Cultural Anecdotes, Similarities and Differences.

Pink and Blue

khoff — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 15:28:23 GMT

In the U.S., pink is considered a "girls' color," and light blue is the corresponding "boys' color." Specifically, this means that if you see a baby all dressed in pink you can pretty safely assume it's a girl, and if it's in blue it's probably a boy. Pink is the more strictly interpreted of the two -- once kids are old enough to have a say in their own wardrobe choices, girls might very well wear blue, but most little boys would not want to wear pink. (My husband just read somewhere that in the early 19th centruy in the U.S., these "code" colors were reversed -- pink was for boys, and blue was for girls -- which got me thinking about the whole subject.) I'm wondering if the curent "pink is for girls, blue is for boys" standard is unique to the U.S., or is it the same in Britain? How about Europe, Asia, and so on? Does your culture have specific girl and boy colors?

Take a look at Cameria

albanian hero scanderbeg — Sun, 07 Sep 2003 16:45:17 GMT

Ãameria is situated geographically on the north-west Greece. This beautiful region, has a rich Albanian heretage and it was only in the 1912 that is was annexed unfairly and unjustifiable from Greece. This was the aftermath of the decision of the great powers to give Ãameria to Greece, just as the great powers had made similar decisions to give Kosova and other Albanian territories to Serbia, Macedonia and Montenegro.
The word Ãam is an evolution of the word "t'chiam" which is the name of an ancient river passing right through Ãameria(The word T'chamis appears on many ancient Roman and even Hellenic maps, indicating that the word Chameria is older than the word Epirus, and it's used only by us Albanians). Another branch of this river remains to be known to this day as the "lumi i kalamait"( Kalamait River). What's most important is that everything about Ãameria is Albanian in every sense of the word. The word Ãameria has more of a topological meaning, but Ãams have a very strong Albanian ethnicity, tradition and customs. Ãameria has a very welldefined ethno-geographical meaning, which is strongly Albanian.

A large number of Ãam population is situated on the seaside and goes up to the Gulf of Preveza. Another considerable number of towns and villages are situated on both sides of the river of "kalamait". The rest of of the Ãam villages and towns are situated in more remote places and often on hills and mountains..

The greek goverment has been very hostile toward Ãams and the main reason is the fact that Ãams have a very strong Albanian identity. Another reason of the Greek hostilities is the fact that Greeks inhereted a very hostile policy towards us. During the period of time, from 1854 till 1877 the Albanians of Ãameria resisted successfully the attacks from Greek "Andartes". During the WWI and WWII the greek troops attacked Ãameria again. The (provisional) government of Vlora (Albania) responded by sending Albanian military troops to assist the Albanian population of Ãameria , but the decision of the Ambassadors Conference assigned Ãameria to Greece. As a result of this decision by the great powers, Greeks forces led by the hateful figure of N. Zervas launched attackes that ended up with many innocent Albanian locals killed.

To this day, we Ãams in greece are described as bad people from an increasing "safocating" Greek propaganda based on the fact that we refuse to be assimilated as it is the case with some of "Arvanites" in south and central Greece.

The today exact number of Albanians of Ãameria in Greece is approx. one million people, taking into the account some relativly newly formed Ãam villages and towns elsewhere in Greece..if all the number of Albanians in Ãameria is added to the number of Arvanites in other areas of Greece, then the total number of Albanians in Greece is around 3.000.000 people. However only Albanians in Ãameria call themselves real Shqiptars(Albanians). Arvanites elsewhere in Greece are under greater assimilating preasure from the Greek goverment and Ani-Albanian greek circles.

Prior to WWI and WW2, the population in Ãameria was around 93% Albanian , the rest were other ethnic groups such as Greeks,Vlachs, gypsies, etc.. On the 19th century, 80% of the Albanian population in Ãameria was of Moslim Relegion(the process of convertion to islam started in the 18th century) and a 20% Christian Orthodox, however the first world war, found the the Albanian comunity as made up of 50% moslim and 50% orthodox beleivers(this shift happened in a matter of 70 years). After the world wars a fraction of the Moslim Populations was expelled by the Greek special forcies, leaving intact the mainly orthodox Albanian population(50%) and a small fraction of molsims(13%) who by now mostly converted to orthodoxy to survive.The converstion back and forth from one relegion to the other, before the world war I, was common among families!.
However both Albanian relegious communities were extrimily close to each-other before the war and to this day, the Greek goverment has not managed to assimilate the Albanians of Ãameria. The Albanian language is spoken indoors and outdoors as much as on everyday working places, but the greek govemnet with very little preasure from outside refuses to recognise Albanian minority in greece and refuses to open schools on Albanian language.

The region is officially known asEpirus by the Greek goverment, but on the further north western corner of Greece, every single people knows the place as Ãameria. Anyone from this region stating that he or she is a Ãam, makes a political statment saying that he or she is an Albanian. That's why the greek goverment doesn't know officially the region as Ãameria.The heartland of Ãameria is also called Thesprotia.

Since i am from Ãameria, my own opinion is that this region has still an Albanian majority(since many people of other ethnic groups have emigrated away, which has compensated somehow for the displacment of some Albanians during wwi and wwii!) and all the Ãams expelled unjustifiably from Greece are very welcomed by all the Albanian people here, there is a UN resolution which asks the Greek govement to repatriate our brothers and sisters back to their homes, where they belog among the rest of us.

What do you think about Chinese people?

hawkhao — Wed, 10 Dec 2003 16:41:16 GMT

Are the Chinese people unique? How can we compare the Chinese with other groups? Are the Chinese more concerned with "face" than other people? How can we explain the relative academic success of immigrant Chinese students? What is the impact of learning an ographic script on the Chinese people's way of thinking and perceiving? Are the Chinese more or less family centered than other national groups? How can we understand Chinese negotiating techniques?

Hindu stories

Bubr — Fri, 19 Dec 2003 13:09:25 GMT

Hi Deepa and everyone else interested in Hinduism.

To begin with, I am an atheist, but I treat all world religions with respect and curiosity. I recently came to know some stories from the sacred hindu texts and was amazed by how they differ from the Bible subjects. It seems they are NARRATIVE compared to the MORALISTIC christian stories, telling what the life IS instead of what it SHOULD BE. It looks wonderful.

Say, about the creation of god Ganesh (the one with an elephant head). The militant god Shiva once went out hunting. His wife (sorry I had forgotten her name!) had nothing to do and she created a human-like living being out of clay, perhaps, and called her newborn son Ganesh. She got tired and went to take a bath and told Ganesh to guard the door.

At that time Shiva arrives from hunting. He sees that his wife is in the bath and there is some handsome masculine stranger in front of her door. Shiva tried to pass but Ganesh didn't let him go, and Shiva went mad and speared off Ganesh's head. Here comes Shiva's wife crying 'What have you done? You just killed your own son!'

Shiva was upset but he couldn't admit he was wrong. So he made the following decision: let his servants go and take the first animal they meet to him. The servants brought in an elephant. Shiva took elephant's head and put it instead of Ganesh's human head and made him alive.

No analysis, just the story. I think this story's great. Can you please provide other?

Ancient Chinese Culture

Heavenwater — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 09:22:18 GMT

There is a website which introduces ancient Chinese culture in English, here is the link of the website: [deleted by mod; please add it to your profile if you wish]
A lot of interesting things there, nice music, wonderful pictures, there is also an online forum to let people communicate each other.

Hong Kong && China

KAKATHY — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 16:53:48 GMT

As everyone knows
Hong Kong was once a British colony,
and it's now a special administrative region in China.
(( sadly I ahve to admit that the chinese government have substantial influence on the decisions of HK government))

Anyway,
I want to know what do you guys think of HongKongese
Do you think that Hong Kong is different from China
and do you think that there's any difference between HongKongese and chinese??

I'm a local HongKongese
so I don't know how foreigners think about that.
Perheps we can have a little discussion about HongKong and China

Feel free to tell me your thought!!
Thanks!

"Ao dai" competition

vuhung91 — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 10:33:22 GMT

Do you know Miss Universe 2008 ?. Do you watch it on TV ?

The Miss Universe 2008 is held in Viet Nam and the contestants competed in " Ao dai" competition (Ao dai is a traditional dress in Viet Nam).

Do you know who the winner is ? And can you tell me what you know about "Ao dai" ?


Miss Nigeria and Miss Israel


Miss Brazil and Miss Turkey

Miss UK and Miss France

Miss Czech Republic and Miss Kosovo


Miss Slovak Republic and Miss South Africa

Miss Elsavador and Miss Colombia


Miss Tanzania and Miss USA

How do English proverbs translate into your language?

Cool Breeze — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 21:57:37 GMT

I have always wondered why the English proverb He is as poor as a church mouse is He is as poor as a church rat in Finnish. What is it in your language? Can you give us some examples of equivalents of English proverbs or sayings are in your language, please.

Here are a couple of other examples:

To carry coals to Newcastle. Finnish: To go further than the sea to fish.
When in Rome, do as the Romans do. Finnish: In a country in the country's way. (That's awkward in English!)
All that glitters is not gold. Finnish: The same, just a slightly different word order.

CB

vocotruyen - Vietnamese Traditional Martial Art

Anonymous — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 15:39:49 GMT

vocotruyen or Vietnamese Traditional Martial Art

CÃ´n thuáºt

Clip 1 :
Clip 2 :

CÃ´n Tam KhÃºc
Clip 1 :
Clip 2 :

Nhuyá»n TiÃªn

Äáº¡i Äao

Clip 1 :
Clip 2 :

ThÆ°Æ¡ng thuáºt
Clip 1:

Song kiáº¿m nam
Clip 1:

Quáº¡t
Clip 2:

Quyá»n thuáºt

Clip 1:
Clip 2:

little question(1) What's the subway like in your country?

oliver815 — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 02:29:24 GMT

In china, for example, in the city of Tianjin, we take subway a lot for work or shopping. There are usually big and clean space in the subway station, you can buy tickets through ***(I mean a kind of machine, which can sell tickets instead of booking clerks, I don't know how to say the word) or clerks easily. On the screen of ***, you will select your target and the amount of the tickets, then the machine will works out how much you should pay for that, then you need to feed money through a narrow mouth beside the screen and wait for the tickets and redundant money. After your paying enough money, they will give you a little nummular plastic card. You can put the cards on the scanning area of entryways, and keep the cards with you until you get target station and feed the cards into a small mouth of the exit. Of course, you can use a special card, which you get from appointed offices of subway system. There are two kinds of cards, one is called Citycard, you can not only use the cards in subway, but also you can use it on bus or taxi. The other is called Metrocard, it will be used only in subway. These cards are as the same size as your credit cards, and you will keep them all time during your stay in subway(just put them in scanning area is OK), need not feed them into any mouths. The price of tickets in china is about 0.33yuan(7yuan=1dollar)/per station(more than 1 kilometer). How was the subway in USA? Can you tell me?

by the way, can you tell me how to spell the word--***. Thank you in advance.

What do you think about Turkish people?

Guest — Fri, 07 Jan 2005 18:59:30 GMT

This forum is so good. do you know turkey and what do you think about us? i'm really curious about.

Do you want come to turkey? Do you want see our mosques,our palace?
What do you know Ottoman empire?

I'm waiting your answers... See you later

Beijing opera!

fly-shemble — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 04:54:12 GMT

The Place I Live in

Dew 2007 — Sun, 12 Aug 2007 06:51:57 GMT

I want to share some photos of my native town with you, my friends. I think that knowing the place where a person lives will add much more to the understanding of a person and the culture of the country he comes from. I invite you to share your photos too with some comments about the places in the photoes.

My native town is Kolomna in Moscow region. (110 km South East from Moscow) A big industrial centre with more that 150 thousands of inhabitants. It has a rich history that dates back to 1177. It is also a historical town with many links to the history of Russia. There is an ancient Kremlin and many churches in the town. It's a tourist centre too.

In January 2008 the European skating championship will be held in my town.

The first photo is one of the churches:

Turkish language can be a tool for world peace

Erciyesli — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 11:29:29 GMT

Hi everyone I want to keep all over the world

from wars and the bad face of the war

and Turkish language with its deep cultural historical values

can serve to world peace!!!

What do you think?

We need to stop racism!

nicholetta — Fri, 12 Sep 2003 04:25:27 GMT

I think we should stop racism, because we are all god's creation. If you think we should stop, holla at me.

Asian 18th-the special graduation present for you

wt16173 — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 19:15:47 GMT

it is very special
you may like it

little question(2)Does driver miss your stop in your country?

oliver815 — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 03:23:13 GMT

China
Tianjin is a big city of china, there are more than 7 million residents live in the city, most of them take bus for going to work everyday and for backing home. But it's likely to lost your stop on the bus in Tianjin, the driver sometimes will miss your stop. And if you ask drivers why, they will say that "you should book stop in advance". I think bus driver should stop at every bus station, no matter if there are persons awaitting. In Tianjin, before arriving a bus station, the driver usually shout out and ask if there are anyones will get off the bus. But it's not logical for new comers to Tianjin, sometimes can the new comer decide wether to get off only after they see the scene at the station, and when they realize they should get off, it's late already. What about the situation on the bus of USA? Can you tell me?

Thanks in advance.

or you can ask any questions about china and chinese, I will do my best to answer you.

woman abuse

Nemo85 — Mon, 05 Dec 2005 08:50:43 GMT

i am requested to write an essay about the abuse of woman in the western (europe ) but i am short of ideas pls help

Hamburg

Dayan — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 14:42:28 GMT

"As world seaport, and seaport, and stemming from its history and location, the Free and Hanseatic City of Hambu has a special responsibility toward the German people. In the spirit of peace it seeks to be a link between all the word's continents and peoples".Thus the preamble to the 1952 constitution of the City-State of Hamburg. This is Hamburg. Hamburg is delightful. In evre season, so say the people of Hamburg. It's wonderful with its fine woods and parks when young trees and venerable giants are in tender green, ablanze with autumns colours, or touched for a morning by the delicate fracery of hoar frost. Moreover at carefrÃª, in the theatres and museums, at Hagenbeck's zoo, in the bustle of the streets, in the litte pubs of Eppendorf where the "in" people get together, made a this city different.Hamburg is delightful. In all season.

What is your information about ISLAM religion?

Muslimah — Thu, 24 Jul 2003 23:54:01 GMT

What is your information about ISLAM religion?!

I hope 2 tell me .

What do you know about Vietnam?

Sharona — Fri, 21 Nov 2003 14:34:37 GMT

What do you know about Vietnam?

Any question about turkey in your mind???

Erciyesli — Tue, 19 Sep 2006 19:48:00 GMT

i from turkey and i want to known as a turkish person
with good things if you have concern,problem about my country and people
i can talk with you?
........not to be biased is very important and it gives ways to people especially from different lands
about comunication.......

cannot vote at the polls due to religious beliefs.

New2grammar — Sat, 31 May 2008 20:50:35 GMT

Yes. You may vote by absentee ballot if you:

will be absent from your city or town on election day, and/or
have a physical disability that prevents your voting at the polling place, and/or
cannot vote at the polls due to religious beliefs.

I came across this and was a bit surprised. I can't imagine this. I mean I don't know of any religion that doesn't allow their followers to go to polls. Since I got this information from a US website, maybe some of the US native speakers can shed some light.

This is not a grammar question. I'm just curious.

Thanks!

What do you think about Moroccan people ??

Rita_malicia — Fri, 04 May 2007 00:46:03 GMT

well, personally iam Moroccan and i noticed that there are few Moroccan member in this forum, and because i had some friends in this forum who most of them dont know even where Morocco settle and in which continent; to clarify it's an Arab country located in the north of africa near Algeria, Tunisia, Mauritania and libya what we call ALMAGHREB AL ARABI that is THE ARAB MAGHREB , plz give me your comments and if anyone of you do know something about my country and it's culture or any related feature please share it with us .

thanks

Jury Duty

Jingtian — Thu, 01 May 2008 17:07:44 GMT

Hi, I am now in the US and one of our colleagues did not come to the office today because he has to report for jury duty.

What's the purpose of jury duty? Is it very important to the justice of the case? How often do you report for jury duty? What if you cannot attend it?

Thank you.