Culture Smart!

There’s a holiday, fiesta, or saint’s day celebrated somewhere in Ecuador on nearly every day of the year, with some fiestas dragging on until the brass bands are too tired, or too drunk, to play any more. At some points of the year it can feel as if días feriados (public holidays) and fiestas (feast days or festivals) are running into each other to make one long holiday, especially in the capital, where Las Fiestas de Quito in November seem to last until New Year. March through June can also seem like an endless round of parties as movable feats like Semana Santa (Holy Week/Easter), Corpus Christi, and Carnaval converge into a blur of religious processions, marching bands, street parties, fireworks, and water bombs. If you plan to travel to any of the major festivals or follow the crowds to the beach it is essential to book transport and accommodation well in advance, and expect bus and plane terminals to be very busy. Disruptions to the transport system at these times can leave you stranded in the more remote locations, so it pays to be prepared! Find out more about Ecuadorian culture and society in Culture Smart! ecuador: https://buff.ly/3TB1fYc #ecuador #ecuadorianculture #culture #culturesmart #expatlife #travel

Many indigenous groups in Ecuador have maintained ancient traditions that help to foster strong bonds between individuals and families to the group. One such tradition is minga, which in Quechua means “a collective community endeavor.” Just as many rainforest tribes live in a communal space and hunt, fish, and cook together, the indigenous groups of the Sierra work together when it comes to harvesting, planting, or building a house for a member of the community. This collective work is unpaid, but the beneficiary will provide food and drink (like chicha beer), and there might be a big party at the end. The minga is a Quechua tradition that has made its way into the mainstream of Ecuadorian society. A beach-cleaning campaign organized by an environmental NGO will be promoted as a minga, for example, or any collective community action to improve the conditions of local people, whether it’s in the Sierra or one of Ecuador’s big cities. Extract from Culture Smart! Ecuador by @Russell Maddicks Find out more about Ecuadorian culture and society in Culture Smart! Ecuador: https://buff.ly/3TB1fYc #ecuador #ecuadorianculture #culture #travel #expatlife #culturesmart

New Zealanders move or, as they term it, “shift” a lot. The average Kiwi moves every five years and it is not unusual to see several realtors in even a small town. They also love to holiday in and explore their own country, often in a mobile home. New Zealanders tow caravans (trailers), drive campervans (RVs) and even convert buses into sophisticated homes on wheels complete with wood-burning fires, microwaves, and TV. A few months’ break often lengthens into a few years, and such travelers have formed their own club with groups of “roadies,” as they call themselves, meeting up regularly at favorite spots throughout the country. There are many commercial camping grounds too, and the Department of Conservation has camping sites in all the national parks. Kiwis believe that fabulous views and desirable destinations are for everyone to enjoy, so camping and caravan parks are often in prime areas. Find out more about New Zealand culture and society in Culture Smart! New Zealand: https://buff.ly/4ervsAO #newzealand #kiwi #kiwiculture #culture #travel #expatlife #culturesmart

Mana is a word that is often heard in Aotearoa. Its meaning is broad and includes prestige, authority, control, power, influence, status, spiritual power, and charisma, among other things. Kiwis, and especially Maori, believe that everyone has mana, which can be increased or diminished by their actions and how others treat them. The more mana a person has, the more respect they are likely to receive. In general, Kiwis are big on respect and don’t like to offend others if it can be avoided. For that reason, they often find it difficult to speak out publicly and may withhold their opinion. Similarly, many New Zealanders find it challenging to give an outright “no” to requests and so tend to be more indirect in their answers; “we’ll see,” “yeah-nah,” and “yeah right!” (said sarcastically) can all mean no. Find out more about Kiwi culture and society in Culture Smart! New Zealand: https://buff.ly/4ervsAO #newzealand #kiwi #kiwiculture #culture #travel #expatlife #culturesmart

If there is one item that spells "Cyprus" in all its layers, contradictions, and dimensions it has to be the flaoúna. From the moment you see it to the moment you take a bite, a question rumbles at the back of your head, "What are you?" Geometrically, it can be a rounded triangle or a squared circle. Is it something stuffed or filled? From your first encounter, it doesn't appear to answer to any generic term. Cut it in half and it looks like a bun, or a small loaf; one bite and it's a pie, another and it’s a pastry. Flaoúna stands as a hyphen between two worlds at the most important moment of Cyprus' spiritual life. It breaks the rigorous fasting of Lent and announces the dawn of the greatest feast on Easter Sunday. Turkish Cypriots also serve it at Ramadan. If you're thinking of visiting Cyprus, you can find more tips on Cypriot culture in our brand new Culture Smart! guide to Cyprus. #cyprus #cypriotculture #culture #travel #expatlife #culturesmart

A good place to meet people in Cyprus, if you are invited, is a souvla, or barbecue, in someone’s garden. Cypriots will joke that “Cypriots are always tired and hungry”, or that “the essentials of life are pouga and skembe” (Cypriot dialect for wallet and stomach) so, naturally, holding a souvla is a very important event! If you are lucky and have access to an open space, you may wish to hold a souvla. If you do, make sure there is more than enough food and drink for everyone–good BBQ skills will earn you praise! Find out more about Cypriot culture and society in our Cyprus guide: https://buff.ly/3ZtcSEl #cyprus #cypriotculture #travel #culture #expatlife #culturesmart

For a Czech to invite you into their home is a big deal. Such invitations are not given lightly, and you can consider yourself to have been elevated significantly in status as a friend. The Czechs are very houseproud and it’s important for them to have a clean and organized home—doubly so when guests are coming. The first thing a visitor to a Czech home will notice is that outside shoes are left at the entrance and there is typically a shelf of slippers of various sizes nearby. Wearing outside shoes in a Czech home is a faux pas to be avoided; to do so would be a show of disrespect to your hosts and their home. An attentive host will offer you a pair of slippers before you have even taken your shoes off. Get more tips on Czech culture and etiquette in Culture Smart! Czech Republic: https://buff.ly/3wwlTMO #czechrepublic #czechculture #culture #travel #expatlife #culturesmart

The pub—hospoda in Czech—is often said to be the heart of Czech culture and that if you really want to get to know Czechs, the pub is the place to start. This should come as no surprise in a country that’s been making beer since years had three numbers, and wine since Roman times, and even the smallest of towns and villages have at least one drinking establishment. If you’re in a pub with a group of Czechs, they may question you about your experiences of Czech beer. This is a bit of a test Czechs typically run on foreigners to determine if they are in need of help to get acquainted with “the good stuff.” If you like beer, this is a great opportunity to get to know Czech beers beyond the big names. When toasting, “Cheers!” is na zdraví (literally “to health”). One point of etiquette if you’re a man accompanying a woman: men go through the door first when entering. This is typically explained by saying that there could be flying glasses and chairs, which the men should protect the women from. This applies mainly to pubs; it is happily “Ladies first” in cafés, restaurants, and wine bars. Find out more about Czech culture and society in Culture Smart! Czech Republic: https://buff.ly/3wwlTMO #czechrepublic #czechculture #culture #travel #expatlife #culturesmart

Don’t turn down an offer to witness one of Ghana’s many festivals. Aside from being lavish and unforgettable events, they offer a link into the past and give an insight into disappearing customs and beliefs. It is no coincidence that tourist numbers in Ghana reach a peak around the major festivals. Different regions have their own festivals. Many are thanksgiving festivals for the harvest of certain foods such as yams or rice. Others commemorate historical events such as an ancient war, the death of a respected chief, or the migration of people to their current homelands. One festival you should definitely make time to experience is Chale Wote, the annual street art festival. From humble beginnings in 2011, this “eclectic, electric, and effervescent affair” has grown to be the biggest alternative art festival in West Africa. Every August, creative boundaries are broken as the streets of Jamestown in Accra flood with artistic talent from around the planet. According to CNN, Chale Wote started as a local festival and is now a “boundary-pushing global platform.” Read about this and more in Culture Smart! Ghana https://buff.ly/3zqQVuS #ghana #ghanaianculture #culture #travel #expatlife #culturesmart

Before Western medicine reached Ghana, “medicine men”, or herbalists, had collected a vast knowledge about local plants and their medicinal value. Even today, the forests of Africa are revealing more secrets in the battle to cure the world’s diseases. Unfortunately, much of the old knowledge has been lost, and the decimation of the forests is making it less likely to be passed on to future generations. For a more spiritual answer to health problems, or even for such ends as winning a football match, gaining the heart of a girl, or cursing an enemy, magic may be used. This is known as juju, and its practitioners are known as juju men. The juju men solicit the mystical powers present in nature to fulfill their interests, or the interests of anybody who pays their fee. A juju charm can be purchased that will protect its wearer from danger. “Witch doctor” is a term applied to a person who is a mixture between a medicine man and a juju man. His prescriptions are truly medicinal, but there is also a strong element of ritual and spiritualism in his treatment. Find our more about Ghanaian culture and society in Culture Smart! Ghana: https://buff.ly/3zqQVuS #ghana #ghanaianculture #culture #travel #culturesmart #expatlife