living in Transylvania consider themselves more Hungarian than Romanian, and some consider the region a part of Hungary.

Ethnic Relations. Transylvania was once under Hungarian control, and parts of the region still have an ethnic Hungarian majority. Relations between Hungarians and Romanians are tense and have resulted in political conflict and occasional violence. In 1976, the communist government outlawed the use of the Hungarian language in education and the media in what it claimed was an effort to assimilate minorities into the national culture. Since 1989, the government has softened its stance, but discrimination still exists.

Romania has one of the world's largest populations of Roma. The Roma have a long history of persecution throughout Europe and still face discrimination. They have high rates of poverty, unemployment, and malnutrition, and many have left in an attempt to better their conditions.

During World War II, Jews were persecuted by both the government and the German military, and many were deported to Nazi concentration camps. Most of those remaining emigrated to Israel after World War II. Today, most of the country's Jews are concentrated in northern Moldavia and Bucharest.

Urbanism, Architecture, and the Use of Space

Bucharest is the capital and largest city, located in the center of the southern region of Walachia. Some old architecture still remains—there are several seventeenth- and eighteenth century churches and a university dating to 1864—but the communists replaced most of the old buildings with concrete apartment complexes and skyscrapers. Between the two world wars, Bucharest was also a cultural center called "the Paris of the East," but its character has become more industrial and commercial. It is still home to some cultural attractions, including the National Art Museum, national theater and opera companies, and the country's largest university.

Other important cities include Brasov, an industrial center in the Transylvanian Alps; Constanta, a port on the Black Sea; Cluj-Napoca in central Transylvania; and Timisoara in the eastern Banat region.

In the cities, most people live in high-rise apartment buildings. Housing is limited, and conditions are cramped. Heating is often inadequate. In the countryside, most houses are old-fashioned two- or three-room wooden structures without plumbing or electricity. Traditional rural houses have roofs of red tiles, corrugated tin, or wooden shingles. In Moldavia and Walachia, they are usually white, while in Transylvania, they are painted different colors. In previous centuries, people often built houses almost entirely underground to protect themselves from Turkish attacks.

Food and Economy

Food in Daily Life. Breakfast is usually a small meal of bread with butter and jam and tea. The largest meal is eaten in the early afternoon. Mititei, grilled sausage seasoned with garlic, is a common appetizer.Borsch, cabbage soup with bran, orciorba, a soup of lamb, mushrooms, and other meats and vegetables, is often served as a first course. Main dishes are usually meat-based, such astocana,a pork stew flavored with garlic and onions. Other popular dishes includesarmale,cabbage leaves stuffed with rice and meat, andmamaglia, a cornmeal dish often served with poached eggs. Vegetables are served as side dishes. Typical desserts includeplacinte, a kind of pie, and baclava,a pastry made of nuts and honey.

Local wines produced in Moldavia and along the Black Sea coast are widely consumed.Tuica, a strong plum brandy, is also popular, as are beer and soft drinks.

Food Customs at Ceremonial Occasions. Wedding feasts include kegs of wine andtuicaand an enormous round loaf of bread shared by the bride and groom. The annual sheep feast, Simbra Oilor ,a traditional holiday marking the moving of the herds to the high pastures, is celebrated with a large community meal of cheese, meat dishes, andtuica.

Basic Economy. The labor force consists of 9.6 million people, of whom 37 percent work in agriculture, 34 percent in industry, and 29 percent in services. The unemployment rate is 11 percent, and 22 percent of the population lives below the poverty line.
After World War II, the communists built up the industrial sector and introduced a nationalized economic system. Large building projects left the country with debts; to pay them off, the government exported much of what it produced and imported little, creating shortages of consumer goods and food. Since 1989, the government has introduced reforms to create a free-market economy, privatizing some businesses and removing price controls. Although prices have gone up, wages have not; while more consumer goods are now available, many people cannot afford to buy them. Romania's currency is the leu.

Land Tenure and Property. When the communists came to power, they nationalized industries, transportation, and stores as well as private farms. The new government has begun to allow more private ownership of land, a change that has resulted in increased agricultural output. The new laws allow citizens to claim land that had been taken from their ancestors as long ago as four generations. The number of people reclaiming land is in the millions.

Commercial Activities. Many of the products produced for domestic sale are agricultural. The main crops are wheat, corn, sugar beets, sunflower seeds, and wine grapes. Farmers also raise cows, pigs, sheep, and chickens. Despite some improvement under the new government, shortages continue to be a problem, and consumers often wait in long lines to buy whatever the stores have in stock.

Major Industries. The primary industries include mining, timber, construction materials, metallurgy, chemicals, and machine building. Many industries have foundered in recent years, as they use old-fashioned equipment and are unable to compete with those of other countries. Since the early 1990s, tourism has become a growing industry.

Trade. Under communism, the Soviet Union was the primary trade partner. The Soviets sent raw materials that were processed in Romanian factories and then sold back to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (U.S.S.R.). Russia and the former Soviet republics remain important trading partners; others are Germany, Italy, France, and the United States. Exports include textiles and shoes, metals and metal products, and machinery and equipment. The main imports are coal, natural gas, and crude oil as well as machinery and consumer goods.

Division of Labor. In an effort to build up the industrial base, the communist government moved some of the rural population to the cities, creating a shortage of farmers. Most of those who left were younger males, and the agricultural sector came to be composed primarily of women and older men.

The communist state valued science much more highly than the humanities and other fields and pushed young people to pursue careers in those areas. In the early 1990s, a significant number of people switched jobs as more opportunities arose; it was not uncommon to see former doctors and scientists entering fields such as journalism and sales.

The poor often have little choice of profession. Education is expensive, and the children of farmers and factory workers do not have much opportunity for advancement.

Social Stratification

Classes and Castes. The majority of the people are poor, and the overall standard of living is low compared to that of Western Europe. Under communism, a small elite had access to luxuries unthinkable to most of the population. Ceaucescu, for example, lived in a forty-room palace where walls were hung with artwork taken from churches and museums. Some of the old elite have managed to hold onto their wealth and power in the government after Ceaucescu's ouster. In general, however, few rise above the generally low standard of living.

Symbols of Social Stratification. Cars are rare, and people who own them are usually part of the elite. Other imported consumer goods and household appliances are also expensive and difficult to come by and represent another symbol of high economic standing. It is also a mark of wealth to be able to send one's children to the best day-care centers and provide them with private tutoring.

In the cities, the majority of the people wear Western-style clothing. In rural areas, some people still wear traditional garb. For women, this consists of wool skirts and vests whose embroidery varies from region to region. For men, it is a white blouse and pants cinched with a wool or leather belt and a cap or hat.

Throughout the country, Roma stand out in their brightly colored clothes. Women wear long flowing skirts, and men dress in white shirts with colorful sashes.

Hairstyles are often an indication of a woman's region of origin and marital status. Unmarried women wear their hair in braids, while married women cover their heads with cloths callednaframa.

Political Life

Government. The president is the head of state and is elected by popular vote for a four-year term. He appoints the prime minister, who serves as the head of government. The prime minister appoints a cabinet called the Council of Ministers. The legislature is bicameral. The Senate (Senat) has 143 members, and the Chamber of Deputies (Adunarea Deputatilor) has 343 members. All legislators are elected by direct popular vote for four-year terms.

On the local level, the country is divided into forty districts administered by mayors and councils elected by the people. The head of each region is a prefect appointed by the central government.

Leadership and Political Officials. The 1991 constitution established a multiparty system. Sixteen parties are represented in the government, and there are several smaller ones that have not won seats. These parties are composed of former communists who favor gradual change, democrats pushing for faster reform, and groups representing the interests of the different ethnic minorities. After the corrupt and often brutal policies of Ceaucescu and other leaders, the people are wary of government officials in general.

Social Problems and Control.The majority of the crimes committed are nonviolent. Economic crimes are a significant problem; corruption, speculation, hoarding, and black market activities are all prevalent. Juvenile crime is also a concern. The legal system, previously a combination of civil law and communist legal theory, is now based on the constitution of France's Fifth Republic.

Military Activity. The military consists of the Army, the Navy, the Air and Air Defense Forces, the Paramilitary Forces, and Civil Defense. In 1996, Romania spent $650 million annually on the military, or 2.5 percent of the gross domestic product. During Ceaucescu's reign, paramilitary forces often were used to suppress uprisings or dissenting activity, and the security police tapped telephones, persecuted religious authorities, and instilled fear in the populace.

Social Welfare and Change Programs

The communist government instituted a system of social welfare under which assistance was provided only to employees of the state. These workers are still entitled to pensions for retirement, disability, and survivors as well as insurance in case of sickness or injury. The state also has programs for orphans, the mentally and physically handicapped, and the elderly. Many of these programs are inadequate; in the 1980s, older people were discouraged from going to hospitals because of a lack of staff and supplies. The responsibility for caring for the elderly often falls to the family.

Nongovernmental Organizations and Other Associations

Various human rights and professional associations are active in the country. Many, such as the Children's Relief Network and Aid for Romanian Children, direct their efforts toward improving conditions in orphanages and helping thousands of abandoned children find homes. Some of these groups have a religious affiliation; others, such as the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), are funded by the governments of foreign countries.

Gender Roles and Statuses

Division of Labor by Gender. The communists attempted to get women into the work force in large numbers. While the majority of women work outside the home, they tend to occupy lower-level positions and generally are in traditional female fields, such as primary school education. Women also make up a large proportion of agricultural workers; as men left farming in the 1950s and 1960s, women were left behind in those jobs, which had come to be considered undesirable. While the definition of women's work has expanded, that of men's work has not, and women who work full-time outside the home are still expected to do all the cooking and housekeeping.

The Relative Status of Women and Men. After World War II, the communists succeeded in raising women's legal status, giving them equal rights in marriage and the workplace. Ceaucescu's regime was in many ways a step backward for women. His efforts to increase the population burdened women with either bearing children they did not want and could not afford or seeking illegal and dangerous abortions. The government also enforced mandatory gynecological examinations of women of childbearing age to prove that they had not had abortions.
Marriage, Family and Kinship

Marriage.Traditionally, marriages were arranged by the couple's parents through a matchmaker. The bride's family was expected to contribute a dowry that usually consisted of linen and embroidery. Traditional rural weddings were large festivities to which the entire village was invited. The ceremony included not just the couple and their parents but grandparents, godparents, the matchmaker, attendants, speakers, cooks, and numerous other people.

Today it is customary for young people to choose their own spouses, but certain elements of the traditional ceremony are preserved. The bride's hair is braided in an elaborate style, and she dons a crown of flowers, jewels, and ribbons. The groom wears a white leather vest and a hat decorated with feathers, flowers, and leaves. The best man shaves the groom's beard to symbolize his departure from his previous lifestyle. In the ceremony, both the bride and the groom ask their parents to forgive them for leaving the family.

In their effort to undermine religion, the Communists made civil ceremonies a legal requirement and discouraged church weddings. They also gave women greater rights in marriage, including equal control of children and property. When divorce laws were liberalized, the rates of divorce skyrocketed. To stem that trend, stricter laws were imposed in the 1960s, and divorce rates fell somewhat but remain high.

Domestic Unit. It is not uncommon for several generations to live together. Housing shortages force many people to live in close quarters. In the 1980s, the national average was ten square meters of living space per person; this has improved slightly, but not nearly to the goal set by the government of fourteen square meters per person by 2000.

Inheritance. Traditionally, an estate passes to the oldest son. Today, however, women are legally allowed to inherit property.

Kin Groups.The national culture places a high value on helping extended family members. An example of this was Ceaucescu's government, which was largely staffed by his relatives. Traditional families were large patriarchal units, as extra hands were always needed in the fields. Urbanization has led to smaller families, however, and to a decrease in the importance of family ties.

Socialization

Infant Care. Ceaucescu made childbearing a priority in an effort to increase the population. He outlawed abortion and birth control and declared that each woman should have at least five children. While his policies were successful in producing more children, this was in many cases to the detriment of the children. Already poor families could not afford to feed or clothe them, and the orphanages filled with abandoned babies.

Child Rearing and Education.The communist government encouraged women to work outside the home and established state-run day-care centers calledcrèches.From a very young age, children are left in these centers all day while their parents work. Manycrèchesare overcrowded and insufficiently staffed. The largest day-care center is at Scinteia in Bucharest, which is exclusively for children of the elite.

School is free and mandatory from the ages of six to sixteen. From ages six to fourteen, children attend elementary school; after this, they must pass examinations to enter secondary school. About half these students go on to vocational schools; others continue their education at technical institutes or teacher-training programs.

Higher Education.Only 5 percent of students take a college preparatory course in secondary school. To study at a university, it is necessary to pass a rigorous examination that often requires expensive tutoring outside of school. The largest and most prestigious university is the University of Bucharest, founded in 1864. Other centers of higher education include Babes-Blyai University in Cluj-Napoca and the Polytechnic Institute in Bucharest.

Etiquette

Romanians are known for hospitality and generosity. Guests are always fed. Men indicate their respect for women by a tip of the hat, a kiss on the hand, or standing to offer them a seat. It is also customary for younger people to defer to their elders.

Religion

Religious Beliefs. Seventy percent of the population is Romanian Orthodox, 6 percent is Roman Catholic (of which 3 percent is Uniate), 6 percent is Protestant, and 18 percent professes no religious affiliation. Under communism, religion was suppressed; churches were destroyed, and clergy were arrested. The government restricted religious practice but did not forbid it. The Romanian Orthodox Church as a whole did not oppose the government, and in many instances priests were used as tools of the administration.

Romanian Orthodoxy traces its history back to the Great Schism between Eastern and Western Christianity of 1054. The Eastern Orthodox Church, of which the Romanian Orthodox Church is one branch, has developed a more mystical slant than Roman Catholicism. Icons—images representing Christ, angels, saints, and other holy figures—hold an important place in Orthodox practice. They are considered a connection between the earthly and spiritual realms; it is believed that the saint is incarnated in the physical materials of the icon.

Religious Practitioners. The highest figure in Eastern Orthodox religion is the Patriarch of Constantinople. He is not considered infallible. Many Romanian priests lost the trust of their parishioners by working with the secret police during the communist regime. Some resisted, such as Laszlo Tokes, whose opposition to government intimidation led to popular acts of rebellion that ultimately led to Ceaucescu's ouster.

Rituals and Holy Places. Romanian Orthodox churches follow a specific pattern in the placement of icons. On the door there are usually life-size representations of the archangels Gabriel and Michael, above which there are several rows of other icons, including saints, martyrs, and apostles. Inside the church, there is a wall called an iconostasis where the images are displayed. On the feast day of a saint, that icon is placed on the altar for worshipers to kiss. It is customary for a family to have an icon in the home as well. When entering a house, guests cross themselves and bow to the icon before greeting the hosts.

Eucharist, or Holy Communion, is the central ritual in Orthodox services. During services on Sunday mornings, hundred of candles are lit and the smell of incense fills the church. Worshipers do not sit or kneel but stand erect.

Easter is the most important holiday in the Eastern Orthodox calendar. Its observation begins on Palm Sunday, when palm leaves or pussy willows are brought home from church. This is followed by the forty-day period of atonement of Lent, which ends on Good Friday. Easter Sunday, three days later, is celebrated with elaborately decorated eggs, feasting, and a midnight mass.

Christmas celebrations begin on 6 December (Saint Nicolas's Day), with family feasts. On the night before Christmas, young people wear costumes and performcolinde,traditional songs expressing hopes for good luck.

Death and the Afterlife.The belief in vampires popularized in the late 1800s by the story of Dracula has a long history in folk culture and is still followed in more traditional rural communities. It is believed that sometimes the soul does not leave the body after death, in which case the corpse does not decay but haunts the village of the deceased and can claim victims with a touch or even a glance. Garlic is thought to be helpful in keeping vampires away, as are food offerings made on Saint George's Day (23 April) and Saint Andrew's Day (29 November). The custom of covering mirrors in the home of the deceased has its origin in vampirism and the fear that the spirit of the dead person will see its reflection and not be able to leave.

Medicine and Health Care

The health care system improved under the communist government, which provided free medical services to all citizens. Development was uneven, and while conditions in the cities improved markedly, rural villages continued to suffer from a lack of doctors and facilities.

Environmental degradation has had negative effects on the health of the populations. Air pollution causes eye and lung disease, and many people do not have access to clean drinking water.

Many of the country's health problems are related to reproductive health and child care. Under Ceaucescu, abortion and birth control were banned; illegal abortions were common and often resulted in health problems. Many women were compelled to have children they could not support. Poor prenatal care and lack of food meant that many of those children were born prematurely and underweight; many were fed intravenously in hospitals with contaminated needles and contracted the AIDS virus. AIDS is a growing health concern, although the government has been slow to act and wary to release statistics. The main causes of death are cancer, cardiovascular disease, and alcoholism.

The Arts and Humanities

Support for the Arts.Under communism, the government forced artists to join unions, which supported them but censored their work. Today there is less state support for artists but more creative freedom.

Literature.The national literature traces its roots back to early ballads and folklore. The ballad form, which was most popular between the sixteenth and nineteenth centuries, often involved pastoral tales sung to the accompaniment of a lute or zither. The best-known folktale is that of Dracula, which was made famous by foreign authors. Ion Creanga, a nineteenth-century writer, was famous for his use of traditional storytelling techniques in fiction and memoirs. More contemporary writers are known for mixing politics, history, and literature. In the late nineteenth century, the Moldavian poet Mihai Eminescucelebrated the country's history and culture. In that period,Ion Luca Caragiale wrote comic plays that dealt with political issues.

Romanian writers have made considerable contributions abroad. Tristan Tzara, who left for France during World War I, was one of the founders of the Dadaist movement. Eugene Ionesco (1912–1994), another expatriate who lived in France and wrote in French, composed the famous absurdist dramasThe RhinocerosandThe Bald Soprano.

Graphic Arts.Traditional art forms include woven wool rugs, pottery, and wood carving. More folk art is preserved in the northwest region of Maramures than anywhere else in the country. Doorways, gates, and windows are carved with elaborate designs. Traditional costumes are also works of art, often displaying elaborate embroidery and a trimming of tiny glass beads.

Several painters rose to prominence in the nineteenth century after studying in Western Europe, including Nicolae Grigorescu, known for landscapes and depictions of rural life, and the portraitist Theodor Aman. Social realism dominated in the post-World War II period as the communist government compelled artists to produce works that glorified industrial workers and political leaders.

The most famous modern artist was Constantin Brancusi (1876–1957), a sculptor who made his home in France. He worked in wood and metal, creating abstract representations of people and nature. Late in his career, he was invited to create several sculptures for display in Tirgu-Jiu, the village of his birth. His works The Kissing Gateand Table of Silenceare in a public park there.

Performance Arts.Romanian folk music is often mournful, such as thedoina of the northwest. Common instruments includenai(panpipes),tembal(dulcimer),bacium(a long wooden wind instrument),gorduna(small double bass), and violins. Many folk musicians are Roma.

The national dance is thehora, a circle dance performed at festive occasions. Different regions have unique dances performed in pairs and groups.

Several Romanians have achieved prominence in classical music, including the pianist and conductor Dinu Lipatt and Georges Enesco, a violinist and composer whose work was influenced by traditional folk songs.

Drama companies in Bucharest and other cities' stage productions of classical Romanian works as well as contemporary pieces by national and foreign playwrights.

Early in the twentieth century, Bucharest became one of the centers of Eastern European filmmaking. In 1957, Ion Popescu-Gopo won an award at the Cannes Film Festival for an animated allegorical film called Brief History.Romanian filmmakers dealt with the repressive political environment of the 1970s in "iceberg movies" in which they disguised social and political statements in ostensibly innocent stories.

The State of the Physical and Social Sciences

The communist government gave science and technology priority over the humanities and social sciences. Subjects such as history and literature were tightly censored and viewed as vehicles for ideological indoctrination. Since communism fell, these fields have benefitted from more freedom of expression. The Department of Comparative Literature at the University of Bucharest reopened in the early 1990s after having been defunct for twelve years.

The center of academic research is the Romanian Academy. It has a library of over seven million volumes and a publishing house called Editura Academiei that prints academic papers and journals.

Source: http://www.everyculture.com/No-Sa/Romania.html

Cape of a Nation's Hopes

2016-03-02T09:49:00.002+00:00

Should one of the greatest of Welsh treasures be returned to the country in which it was found? David R. Howell investigates.

Welsh gold: the Mold Cape. British Museum The Mold Cape, discovered in 1833, is among the most significant Bronze Age archaeological finds ever to come out of Wales. Created between 1900-1600 BC from a single piece of gold, the cape is a remarkable survival of ritual activities and provides a tangible insight into Bronze Age ceremonial practices.

Over the summer of 2013 people in Wales were briefly able to see the Mold Cape in the country in which it was discovered. With no national museum established in Wales at the time of the cape’s discovery, the British Museum in London became its custodian and continues to conserve and present the object to the highest professional standards. Since devolution in 1998 and the creation in 2006 of the National Assembly for Wales in Cardiff, the Mold Cape has returned to Wales twice, once in 2005 and again this year. When it will next be seen in Wales is open to question.

What we can be certain of is that there is clear local enthusiasm for this object. The Wrexham County Borough Museum in North Wales, which recently displayed the cape for a little over a month, reported in excess of 10,000 additional visitors, an increase of over 200 per cent from previous years. The local appetite for this artefact is apparent yet, based on the frequency of such loans, it is unlikely that this demand will be satisfied again for another decade. For the North Walian interested in their ‘local’ heritage a trip to London will now be obligatory for the foreseeable future.

The question of repatriation is one with which the museum community in Britain has become increasingly well versed. Human remains, such as those returned to New Zealand from the National Museum of Wales in 2009, are frequently repatriated. Meanwhile, ongoing controversies over the British Museum’s Elgin Marbles or the Parthenon Frieze (depending on which side of the debate you fall) ensure that the subject of repatriation is rarely far from the headlines. Nevertheless, no significant claim for the Mold Cape has been made for over a decade, or for any other artifacts found in Wales but not on display there.

This may change in the wake of the 2014 referendum on Scottish independence, when a ‘Yes’ vote would have potentially significant implications for many other parts of the UK. A greater emphasis placed on the return of cultural property frequently follows from the establishment of political independence. This was perhaps best illustrated in Iceland, where in 1971 a package of medieval manuscript materials was returned from Denmark, the former colonial power. While discussions over ownership of the materials had been ongoing since the 1920s, it was the establishment of Iceland as a republic in 1944 that stimulated discussion which resulted in an active campaign for the repatriation of Iceland’s cultural heritage.

Repatriation of manuscript material to Iceland continued over three decades, the process coming to a formal end in 1997. Significant from a Welsh perspective was the way in which the initial return of the manuscripts was received in Iceland. Escorted by Danish naval officers, the first manuscripts to come back to Iceland were greeted by thousands in the harbor of Reykjavík. A national holiday was announced and schools closed. The first open-air live television broadcast in Iceland ensured that all who might be interested had the opportunity to participate in the return. The return of the manuscripts was regarded as the symbolic rebirth of the nation, with many regarding the arrival of the first manuscripts as the day on which Icelandic independence was truly achieved. The practical implication of the return was manifest in people having access to their cultural heritage. Museum displays, as well as a wider body of archive material for research, were now accessible in Iceland to Icelanders, who no longer had to travel to Denmark to engage with their cultural treasures.

The visitor numbers logged during the summer of 2013 indicate similar levels of interest in Wales for the Mold Cape, yet it may be that an entire generation will be unable to benefit from such access. Iceland has certainly seen the benefits, with national research stimulated through access to source material, the establishment of international attractions in its capital city and an associated string of commercial tourism-driven enterprises linked to the Icelandic Sagas. These are the areas which Wales currently cannot develop, especially in regard to its Bronze Age heritage.

Politicians in post-devolution Wales have not appeared overly preoccupied with the theme of repatriation so far. Yet, should the political landscape radically change next year, it might be expected that objects such as the Mold Cape, alongside many other collections, will become the focus of a new raft of repatriation claims being submitted to what remains of the ‘British’ museum collections.

David R. Howell is a member of the history department at the University of South Wales.

- See more at: http://www.historytoday.com/david-r-howell/cape-nations-hopes#sthash.16Ke7uZ1.dpuf

The Secret History of French Fries

2016-03-02T09:42:00.003+00:00

Still Life with Fries

If you're like most Americans, when you think French fries, you think McDonald's. Oh you poor, deprived people. I don't say this because I was raised in France—mais non, I have never tasted a fry a la Francaise. I say this because I spent much of my childhood in Holland, where fries are a national treasure. Known as "patat," Dutch fries are prepared fresh—not frozen!—at a variety of fries stands that, much like hot-dog stands in the New York, appear on street corners, in shopping malls, and anywhere else the fry urge could strike. Perhaps it is not surprising that in Holland, where the potato is given almost as much reverence as the Dutch royal family, the number-one snack food would be crafted from the sleepy spud, while we here in the New World, who prefer to worship red meat, have made hot-dogs and hamburgers our fast food staples.

Whatever the case, you can be certain that if you are traveling in the Netherlands, you will come upon the tantalizing scent of frying potatoes wafting around a corner and forcing you to follow your nose to its source. The fries you order there will be the thick, steak fry variety, and they'll be served to you in a paper cone and topped with a dollop of creamy mayonnaise (a distant relative of our globby mayo). Fries are so commonly served this way that to order them one simply asks for patat "met", or "with." The fry stand will also have a menu of other toppings, including sate sauce, a chunky peanut sauce that the Dutch discovered during their colonization of Indonesia and promptly incorporated into their fry culture.

The Dutch, however, cannot take responsibility for inventing the fry. Neither can the French. That honor goes to the Belgians, where fries are cherished even more than they are in Holland. The fry culture in Belgium is similar to that of Holland—fries are everywhere, the thick slabs of potatoes are freshly fried and served in paper cones, and they are offered with a variety of toppings, the most popular being mayonnaise—but the Belgians have also developed a wide variety of specialized fries shops, called, in Belgium "frietkots" or "fritures". These range from small stands, to sheds, busses and caravans, to shacks or quaint chalets.

It is only in the United States that the nomenclature of fried potatoes insinuates a French connection. In England they are called "chips," in France "pommes frites" (which means, literally, "fried apples"), and in Belgium and Holland "patat" (not the word for potato, which is "aardappel"). The French fry has little to do with France other than the fact that it's popularity spread to that country as quickly as it did to others. In fact, the French, like most of Europe, eyed the potato with suspicion until the last century or two.

I have been known to go out of my way to obtain fries similar to my beloved Dutch "patat," and have found a few places in America where they are served. In Santa Monica, on the Third Street Promenade, there is a fast food joint called "Benita's Frites" where genuine Belgian fries are served, along with all the appropriate toppings. I once travelled to the outskirts of Boston just to sample the promised Belgian fries with sate sauce at a small restaurant, but was deeply disappointed when the fries I was served were clearly of the frozen variety, and the peanut sauce was nothing like what I was used to. As luck would have it, just as I was in the middle of researching this article, I noticed a new shop being redone right here in New York City which promises to serve nothing but Belgian fries. Called "Pomme Frites," the shop is opening on Second Avenue, between 7th Street and St. Mark's Place. If it is all that it promises to be, I will no longer have to travel to the Pacific coast, or cross the Atlantic, to get a taste of my favorite greasy snack.

Source: http://www.stim.com/Stim-x/9.2/fries/fries-sidebar-09.2.html

The Berlin Wall: A Secret History

2016-03-02T09:17:00.002+00:00

By Frederick Taylor

The Berlin Wall was a tangible symbol of the suppression of human rights by the Eastern bloc during the Cold War, but Frederick Taylor asks whether it was more convenient to the Western democracies than their rhetoric suggested. - See more at: http://www.historytoday.com/frederick-taylor/berlin-wall-secret-history#sthash.najnkLIz.dpuf

The building of the Berlin Wall in August 1961 divided families and neighbourhoods in what had been the capital of Germany. The Wall represents a uniquely squalid, violent, and ultimately futile, episode in the post-war world. And we know that the subsequent international crisis, which was especially intense during the summer and autumn of 1961, threatened the world with the risk of a military conflict, one that seemed as if it could escalate at any time into nuclear confrontation between the US and the Soviet Union.

But was all as it seemed, with the noble democracies vainly opposing yet another Communist atrocity? Did the leaders of the West genuinely loathe the Wall, or was it – whisper if you dare – actually rather convenient to all the powers concerned?

In 1945, the victors of the Second World War, the US, the Soviet Union, Britain and by special dispensation the French, had divided Germany into four zones of occupation and its capital, Berlin, into four sectors. To the wartime Allies, Germany had been a problem ever since its unification in 1871, a big, restless country in the heart of Europe. The over- mighty Germany of the Kaiser’s and Hitler’s time must never be allowed to re-emerge.

Then came the Cold War. From the late 1940s, Germany itself – what was left of it after the Poles and the Russians had carved chunks off its eastern territories – became a creature of the Communist-capitalist conflict. It divided into West Germany (the ‘Federal Republic of Germany’) and the smaller East Germany (the ‘German Democratic Republic’), the former a prosperous democracy of some 50 million anchored into what was to become the Western NATO alliance, the latter a struggling social experiment, a third as large, allied to the Communist Warsaw Pact. The Iron Curtain ran through Germany, with a fortified border between the two Cold War German states.

Until 1961, however, Berlin remained under joint occupation and kept a special status, still more or less one city in which fairly free movement was possible. It represented an ‘escape hatch’ through which East Germans could head to the now booming West in pursuit of political freedom and a higher standard of living than their Stalinist masters were prepared to allow them.

Between 1945 and 1961, some 2.5 million had fled in this way, reducing the GDR’s population by around 15 per cent. Ominously for the Communist regime, most emigrants were young and well qualified. The country was losing the cream of its educated professionals and skilled workers at a rate that risked making the Communist state unviable. During the summer of 1961, this exodus reached critical levels. Hence, on that fateful August weekend, the Communists’ vast undertaking to seal off East from West Berlin, to close the ‘escape hatch’.

Sunday, August 13th, became known as ‘Stacheldrahtsonntag’ (barbed wire Sunday). Within a few weeks the improvised wire obstacle across the city started to morph into a formidable cement one that would soon become known as the ‘Berlin Wall’, a heavily fortified, guarded and booby-trapped barrier almost a hundred miles long, dividing the city and enclosing West Berlin.

Since the end of the war, Berlin had been a constant running sore in East-West relations. In 1948-49 Stalin had tried to blockade the Western sectors into submission by closing off all the land routes into the city, which lay almost a hundred miles inside Soviet-occupied territory. The West surprised him with a successful airlift that kept West Berlin supplied with sufficient essentials to survive. Only Stalin’s death had prevented a wall, or something like it, being constructed in 1953. In 1958, his successor, the ebullient, unpredictable Nikita Khrushchev, had started threatening West Berlin’s status once more. The Soviet leader compared the Allied-occupied sectors to the West’s testicles. If, he joked, he wanted to cause NATO pain, all he had to do was squeeze ...

Most Germans experienced the building of the Wall as a devastating blow. It was not just a brutal act in itself but also final proof, if proof were needed, that the reunification many still hoped for must remain a distant, even an impossible, dream. There was genuine outrage in West Germany (and to some extent in the East, though this was rapidly suppressed by the Communist secret police, the Stasi, who carried out thousands of arrests).

However, given the renewed dangers of conflict during the previous few years, the building of the Wall, although it unleashed a brief East-West showdown, was – seen from a global perspective -- not necessarily the catastrophe that it first appeared.

None of the former victors of the Second World War was about to go to war in order to prevent the division of Germany. The Western powers were unanimous in declaring their horror at the Wall, in making the right public noises - it wouldn't do to upset the West Germans - but what was going on behind the scenes?

The West officially promoted the recreation of a unified German state. In reality, however – as the crisis made clear – it privately accepted the division of Germany and saw no reason to oppose it by force.

At the end of July 1961, the newly-elected American President John F. Kennedy, had already ordered a military build-up to cope with possible Soviet and Warsaw Pact designs on Berlin (and by implication West Germany). However, his actual response to the building of the Wall was downright muted. Washington made it clear that only if the Soviets and their East German protégés tried to blockade or invade West Berlin would war become a possibility. In private, the US Secretary of State Dean Rusk even confessed – within days of the East German border closure operation – that ‘in realistic terms it would make a Berlin settlement easier’. In other words, so long as American prestige was not affected, the Soviets could do what they liked with the bits of Germany they controlled, including East Berlin. The extension of the Iron Curtain to the heart of Berlin might even help stabilize the situation.

The reaction of the other two occupying powers, Britain and France, was even more ambivalent.

The crisis found Harold Macmillan, prime minister of Britain since 1957, hundreds of miles north of London, at Bolton Abbey, in Yorkshire. There he was celebrating, as he did every summer, the opening of the grouse-shooting season. Macmillan spent Saturday August 12th in the company of his nephew, the Duke of Devonshire – owner of Bolton Abbey -- engaged in appropriate use of firearms against indigenous bird-life. Even after hearing the news from Berlin, the premier saw no reason why he should not continue to do so on August 13th.

The day afterwards, the British ambassador to West Germany, Sir Christopher Steel, commented languidly in a dispatch to London: ‘I must stay that I personally have always wondered that the East Germans have waited so long to seal this boundary.’ His main concern was to ensure Washington didn’t do anything silly. London should get together with the Americans to make sure that ‘they, no more than we, regard this as the issue on which we break’.

Meanwhile, 71-year-old General Charles de Gaulle, last active Allied leader of the Second World War and since 1958 once more President of France, was resting at his country home in Colombey-les-Deux-Églises. So relaxed did de Gaulle seem about the Berlin affair that he failed to return to Paris until the following Thursday, August 17th.

This caution was not due to mere indifference on the part of either leader. Each had problems of his own.

Britain’s military and economic decline had lately accelerated to a point where even the traditionally imperialistic Conservatives realized they had to cut their cloth to suit new circumstances. A certain testy obsession with cost had crept into discussions about Britain’s military commitments. Even before this latest twist in the Berlin crisis, plans had been put in motion by defence minister Harold Watkinson, not to increase Britain’s military presence in West Germany and Berlin, but drastically to reduce it.

Conscription for the British armed services was due to be abandoned in the early part of 1962. The strength of the British Army of the Rhine (BAOR) would accordingly fall from 52,000 to 44,000 by the end of that year. It seemed likely that even the 3,500 troops London maintained in the British Sector of Berlin might be subjected to a quiet culling operation.

Moreover, Britain had problems elsewhere in the world. In the Middle East it faced confrontation with the newly-radicalized republic of Iraq under its fiery strongman, Brigadier Abd al-Karim Qassem. Qassem had laid claim to the small, British-protected (and oil-rich) sheikhdom of Kuwait, and had spent most of June massing his army in the arid border zone. London had hastily withdrawn substantial forces from Germany, Cyprus and the Home Command to defend the Kuwait flashpoint. The cost of such a major, if temporary, movement of personnel and equipment, including ships and aircraft, was extremely painful for the British Treasury.

Before August 13th, Macmillan’s diplomats were still frantically occupied with arranging for peacekeeping forces from the Arab League to take over the protection of Kuwait, while British conscripts sweated in temperatures of 50° centigrade (120° Fahrenheit) opposite Iraq’s army in the desert south of Basra.

Berlin was therefore not high on London’s priorities list, in great part for financial reasons. For several years, Britain had been locked in a wrangle with West Germany. London wanted Bonn to share more of the cost of the British presence there. Formerly an army of occupation, the BAOR was now part of the first line of defence against attack from the East. This had become a touchy point. In mid-July, during discussions about contingency plans in case of another Soviet blockade of Berlin, Macmillan had declared rather sourly that Britain ‘should make it clear that we will pay nothing’ toward the expenses of any new airlift.

As for that other overstretched former imperial power, France still had several hundred thousand troops, mostly young conscripts, tied up in a vicious guerrilla war in Algeria. Talks to end the bloody Algerian struggle for independence from France had just begun in the spa town of Evian – a concession by de Gaulle that had already brought sections of his army and the Algerian white settlers out in open rebellion. It would be late the following spring before a ceasefire resulted. With France’s largest ‘overseas province’ in bloody uproar, diverting serious reinforcements to join the 45,000 French troops already in Germany (of which 3,000 were based at the Quartier Napoléon military complex in Berlin) was out of the question. Just weeks after the forced division of the German capital, the French defence minister, Pierre Messmer, informed his British counterpart that Frenchmen were not prepared to ‘die for Berlin’.

Privately the French elite, like the British, still found the existing division of Berlin, and of Germany, perfectly satisfactory, although (in the delicate words of a recent French official publication) de Gaulle thought that ‘it was important to avoid dashing the hopes of the Germans’, whom he was courting as part of his plan for French dominance of the continent. Another great Frenchman, the Nobel prize-winning author, friend and biographer of de Gaulle, Francois Mauriac, would make the classic quip that ‘I like Germany so much, I want two of her’.

So, even as an appalled world watched machine-gun-toting East German guards supervise the wall-building – Berlin was the first properly televised world crisis – the West did nothing. The American Secretary of State even forbade the US commandant from subscribing to a joint Allied press release, for fear of arousing negative reactions from the East. The first deaths at the Wall came. Frantic East Berliners trying to escape to the West via apartment blocks on the border plunged from high windows and roofs to their deaths. Ten days after ‘barbed wire Sunday’, a young East Berliner was coldly and deliberately shot as he tried to swim across a canal into the West. The deaths were the first of almost two hundred during the course of the Wall’s existence. Hundreds more were wounded, thousands were punished for their escape attempts with long jail sentences under harsh conditions.

Many writers at the time and in the intervening four and a half decades have speculated what would have happened if the Allies had responded to the Wall with vigorous ‘roll-back’ measures, bulldozing through the wire and defying the East to respond. It is clear from the documents we can now read in the archives of the countries involved that this was never a serious prospect.

In fact, the only possibility of 'roll-back' came not in August 1961 but more than two months later, in late October, when the East Germans began to demand identity documents from American officials entering East Berlin. This, which the Americans considered in breach of the postwar Potsdam Agreement, unleashed the famous 'Checkpoint' Charlie' confrontation, the only time during the Cold War when American and Soviet tanks actually faced each other, fully armed and ready to fire. Jeeploads of armed GIs escorted senior American diplomats for short, passport-free incursions into the East. Some of the American armour backing these forays was fitted with bulldozer blades, ready to push down the barrier and advance into East Berlin to facilitate freedom of movement for Washington's representatives, should the East try to prevent it. Finally the Americans seemed to be getting tough - not over the tragedy of the wall but over their own national prestige.

Even then, we can see from the British government documents, Harold Macmillan’s government had no intention of risking war on this issue. British civilian personnel entering East Berlin had for some time now been showing ID if requested, and so London’s sympathy for the American stance was limited. After reading a report from his embassy in Washington on the Checkpoint Charlie crisis, the Prime Minister scribbled some marginal comments. ‘What does the Foreign Office intend to do about this?’ Macmillan asked. ‘It’s rather alarming’. He wondered how long Britain could continue to ‘be associated with this childish nonsense’.

Almost nobody in London was of the hardline persuasion. Foreign Secretary Lord Home claimed on October 27th that he was ‘pretty close to an understanding with Rusk’, who did not want the question of showing passes to be made into a major show of strength. Home considered the American military, represented by former military governor Lucius D. Clay, to be the chief problem. He advised Macmillan:

The trouble is that the US soldiers do not yet seem to have been brought to heel on this point. I am sending an immediate telegram urging that specific instructions be sent. You might mention this to the President.

Whether British pragmatism (or weakness) played a role in taking the heat out of the crisis remains unproven. Then as now, Downing Street tended to overestimate its influence on the White House.

It now seems more likely that Kennedy had already reached an agreement with Moscow through unofficial secret service channels. Khrushchev, who had been kept busy managing a split in the international communist movement, finally decided to pay attention and clamp down on the notorious ‘salami-slicing’ activities of the notably wilful East German leader, Walter Ulbricht, which had led to the crisis in the first place. Khrushchev was only too keen to find a face-saving formula – as was Kennedy. The end of the ‘Checkpoint Charlie’ confrontation in effect meant the end of the Berlin crisis. Both superpowers had other fish to fry.

The actual reality of the wall had never been seriously challenged throughout this time, and this remained the case. It continued in existence for another twenty-eight years, a hideous scar on the European landscape and a cruel negation of post-war Germany's right to self-determination. When the Wall did come down in November 1989, overnight and as suddenly as it had arisen, it was not because of some exciting, high-risk initiative on the part of the West but mostly because of the internal decay of the communist bloc in general and the East German regime in particular.

Inevitably, the demise of the Wall in 1989 exposed the true feelings and anxieties of the Western allies about Germany every bit as blatantly as had its construction. The Americans quickly decided that they were, on balance, happy to see a reunited Germany, but both the French and the British, atavistic fears reawakened, panicked at the prospect. In her memoirs, Mrs Thatcher recalls an emergency visit to de Gaulle’s 1980s successor, President Mitterrand, in which ‘I produced from my handbag a map showing the various configurations of Germany in the past, which were not entirely reassuring about the future ….’

For a short while, Mitterrand seems to have considered Thatcher’s offer to resurrect the wartime Anglo-French alliance against a resurgent Germany, but on consideration the wily French leader decided against tying himself to the forceful and passionately Eurosceptic British leader. Instead, with characteristic subtlety, he took the alternative route: not to unite with other powers against Germany, but to clutch the Germans so tightly to France’s bosom that even a mighty, reunited state east of the Rhine would constitute no threat. Part of the hefty price Mitterrand secured from the German Chancellor, Helmut Kohl, in exchange for France’s support of reunification was the Federal Republic’s support for a common European currency and for closer integration.

So, in the end the fall of the Wall brought not just the end of the Cold War but the final absorption of Germany into Europe – a solution of sorts for the ‘German problem’ that had haunted the world for more than a century and brought about two catastrophic world wars.

Timeline

May 8th, 1945

End of the Second World War: Germany and Berlin are each divided into four zones/sectors (Soviet, American, British and French).

June 24th, 1948

Soviets begin their blockade of the Western sectors of Berlin.

June 25th, 1948

The Western Allies begin the ‘Berlin Airlift’ to provide food and basic necessities for West Berliners.

May 12th, 1949

End of the blockade, though harassment of the access routes continues.

May 24th, 1949

The Federal Republic of (West) Germany is founded in the Western zones.

Sep 30th, 1949

The Airlift is officially abandoned.

Oct 7th, 1949

The (East) German Democratic Republic is founded in the Soviet zone. Transformation of East Germany into a Soviet-style ‘people’s democracy’ accelerates.

May 26th, 1952

‘Operation Vermin’. The Soviets and their East German allies seal the border between East and West Germany. Berlin alone remains accessible, the only ‘hole’ in the Iron Curtain.

March 5th, 1953

Death of Josef Stalin in Moscow. Apparent liberalization follows.

June 17-18th, 1953

A mass uprising against the Communist regime in East Germany is bloodily suppressed by Soviet troops and loyal East German police.

Dec 11th, 1957

Leaving East Germany without permission becomes a criminal offence, punishable with three years’ hard labour.

June/July 1961

Tens of thousands of East Germans continue to defy the regime and flee to the West.

Aug 12-13th, 1961

Barbed wire and breeze-block barricades seal off West from East Berlin, making escape from East Germany impossible.

Aug 24th, 1961

24-year-old East Berliner Günter Litfin becomes the first escaper to be shot dead trying to cross into the West. Many more deaths and injuries follow.

Aug 26th, 1961

West Berliners are barred from East Berlin.

Oct 22-28th, 1961

American and Soviet tanks face each other at the Checkpoint Charlie border crossing after East German guards restrict American officials’ access to East Berlin. During these days, the world comes close to nuclear war. However, the mutual withdrawal of US and Soviet units on October 28th also signifies the de facto end of the Berlin crisis.

Oct 1961

The transformation of the border barrier into a fortified ‘Wall’ begins.

June 26th, 1963 President Kennedy visits West Berlin and declares ‘Ich bin ein Berliner’.

Dec 17th, 1963

Temporary permits are issued for West Berliners to visit East Berlin for the first time in two-and-a-half years.

Sept 3rd, 1971

Signing of the ‘Four-Power Agreement’. The Soviets and East Germans recognize West Berlin’s right to exist, and the West grants de facto recognition to the East German regime.

Aug 1st, 1975

The Helsinki Accords, signed by 35 countries including the USSR, America, Britain, and East and West Germany, promise universal human rights, including the right to freedom of movement. Within months, East German dissidents start to invoke this right in applying for exit visas. Despite government repression, what starts as a trickle grows into a flood.

June 12th, 1987

President Ronald Reagan visits Berlin. He tells the Soviet leader: ‘Mr Gorbachev, tear this wall down!’

Sept 10th, 1989

The Hungarian government opens the border to Austria. Thousands of East German 'tourists' escape during the coming weeks.

Nov 9th, 1989

Unable to halt the headlong exodus of its population through ‘third states’, the East German regime concedes its citizens the right to leave. The Berlin Wall is effectively history. In the coming days, East Berliners destroy it with their own hands.

Oct 3rd, 1990

East and West Germany are officially reunited.

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