http://pocketcultures.com the world in your pocket Wed, 23 May 2012 14:03:16 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en I do not imagine there are many places where one can hear, “And then the cop pulled up next to me on his horse”, and not break a stride. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police, or RCMP, are our national police force. Though they no longer carry out typical duties from [...]]]> http://pocketcultures.com/2012/05/23/the-royal-canadian-mounted-police/ [All links lead to sites in Portuguese.] Set over the course of seven weeks, a creative writing competition promoted by the young Cape Verdean journalist Odair Varela on his blog, Crioulo n’Descontra, has led a dozen word lovers from three different continents to get behind their keyboards and let their [...]]]> http://pocketcultures.com/2012/05/22/cape-verde-storytelling-creative-writing/ Green These lovely green olives were spotted by our Contributing Editor, Carrie, in Chacras de Coria, Mendoza, Argentina. Read more: Carrie: “living abroad opens up my view of the world and exposes me to new ways of thinking” Argentinian Customs: Roadside shrines Tortas Fritas]]> http://pocketcultures.com/2012/05/20/picture-postcards-colours-of-argentina/ Even though it is quite a small country with a total area of 41.543 square kilometres, the Netherlands belongs to a select number of countries around the world which are known by many different names. So, what is the right way to call it – is it “Holland”? Is it [...]]]> http://pocketcultures.com/2012/05/18/the-netherlands-a-country-of-many-names/ Today we speak with Cecilia, born and raised in Milan, but currently living in Barcelona, Spain. Cecilia tells us about her experiences living everywhere from Spain to Bali, and why she is loving the Spanish lifestyle. Tell us a bit about yourself. How would your friends or family describe you? [...]]]> http://pocketcultures.com/2012/05/17/cecilia-from-milan/ Tourists may not know, and its inhabitants may have forgotten, how beautiful Bucharest can be. I’ve realized that, together with the people who lined patiently, last Sunday, waiting to get inside the Arch of Triumph, visited the small museum, got to the upper terrace and admired the panorama from 27 [...]]]> http://pocketcultures.com/2012/05/16/bucharest-seen-from-the-arch-of-triumph/ There’s quite a bit of reading material this week thanks to our contributors, who wrote about interesting subjects in their personal blogs. Happy reading! DeeBee, our contributor from France, posted The Colours of Spring: Bluebells.  “In France Bluebells are known as Wild Hyacinths and are found mostly all over the [...]]]> http://pocketcultures.com/2012/05/15/from-our-contributors-week-of-may-13/ Black In October 2011, the All Blacks, New Zealand’s national rugby team won the Rugby World Cup. The crowd at the victory parade was a sea of black. Read more: Samoan food van in Auckland, New Zealand New Zealand Languages Malaysia to New Zealand]]> http://pocketcultures.com/2012/05/13/picture-postcards-colours-of-new-zealand/   Roger is a Kenyan currently living in Cape Town, South Africa as the proud father and husband in a truly multi cultural family. His wife is Austrian, and sons were born in Botswana and Scotland. Read more about Roger’s experiences raising children in the beautiful city of Cape Town, [...]]]> http://pocketcultures.com/2012/05/11/roger-kenyan-living-in-south-africa/ April Frost – Lune Rousse In France April Frost is known as Lune Rousse (Ginger Moon). It corresponds to the New Moon that starts after Easter, generally between April 5 and May 5, and lasts of course for the entire cycle of the moon. In 2012 April Frost will last [...]]]> http://pocketcultures.com/2012/05/11/april-frost-and-three-saints-known-as-lune-rousse-and-saints-de-glace-in-france-2/