France

When people think of the "City of Love," what usually comes to their  mind? Paris, France? Paris is one of the most known cities in the world. France is also one of the most influential country known. From Fashion to sterotypes, France has influenced America in different ways.. As time evolved, France became a republic and is "one of the most modern countries in the world" (Central Intelligence).

 Fashion

Paris is one of the biggest fashion cities in the world. "Parisians definitely have a certain chic sartorial air about themselves. They can appear casual and elegant without being overdressed or under dressed" (Kelsey). Although the fashion in France is widely adored, the models are known for being very thin. An article titled  France urges care on skinny models but rejects ban  explains that  "France will not ban skinny models from Paris catwalks but will introduce a voluntary charter to make the fashion industry more aware of the health risks of being very thin" (Willard). I can understand this pressure because my cousin lives in France and when she came here to visit, she would run every morning and not eat carbs. She told me that in France, being thin is normal because food is expensive over there. 

French Etiquette

 The French have similar etiquette values like Americans do but there are some differences.
  

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·      <!--[endif]-->Friends may greet each other by lightly kissing on the cheeks, once on the left cheek and once on the right cheek.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·      <!--[endif]-->First names are reserved for family and close friends. Wait until invited before using someones first name.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·      <!--[endif]-->You are expected to say 'bonjour' or 'bonsoir' (good morning and good evening) with the honorific title Monsieur or Madame when entering a shop and 'au revoir' (good-bye) when leaving.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·      <!--[endif]-->Flowers should be given in odd numbers but not 13, which is considered unlucky.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·      <!--[endif]-->If you give wine, make sure it is of the highest quality you can afford. The French appreciate their wines.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·      <!--[endif]-->Table manners are Continental -- the fork is held in the left hand and the knife in the right while eating.

I found the table manners to be odd because I am right handed. I have tried to eat with my left hand and it did not go so well. Reading these etiquette's makes me feel like Americans don't have manners because we are a big melting pot of different cultures.

 Influence on America

Mustache, chauffeur and bouquet are all french words that we use in English. Not only only does Americans use French words but also in dance, food and architecture. The french brought Ballet dance to America and now ballet is danced around the U.S. In D.C there are ballet performances you can go see. If you go to http://www.washingtonballet.org/ to buy tickets if you want a taste of French ballet. Speaking of taste, there are French restaurants in the U.S and the closest to Woodbridge is in Tyson's mall. The restaurant is called La Madeleine and although I have not tried it, the restaurant looks pleasing. The French also influenced architecture in the United States. "French Settlers introduced French building styles to Quebec and Louisiana" (French). Since the French settled in Louisiana, there are many influences there. France has influenced America in many ways and the French even let the United States film movies there.Recently, movies like Pink Panther, Taken and Rush Hour 3. It is certain to say that the movies that these movies that were shot in France was a big hit. This may be because of the unique and romantic culture.

Stereotypes 

Americans stereotype many ethnic cultures and French is one of them. I have heard that French people don't take a lot of showers and they don't shave. I realized this is just a rumor because my cousin showers everyday and keeps up with her hygiene. She is as Parisian as it gets and laughed at the stereotype. While searching the web I found on connexionfrance.com, stereotypes that Americans perceive about the French. It listed  "prejudices Americans have about the French, based on their portrayal in the US media" (Connexion).

1. The French strike all the time, are lazy and are Communists
2. All French people smoke
3. French women don’t shave; especially their armpits (but the French think this applies to Germans, said TF1)
4. They love wine and cheese, often eat snails and frogs’ legs and always walk about with a baguette under their arms. “Americans think of the baguette in the same way as they think of the Eiffel Tower: a French person without a baguette isn’t French”
5. They are chic and sophisticated. For example, dinners among friends are often more refined than American ones

I found the stereotypes ridiculous because anybody can be lazy, smoke, love wine, and sophisticated. My family from France are nice and down to earth. Judging French people from the media and rumors make a person ignorant.  

Learning about France has made me feel closer with my other family. They have lived on the outskirts of Paris for years and I realize that I have overlooked the country. From the Fashion, Culture, and Influence, France has maintained its power and class for years and by the looks of it, will maintain it for a long time.

References

"Central Intelligence Agency." CIA. Web. 27 Feb. 2013.

"France - French Culture, Customs and Etiquette." Kwintessential. Web. 27 Feb. 2013.

"French Influence in North America." : Text, Images, Music, Video. Web. 27 Feb. 2013.

"Website Lists Americans’ Top 10 Prejudices about the French – The Connexion." Website Lists Americans’ Top 10 Prejudices about the French – The Connexion. Web. 27 Feb. 2013.

Willard, Anna. "France Urges Care on Skinny Models but Rejects Ban." Reuters. Thomson Reuters, 30 Mar. 2007. Web. 27 Feb. 2013.

Copyright Google Images 

 

 

Greece

          When you think of Zeus and Togas, What do you think of? Ancient Greece right? The Ancient Greece civilization was one of the most powerful in the early days. Modern day Greece has come from a long line of rulers and successors. Greece is located in southern Europe bordering the Mediterranean sea. "In 1830 Greece achieved independence from the Ottoman Empire and then became a parliamentary republic" (Central Intelligence). Greece evolved into a society thriving on tourism and maintaining their "prideful contribution to world civilization" (Kwintessential).

          Some of the etiquette in Greece are different than the U.S. When meeting "male friends often slap each others arm at the shoulder" (Kwintessential). When giving gifts "in general, Greeks exchange gifts with family and friends for 'namedays' (birth date of the saint after whom they are named) and Christmas. Some Greeks celebrate birthdays, but in general, celebrating namedays is more likely" (Kwintessential). "If you are invited to a Greek  home: Arriving 30 minutes late is considered punctual" (Kwintessential). I found this funny because where ever I go, I make sure to be twenty minutes early and to hear this is weird to me.
          Another unique custom the Greeks are their wedding tradition. "Greek wedding traditions are rich with religious symbolism and like many other cultures; marriage is seen as a continuation of Greek culture and the uniting of two families, not just the wedding couple. Though there are a variety of wedding ceremony styles, the majority tend to include a full religious Greek Orthodox ceremony" (Worldly). "Stefana are metal crowns or floral wreaths, sometimes attached with ribbon, are placed on the heads of the bride and groom as a symbol of God bestowing his blessings in the form of crowns." In the ceremony "the couple is then walked around an altar three times to represent their everlasting journey. The stefana is then removed and the couple declared married" (Worldly).

          Greek is the official language in Greece but some Greeks speak English to help bring in tourism. "After Greece joined the euro currency, public spending soared. Public sector wages, for example, rose 50% between 1999 and 2007 - far faster than in most other eurozone countries. The government also ran up big debts paying for the 2004 Athens Olympics" (BBC). Many European countries aided Greece in helping the country to get back on its feet. Greece is now trying to recover from the debt but none the less is keeping peace.

           Greece is an ancient country that helped evolve modern civilization. Looking at Greece now, the country seems to be retired and watching its predecessors unfold. From the beautiful Ancient landscapes to the Cristine Mediterranean sea, who would not want to tour the country?

References

"Central Intelligence Agency." CIA. Web. 20 Feb. 2013.

"Cultural Wedding Favors & Gifts - Cultural Wedding Customs & Traditions." Cultural Wedding Favors & Gifts - Cultural Wedding Customs & Traditions. Web. 20 Feb. 2013.

"Eurozone Crisis Explained." BBC News. BBC, 27 Nov. 2012. Web. 20 Feb. 2013.

"Greece - Language, Culture and Doing Business Etiquette." Www.kwintessential.co.uk. Web. 20 Feb. 2013.

Democratic Republic of Congo

          As I was searching for worlds richest country, I came across the worlds poorest. The Democratic Republic of Congo " has become the poorest country in the world as of 2010" and the GDP per Capita: $348" (The Richest).  As I was watching a documentary on Congo, the Congolese believe that the country has gotten worse because of foreigners that has settled in Congo. Congo is located in central Africa and the first Foreigners to invade Congo was Belgium in 1908. Troops from Belgian started killing animals for their ivory but Congo gained its independence in 1960. After this "Col. Joseph MOBUTU seized power and declared himself president in a November 1965 and changed the countries name to Zaire" (Central Intelligence). Mobutu remained president for 32 years through " sham election and brutal force" (Central Intelligence). "Ethnic strife and civil war, touched off by a massive inflow of refugees in 1994 from fighting in Rwanda and Burundi, led in May 1997 to the toppling of the MOBUTU regime by a rebellion backed by Rwanda and Uganda and fronted by Laurent KABILA. He renamed the country the Democratic Republic of the Congo." (Central Intelligence).
          All of the civil wars and fighting has led to a country that is poor and scared of its own people. Rebels now terrorize the forests fighting foreigners like the Rwanda Tutsis. Rebels control the mineral mines like Coltan, which is used in every electronic device. In a different documentary, Congo rebel soldiers explain why they rape women. They say " we rape them because of our belief in the magic potion that will save Congo." Congo has many problems in the country but the people still try to stay happy, by living by the Congolese culture.

          While searching through different sites on Congo, I mostly found negative ones about the war. The Congolese culture was rarely written about but on friendsofthecongo.org, I found some interesting facts. Congo is the "largest  country in the world that has French as an official language" (The Richest). "In addition to French, Congo has also four national languages – Kikongo, Lingala, Swahili, and Tshiluba, which can be considered as the regional lingua francas." Also, "the majority of the Congolese population are Christians, comprising 46-48% Roman Catholics, and 26-28% Protestants"( Congolese).
         Lastly, the "Congolese fashion revolves around the colorful print fabrics called “pagne”. The cloth, made in bolts two yards wide" (Congolese). The clothing is light because of the hot temperature in Congo. The wide variety of colored cloth makes the dresses look beautiful on the Congolese women.

           After all my research on Congo, I became fascinated by it. From the heinous wars and rebels to the beautiful land, it is safe to say Congo is a very misunderstood place. I still have many questions myself on the Democratic Republic of Congo but I can understand why Congo would want to isolate itself from the world.

References

"20 Poorest Countries In The World." Celebrity Net worth Richest People in the World 20 Poorest Countries In The World Comments. Web. 20 Feb. 2013.

"Central Intelligence Agency." CIA. Web. 20 Feb. 2013.

"Congolese Culture." Friends of The Congo. Web. 20 Feb. 2013.
 

Documentary Videos

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYqrflGpTRE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbZIK9Ce0yM






         

Qatar: The Richest Country on Earth

          As I was searching the web, I questioned my seri on my I-pad. I asked, " Where is the richest country in the world?" It responded with a summary of the country Qatar. I have never heard of this country before but as I was researching it, I found out that Qatar is a fascinating country.
Qatar is located in the "Middle East, peninsula bordering the Persian Gulf and Saudi Arabia" (Central Intelligence.) "Ruled by the Al Thani family since the mid-1800s, Qatar transformed itself from a poor British protectorate noted mainly for pearling into an independent state with significant oil and natural gas revenues" (Central Intelligence.) Amir Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani jr over threw his father Amir for the crown. After he became king, Qatar starting thriving. "As of 2007, oil and natural gas revenues had enabled Qatar to attain the highest per capita income in the world" (Central Intelligence."Jobs are guaranteed in Qatar, and college education is free. "There is no income tax here; all public services are gratis, and all health care is provided by the government" (World Atlas.) Qatar has increased tourism since Khalifa has taken the throne and the capital Doha has underwent various construction to keep the tourist interested (World Atlas.)

           Citizens of Qatar are known as Qataris. Etiquette in Qatar are somewhat different than the United States. Foreigners need to have permission to take photographs of buildings for security reasons. Qatar forbids the "brewing and trafficking of alcohol,"  and the import of pork (Cornell.) Qatari men wear long white shirt over white pants with a head dress called gutra. Women are dressed modestly with a long black dress called abayha (Cornell.)

Arabic is the official language in Qatar but English is commonly used for business situations. Many Americans go to Qatar for business purposes because of the booming industrialization. Qatar has the largest and most sophisticated oil plant in the world. This is why the country is so rich. Qatar is a fascinating country because everything is free. The health care, school, taxes, and funerals are all at no cost. Never in the history have there been any protest against the government. Khalifa has also raised the salary of government workers by 60% and police and the military by 120% (Qatar.)

"It was announced that Qatar will be the host of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, which is sure to draw even more attention to the already thriving region" (World Atlas.)

As I have come to the conclusion of my research, I have never come across a country that all the citizens seem so happy. The CNN video I saw, showed a very industrialized and serene place. With the beautiful city and tranquility, who would not want to move to Qatar? Maybe this is why I have never met a Qatari in my life, they love it in there and  it is understandable why they would not want to come here.

References

"About Us: Qatar Culture." About Us: Qatar Culture. Web. 13 Feb. 2013.

"Central Intelligence Agency." CIA. Web. 13 Feb. 2013.

 

CNN. "Qatar: A Tiny Country Asserts Powerful Influence." YouTube. YouTube, 15 Jan. 2012. Web. 13 Feb. 2013.

"QATAR." Map of Qatar. Web. 13 Feb. 2013.

 

Azerbaijan

I came across this country in a website listing. I have never heard of Azerbaijan before so I thought as I write this blog, we can learn together.

Azerbaijan is located in “Southwestern Asia, bordering the Caspian Sea, between Iran and Russia” (kwintessential.) In “1991, Azerbaijan declared their independence from the Soviet Union” after the Soviet Union had them under rule (Central Intelligence.) The Capital of Azerbaijan is Baku and the majority of the nation is “ Turkic and Muslim” (Central Intelligence.) The climate is mostly dry with big mountains in the north. Ninety percent of the population is Muslim and the primary language is Azeri.

The Azeri’s’ lifestyle is old fashioned; the man makes the money while the women takes care of domestic things. (Kwintessential) The Azeri culture has many superstitions like

            “Leaving scissors with opened blades brings misfortune and even death, never hurry to a funeral ceremony, do not cross the way the funeral train goes and if you meet a person with bread and full bags, you will have good luck” (kwintessential.)

Etiquette in the Azeri culture is similar to Americans but they have a few unique ones.

            “ Always give a odd number of flower. Even numbers are reserved for funerals. If there are many people present at a dinner, shake hands with everyone. The hostess generally serves the food. The elderly are served first, then the guests, and finally the children. Use your right hand only to eat and to pass things” (Kwintessential.)

While searching for more information about Azerbaijan, very little came up. I found on CIA.org that there is a trafficking person problem in Azerbaijan. It read that

            “Azerbaijan is a source, transit, and destination country for men, women, and children subjected to forced labor, and women and children subjected to sex trafficking; women and some children from Azerbaijan are trafficked to Turkey, the UAE, Russia, and Iran for the purpose of sexual exploitation; men and boys are trafficked to Russia and Moldova for the purpose of forced labor.”

After all of that said, “The Government of Azerbaijan has not made sufficient progress in investigating, prosecuting, or convicting labor trafficking offenses or in identifying victims of forced labor” (Central Intelligence.)

The Government of Azerbaijan is Republic with a civil law system and the current president is Ilham ALIYEV. (Central Intelligence)

Azerbaijan is a mysterious country that I would like to learn more of. From the few details the Internet give of this country, it is as if the Azeri people would like to stay a mystery. 

Reference

"Azerbaijan- Language, Culture, Customs and Etiquette." Www.kwintessential.co.uk.         Web. 6 Feb. 2013.

"Central Intelligence Agency." CIA. Web. 06 Feb. 2013.

Puerto Rico

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When the Spaniards took their voyage to the new world, they conquered many South American countries. They also conquered islands in the Caribbean. Puerto Rico was one of these countries.

Tainos Indians occupied Puerto Rico before being claimed by Spain in 1493 (World Atlas.) The Spaniards then brought Africans slaves to Puerto Rico for manual work (World Atlas.) After the Spanish-American War, Puerto Rico became a territory of the US and  “ were granted US citizenship in 1917” (CentralIntelligence.) After many years of Puerto Ricans deciding whether to become a state or not, “ 2012 vote left open the possibility of American statehood”(Central Intelligence.)

My best friend was born and raised in Puerto Rico. She told me stories of the controversy of this. Half of the population in Puerto Rico wants to be a state and the other does not. She told me they would like some help from the US, to better the island but others think if Puerto Rico were to become a state, then they will loose heritage and especially their flag.

Many Puerto Rican Music artists display their flag full ofpride. Musicians like Don Omar, Daddy Yankee and Wisin y Yandel are famous Reggaeton artist from Puerto Rico. Reggaeton is a mixture of Latin hip-hop, andLatin electronica. Reggaeton was created in Puerto Rico and is now listened to all the Spanish countries. Puerto Rico is a very interesting country because they do not speak typical Spanish like other Latin countries do. They have many different words. A few for example:

English                                    PuertoRican                            BasicSpanish

Mom	Mai	Madre
Earring	Pantalla	Arete
Trashcan	Safacon	Basura

My Best friend sometimes has a hard time understanding when people talk Spanish to her because they use different words in Puerto Rico.

When she is in Puerto Rico she says it’s not much of a difference from the US because English is the second language there. “Fewer than 20 percent of Puerto Ricans speak English fluently, according to the 1990 U.S. Census” (Top Puerto.) Now, English is taught mandatory in schools.  My friend brings me back trinkets when she goes and the items are mostly hand made. This is because there is a lot of tourism there. Since Puerto Rico is a US territory, you do not need a passport to go. Puerto Rico also uses American currency, so it’s easy for Americans to vacation there. Another reason why Tourist likes Puerto Rico is because of the beautiful beaches and warm weather. Puerto Rico has mountain on one side of the island and beaches on another, this caters to all people who want adventure and then relax on the beach (Central Intelligence.)

Puerto Ricans are also known for their attractive women andmen. Because of African slaves and immigrants. Puerto Ricans range from blue eyes blonde hair to tan and dark skin. My best friend told me that young men in Puerto Rico shave off all their body and facial hairs. This is so they can look clean and their best. It is kind of taboo but if you think about it, why should girls be the only one who has smooth skin?

From the beaches to the history, Puerto Rico has always been a country I was interested in and to many that’s where they call home.

References

"Central Intelligence Agency." CIA. Web. 06 Feb.2013.

"Culture." Puerto Rican. Web. 06 Feb. 2013.

"PUERTO RICO." Map of Puerto Rico. Web. 06 Feb.2013.