People of the World

Nuria from Costa Rica: Living La Pura Vida!

Nuria, our regional Pocket Cultures contributor from Costa Rica, shares why she joined the Pocket Cultures team. “It is simply wonderful to be able to share my culture because I learn more about it and become more aware of it, which makes me value it even more.” Such an excellent way to describe why we on the Pocket Cultures team are enjoying writing about our cultures (or the cultures we live in)!

Tell us a bit about yourself

My name is Nuria Villalobos and I am a professor of English as a Foreign Language. I work at Universidad Nacional and currently study a Master’s in the Teaching of Spanish as a Second Language. I speak Spanish, English and Portuguese and would like to learn many more languages. I am from Costa Rica and I have always lived here, except for two years when I was an exchange student in the United States. That has been the best experience of my life because I learned a lot about myself, my culture and the world. Since I made so many international friends, I got really interested in cultures, and that’s when I discovered the passion I have for them.

If you would describe yourself as multi-cultural, tell us a bit about what culture you most identify with and why.

I describe myself as a 100% Costa Rican, which makes me very proud of myself, but at the same time, a 100% multicultural because I love learning about other cultures and my interest grows deeper each day. I might not have lived in many countries or traveled extensively, but we all know that this is not essential if we want to learn about cultures. The knowledge is right there, available for all of us anytime, through the Internet, books, friends, other people’s experiences and so on.

Why did you decide to become a Pocket Cultures contributor?

Pocket Cultures is an open door to the world, and that is why I became a contributor. It is simply wonderful to be able to share my culture because I learn more about it and become more aware of it, which makes me value it even more. Then, I don’t think there is a better way to learn about other cultures than through contributors like me who are passionate about the world. Being part of the Pocket Cultures team makes me feel very proud and happy because I am surrounded by people who share my biggest interest.

Can you describe a typical day for you?

I don’t really have a typical day! I am a university professor, which means that my schedule, courses and students change every semester. This is one of the reasons why I love my job! I have a routine for four months, but then everything changes. So, basically I wake up early every day, go to work, teach either the whole day or only a few hours, go to my graduate classes at night three days a week; the other days I go to the gym, watch my Brazilian Portuguese soap opera, check my e-mail, plan my classes, check assignments and then go to bed…usually very late. Yes, I am always pretty busy but I love what I do, and I try to have energy to do a little bit of everything…from doing the regular professor’s tasks to spending time with my family; from writing posts, articles and presenting at conferences to studying and keeping in touch with friends. That’s life, isn’t it? We should try to enjoy it as much as we can!

What is the best part of living in your country? The worst?

There are many “best parts” of living in Costa Rica: having peace, freedom, friendly people, great weather all year long, nature, volcanoes, beaches, fantastic sunsets, family, parties, good food, being a small country, being laid-back, not needing that much to be happy and enjoying “la pura vida”!! I would say the worst is the lack of safety in the streets, which has been increasing lately and it’s a real shame. Also, the inefficiency, bureaucracy and the fact that many people think that everything in other countries is better, especially if it is from the United States. That’s why we have so many fast-food chains of the US, some people celebrate Halloween and the English language is considered, by some, much “cooler” than Spanish. We should all learn to appreciate our own cultures and not feel ashamed of who we are and what we have or don’t have.

What books or films would you recommend someone who’d like to know more about your country?

There are many great books, a few I would mention are:  Juan Varela (Adolfo García), Mamita Yunai (Carlos Luis Fallas), Asalto al Paraíso (Tatiana Lobo), Mo (Floria Jiménez), El Árbol Enfermo (Carlos Gagini) and Cuentos de mi Tía Panchita (Carmen Lyra). These books reflect various topics such as the reality farmers experience, people’s lives while working for the United Fruit Company in the province of Limón many years ago, the indigenous population of Costa Rica, the common attitude of praising the United States and some popular stories in Costa Rican Spanish. Some nice Costa Rican films are Gestación, El Regreso, El Compromiso, A Ojos Cerrados and Caribe. These are relatively new movies that represent our culture in different aspects, and they are all really good!

What’s something that visitors are often surprised by when getting to know your country/culture?

I would say the diversity of people and the fact that we don’t look very alike to one another. In Costa Rica you can find people with different skin, hair and eyes color, and our features vary a lot as well. This surprises many people because of the stereotype that “all Latins look the same”, which is wrong of course. Other interesting facts: Costa Rica doesn’t have an army, the literacy rate is 95.8%, people speak a traditional Jamaican dialect of English in the province of Limón and even if its territory is merely 0.03% of the earth’s surface, it is home to about 4% of the species on Earth.  Amazing, huh?

Ana’s Multicultural Household: Argentine and British Couple Living in Dallas, Texas

Meet Ana from Argentina! Ana, shown below at the historic train station of the town of Capilla del Señor in the province of Buenos Aires, is from Argentina but currently lives in Dallas, Texas with her British husband. Talk about lots of very different cultural experiences! Ana is a contributing editor here at Pocket Cultures, and also writes her own blog too, Ana Travels.

Where do you live? Where are you from? If those are different, can you tell us a little about what inspired your move?

I’m currently living in Dallas, Texas, which is very different from where I grew up, Argentina. We moved to the US because of my husband’s job in the fields of telecommunications.

If you would describe yourself as multi-cultural, tell us a bit about what culture you most identify with and why.

We definitely have a multicultural household since I’m Argentinean and my husband is British. And we live in the US, which is a whole different culture from either of ours. We managed to blend some of our customs and create new ones but sometimes there are glitches in communication. I most definitely identify with my own culture.

Why did you decide to become a Pocket Cultures contributor?

I thought it would be a great way to clear some misunderstandings about my country and share different aspects of our culture.

Can you describe a typical day for you?

When we’re not travelling, I’m a full-time housewife so I don’t think readers will be interested in how many times a week I do laundry or what we have for lunch! I’m also on a tennis team and compete locally, and I spend some time editing and writing for PocketCultures and my own blogs.

What is the best part of living in your country? The worst?

It’s difficult to be objective here. I love my family and lifelong friends, so being close to them is very important to me, it partly defines who I am. The worst part of living in Argentina is probably the economic instability.

What books or films would you recommend someone who’d like to know more about your country?

Here’s a PC post I wrote a while ago about Argentinean films: http://pocketcultures.com/topicsoftheworld/2011/07/06/argentina-through-film-2/

What’s something that visitors are often surprised by when getting to know your country/culture?

The European influence on architecture, food, way of life and even the way we look is something that surprises visitors. Also, the mix of European and Latin American sometimes takes them unawares.

India, as seen by Anu: A World of Cultures, Languages and Traditions, In Just One Country

Anuradha (Anu), our regional Pocket Cultures contributor from India, is a home- maker and a freelance writer who loves to travel. In Anu’s words “While I would love to travel around the world, I am so fascinated with my own country that I want to explore every inch of it and experience every bit of its rich and varied culture.”

Where do you live? Where are you from? If those are different, can you tell us a little about what inspired your move?

My family originally hails from the southern state of Tamilnadu, but over the last 4 generations, we have moved all over India. I was born in the national capital Delhi which is in the north, and live in our commercial capital, Mumbai, which is in the west. I love living in Mumbai for the simple reason that its a melting pot of cultures and traditions. It attracts people from across the country and gives each one the freedom of following ones own way of life too!

If you would describe yourself as multi-cultural, tell us a bit about what culture you most identify with and why. If you have kids, what culture do they most associate with?

While I am a Tamilian, and my family is quite an orthodox one which follows ancient customs and traditions, it is quite funny to think that among all the languages I know, Tamil is one I am least familiar with!  And again, Tamilnadu is one of the states I have never lived in, and am least comfortable in. I am more at home in Delhi or Mumbai, and speak, read and write Marathi and Hindi fluently! While I do speak Tamil well, I read with great difficulty, and cant write it at all! For both me, and my husband, our primary language is now English, and Tamil is one we speak with our elders. My son is also multi-lingual, and he speaks Tamil too, but Hindi or English are his primary languages.

We are multi-cultural in the sense that we are a mixture of so many cultures… for example, we celebrate our Tamilian festivals in the age-old traditional manner, to the extent of wearing the traditional dress and doing everything in the way my great-grandmother did! Yet, we celebrate other festivals too … we celebrate the Marathi new year with our Maharashtrian neighbours… Holi with our north-indian friends… and Christmas with our Christian friends!

But above all, we stay true to our Indian culture, for example, living in a joint family and giving utmost respect to elders.

Why did you decide to become a Pocket Cultures contributor?

The similarities and differences between cultures have always fascinated me, and when I read an article on Pocket Cultures, I knew this where I wanted to be!

Can you describe a typical day for you?

A typical day for me begins with a cup of freshly brewed ‘filter’ coffee and the newspaper. That is my ‘me ‘ time, which I relish to the utmost! Once I am done, all my energy is focused on waking up my son and sending him to school. Breakfast is usually the typical South Indian breakfast- Idly, Dosa, or Upma, with one day reserved for tea and toast! My son doesn’t even touch this typical breakfast, and instead loves pancakes and cornflakes, so these are reserved for weekends and holidays. We have a maid who comes to our home for washing and cleaning the house, and once she leaves, its time for making lunch, which is usually Rice, Rotis, Dal or Sambhar, and Curd (yoghurt). None of us can live without Curd, and are even fine with simply Rice and Curd! Once we are through with lunch, my time is my own till my son returns home, and I usually spend this in front of the computer, catching up with all my friends blogs, appraising myself of the latest happenings in blogworld, and updating my blog. Lunch is late, usually by 2 or 3 PM, and after that, I usually read for a while till 4, when my son returns. He has cornflakes in the evening (yes, again!) and then plays around for a while, either at home or in the park, if his friends are free. Otherwise, we sit together making buildings with his Lego! We talk about the day at school, and since he doesn’t have homework, he is relatively free. Dinner is late again, usually by 9 or 9:30 PM, after which we either watch TV together or read till sleep overtakes us!

What is the best part of living in your country? The worst?

The best part of living in India is certainly the culture – there is so much to see and learn, and even after all these years, I still find myself coming across something that is quite common, but that I haven’t heard of before! Also, there is so much to see, so many interesting places, so much history, that I can never see it all in this lifetime! However, the minus point is certainly the inefficiency and the disinterest I see all around me. Most people aren’t even aware or interested in our rich heritage and culture, and there is an increasing tendency to ape the west, which troubles me. Apart from that, there is of course, the mess that people make all over, and the lack of care for our surroundings. I hate seeing people spit or litter on the road, but they don’t even seem to be bothered about the fact that they are spoiling their own places!

What’s something that visitors are often surprised by when getting to know your country/culture?

What surprises most people visiting India is the tradition of arranged marriages. A concept wherein the parents choose the bride/groom is an alien concept for people across the world, but it still works here, and works surprisingly well!

What’s a typical day like in Brasilia, Brazil? Let Carla explain!

Carla, our regional Pocket Cultures contributor from Brazil, is an English as a Foreign Language educator who loves cooking, photography and connecting with the world through social media. Carla is also a proud Brazilian, currently living in Brasilia. In today’s interview, we learn about the cultural and economic contrasts inherent in living in Brazil, and just why it’s so fantastic to be a Brazilian!

 Where do you live? Where are you from? If those are different, can you tell us a little about what inspired your move?

I’m now back to Brasilia, my hometown in Brazil, but I’ve lived for two years in Key West, Florida. When I was a teen, I lived as an exchange student in a small town near Seattle in the U.S., and also in Mestre, Italy, a 10-minute train ride from Venice.

I guess I’m just an intrepid, curious traveler and world citizen who wants to learn more about other cultures and explore new perspectives.

If you would describe yourself as multi-cultural, tell us a bit about what culture you most identify with and why.

I’m totally Brazilian, but can’t deny my Italian traditions as my dad is Sicilian. I’m loud, laugh a lot, love to cook Italian food, and I just get thrilled when I can gather family and friends around a big table and spend the day just chatting.

Why did you decide to become a Pocket Cultures contributor?

I decided to become a Pocket Cultures contributor because I wanted to share with the world a bit more about my country and to dispel some myths and stereotypes about it, as well as become part of this multicultural group from which I can travel the world without even leaving home.

Can you describe a typical day for you?

Brasilia is still an atypical city, for we take our kids to school, go to work, then we pick them up at school and have lunch altogether at home. Lunch is all fresh and prepared at home. Then, back to work (I’m responsible for the Educational Technology area of the Bi-national Center I work for and the e-learning program) around 1:50 pm. I stay there until around 6:30 pm, then I pick up the kids at the club where they practice sports. We have dinner (generally something light) around 7:30 pm, we watch TV and chat, the kids do their homework. Then, we watch the 9:00 soap opera (very popular in Brazil). The kids go to bed, I stay up with my husband, check my Facebook account, do some work on the computer, blog and go to bed.

What is the best part of living in your country? The worst?

What books or films would you recommend someone who’d like to know more about your country?

What’s something that visitors are often surprised by when getting to know your country/culture?

Why is Malaysia called “Malaysia, Truly Asia?” LeX gives us the inside scoop!

LeX, one of our Pocket Cultures regional contributors is a student traveller, currently in France, but originally from Malaysia. Malaysia, in it’s own right, is a multi-cultural country, melding together the Malay, Chinese and Indian cultures. Read more to learn about why LeX joined the Pocket Cultures team, and how to easily detect a Malaysian speaking English!

Where do you live? Where are you from? If those are different, can you tell us a little about what inspired your move?

I am a student traveller, LeX from Malaysia. Actually my real name is Tan Yih Liang (陈奕良/단익량 – Chinese/Korean) and LeX is what people always call me. Education and study are the motivation and direction that inspired me to move! South Korea was the 1^st foreign country I stayed and currently studying in Europe and operating a travel blog call “LeX Paradise”.

If you would describe yourself as multi-cultural, tell us a bit about what culture you most identify with and why.

I was born in a multi-racial country which is Malaysia where majority include Malay, Chinese and Indian. Firstly, as Malaysian, most of us tend to speak more languages like Malay, English, Chinese and Indian. So actually, we experiencing cross cultural all over Malaysia. We celebrate different kind of festival together along the year! Finally, the last thing you can easily identify Malaysian is “LLa”, almost all Malaysian speak casual English with “LLa” at the end of sentence. OK LLa!

Why did you decide to become a Pocket Cultures contributor?

The main reason that I decided to become a Pocket Cultures contributor is the whole idea of Pocket Cultures. I am a person that likes to share cultural experiences with people and like to understand people from different parts of the world. Pocket Cultures acts as a platform for us to share, discuss ideas and get to know others amazing contributors! It totally suits me! So that’s why I am in LLa!

What is the best part of living in your country? The worst?

The best part of living in Malaysia is you could experience cross culture of Malay, Chinese and Indian! The experience of cross culture stands out the uniqueness of the country! As always “Malaysia, Truly Asia”

As for the worst part of country is the hot and humid weather.

What’s something that visitors are often surprised by when getting to know your country/culture?

The population of Chinese and Indian in Malaysia often surprise the visitor, since they are so curious how Malay, Chinese and Indian with different beliefs living under the same roof.

Do They Really Eat Garlic and Drink Wine All Day? Read On to Learn More About DeeBee’s Beloved France

DeeBee, born in Paris, has been living abroad for 20+ years, currently in the UK. Although DeeBee has been living outside of France for a long time and speaks mostly English on a day to day basis, DeeBee loves to share her home culture with  us here on Pocket Cultures as a regional contributor and also on her personal blog: www.onlinetravelfrance.blogspot.com.

Where do you live? Where are you from? If those are different, can you tell us a little about what inspired your move?

I left France a long time ago, spent nearly 20 years in Asia, and have been living  in the UK for the last 3 years. Why did I move? To follow my husband’s various professional postings.

If you would describe yourself as multi-cultural, tell us a bit about what culture you most identify with and why. If you have kids, what culture do they most associate with?

I feel very French in my way of thinking but hardly speak French as most my friends and family speak English.

In fact I feel very European!

My teenage daughter was born and lived abroad for most of her life and feels that where she was born is “home” which is natural.

But despite having dual nationality she feels more English than French as English is her first language and she never lived in France.

Why did you decide to become a Pocket Cultures contributor?

I came across Pocket Cultures while reading someone whose blog is listed as a Blog of the World and thought that it was a very interesting and different approach to travelling and learning about foreign cultures

I also like the idea of contributing to a team work when I can.

Can you describe a typical day for you?

A lot of time on my computer as I am running my own web site and my blog

What is the best part of living in your country? The worst?

Best? Superb climate, architecture, cuisine, way of being…There is really a “French touch” as we are mid-way between the Italians and the English, we combine the best of these two opposite cultures!

Worst? Thinking that we are so perfect – but we are, aren’t we?!?!

What books or films would you recommend someone who’d like to know more about your country?

Films: Any from the 60s or 70s as they were produced by a very inventive and innovative type of producers and reflect quite well the way French are.

Books: Any historical or social novel from the late 19^th century (when society went through a major transformation) to the present day.

 What’s something that visitors are often surprised by when getting to know your country/culture?

That we don’t eat garlic from dawn to dusk!

That we don’t eat white bread as it is bleached and therefore is bad quality!

That Paris cafe waiters are very rude…even to us! Not good, but sadly true…

That French people drink less wine than people think or at least they drink less but better quality

That it can rain…even in France!