Olá from Brazil

The melting pot of Brazil has produced a unique, vibrant culture. There is much more than the cultural cliché of fútbol and samba to the radiant country of Brazil. Because of its vast size, Brazilian climate ranges from savanna like to tropical feel. The official language of Brazil is Portuguese, distinct from that of all its Spanish speaking neighbors. Brazil has many cultural influences fromPortugal because of its prior colonial ties. The Portuguese introduced Roman Catholicism and colonial architectural styles.

The FIFA World Cup will be held during the summer of 2014 inBrazil. The most popular sport in Brazilis soccer and their national team is ranked amongst the best in the world. In 2016 the summer Olympics will also be held in Brazil. During November of this past year, approximately 3,000 soldiers and police officers moved into Rochinha, one of the largest slums Rio de Janeior as part of an operation to gain control over troubled areas in the city before these events. In 2010 Brazil also elected its first woman president, Dilma Rousseff.

Family time in Brazil is almost sacred. You will find many families dining together. They also have their own time table for social gatherings and respect traditions from one generation to the next.

The ethnic backgrounds of the people in Brazil also lend the country a colorful culture. Many Brazilian citizens have mixture of several bloodlines. Because of the diverse cultural background of its citizens,Brazilboasts many celebrations and festivals. Singing and dancing tend to dominate many of these events. Their top charts include Brazilian and other South American countries’ music, as well as American music. The top charts include “Ai Se Eu Te Pego” by Michel Teló, “Nêga” by Luan Santana, and “Sexy And I Know It” by LMFAO.

Their love of food is not far behind their love of music, however. The Brazilian people use a variety of seasonings in their cooking and have many regional signature dishes. Every country has its staple diet andBrazil is no different. Food in Brazil revolved around three key things, 1) arroz (white rice), 2) feijao (black beans) 3) farinha (similar to flour). It is very hard to try and avoid eating these although they do come in different shapes and sizes. These are usually eaten with red meat, chicken, or fish.

The colorful culture and effervescence of the people create an energy that makes Brazil unlike any other country in South America and a must-see.

γειά σου from Greece

Clearly,Greece has super-strength warriors wandering around destroying evil creatures, while citizens wear togas,  live in large stone cities, eat large bushels of grapes, and heartily drink red wine. False. That’s “Hercules”.  Actually, the stereotypical Greece that “Hercules” illustrated is not factual anymore. Although Greeks have a rich and diverse culture, they are not that different from us.

Recognized for its creamy yogurt, home-grown olives, and of course, rich mythology, the peninsula of Greecelies in Southern Europe, bordering Turkey, Bulgaria, and Algeria. Northern Greece contains plateaus, vineyards, and grasslands, whereas Southern Greece offers enormous cliffs, with breathtaking views of the blue Mediterranean Sea, which lies just below.

Known as the power of Western civilization during the Archaic period (eight to six BC), Ancient Greece influenced much of the style of theRoman Empire. Surprisingly,Greece’s culture resembles our own in many ways. Take a look at their music.  The Greek billboard charts top three songs include “Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You)” by Kelly Clarkson, “Set Fire to the Rain” by Adele, and “We Are Young” by Fun. However,Greecedoesn’t play just music from theUS. On their own Billboard Greek Airplay, the top three songs are “Baby It’s Over” by Παπαρίζου Έλενα, “On the Floor” by Jennifer Lopez feat. Pitbull, and “Οι Δυο Μας” by Ρουβάς Σάκης.

If you can’t already tell,Greece has its own alphabet. The Greek alphabet was actually the first language to have one symbol for every vowel and consonant. Their native tongue consists of 24 characters (instead of English’s 26) and has not changed since the ancient past.

Ever since the 1980s,Greece has dug itself into a serious economic hole. Although Greece is still a very wealthy country compared to others, its debt crisis is continuing to be a serious problem. Because of high taxes and sparks of government corruption, the people are working more than ever and have to pay quite a lot extra as well. However, many countries have been helping bail Greece out of their hole, which Europerecently announced they would do again.

Although Greece’s economy is not looking to hot, we can clearly see the positives of the country. Not as stereotypical as depicted in “Hercules.” Greecestill offers a collection of goods that really cannot be found the same at other parts in the world. When looking at the country as a whole compared to America, we can finally conclude that actually, Greeceand Americaare fairly similar. They just have a an even bigger debt.

привет from Russia

When people think of a Russians, the first thing that may come to mind is a Vodka-guzzling, hairy, man, wearing a fur hat and jacket, yelling in a thick accent to his fellow bar mates. In reality,Russiais so much more than that. “One thing that never changes are the people they are very hospitable and greet guests with open arms,” junior Daniel Bondarenko who is Russian commentsed about his homeland.

Russia has a titillating  culture and an rich history. Let’s take a dive into some major cultural aspects of Russia: music, fashion, architecture, and cinema.

Russian Chart Toppers:

1. Vishe- Nyusha

2. We Found Love- Rhianna and Calvin Harris

3. Lish Do Ultra- Dan Balan

4. Okolo Tebia- Elka

5. Zametaet- Gradsi

Fashion of Russia:

When it comes to Russian fashion the key is practicality. When temperatures can reach -40 C, warm clothing is a necessity. No Russian is without a nice, thick, fur hat; not only are they remarkably warm, they are also thick enough to protect your head from stray icicles. On the other hand, some Russians are obsessed with luxury. Fur is huge inRussia, as well as designer suits and high-heeled shoes, which Russian women wear for everyday life.

Russian Architecture:

The best-known piece of Russian architecture is The Cathedral of the Protection of Most Holy Theotokos on the Moat, popularly known as Saint Basil’s Cathedral which is a Russian Orthodox Church constructed on the Red Square inMoscowin 1555–61. Saint Basil’s is iconic, partly because of its location. Located in the center of the popular tourist attraction, theRed Square, foreigners made it a priority to get a picture in front of it. The cathedral is vivid and eye catching in the cold, dark place thatRussiacan be. Saint Basil is also iconic is because of the domes that top the impressive structure.  Shaped like whipped cream on top of a sundae, tourists can’t help but to stop and stare.

“One thing people don’t realize is that not all Russians are drunks, instead they love sunflower seeds, kvas (fermented drink) and tea. Россия это моя родина,” Bondarenko passionately expresses.

Sawubona from South Africa

Nine thousand miles away from us is the country of South Africa. “The culture is much more relaxed and laid back. They definitely live life to have a good time. One thing different to people in the US, [is that] people in South Africa will just welcome you in and act like you are the greatest friends.” This was how Jackie Werner, a senior, described South Africa after her 2010 visit to the country. Whether you’re off watching the Springboks, or at Fashion Week,South Africacan keep you merrily occupied.

At South Africa Fashion Week, from March 29 to April 1, many up and coming designers get a chance to show the world what they’ve got. With coverage by Elle South Africa there is no doubt that the world gets a chance to view their talent (check out www.elle.co.za to see what happens at the event). South Africa’s viewpoint on fashion can easily be summed up into three words: carefree, simple, and tasteful.

Not only does South Africa have stellar fashion, but the people come together as a nation for sports, too. Just as the U.S.A.has football, South Africahas rugby. Werner added, “Most kids go to private single gender boarding schools. And at the boys school they either played on the rugby team or played on the cricket team. Those are the main two sports.” When the national rugby team named the South Africa Springboks play, green and yellow gear is sported by everyone.

Named after the gazelle-like animal of the same name, the Springboks have been a part of South African culture since around 1875. And they’re good, too. Unlike the inconsistent Minnesota Vikings, they continue to do well every season. They are ranked as fourth best rugby team in the world according to the International Rugby Board.

When it comes to music nowadays, most countries are listening to the same thing. “They had MTV on the TV so they had American music but I am pretty sure it was more European influenced,” Werner said.  However, there’s one type of music coming out of South Africa that no other country can claim as their own. Kwaito is a music genre that was created in Johannesburg, South Africaduring the 90s. It’s a form of house music combined with African sounds and samples. Lyrics are sung, yelled, and rapped, and the genre has been compared to “slowed-down garage music.” Try searching on Youtube Mandoza’s “Nkalakatha,” sometime!

When they aren’t listening to music, being fashion savvy, or playing rugby, teens in South Africa like to go clubbing. “That is a big ordeal that they do all night. We saw them early at night in the pubs getting ready to head out,” Werner added. South Africans aren’t too different from us—maybe they just know how to have more fun!

Hello from Australia

“It was memorable, beautiful, and life changing” junior Sydney Yesnes said of her trip to the,Australia. The land down under is filled with kangaroos, koalas, and many of the world’s deadliest animals is far from just a nature preserve. Founded as a British penal colony, Australia now boasts one of the highest standards of living, and is a thriving cultural hub. It shows off its unique styles through music, movies and fashion.

While the Australian billboard charts mimic our own with about a three week delay (with Flo Rida and Adele topping the charts), Australia does have a booming, albeit overshadowed music industry all its own. Heavily featuring electronic, hip-hop, and alternative music, the Australian music industry has everything; from derivative pop like “Set it Off” by Titomatic, to hipster alternative like “Somebody that I Used to Know” by Gotye. The industry is helmed by independent publishing companies like Metropolitan Groove Merchants and Modular People, leaving Australia a wash with independent music. Want to hear what you’ve been missing? If you like hip-hop, do yourself a favor and listen to Hilltop Hoods. For alternative check out Gotye, Matt Corby and Jonathan Boulet, and if electronic is more your thing then look up Empire of the Sun and Bag Raiders.

Though more famous for producing actors (such as Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe, Heath Ledger, Naomi Watts, and Nicole Kidman) than movies,  Australia’s film industry still has a pulse. If you like B grade action movies then check out Australia’s highest grossing film, “Tomorrow When the War Began.” Based on the novel of the same name written by John Marsden, the movie is an exhilarating action film depicting an invasion of Australia and a group of teen resistance fighters. Think “Red Dawn” in Australia with more explosions. In the mood for more of a hard hitting Oscar nominated drama? Look no further than David Michôd’s crime drama “Animal Kingdom.” Rotten Tomatoes describes it best: “With confident pacing, a smart script, and a top-notch cast, Animal Kingdom represents the best the Australian film industry has to offer.”

Australia is in almost constant summer, and as such the fashion is catered to warm weather. Short or no sleeves are the way to go. For guys it’s polos, short sleeved dress shirts and beaters. Girls think long flowy sundresses, oversized tank tops and big sunglasses.

안녕하세요 from South Korea

Pop culture has been on the rise inKorea, changing everything from music to fashion to popular food.

Korean pop music, also known as K-Pop, has not only taken Korea by storm, but has also spread across Asia and found its way into some American teenagers’ iPods.

According to sophomore Laura Morris, K-Pop is “mostly the same as American pop music. Some of the lyrics are in English.” When asked why she likes Korean pop music, Morris laughed, “I don’t know. Probably the same reasons you like your music.” Fair enough.

With lyrics about everything from relationships to partying, K-Pop is generally handled by large groups (generally from five to ten people) who sing as well as dance. Two of the most popular groups are Girls’ Generation and Super Junior. Founded in 2007, Girls’ Generation is comprised of nine girls whose songs range from party pleasing dance hits to a borderline electric pop. Super Junior is even larger, comprised of fifteen guys and several smaller groups. With hits like “Sorry, Sorry” and “Mr. Simple” the group is a staple at dance parties acrossKorea.

Music isn’t the only part of Korean pop culture; fashion takes a huge role too. Chic girl outfits ranging from cute and monochromatic to flirty and colorful rock the streets ofKorea. Hannah Park, a junior atEdinaHigh Schooldescribed the fashion she saw inKoreaas “straight, short bangs. The clothes are baggy but there aren’t any sweatshirts. It’s kind of likeItaly; flowy clothes.” When asked if guy fashion was different inKorea, Park’s eyes went wide, “Yes, it’s very different. Here guys wear sweatshirts and sweatpants, but inKoreaguys are more stylish. They have tight pants and wear scarves.”

Thanks to the influence of foreign films that are popular inKorea, Western and other Asian foods have made their way into Korean malls. According to Park, fast food restaurant such as McDonald, KFC and Dunkin’ Doughnuts are surprisingly popular. A favorite is pizza, although compared to our standards, Korean pizza walks on the wild side with ingredients such as sweet potato, corn, and mayonnaise.

Now that the world is linked by media such as Facebook and other social networking sites, it’s easier to connect with different cultures from around the world, so keep yourself open to new things, you might just find yourself downloading some K-pop onto your iPod.