Belated Geography

Long time, no see!

2011-01-22T11:29:00.000-08:00

I bow down to xkcd, as always.

Interupting argentina for a link

2008-05-14T07:56:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to chime in with this link to The Where Blog: A blog about urban places, placemaking and the concept of place.

I was stoked to find this blog because I am infatuated with Urban place and because they link to amazing pictures and I like visuals.

Take a look-see!

Do you recognize any of the pictures from your city?

Do you have any blogs to share?

Holidays in Argentina

2008-05-13T20:23:00.000-07:00

There are several national holidays in Argentina, this country knows how to embrace culture and how to throw a fiesta!

Here are a few examples:

March/April: Carnaval de Pais!
This is celebrated two weeks prior to the start of Lent- similar to Mardi Gras in New Orleans and Carnavale in Brazil.

It is widely celebrated throughout the country with parades, parties and merry-making. The biggest festivale is held in Gualeguichu where they have a 38,000 seat venue with a stage that holds 700 dancers.

They really know how to make plan a parade!

May 8th: Día de la Virgen de Luján
Our Lady of Lujan is the patron saint of Argentina. On this day Catholics in the country celebrate their patron saint with Mass, processions and festivals.

Tradition says that an ox-drawn wagon was taking a statue of The Virgin from Buenos Aires to Santiago del Estero. The animals stopped at the Luján River and refused to cross. Through trial and error the teamsters discovered that if the box with the Virgin was in the wagon, the oxen would not move; if it was removed, then away they went. After testing this several times, the people realized that Our Lady wanted to stay in Luján, and so she is there today.

October 12th: Día de la Raza:
This holiday started in 1917 as a celebration of the discovery of the Americas by Christopher Columbus.

The holiday is still observed throughout South America and North America. In Argentina it has evolved into a celebration of cultural origin and diversity in the community.

Argentina: How to Tango

2008-05-12T14:27:00.001-07:00

The controversial dance of the Tango originated in Argentina amongst poor immigrants from Africa, Italy and Spain. The exact history of the dance is greatly debated.

Rather than sort that out, here is a quick pictorial on how to Tango!

Dont' for get these key elements:

Tango music:
The accordion player in the Mandrágora Tango Orchestra played at my wedding.

Dancing Shoes:

The Steps:

The Rose:

The sexual tension:

And a partner, because it takes two to Tango!

Fast forward Argentina

2008-05-11T18:05:00.000-07:00

Ok, I have to zip ahead for a bit. Here are some facts about Argentina today!

The country elected a female President in December 2007:

Cristina Fernández de Kirchner

She is a lawyer and she was a senator from the Buenos Aires Province. Oh and her husband was formerly the President of Argentina, Nestor Kirchner.

Huh, how about that?

Here she is talking energy with her cohorts from Bolivia and Brazil:

By the way, there are 23 provinces and 1 autonomous city in Argentina. The country is a Federal Presidential Republic.

The official language is Spanish for the 40,301,927 people who live in Argentina.

The currency is the Argentine Peso, there are just over 3 pesos in 1 US dollar.

The country is rich in natural resource and was one of the richest countries in the world 100 years ago. The economy hit rock bottom around 2001 and they are now on an economic upswing.

Their resources and industries include oil, fisheries, natural gas, various silver mines (gold, magnesium, silver, etc, forestry, tourism, and agriculture.

Of course we cannot forget their greatest export:

TANGO!!

Argentina: Post-Europeans

2008-05-07T14:47:00.000-07:00

Spain established Buenos Aires around 1580. Buenos Aires remians the capitol of Argentina and is also the largest city.

Buenos Aires Planning Map 1880

Buenos Aires Today

The descendants of Spanish immigrants/colonists in Argentina are called criollo. The Spanish brought in slaves from Africa to help make their new colony fruitful.

In 1806 the British tried and failed to overtake Argentina from Spanish rule. The people of Buenos Aires took the opportunity to fight for their independence from Spain. Independence was officially declared on July 9th, 1816.

More on modern Argentina to come....please stay tuned!!!

Pre-Argentina

2008-05-06T18:08:00.000-07:00

Before the Europeans came along in the 1500's, Argentina was inhabited by indigenous tribes like the Diaguita, the Mapuche and the Guaraní.

The MapucheThe Diaguita

Diaguita woman today

The Inca Empire invaded Northwest Argentina in 1480, under the guidance of Pachacutec, whose name means "He who remakes the world". (He is believed to have been a contemporary during the rise of Manchu Picchu in Peru.)

Battle against the Incas

The native peoples of the land were able to resist Spanish settlement n Buenos Aires until 1580, even then Argentina remained rugged for 200 year.

This delay is due to the unification of indigenous people. They avoided being used for European labor by developing large cattle ranches in Pantagonia, know as Haciendas, where they lived and worked together.

Modern ranchers in Pantagonia

Gauchos, a South American version of the North American cowboy, came to be as these ranchlands needed protection and workers to thrive.

Gaucho- 1800s

Don't cry for me, Argentina!

2008-05-05T18:49:00.000-07:00

The truth is I was not quite sure exactly where you were located!!!!!

I know Evita and all the lyrics, but those were the limits
of my knowledge

Very embarrassing.

Argentina: the second biggest country in South America, eighth largest country in the world!

The span of Argentina includes the mainland land and also portions of Antarctica, the Falkland Islands, South Georgia Islands and the South Sandwich Islands.

And I did not know exactly where it was on a globe-OUCH.....hence this blog!

Oh San Marino

2008-05-04T20:01:00.000-07:00

The Three Towers of San Marino are three towers perched on 3 peaks overlooking Monte Titano, the capitol of San Marino.

Cesta

Montale

Guaita

You can find them depicted on the national flag and the coat of arms.

A famous cake from San Marino, La Torta Di Tre Monti, is named for the towers, it is traditional cake made of layers of wafers cemented together by chocolate or hazelnut creme. The final product is covered in chocolate fondant.

There are six state run museums in San Marino centering on art and history. There is also of Museum of Torture!

Love Orchestra is a new-age music project from San Marino, led by native son Gian Luca "Luke" Mazza.

Photo updated, thanks PEO!

More San Marino!

2008-05-03T16:51:00.001-07:00

In San Marino they use the Euro, though they are not a member of the European Union.

The San Marino Lira, which was the previous currency, is rare and is valuable to coin collectors.

50% of the economy is based on tourism, other industries include banking, pottery, and electronics. They also make wine and cheese there.
Postage stamps from San Marino are only valid for shipping within San Marino. Itallian postage is used for shipping elsewhere.

Apparently they have Boy Scouts too!

San Marino

2008-05-01T17:50:00.000-07:00

There are no railways or airports in San Marino.

No train.

No planes

There is limited public transportation and public cab services.

There IS an aerial tramway!!!

And cars!

220 KM of roadways in the country.

And there are fast cars:

San Marino

2008-04-30T16:15:00.000-07:00

San Marino is an old place- the official date of independence from the Roman Empire is September 3rd, 301.

San Marino is a constitutional republic. The constitution was put in place in 1600 and modified in 1926.

In the early 19th Century, Giuseppe Garibaldi allowed San Marino to remain independent during the unification of Italy.
They have a strong military tradition and one of the smallest military forces in the world.

The military is actually mainly ceremonial. The Italian army is actually charged with protecting San Marino.

During WWII, San Marino initially declared was on Britain, then when Italy declared surrender San Marino declared neutrality. In September 1944 San Marino declared war on Germany.

FYI: San Marino does not have a US Embassy nor does the US have a San Marino Embassy.

Secretary Rice meets with The Honorable Fiorenzo Stolfi, Secretary for Foreign and Political Affairs and
for Economic Planning of the Republic of San Marino and President of the Council of Europe.

The Roman Catholic Church is the main religion.

Most Serene Republic of San Marino

2008-04-29T14:04:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the Most Serene Republic of San Marino!

Not to be confused with Dan Marino- I am sure the people of San Marino love that one.

San Marino is a European Microstate.

San Marino is completely surrounded by Italy.

It is located in the Apennine Mountains and is home to 29,615 San Marinans.

The largest city is called Dogana...dog-gone-it!

I am guessing they love that pun too!

some quick final facts about Sri Lanka

2008-04-25T15:40:00.000-07:00

then I am off on a little road trip to Green Bay, Wisconsin!

National Tree: The “Na Tree”, botanically known as “Mesua Nagassarium”

National Flower: The “Nil Mahanel” flower, botanically known as “Nympheae Stellata”

There are 11 Universities in Sri Lanka.

University of Sri Jayewardenepura

Education is free in Sri Lanka, an thus Sri Lankans are educated! Sri Lanka's population is highly educated with a literacy rate of 92%, higher than that expected for a developing country. Sri Lanka has one of the highest literacy rates of South Asia.

Sri Lanka! Sports! Arts! Fun!

2008-04-25T09:41:00.000-07:00

Sports are a big in Sri Lanka. People surf, golf, swim, hike, play rugby, and play football/soccer.

The biggest sport is cricket!

And look what I found:

Elephant polo...Poor elephants.

Dance and music are a traditonal part of everyday Sri Lankan culture. Traditionally, a hard days work is followed by music and dance.

Drums are used in religious worshp and also used in rituals during harvest time.

Pop, rick and R&B music has found a place in Sri Lanka too. The most famous group in the country is Bathiya and Santhush, an Sri Lankan R&B group.

Fine arts in Sri Lanka include pieces like these:

Kusum Reading, oil on canvas, 1968, by Jeorge Keyt

Traditional Folk Theater Mask

Murals

Sri Lankan Folk Art Salesman

Sri Lanka has an active history in the film arts beginning in 1901.

Kollywood is a term used for the Tamil film industry in northern Sri Lanka. Kollywood films have the widest overseas distribution and the industry is prolific: 106 films released in 2007.

Sri Lanka Eats!

2008-04-23T18:59:00.000-07:00

Oh food! This should probably have been the first stop on our journey to Sri Lanka!

Food in Sri Lanka is SPICY! The staples of diets around the country are rice and curries.

The way foods are prepared vary by region, but across the country Sri Lankans eat many vegetables and fish (especially in the coastal regions). The Sri Lankans are fond of eating wafers, pickles and chutneys with their food

Mallung is a traditional dish fondly eaten with curries. Prepared from finely shredded green vegetables and dried shrimps, it is mingled with grated coconut and spices.

Seeni Sambol is a dish that is both hot and spicy. It has Maldive fish, curry and coconut milk.

Sri Lankan Love Cake has a chewy exterior and a soft interior. The popular cake has an English name and is thought to originate from Portuguese colonists. It is served on special occasions.

Sri Lanka is one of the topmost producers of tea in the world. They serve it with sugar, milk and crushed ginger.

One Sri Lankan alcoholic beverage is Arrack. It is made from from fermented fruits, grains, and palm sap. It is traditionally drank straight and is generally distilled to between 33% and 50% alcohol by volume (66 to 100 proof).

Sri Lanka, War, and the scope of this blog

2008-04-23T12:26:00.000-07:00

I am so sad because I read this article on terrible fighting in Sri Lanka today.

I am also sad because prior to researching for this blog I had no idea Sri Lanka has such strife and conflict. I feel so, so, so.......American!

I have been thinking about this a lot the last few days, I started this blog strictly to learn where countries were and some basic facts about them. I mean, just getting all that information is overwhelming enough without learning all the political issues and other problems around the world.

I feel sort of glib not discussing The civil war in Sri Lanka at greater length. War is nothing to take lightly. I wish and pray and dream for peace for all!

At the same time, I feel there is a time and a place for different kinds of information. There are international news and politics blogs where people get in depth on these issues. I do not feel I have the knowledge to fairly or accurately e-publish on that information.

Any thoughts from the peanut gallery?

More on Sri Lanka

2008-04-20T18:36:00.000-07:00

Sri Lanka has a multi ethnic and multi religious population.

The majority of the people in Sri Lanka are Sinhalese. This ethnic group of is said to have originated in the north-east section of India and later settled to Sri Lanka. They speak Sinhala , an Indo-European language and number approximately 15 million people.

Sinhala written characters

The largest ethnic minority in Sri Lanka are the Tamils. Their language is Tamil and it is a Dravidian based language.

Tamil Celebration

English is spoken by around 10% of the population and 8% speak other languages.

About 70% of the population practices Buddhism.

Other major religions include Hinduism, Christianity and Islam.

The government is officially a republic and the capitol is Colombo.

Sadly, Sri Lanka has been going through some terrible times in regards to religious and cultural freedoms since 1983. Civil war has been active and ever increasing up into the present time. I am going to defer to other sources to provide details. In short, the two largest ethnic groups do not like each other and people have been treating each other horribly...in ways that word cannot do justice.

Sri Lanka

2008-04-17T13:19:00.001-07:00

Sri Lanka is an island in the Indian Ocean southeast of the tip of southern India.

Sri Lanka has a dense population. The island is about the size of West Virginia, but 21,128,773 people live there. Only 1,818,470 people live in West Virginia!

The terrain of Sri Lanka is mostly low, flat to rolling plain and there are mountains in south-central interior.

In Sri Lanka, it is monsoon season 3/4 of the year. They also have the occasional cyclones and tornadoes.

Gutsy and tolerant people must live there!

Don't wander off too far because...

2008-04-16T14:16:00.001-07:00

Sri Lanka will be next!

Iceland Fun Facts

2008-04-16T12:33:00.000-07:00

Iceland is SUNNY in the summer! Due to the tilt of the earth's axis, the sun shines almost directly on the upper part of the planet, causing 20 hours of sunlight in summer.

11% of Iceland is covered by glaciers. Vatnajokull is Iceland's largest glacier.

In Iceland, they use the traditional way of their people to create surnames; they take their father's first name and place 'son' or 'dottir' after the name. Women in Iceland keep their maiden names when they get married.

The most popular sport in Iceland is outdoor swimming in geothermally heated pools - in any weather!

March first is Beer Day every year in Iceland. That's right, a whole day dedicated to the world's favorite beverage. This celebrated event began on March 1st, 1989, when a 75-year-long prohibition of beer was lifted. Pubs, restaurants, and clubs all around Reykjavik are especially wild this night.

Two days before Lent is known as Bolludagur or "Buns Day." Homes, restaurants and particular bakeries, overflow with delicately made cream puffs or "buns." These "buns" come in all different shapes and sizes, filled with cream, jam, and sometimes drizzled in chocolate.

Children especially love Buns Day because they get to wake up early and try to catch their parents still in bed. If they do, they "beat" them out of bed with their individually made Bolluvondur or "Bun Wands," which are colorfully decorated with strips of paper and gleaming ribbon. The parents are then obligated to give their children one cream puff for every "blow" received.

Wow! Makes one think twice about "Spare the rod, spoil the child".

Thanks Iceland, it's been swell!

Next we will move on to learn about Sri Lanka!

Visiting Iceland

2008-04-14T09:54:00.000-07:00

As our visiting Icelandic artist pointed out, Iceland also enjoys an economic boost from tou rism.

If you decide to go to Reykjavik:

the largest city in Iceland, you can grab a drink at an ice bar. Yes, a bar made of ice.

Actually, I was surprised to learn that the climate in Iceland is simliar to that in my home of Minneapolis, MN. Actually, Minneapolis gets colder in the winter than Iceland!

Minneapolis:

So I guess you will not have to pack for the worst cold ever.

You can plan to:

Whale watch.

and other outdoorsy things like hiking and puffin watching.

Or you can visit some amazing churches with impressive architecture:

The National Church of Iceland is a Christian denomination that most Icelandic people belong to, though there are smatterings of Catholics and other Christian denominations and beyond.

Of course there are arts activities too:

Guess what they already have in Iceland????

2008-04-12T15:56:00.000-07:00

Hydrogen Fuel Vehicles!!!!

They were the first country to have a hydrogen fuel station.

I. Am. Jealous.

The entire country is a geothermal playground. The island sits on two major divergent boundaries, the Iceland Hotspot and the Mid-Atlantic Ridge.

There are several active volcanoes in Iceland plus fjords, geysers and hot springs.

Volcano Eldfell in 1973.

Geology is fun! Thanks Layne Kennedy

They use geothermal power in Iceland too:

Iceland and Money

2008-04-10T09:14:00.000-07:00

Iceland is fully a part of Europe and it has a social welfare system modeled after the Scandinaivian countries. The government manages a wide range of benefits for all citizens. Like Scandinavian countries ,there are very high taxes on goods and the incomes of citizens level out after income taxes.

Iceland is not a member of the European Union and does not use the Euro as currency.

The króna is the currency in Iceland.

(króna coins- cute fish!)

100 ISK (króna) is worth about $1.38 in US currency and .87 Euros.

About 7,229.04 ISK will get you this cool painting by Icelander Tinna Eik on Etsy.com:

The Icelandic economy is not as reliant on visual artists and musicians as it is on the fishing industry. Seventy percent of their exports are fish.

Check out those economics!

Manufacturing medical supplies, Aluminum Smelting and Textiles are also important exports from Iceland. But they are not nearly as delicious as fish:

Belated Geography RESURRECTION!!!!!

2008-04-09T18:53:00.001-07:00

Ok, I have shamefully procrastinated on this blog. It is pretty pathetic, but it is true. The sad thing is I love the concept of this blog and the opportunity to open myself to learning about the world and sharing with you too.

So, with that in mind I am going to resurrect this blog with a new format. I am going to have one country a week and I am going to pst a little each day, rather than one LONG entry.

Here's hopin' I can live up to this task!

And here's the beginning of Iceland:

Of course you all know their most famous citizen:

Beloved Modernist Poet Steinn Steinarr!!!

October 13, 1908 - May 25, 1958

His best known work is Time and the Water, of which the following is the first part.

Tíminn er eins og vatnið,

og vatnið er kalt og djúpt

eins og vitund mín sjálfs.

Og tíminn er eins og mynd,

sem er máluð af vatninu

og mér til hálfs.

Og tíminn og vatnið

renna veglaust til þurrðar

inn í vitund mín sjálfs.

(Quoted from ljod.is)

Time is like the water,

and the water is cold and deep

like my own consciousness.

And time is like a picture,

which is painted of water,

half of it by me.

And time and the water

flow trackless to extinction

into my own consciousness.

(Translation by Marshall Brement)

(Stolen from wikipedia)

Iceland is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean between Greenland and Europe. The country is slightly smaller than the state of Kentucky (Where education pays!).

As of July 2007 the population was around 309,00. Of course that includes the current LIVING most famous Icelander:

Other living Icelandic musicians include Emiliana Torrini and Sigur Ros:

While I enjoy both acts, Bjork is clearly the most famous because she has the most diverse images on the interweb and the most scandalous youtube video.

The country is constitutional republic where Icelandic is the native language but English, Nordic languages and German are widely spoken.

Their President is Olafur Ragnar Grimsson and the Prime Minister is Geir H. Haarde.

(Grimsson)

This is the house of the executive branch of the government:

This design makes it clear where Bjork gets her flamboyant taste.

I did not abandon you

2007-11-01T15:03:00.001-07:00

I'm going to do a post about Tasmania soon.
And by the time you finish reading it you'll know what this is:And you'll have a new respect for these:

You're in Uruguay!

2007-10-09T07:52:00.001-07:00

Hola! And welcome to my first full fledged country post on this blog. I chose the South American country of Uruguay for my first country profile because I didn't know much about it and because it's also the country that produced this stunning woman:

Actress Barbara Mori

Surely any country where someone as beautiful as this comes from must be a cool place. Right?

Well, of course it is. Uruguay sits on the southern end of the Atlantic ocean side of South America. It borders Brazil and Argentina, it was also annexed by both countries at one time but it has since gotten it's independence. Uruguayans celebrate their Independence Day on August 25th.

Despite being annexed by both Argentina and Brazil, Uruguay owes more culturally and linguistically to Paraguay than to either of it's neighbors. The Guarani Indians lived in the lowlands of what would one day become Paraguay and Uruguay long before any Europeans set foot on the continent. And despite European eradication efforts, Guarani is still spoken in Paraguay. In fact the names of both countries are derivations of Guarani words.

Uruguay, whose official name is the Oriental Republic of Uruguay, is roughly the same size as Oklahoma. Thankfully unlike Oklahoma there has been no Broadway musical named Uruguay! and the Uruguayan country side is not infested with bingo parlors and casinos.

The Uruguayan population, which as of 2006 was estimated to be at 3.5 million, has always been a smart, hard working, diverse, and well taken care of. This country was one of the first in the world to pioneer the concept of "the welfare state." What that means is the people decided that it was better for their government to spend it resources on health, education, and the welfare of it citizens than on guns and tanks and useless wars over natural resources. And that philosophy has paid dividends time and time again. For example the literacy rate in Uruguay is 98%, male citizens can expect to live to age 76 and female citizens can expect to live to be 80, and infant mortality is low, 11.6 per thousand.
Most of Uruguay's citizens are white, usually of Spanish or Italian descent, but there are still some mestizo's, which are descendants of the Guarani, and there are also blacks in Uruguay. The most common language spoken in Uruguay is Spanish, however there is also a Portuguese/Spanish mix language spoken called Brazilero. Unfortunately the Guarani language is not spoken much in Uruguay any more, however is still is spoken widely in Paraguay.

The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence

As one would expect in a South American country the population is overwhelmingly Roman Catholic, 66% percent of the population claim to be Catholics. Jews make up 1% of Uruguay's religious folks and Protestants don't fare much better, they claim only 2% of the population. Unlike the Jews however, the Protestants have not given up on forcing the locals to turn to Jesus, so they keep sending in missionaries. Missionaries like this one:

I swear I found her picture on a Uruguayan missionary website. I am not making this up. I guess they may find a receptive audience among the 31% of Uruguayans who claim no religious affiliation, but I seriously doubt it.

What do folks in Uruguay do for a living?

I'm glad you asked. The work in wide ranging industries such as agriculture, electrical equipment manufacturing, textiles, chemical manufacturing, fishing, petroleum production (watch out Uruguay don't let a certain someone in Washington DC you have oil or he may attack you!), and transportation equipment manufacturing. The mountains to the north of Uruguay give way to the rolling low lands in the middle of the country and eventually the low lands give way to the mighty Atlantic ocean. With the run off from the mountains and what with all the rivers and lakes in the interior, most of the country side is ideal for farming. And farm Uruguayans do, in 2005 alone they grew and exported over 3.5 billion dollars worth of beef, rice, wool, dairy, fish, and leather products. Not bad for the second smallest country in South America huh.

But all work and no play would make Uruguay a dull place now wouldn't it? Of course it would. And so Uruguayans enjoy their leisure time and they love their sports too. For a small country Uruguay boasts over 20 TV stations, a slew of daily and weekly newspapers, and a sports reputation that is unmatched by any other country it's size. Uruguay stunned the world in 1930 when they won the first FIFA World Cup tournament and as if that was not enough they won it all again in 1950. When they won the futbol crown in 1950 they did it in what was then the largest futbol stadium in the world in Brazil.Uruguayans also enjoy rugby and basketball as well. And they've been known to throw down on the odd game of tiddlywinks from time to time, but when you stop and think about it, aren't all games of tiddlywinks odd?

Ah well, who knows? Since Uruguay is in the Southern hemisphere it's seasons are the opposite from ours. Summer down there is our winter and our winter is their summer. In fact the hottest month in Uruguay is January and it's coldest month is June. The country has cold winters and warm sticky summers. Snow is not unheard of in their winter but it is not a huge problem because when it does snow, it does not accumulate much, aside from on the mountains to the north that is. All in all the climate is temperate and ideal for all the farming that they do down there.

Uruguay is a democracy and while it usually elects right wing candidates, though in the last elections they finally elected leftist leaders, the people have never been afraid to speak out or to demonstrate in the streets when they felt like it. It's so free and open down there that it should be the model democracy for all nations to aspire to, unlike our twisted version of democracy where capitalism is allowed to run wild and unchecked.

I'm not sure what this gal is protesting but I like the way she does it.

Most of the population, almost half the country, lives in and around the capital Montevideo which sits on the southern coast of Uruguay.

As you can see it's a bustling city that is constantly under construction and revision. It does have it scenic delights as well though.

It is truly a modern city that is brimming with people and places to see. The lovely Ms. Mori was born in Montevideo, so that's enough for me, I'm ready to declare it a world treasure based on her birth alone. Well, to be honest, also because of these yummy looking deserts made in the capital too:

Mmmmmm, cake.

Mmmmm, dulce de leche over something sweet, mmmm.

But for me the thing that truly sets Montevideo above the pack when it comes to capital cities is the beach. I love the beach and I love a big capital city on a beach. Heck, I'm gonna admit it, I love Montevideo.

And I love Uruguay too. How could you not love a country that has this flag:

Someday I'd love to visit Uruguay even though I don't speak Spanish. Maybe if I got lucky I'd get Ms. Mori to be my guide and she and I could speak the international language of love.

Ahhh, Uruguay, how grateful I am that you're in the Americas.

Coming soon...

2007-10-05T17:26:00.000-07:00

...more Uruguay than you can handle. And it's brought to you by Dr. Monkey. Try to stay calm and enjoy the ride. And Missy, thanks for making me your collaborator on this great blog.

I have not abandoned my quest!

2007-10-04T07:45:00.001-07:00

I have just been busy at work and life (as I am sure have been too!)!

The world keeps turning though and I am almost done with Iceland and narrowing down the next subject.

If anyone out there would like to post about a country that would be awesome!

Let me know.

Oh tell me what is next!

2007-09-19T11:35:00.000-07:00

Bjork and I are so excited to tell you that next I will be research her homeland of:

I will try to get this post up faster than the last once, and if you complain once more you'll meet an army of me!

Moldova: A struggling country in Europe.

2007-08-28T08:08:00.000-07:00

Moldova: Another wine country trying to make it.

The Republic of Moldova (Republica Moldova) is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe, located between Romania to the west and Ukraine to the north, east and south.

Originally Moldova was part of the greater region of Moldavia, but it has spent much of its history being the skinny kid pushed around by the bigger bullies.

Moldova is landlocked, but is still very close to the Black Sea.

Capitol: Chisinau, located on Byk River in the central part of the country.

The country's other important cities are Tiraspol, Tighina (also known as Bender) and Balti.

Population: 4,320,490 (July 2007 est.).

Despite being the most densely populated (132 person per sq km) of the former Soviet Republics it has very few large cities.

Landscape: Most of Moldova's territory covers a hilly plain cut deeply by many streams and rivers.

Climate: Moldova enjoys a favorable climate and good farmland but has no major mineral deposits. As a result, the economy depends heavily on agriculture, featuring fruits, vegetables, Moldovan wine, and tobacco.

(Brief) History: Moldovans are descended from the Dacians who were conquered by the Romans in 100 AD. This was followed by a millennium of instability and change, as the region was invaded by neighboring countries and made a focal point for the diaspora of Magyars, Slavs and Bulgarians spreading across Eastern Europe. It was also a port of call for Byzantine, Italian and Greek merchants.

By the beginning of the Middle Ages, when the flow of people had died down to a trickle and an organized state had begun to emerge, Moldavia (as part of Romania) was already a potpourri of different races and cultures. The Principality of Moldavia, it was annexed by the Russian Empire in 1812. At the dissolution of the latter, it united with other Romanian lands in Romania in 1918.

After being occupied by the Soviet Union in 1940, and changing hands in 1941 and 1944 during World War II, it was known as the Moldavian SSR from then until 1991. Moldova declared its independence from the Soviet Union on August of 1991.

Although Moldova has been independent from the USSR since 1991, Russian forces have remained on Moldovan territory east of the Dniester River despite signing international obligations to withdraw.....

Government: Moldova is a parliamentary democracy. It has a President as its head of state and a Prime Minister as its head of government.

(The Presidential Palace)

The country is a member state of the United Nations, WTO, OSCE, GUAM, CIS, BSEC and other international organizations. Moldova has officially been a neutral country since its independence, and an early member of the NATO Partnership for Peace.

Moldova aspires to join the European Union and is implementing its first three-year Action Plan within the framework of the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) of the EU.

Culture:

Ethnic groups: Moldovan/Romanian 78.2%, Ukrainian 8.4%, Russian 5.8%, Gagauz 4.4%, Bulgarian 1.9%, other 1.3% (2004 census)

Religion: Eastern Orthodox 98%, Jewish 1.5%, Baptist and other 0.5%

Languages: Moldovan (official), Russian, Gagauz (a Turkish dialect)

The Moldovan language is virtually the same as Romainian, but as a feat of nationalism the Moldovan government made it the officia language after the country gained independence. You've got to respect that.

Food:

Moldovan cuisine has had a great influence on the traditional food of the other nationalities that live on this territory. The ingredients used in the traditional meals are: a variety of vegetables like tomatoes, green peppers, aubergines, white cabbage, beans, onions, garlic, etc. The vegetables are used for salads and sauces; they are baked, pickled, salted, and canned thus becoming a real food art.

The maize and maize flour give a specific color to the traditional meals, like soups, biscuits, flakes, alcohol free drinks, etc. The most common is “mamaliga” – a maize porridge or polenta with a fine and delicious taste. "Mamaliga" is served together with diced meat, cheese, fried meat, cream, etc.

Dancing is a big part of Moldovan cultural tradition. The traditional dances have also been influenced by the various other countries that have controlled Moldova throughout history.

Exports:

Moldova is best known for vineyards and wine-making. The famous Moldovan wines are well known and appreciated at home and far beyond the country borders. The wines can be dry, sweet and strong, they have a varied bouquet of flavours and colours. Strong drinks such as plum brandy, are produced using traditional methods.

Per capita wine consumption is among the highest in the world.

Other exports include: Exports: sugar, vegetable oil, food processing, agricultural machinery; foundry equipment, refrigerators and freezers, washing machines; hosiery, shoes, textiles

All of the energy supplies for Moldova must be imported (gas, coal, etc), this leaves Moldova at a great economic disadvantage.

Currency: Moldovan Leu (Lei) The name means "lion". 1 US Dollar = 11.93700 Moldovan Leu.

Moldova remains one of the poorest countries in Europe despite recent progress from its small economic base.

Around 25% of the working population in Moldova work in countries outside of Moldova.

Rogue Moldovans:

Moldova has a break away sect known as Transnistria.

Transnistria is a de jure part of Moldova, as its independence is not recognized by any country, although de facto it is not controlled by the Moldovan government.

Transnistria operates its own government and seeks independence from Moldova and re-unification with the Soviet Union. It has its own currency, constitution, parliament, flag and anthem. Russian troops still have a presence in Transnistria

This region hosts most of Moldova's industrial infrastructure, but its economic potential is limited by its international isolation. Troubles with Transnistria may prohibit Moldova from entering the European Union.

Sources:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moldova
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/md.html
http://www.rferl.org/
http://www.turism.md/eng/
http://www.worldofmoldova.com/
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3243679.stm
http://www.sheepandgoat.com/articles/Moldova.html
http://www.abetterlifemoldova.com/
http://countrystudies.us/moldova/18.htm

Sierra Leone: On the mend

2007-08-19T17:26:00.000-07:00

*****NEWS FLASH*****

Get a dose of culture from Sierra Leone with your food on a stick (if you are not a Minnesotan you may want to watch this):

The Sierra Leonian musical group the Sierra Leone Refugee All-Stars will be performing at the Minnesota State Fair at the Leine Lodge on August 29th and 30th!

This group has had a documentry film about them which will be shown locally and on PBS:

Oh, and Sierra Leone just held a national election on August 11th, important but that is not nearly as fun...

And now for:
Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone, officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Guinea on the north and Liberia on the south, with the Atlantic Ocean on the west.

The name Sierra Leone was adapted from the Portuguese name for the country: Serra Leoa. The literal meaning is "Lion Mountain Range".

Check out where it sits on the African Continent:

Climate: tropical; hot, humid; summer rainy season (May to December); winter dry season (December to April)

Terraine: coastal belt of mangrove swamps, wooded hill country, upland plateau, mountains in east

Population: 6,144,562 (July 2007 est.)

Most of the population is made up of youth and the average life expectency is only 37 for males and 40 for females.

Capitol City: Freetown

Freetown, the capital and largest city is the leading commercial and educational center of the country. Other major cities include Bo, Kenema, Koidu, and Makeni.

Language: English (official, regular use limited to literate minority), Mende (principal vernacular in the south), Temne (principal vernacular in the north), Krio (English-based Creole, spoken by the descendants of freed Jamaican slaves who were settled in the Freetown area, a lingua franca and a first language for 10% of the population but understood by 95%)

Ethnicity: The population of Sierra Leone comprises about sixteen ethnic groups; each with its own language and customs, the two largest of these being the Mende and Temne, about equal in numbers representing 60% of the country's population. The Mende predominate in the Southern Province, the Temne likewise to the Northern Province.

Religion: The Sierra Leone constitution provides freedom of religion and the government generally protects this right, and does not tolerate its abuse.

Approximately 60% of Sierra Leoneans are Muslim; 30% are Christian; 10% adhere to their ethno-cultural religions and faiths. Unlike many other countries, the religious and tribal mix of Sierra Leone rarely causes religious or tribal conflict.

Currency: Sierra Leone’s currency is the Leone(Le). The central bank of the country is the Bank of Sierra Leone which is located in the national capital, Freetown. The Bank of Sierra Leone is a 100 percent state-owned corporate body.

2,961.70 Leones = $1 US

Food: Rice is the staple food, consumed at virtually every meal. A Sierra Leonean will often say, without any exaggeration, "If I haven't eaten rice today, then I haven't eaten!"

Rice is eaten with the hands by squeezing or rolling it into a ball, dipping it into the sauce, and then popping it into the mouth. If rice falls from your fingers or mouth, you don't put it back in the dish. When everyone finishes eating, they wash their hands and thank the cook.

Other things are of course eaten—a wide variety of fruits, seafood, potatoes, cassava, etc.—but these are often considered to be just "snacks" and not "real food." Real food is rice, prepared numerous ways, and topped with a variety of sauces made from some combination of potato leaves, cassava leaves, hot peppers, peanuts, beans, okra, fish, beef, chicken, eggplant, onions, and tomatoes. Bones, particularly chicken bones, are a delicacy, because their brittle nature makes the sweet marrow inside easily accessible.

Here is a link to some recipes from Sierra Leone.

This visiting blogger noted how much of the rice seems to be imported, rather than grown locally. The fact that their staple food comes from elsewhere speaks to the emerging independence of this nation from teh past turmoil and dependence on relief from other nations (I'll get to that later).

Culture: Such traditional handicrafts as cloth weaving, leatherwork, basketry, pottery, and rug making are popular. Music and dance forms related to tribal religious ceremonies are well developed. The Sierra Leone Dance Troupe, through its international tours, has made these dances known worldwide.

Etiquette
Sierra Leoneans as a rule are extremely polite and manner-conscious. Much attention is given, especially in urban areas, to one's neatness of dress and style of presentation. Courteous and eloquent greetings are a way of life. Elders are especially respected. The "good" host is always a giving host, one who will call any passerby to join in a meal by a wholehearted, "Come, let's eat." It is polite as a guest to leave some food on the plate, thanking the host profusely for his or her generosity.

Marriage. For all Sierra Leoneans, marriage is a mark of adult maturity and brings considerable prestige to both bride and groom. Specific customs vary by ethnic group and socioeconomic status, but usually begin when a man is able to assemble enough brideprice (often a mixture of money and fine cloth) to give to the prospective bride and her family. Almost all marriages used to be arranged between families, sometimes while the girl was still quite young. Increasingly, "love marriages" are more common, especially among those who have been to school.

Domestic Unit. The basic household structure is an extended family, organized for the majority of people around the farm and its rice production.

Many households are polygynous, where a husband may have more than one wife; the first or "senior" wife usually has some authority over "junior" wives, such as in training and organizing them into a functional unit. Monogamy is also common, especially among urban and Christian families.

Sierra Leoneans love children, and larger households tend to have more prestige. Having many children is in fact an investment of sorts, which, though initially expensive to maintain, eventually allows a family to accumulate wealth by creating a large and diverse labor pool, by gaining brideprice for its daughters, and by strategically marrying off children to create new alliances with other families.

Kin Groups. Kinship networks are extremely important in everyday matters, in that one is obligated to assist one's family members throughout life.

Kin groups also play an important part in hearing legal cases and settling disputes before they are referred to a neutral third party. Thus, upon marriage, a man and a woman may each prefer to settle near their own kin, as this confers them distinct political and economic advantages. Though rights and responsibilities exist on both sides of one's family, maternal uncles are often particularly important figures, offering both obligations and entitlements to an individual.

Story telling: There are rich and lively traditions of storytelling across Sierra Leone. The most famous storytellers (sometimes endearingly called "liars") can manage to earn a living from their trade, though mostly these traditions are informal affairs, and start when children gather around an elder under the full moon once the evening chores are done.

Government: Sierra Leone is a constitutional republic with a directly elected president and a unicameral legislature.

The government is slowly reestablishing its authority after the civil war from 1991 to 2002 that resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and the displacement of more than 2 million people (about one-third of the population). This time was portrayed in the 1999 documentry film Cry Freetown.

The last UN peacekeepers withdrew in December 2005 leaving full responsibility for security with domestic forces. A new civilian UN mission - the UN Integrated Office in Sierra Leone (UNIOSIL) - was established to support the government's efforts to consolidate peace.

This is an image of people waiting to vote in the first national elections in 2002:

Prior to gaining independence in 1961, Sierra Leone was under colonial rule for centuries.

Sierra Leone has a special significance in the history of the transatlantic slave trade. It was the departure point for thousands of west African captives. The capital, Freetown, was founded as a home for repatriated former slaves in 1787.

Economy: Sierra Leone is an extremely poor nation with tremendous inequality in income distribution. While it possesses substantial mineral, agricultural, and fishery resources, its economic and social infrastructure is not well developed, and serious social disorders continue to hamper economic development.

Nearly half of the working-age population engages in subsistence agriculture. Manufacturing consists mainly of the processing of raw materials and of light manufacturing for the domestic market.

Diamond mining remains the major source of hard currency earnings accounting for nearly half of Sierra Leone's exports.

The diamond industry in Sierra Leone has a horrific history of corruption and human rights violations. This was recently highlighted in the film Blood Diamond (which I have yet to see).

The fate of the economy depends upon the maintenance of domestic peace and the continued receipt of substantial aid from abroad, which is essential to offset the severe trade imbalance and supplement government revenues. A recent increase in political stability has led to a revival of economic activity such as the rehabilitation of bauxite and rutile mining.

Sources:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sierra_Leone
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/sl.html
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/country_profiles/1061561.stm
http://allafrica.com/sierraleone/
http://www.amnestyusa.org/By_Country/Sierra_Leone/page.do?id=1011232&n1=3&n2=30&n3=982
http://paulinsierraleone.blogspot.com/2007/04/food-in-sierra-leone.html
http://www.sierra-leone.org/culture.html
http://www.everyculture.com/Sa-Th/Sierra-Leone.html
http://www.who.int/countries/sle/en/

Humbling Geography Game

2007-08-16T14:27:00.000-07:00

Give it a whirl.

I got a -10 due to my lack of knowledge of Eastern Europe.

Foolish American.

Vietnam: Independence! Freedom!?! Happiness!

2007-08-14T13:05:00.001-07:00

Vietnam!

Even though my learned instinct is to see Vietnam through the lens of war, it is in reality a economically emerging country filled with natural beauty and tranquil village life.

Vietnam, officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, is the easternmost nation on the Indochina Peninsula. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, and Cambodia to the southwest. On the country's east coast lies the South China Sea.

Vietnam is densly populated, with a population of over 85 million people. Vietnam is the 13th most populous country in the world.

Motto:
Độc lập - Tự do - Hạnh phúc
"Independence - Freedom - Happiness"

Capital: Hanoi
Largest city: Ho Chi Minh City

Climate: tropical in south; monsoonal in north with hot, rainy season (May to September) and warm, dry season (October to March).

Terrain: low, flat delta in south and north; central highlands; hilly, mountainous in far north and northwest

Language: Vietnamese, an Austro-Asiatic language formerly known under the French colonization as Annamese. Much of the vocabulary is dervived from Chinese.

Nationalities
At present there are 54 different ethnic groups inhabiting Vietnam, in which Kinh (Viet) people make up nearly 90% of the whole population, and 53 other ethnic groups represent over 10%.

Government: Socialist republic

(Head of Vietnamese Communist Party with Castro in June 2007)

Currency: Dong. The most common bills available are the 200, 500, 1000, 2000, 5000, 10,000, 20,000, and 50,000 notes. There are no coins. One US dollar equals13,500 dong.

Exports: Vietnam has a rapidly growing economy and their current major exports are: crude oil, marine products, rice, coffee, rubber, tea, garments, and shoes. The United States is the world's largest importer of Vietamese goods.

Brief History of power:

Legend has it that Vietnam's origin lay in the harmonious union of lac Long Quan, King of the Sea, and Au Co, Princess of the Mountains. Real life was not so paradisical, as Vietnam's early history--like its recent history--is characterized by a nearly continuous struggle for autonomy. First came an entire millenium of Chinese domination, which was finally thrown off in the 9th century. External control was imposed once again in the 19th century, when Vietnam was occupied by the French.

French rule lasted until WWII, when the country was invaded by Japan. At the war's end the predominantly Communist Viet Minh, which had led the resistance movement against the Japanese, declared the country's independence. The French Indochina War ensued, until France admitted defeat in 1954, and the Geneva Accords left Vietnam divided into a Communist north and an anti-Communist south.

By this time the U.S. had replaced the French as the primary sponsor of the anti-Communist government. Tension between north and south mounted over the next few years, until in 1964 full scale war erupted.

The conflict lasted for the next eight years, and involved hundreds of thousands of troops from the U.S. and other countries. In 1973 a cease-fire agreement allowed the U.S. the opportunity to withdraw its troops, and in 1975 the southern capital of Saigon fell to the North Vietnamese. An extended period of political repression followed, prompting massive emigration from the country. In 1991, with the fall of Communism and the end of the Cold War, many western powers re-established diplomatic and trade relations with Vietnam. The last country to do so, in 1995, was the U.S.

Religion and Customs:

The major religious traditions in Vietnam are Buddhism (which fuses forms of Taoism and Confusianism), Christianity (Catholicism and Protestantism), Islam, Caodaism and the Hoa Hao sect.

Worship of Ancestor Custom

A very popular belief among Vietnamese is the custom of the ancestor cult. In every household, an ancestor altar is installed in the most solemn location.

Vietnamese believe that the soul of a dead person, even if dead for many generations, still rests along with their descendants on earth. The dead and living persons still have spiritual communion; in everyday life, people must not forget that what they enjoy and how they feel is the same for their dead relatives.

Custom of Chewing Betel and Areca Nuts:

The custom of chewing betel nut is unique to Vietnam. Old health books claim that "chewing betel and areca nut makes the mouth fragrant, decreases bad tempers, and makes digesting food easy". A quid of betel makes people become closer and more openhearted. At any wedding ceremony, there must be a dish of betel and areca nut, which people can share as they enjoy the special occasion.

Playing funeral music is one of the oldest professions in Vietnam. The music is meant to accompany the soul of the deceased person, as it travels to the Land of Buddha. In Vietnam, qualified funeral musicians can earn more money in one month than the average person earns in a year.

Celebration: The most important festival of the year is Tet, a week-long event in late January or early February that heralds the new lunar year and the advent of spring. Celebration consists of both raucous festivity (fireworks, drums, gongs) and quiet meditation. In addition to Tet, there are about twenty other traditional and religious festivals each year.

FOOD!

Although rice is the foundation of the Vietnamese diet, the country's cuisine is anything but bland. Deeply influenced by the national cuisines of France, China, and Thailand, Vietnamese cooking is highly innovative and makes extensive use of fresh herbs, including lemon grass, basil, coriander, parsley, laksa leaf, lime, and chili. Soup is served at almost every meal, and snacks include spring rolls and rice pancakes.

The national condiment is nuoc mam, a piquant fermented fish sauce served with every meal.

Indigenous tropical fruits include bananas, pineapples, coconuts, lychees, melons, mandarin oranges, grapes, and exotic varieties like the three-seeded cherry and the green dragon fruit.

Vietnam and the Internet: Vietnam named as one of 13 "enemies of the internet" by Reporters Without Borders in 2006. The Communist Party has a strong grip on the media, including what content is posted and accessed on the internet. Internet providers face fines or closure for breaking the rules and "cyber dissidents" have been imprisoned; Internet cafes must register the personal details of customers

The Ministry of Culture and Information controls the press and broadcasting. The government has shut down several publications for violating the narrow limits on permissible reporting. Under a 2006 decree journalists face large fines for transgressions which include denying revolutionary achievements and spreading "harmful" information or "reactionary ideology".

Since Andy is going to Vietnam this fall and he has toads, here is a Vietnamese Mossy Toad
Enjoy Vietnam, Andy!

In Minneapolis:

Delicious Vietnamese restaurants...try to move beyond the sesame chicken!

Camdi
http://www.mndaily.com/drinkanddine/details/4/Camdi+Chinese-Vietnamese
Lotus
http://www.sotanlife.com/experience.php/section/home/page/estab_view/id/1771
Saigon Uptown
http://twincities.citysearch.com/profile/5583975/minneapolis_mn/saigon_uptown_restaurant.html
Bona
http://www.activediner.com/Bona-Vietnamese-Rtnt/restaurant/Minneapolis/MN/US/profile/138534

Vietnamese Community of Minnesota: http://www.vietnam-minnesota.org/

Sources
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/country_profiles/1243338.stm
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/vm.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vietnam
http://www.vietnamtourism.com/
http://www.geographia.com/vietnam/

Estonia: The non-Baltic Baltic State!

2007-08-13T06:52:00.001-07:00

Estonia.

Estonia sits smack in the middle of multiple nations and is one of the three Baltic States (Estonia, Lativia, and Lithuania) that had once been occupied by the Soviet Union.

The climate in Estonia is temperate, characterised by warm summers and fairly severe winters. The topography of Estonia is mainly marshy, lowlands; flat in the north, hilly in the south.

Tallin is the capitol of Estonia and though it is a bustiling modern city, it is also one of the best-preserved mediaeval cities in Europe.

Other major cities include:
Haapsalu - a town known for mud baths and a 13th century castle
Pärnu - the summer capital of Estonia known for its beaches and parks
Viljandi - a castle town with a beatuiful lake view
Tartu - a city containing the oldest active University, since 1632 and Narva - a border town with a 13th century castle half in Estonia and half in Russia

History: Estonians have been living in this tiny portion of the Baltic lands since approximately 2,500 B.C., making them the longest settled of the European peoples. Due to Estonia’s strategic location as a link between East and West, it has been highly coveted through the ages by rapacious kings and conquerors. Eventually, on 24 February 1918, Estonia declared its independence. Its period of independence was brief, however, and Estonia was forcibly annexed by the Soviet Union in 1940. But in 1991 Estonians again reasserted their independence, and peacefully broke away from the Soviet Union.

Culture: Estonias have a great pride in their culture and traditions- they worked hard to maintain their language and cultural life all through their Soviet rule and other invasions.

The Estonians are a Finnic people closely related to the Finns. Estonians consider themselves a Nordic people rather than Balts, based on their linguistic, cultural and historical ties with Sweden, Denmark and particularly Finland.

Language: The national language is Estonian, a Finno-Ugric language and, along with its close relative Finnish as well as Hungarian, is one of the few official languages of the European Union that is not of Indo-European origin.

Indigenous Estonian-speaking ethnic Estonians constitute nearly 70% of the total population of about 1.3 million people. Estonian 67.9%, Russian 25.6%, Ukrainian 2.1%, Belarusian 1.3%, Finn 0.9%, other 2.2% (2000 census)

This ad is allegedly Russian peoples living in Estonia urging them to learn the Estonian language.

Singing is a major part of the Estonian culture. In fact, mass protests involving singing banned Estonian songs between 1987 and 1991 are considered a major part of what earned Estonia independence after 50 years of Soviet occupation, coined the Singing Revolution.

I did find a blogger who was concerned that Estonian pop music is stuck in the Eighties....but I am not sure if that is special to Estonia.

Food: Traditional Estonian food has its roots firmly in the countryside, relying heavily on pork, potatoes and garden variety vegetables. The main culinary influences were from Germans, who ruled over Estonia for so many centuries. Throughout history, many other nations who ruled the region – Danes, Germans, Swedes, Poles and Russians – have influenced Estonian cuisine. Among the traditional dishes are marinated eel, blood sausage and sauerkraut stew with pork.

Government: Estonia is a parliamentary democracy with three branches of power: legislative, executive, and judicial.

Estonia has been a member of the European Union since May 2004 and of NATO since March 2004.

Estonia has gained a reputation for being at the cutting edge of technology. A June 2007 survey found that 768,000 Estonians - 65% of the population - use the internet. The country held the world's first parliamentary "e-vote" in 2007.

Taxes: In 1994, Estonia became one of the first countries in the world to adopt a flat tax, with a uniform rate of 26% regardless of personal income. In January 2005 the personal income tax rate was reduced to 24%. A subsequent reduction to 23% followed in January 2006. The income tax rate will be decreased by 1% annually to reach 18% by January 2011.

Currency: The national currency of Estonia is called the Kroon and was introduced on 20 June 1992. The Kroon is abbreviated as EEK. The smaller unit is called the Sent, 1 kroon = 100 sents. The kroon is pegged to the EURO at 1 EUR = appr. 15.65 EEK.

The Estonian government is now intending to adopt the euro as the country's currency in 2010. Its economy is rated as "high income" by the World Bank.

Exports: Estonia exports machinery and equipment, wood and paper, textiles, food products, furniture, and metals and chemical products. Estonia also exports 1.562 billion kilowatt hours of electricity annually.

Religion: Religion According to a recent Eurostat poll, in 2005, only 16% of Estonian citizens responded that "they believe there is a God", whereas 54% answered that "they believe there is some sort of spirit or life force" and 26% that "they do not believe there is any sort of spirit, God, or life force". This, according to the survey, would have made Estonians the most non-religious people in the then 25-member European Union.

Historically, Estonia used to be stronghold of Lutheranism due to its strong links to the Nordic countries.

Saunas: Estonia is truly sauna-obsessed. In the capital city of Tallinn‘s Old Town, there‘s a Sauna street and a medieval "Sauna Tower."

A sauna is a magical place in Estonian lore - childbirth, dying and healing of diseases were performed here. At nighttime it was visited by both good and evil spirits. People tried to avoid sauna at dark times of the day.

Behavior: Estonians are economical with their feelings, on the whole, not eager to display great joy or sadness. At official meetings people shake hands, privately, they avoid both handshakes and hugging; a friendly 'hello!' is a good enough substitute.

In the worst cases, instead of polite superficiality, Estonians display a rather discourteous indifference. More often, however, they express a sincere and unselfish desire to communicate, and at times, an almost startling eagerness.

http://www.visitestonia.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Estonia
http://www.culture.ee/
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/worldguide/destinations/europe/estonia/
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/en.html
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/country_profiles/1106425.stm
http://www.estonica.org/index.html
http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/resources/global-etiquette/estonia.html
http://palun.blogspot.com/2007/03/eighties-disco-hell.html

Ecuador: There is no "Q" in the name!!

2007-08-09T10:10:00.000-07:00

Ecuador!

Hard Facts:

Capital: Quito
Main cities: Principal cities: Guayaquil, Quito, and Cuenca

Population: 13,755,680 (as of July 2007)

Location: Western South America, bordering the Pacific Ocean at the Equator, between Colombia and Peru

Official Language: Spanish, but also Amerindian languages (especially Quechua)

Official currency: The almighty US dollar!

Climate: tropical along coast, becoming cooler inland at higher elevations; tropical in Amazonian jungle lowlands

Terrain: Ranges from coastal lands, mountain ranges, and Amazon rainforest. One of 17 Megadiverse countries.

Noted factoids:
Galapagos Islands are a part of Ecuador. Some famous scientist guy was obsessed with the place.

Over 40 indigenous tribal cultures have been documented in Ecuador.

Natural resources: petroleum, fish, timber, hydropower

Religion: 95% Catholic

Exports: oil, bananas, flowers and shrimp

Natural hazards: frequent earthquakes, landslides, volcanic activity, floods and periodic droughts. Cotopaxi in Andes is highest active volcano in world.

Panama Hat invention of Ecuador- not Panama!

In Ecuador, Tuesday the 13th is considered a very unlucky day. No one should ever get married or travel on that day.

Formerly a part of the Inca Empire, conquered by the Spanish in 1533, gained independence around 1830, currently celebrating 28 years of unstable civilian democratic government.

Thousands of Columbians seek refuge in Ecuador to escape violence in their home country.

Ecuador qualified for the world cup finals in 2002 and 2006.

Ecuador won its first Olympic gold medal in 1996- Jefferson Pérez, on the 20 km race-walk.

Foods vary by region, but guinea pig or “cuy” is a frequent food on special occasions.

PC ownership: 20.3 computers per 1,000 people

In Minnesota:

There is an estimated 10 to 15,000 Ecuadorians living in the Twin Cities.

The Guayaquil Restaurant at Bloomington Ave and Lake Street is fantastic, and actually has a tasty American style breakfast.

An Ecuadorian consulate opened on Lake Street in Minneapolis in 2005.

Sources:
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ec.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecuador
http://www.ecuadorexplorer.com/index.html
http://www.experiment.org/index.html

Why "Belated Geography"?

2007-08-09T09:40:00.001-07:00

Because last night I dined in a fantastic Ecuadoran restaurant with 5 other college educated people, most of us with graduate school experience too, and we could not quite narrow down exactly where Ecuador was, which countries bordered it, etc.

I hope to research and share at least one country a week to help know a little more about the world outside my world.

I will begin my research on Ecuador and post later today!

Please feel free to suggest countries for me to post about!