Around the World

Oct 06

Bring Your Appetite. We're Going to Greece!

greek food flag Bring Your Appetite. We're Going to Greece!

The Greek Flag made out of Olives and Feta Cheese

All over Greece you will see and smell fruit-bearing trees: olive trees, dating from ancient times, sweet-smelling orange and lemon trees, juicy peaches, apricot, apple, pear and fig trees, and vines loaded with bunches of grapes. The fields are full of all sorts of vegetables: red, sweet tomatoes; fresh beans and peas; cucumbers; artichokes; aubergines; onions; and fruits like melon and red, delicious watermelon, both a real treat in the heat of the summer.

In the sea hundreds of fish send out silver reflections. Swarms of bees in beehives produce the famous Greek honey. There are forests of walnuts, chestnuts, almonds, oaks, and pines. The pines give us a special ingredient for Greek wine, called retsina, and the pine kernels are also used in several dishes.

Most of the Greek foods are prepared with olive oil. It is the so-called Mediterranean ingredient, famous for being so good for the health. In Greece a main dish can consist of vegetables only cooked so as to offer a wholesome meal. But generally we are fond of meat, and this comes to its apogee during Easter, the great outdoor feast, where whole lambs are specially prepared on the spit, and all the neighbors celebrate together dancing, eating and drinking – a feast strictly not for vegetarians. Even the entrails of the animals are cooked, making the famous kokoretsi. Lambs, goats, and mainly cows give us milk from which we make the famous Greek cheese called feta, a white kind of cheese. Also yogurt, which mixed with crushed garlic, makes a famous dip called tzatziki. Feta cheese, tzatziki dip, aubergine dip, and a dip from fish roe, called taramas, olives and small cheese pies are the dishes served with ouzo, a transparent aperitif, which one could drink as is–but that is not recommended, remember what happened in the movie My Big Fat Greek Wedding.

In the northwest part of Greece they make delicious, crunchy pies with filo pastry or dough, with every imaginable ingredient, savory or sweet: pies with spinach, or other herbs, or a mixture of them, with cheese, tomatoes, aubergines, leak, meat, chicken, and also sweet pies, with rice and currants, or pumpkins and custard-filled pies. The list goes on and on…

Greek sweets are very… sweet.  Honey and walnuts are mostly used to make the traditional Greek sweets. These together with filo pastry make baklava, and with dough they make the traditional Christmas sweets, melomakarona.  Another kind of Greek confectionery is the preserves with fruits such as figs, grapes, apricots, sour cherries, plums, quinces, and even roses (the flower!), tomato, the skin of watermelon, the skin of orange and citrus, and whole walnut with its skin, which are cooked in water and sugar and then preserved in jars for the winter. The mild winter cold is fought against with soups made from beans and lentils. Several spices are added to improve the taste of dishes, all used moderately so as not to cover the taste of the meat or any other main ingredient: oregano, mint, garlic, dill, parsley, bay leaves, basil, thyme, cinnamon, clove, rosemary, saffron.  All the dishes are accompanied with wines, sometimes home-made, as well as with retsina.  At the end of the meal you can have coffee, Greek coffee, or frappe. Greek coffee is prepared on low heat until it froths – be careful, you do not have to drink the dregs. Frappe is instant coffee, served especially in the summer, for which you put coffee, sugar, and cold water in a shaker and then add milk and ice cubes. Enjoy it with a straw while watching people passing by.

There are many kinds of eating places in Greece, like restaurants; taverns – for a more informal meal – grill houses; fish taverns; small places where you can have ouzo and starters only; small, usually underground taverns where you can hear live music; but also kebab places, and cafes. There are also places where you can have light meals, usually to go, like pies or sandwiches (two pieces of bread filled with whatever you like), and also fast-food.  The popular Greek fast food chain is called Goodies.

In conclusion, when dealing with Greece and the Greek culture, one should savor the flavor.

Oct 05

It's Not Only What You Say, But Also How

globe with flags 300x300 It's Not Only What You Say, But Also HowGood Morning Mango Fans!

Last night, I was motivated to improve the little bit of French that I know, and decided to drive in the world of Mango, in French.  I was interested in learning about the etiquette, culture, and vocab when it comes to restaurant outings.  I got to chapter six, lesson 41, slide 7, which was about un plat principal, the main course.  I read the phrase a few times, heard the narrator say it, and memorized it. Each time I said the phrase to myself, I pronounced the phrase louder and louder, feeling confident with my French accent.  I was ready to test my pronunciation skills with narrator using the “voice compare” feature.   As I recorded myself saying “un plat principal” as clearly as I could and played it back along with the native speaker for the 4th time, I realized what I was trying to do.  Why did I want to record and play my pronunciation back over and over again? I was trying to perfect my French accent. I then started to ponder, about accents, specifically English accents…

There are many countries in which English is the native language, yet in all of these countries English sounds very different because of the accent.  In linguistics, an accent is a manner of pronunciation of a language.  Accents are not only phonetics, but they are an identity.  There are two types of English accents widely spoken in the world today; they are the General American English and the Received Pronunciation (RP), also known as the Queen’s English.  In North America, the interaction of people from many ethnic backgrounds contributed to the formation of the different varieties of North American accents (making up a Boston specific accent and one that is specific to Texans).

Looking back at history, it is difficult to measure or predict how long it takes an accent to formulate.  Accents in the USA, Canada, and Australia, for example, developed from the combination of different accents and languages in various societies, and this had effects on various pronunciations of the British settlers.  Yet North American accents remain more distant, either as a result of time or of external or “foreign” linguistic interaction, such as the Italian accent.

The accent does indeed provide the identity of the country to its native language.  When we hear American being spoken, we associate it with the United States and when we hear someone speak with a British accent with think of England.  Learning the vocabulary, grammar, and use of a language is very important; however practicing the correct accent allows you to indulge in the identity and history of the language and its native country.

Realizing this, I kept practicing, putting the “voice compare” feature to full use.  Un plat principal … u(n) pla pri(n)seepal.

The more I practiced my French accent the more connected I seemed to feel to the French culture.

Next phrase: Comme plat principal, je voudrais le plat du jour (As a main course, I’d like the plat du jour).

They say practice makes perfect… or so I hope.

Oct 04

Here at Mango, We Love our Coffee!

cup of coffee 300x300 Here at Mango, We Love our Coffee!While working here at Mango Languages I have learned over time that many of the Mangoes are big coffee lovers. I was elated to find this out, since I myself am very fond of this warm, caffeinated, and delicious beverage. It all started with the gathering of Mangoes by the industrial coffee maker to pour themselves a cup o’joe throughout the day.  Then once we moved to our new office I was greeted by a 12-cup Mr. Coffee every morning along with a collection of sweeteners and creamers. Later I started seeing the variety of ground coffee brands along with a french press here and there.  I have decided to dedicate this Monday’s blog to coffee, after all more than 1400 millions cups of coffee are drunk every day worldwide.

Really Fun Facts About Coffee:

-Hawaii is the only state in the US that grows coffee

-70% of the world consumes Arabica coffee, which is mild and aromatic. The remaining 30% drinks Robusta, which is more bitter-tasting but has 50% more caffeine than Arabica.

-Coffee grows on trees

-The bean is actually a seed inside of a bright red berry

-Coffee is the second most traded commodity on earth, after oil.

-The term “Americano” comes from America GIs during WWII. They would order espresso with water to dilute the strong flavor.

-The term “cup of joe” comes from American servicemen (GI Joes) in WWII being seen as big coffee drinkers.

-Brazil produces around 40% of the world’s coffee supply.

-October 1st is official “Coffee Day” in Japan

-65 countries in the world grow coffee. They are all along the equator, within the tropics.

-It takes 40 coffee beans to make an espresso

-A coffee tree lives for between 60 and 70 years.

Who knew!

Ready to become a coffee expert? Follow this chart and you’ll be ordering grande, extra hot, non-fat, triple lattes with extra foam in no time.

coffee3 Here at Mango, We Love our Coffee!

http://theoatmeal.com/comics/coffee

What do YOU love about coffee?

Sep 29

Design Act 2010

International 2 300x200 Design Act 2010All things industrial design are included in this festival held from August 31st to September 5th by the Moscow Centre for Contemporary Art (The Winzavod).  Being the 4th annual Design Festival, this has been done in a similar fashion by major cities like Tokyo, London, New York, and Vienna.

This festival has transformed from a professionals-only event to a country-wide Festival, increasing the interest in industrial design among both young people and consumers.  While this may not be your typical “PARTY” Festival, it is still attended by people of all ages, classes, and professions.

Anything from bicycles, to decorations, to various multimedia and filmmaking exhibitions can be found during the course of the festival.

If you’re interested in design, this is definitely something you’ll want to check out!

Sep 24

Mango shoots for the Moon Cakes

Jamie our Accountant brought in traditional moon cakes for us to try. Yummy!

Sep 22

I Always Thought The Equinox Was A Spaceship

cemetery 300x225 I Always Thought The Equinox Was A SpaceshipIn the States, not much attention is paid to the autumn or vernal (spring) equinoxes. It’s a bit astounding, though, that in other countries, this is actually a most traditional and celebrated holiday.

Take Japan for instance. There, they call the Autumnal Equinox Shubun no Hi. This day holds two significant meanings for the Japanese. One stems from their agricultural society, celebrating the season change and the time when day and night are both equal.

Aside from its agrarian origins, the autumnal equinox is also called Higan no Chu-Nichi. Higan is a seven day period in Japan in which many Japanese will visit their family members who have passed away and clean the area where they were buried. This is related to the Japanese festival Obon, in which it believed that  relatives and loved ones return in spirit to visit, but during Shubun no Hi, it is our turn to pay respect.

A very typical food to see during Shubun no Hi is a sticky rice ball called “ohagi.” Though it’s a sweet, it’s relatively healthy, so don’t be bashful!

Do you know any other special celebrations for the Autumn Equinox, or autumn in general?

Sep 15

Oktoberfest!

oktoberfest 01 300x184 Oktoberfest!It’s that time of year again–don your lederhosen or your dirndl, and get ready to party with 6 million people who can drink you under any table in Munich.

Lasting 16 days and ending the first Sunday in October, this bash is 200 years old. What began as 40,000 people in Munich celebrating the marriage of King Ludwig I to Princess Therese of Saxony-Hildburghausen is now the largest annual festival in the world. This year’s festival will begin the 18th of September and last until October 3rd.

The local name for Oktoberfest in Germany is actually “Wies’n”.  This is derived from Theresienwiese, the name of the field on which the festival was originally held, and is actually where the festival still takes place.

Have you celebrated Oktoberfest? Tell us about it!

Sep 08

Don't Call Me Loony, I Just Love Mooncake.

Mooncake 300x225 Don't Call Me Loony, I Just Love Mooncake.The Mid-Autumn Festival–also known as the Moon Festival, Zhongqiu Festival, or Zhongqiujie–has been celebrated by Chinese and Vietnamese people for over 3,000 years!  It is traced back to moon worship in the Shang Dynasty in China, and has some really interesting roots in Chinese legend and folklore.

Held on the 15th day of the eighth month in the Chinese calendar (late September/early October), this date corresponds with the autumnal equinox of the solar calendar, at which time the moon is supposed to be at its fullest and roundest. It is an exceptionally important day on the Chinese calendar, and is even a legal holiday in several countries.  Chinese family members and friends will gather to admire the harvest moon, and eat and drink together.

Different regional and cultural customs accompany this festival, as it is so widespread.  Some of these include carrying or hanging bright lanterns, burning incense in reverence to deities, planting mid-autumn trees, and even more depending on where you go.  One thing that is fairly consistent, however, is the mooncake pastry.  This pastry has a thin skin and contains a dense and sweet filling often made from lotus seed paste.

Do you know anyone who celebrates the mid-autumn festival?  Have you ever eaten a mooncake?

Sep 01

Reporting for Dudy!

Czech Bagpipe Festival Reporting for Dudy!Alright, so the joke was stupid – Dudy is just the Czech term for bagpipes.

For four days in late August on every second year, the Czech Bagpipe Festival, or Mezinarodni Dudacky Festivalu, takes place in the town of Strakonice.  Bagpipes are paraded from the town to the local 16th century castle nearby.

Bagpipes from all over the world are on display, along with dancers in traditional costumes.   These aren’t just your stereotypical kilted Irishmen, though.   There are many different styles of bag piping, and some performers are accompanied by bands with singers and dancers.

The festival began as a celebration of the town’s 600th birthday in 1967.   Most of the activity is held within the castle, which includes a museum with a Dudy exhibit, but there are plenty of bagpipe sellers and an abundance of readily-available cheap beer.

If you’re interested checking out some folks in active Dudy, find the video here. Have you ever seen a bagpipe performance?

Aug 11

Pourcailhade

PigFestFrance 300x227 PourcailhadeEvery year on the second Sunday of August, the town of Trie Sur Baise, France is as happy as a pig in mud.  Seriously. Put on by the Brotherhood of the Pig, Pourcailhade is the French festival celebrating the swine.

Trie Sur Baise, where the festival takes place, is one of the largest pig raising areas in France and actually has a dedicated market for everything pig.  During the week of the event, there are eating contests, a pig-outfit contest, general festivities around the whole town, and the biggest event–the national pig imitation competition, in which contestants must not just make pig sounds but be able to do so corresponding to different portions of the pig’s life, like feeding or reproduction.

On top of this, every business in the town must create its own personal character, image, or cartoon of a pig to participate.

So don your snout, your wiry tail, and your best oink, and make your way to France (or send one of your piggish in-laws) to roll around in this festival.


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