Alice Who? Why I No Longer Go by My English Name
Names are interesting things. We’re each given one at birth. They’re personalized, yet reflect entire cultures and histories.
Browsing: Culture
That’s Not Chasiu! It’s Nyama Choma! When Kenyan and Chinese Food Unite
No matter what part of the world you’re from, you can almost always find similaries in food.
Dumplings: Showing Love Through Food
We may live 500 km apart. My sister and I may struggle to understand our grandparents’ local dialect and old-fashioned ways. But when it comes to dumplings, no translation is necessary.
Suns Out but No More Tiny Bums Out: Farewell, Split-Crotch Pants
Split-crotch pants, know here as 开裆裤 kāidāngkù were once a very common sight in China. They were especially popular during the hot summer months and kids wearing them would run around with their tiny derrière all out in the open as they played carefree and oblivious to the fact that their private bits are exposed.
It was a practice that’s been around since the time of the Cultural Revolution in China but today, it’s seen as a relic of the old times and tiny exposed bums no longer a common sight in the big cities. Occasionally you can still see some grannies with toddlers running around in split crotch pants around the hutongs, but walking around places like Taikoo Li, the only cheeks you’ll see are the ones hanging out of the 20-something-year-old KOL wanghong’s booty shorts.
Mi Casa es su Casa: Bringing a Little Taste of Latin America to China
For Iris Bula and her family, moving to China was like opening a door to valuable, priceless experiences that no book could match. They all moved to Beijing in 2011 when Iris’ husband Pedro Febles Cortez took a job here and from that point to on, it has been the most enriching time in their lives. They all immediately tried to get involved and were especially interested in forming friendships with Chinese people and learning about Chinese culture, traditions, and the day to day life. Iris is so thankful to have had the opportunities to celebrate with her Chinese friends’ festivities like the Lunar New Year, Dragon Boat Festival, Lantern Festival, and others and to have even traveled to their friends’ hometowns to see the places where they came from, meeting their relatives, parents, and grandparents.
Grandfather’s Tsampa Isn’t for Everyone, but It Means the World to Me
Food can be a powerful way to link ourselves back to our culture and family and the dishes that we love the most usually aren’t the fancy restaurant dishes. They are the ones we grew up with, which are steeped in childhood nostalgia. For me, that one unforgettable dish is tsampa.
Do You Spank Your Children? If So, Why?
The effect of corporal punishment has been found to be associated with more aggression and anxiety, but this correlation was strongest in countries where corporal punishment was the least normative.
“That’s Not Bing! It’s Roti!”: When Indian and Chinese Food Unite
Having lived in China since I was one year old, I consider myself very fortunate to have stayed connected to my native Indian food. While living in Beijing, I have not only been able to try the famous and recognizable dishes like samosas and palak paneer but also regional delicacies like rasgullas and dosas.
West Meets East: “Do You Think It’s Important for Children to Travel?”
In our regular magazine piece ‘West Meets East’, we interview two Beijing families from two different cultural backgrounds about the same topic. This month, we talked to the Monte-Wen family from Italy and China and the Yong-Xing family from China about their approach to family travel.
“That’s Not a Youtiao! It’s a Churro!” Culinary Similarities That Connect Us All
I come from a beautiful tropical country, Nicaragua, located in the middle of Central America, a perfect destination for beach lovers, volcanoes, hikers, or anyone who loves to stroll through colonial towns admiring the slow pace life of the locals or the colorful colonial houses. One aspect you can not overlook for sure is having a taste of the Nicaraguan food.