APPROACHES Volume 2—AP Reading and Writing Summer 2016
Tips for when you find yourself in MEXICO
Issue also includes information on: Japan
Spain Korea And Turkey
China AN INSIDERS PERSPECTIVE
TABLE OF CONTENTS Travel Articles Mexico
Elizabeth Garcia—How Mexicans celebrate the Day of the Dead in Huaquechula
Eva Maria Sanchez Rodriquez—How to Survive in a Public University in Mexico
Gabriela Rosas Martinez—Getting to Know the Real Mexico
Javier Aguilar—How to Maximize a trip to the Mayan Riviera in Mexico
Johana Ramirez Hernandez—A Little Piece of Heaven, Atlixco
Jorge Rivera Flores—How to Prepare an Exotic Mexican Food “Tlayoyos”
Carmela Ochoa Jimenez—Cuetzalan, a Magic Town in Puebla, Mexico
Spain
Marta Garcia Acebal—How to Spend a Perfect Day in Madrid
China
Meng Qian - Shanghai Subway
Yang Yufan - How to Find and Visit Attractions in China
Arain Li—Discovering in Hangzhou
Korea
Joonghyun Park—Busan Korea
Japan
Shogo Mazaki—How to Become Close Friends with Japanese
Travelling
Hatice Irem Sert—How to Create Your Own Travel Blog
How Mexicans celebrate the Day of the Dead in Huaquechula By Elizabeth Garcia.
Did you know that around 86% of Mexicans celebrate the Day of the Dead on November the second? On this day, it is believed that the souls of the dead are allowed to come back home and enjoy food altars prepared for them. This celebration has its roots in the Aztec culture, who believed that the dead came back to visit between the months of July and August. People from each region in Mexico sets a different size food offering to honor their dead. Near the state of Puebla there is a particular town called “Huaquechula”, which receives a lot of tourists every year on this day due to the huge beautiful food altars placed in this festivity. In order to understand why, it is important to know what people do in this town before, during and after this celebration. To get started, many people in Huaquechula get prepared for this day by saving a lot of money in advance to get everything they need to set their food altars. The things that people usually have to buy for the altars are: marigold flowers, candles, incense, censer, sugar and chocolate skulls, special bread for the dead called “hojaldras”, water, a crucifix, decorative banners related to the dead, fruits of the season, and dishes and treats that the dead used to enjoy. In addition, people at home need to buy different ingredients, such as chocolate, bananas and a variety of chilly to prepare a spicy sauce called “mole”, which is a typical dish served in parties, to offer to visitors on that day.
On the Day of the Dead, people build their food altars. Each altar is usually dedicated to only one dead person; although, there can be altars for more than one. Food altars are built with 3 or more levels. At the top of the altar a crucifix is placed. On the first platform the picture frame of the dead is placed. A mirror is also on this floor because it represents the entrance to the eternity. On the next levels, all the food is scattered
around and it is decorated with marigold flowers petals and banners in relation to the dead. It is also common to place on the platforms objects that the dead used to like and their personal belongings. Indeed, it is possible to find a variety of things such as cigarettes and a glass of tequila or beer. Moreover, at the entrance of many houses there is a flowers path that would help the souls to find their way home easily. Also, every door at Huaquechula’s homes is opened for all visitors, who are always welcome to see the food altars. They are offered “mole” to eat while they talk to the family. Furthermore, it is customary to give extra “mole” to take home.
Finally, the celebration finishes at around three pm. After this time, the members of the family eat what was offered to the dead and put the frame and personal objects of the dead away to use them for the next day of the dead. At the end of the day, families at this town feel happy for having honored their dead and satisfied for having accomplished their duty.
Coming to Huaquechula and getting involved in this celebration is an amazing experience for visitors and a nice way to remember a nd honor the ones that have passed away for Mexican families. For many cultures, it would be a dream to think that their loved ones could come back home to visit and eat; fortunately, in Mexico this dream comes true at least once a year on the Day of the Dead.
Come to Huaquechula on the Day of the Dead!
How to survive in a public university in Mexico? By Eva María Sánchez Rodríguez Are you ready to live the Mexican public university student experience? Living and studying in a public university in Mexico might not be as you imagine, and sometimes, you may find yourself in atypical situations that could cause you distress because you did not know what to expect. For this reason, it can be useful for you to get basic information about some aspects related to studying in one of these institutions. This information can help you survive your first experience as a student in a public university in Mexico. This essay will provide you with some useful facts about academic life in a Mexican public university, the university student life around campus, and meeting classmates and making friends on campus. First of all, it is important to have information about academic life in public Mexican universities. This will help you to avoid having any problems and you will be able to make the most of it. One of the processes you have to pay special attention to is registration; since it is carried out differently in public universities in Mexico. In
some of them, you are able to choose the subjects you want to take and schedule that works best for you, while in others you are assigned a schedule with a set group of subjects. No matter the case, you must always make sure to register on time. To do this, try to talk to the people in charge as soon as possible so, they can guide you through the process; otherwise, you will end up having administrative problems later that take longer to solve. Regarding the classes and professors’ dynamics, it is very important for you to realize that each of them has their own style and you must do your best to adapt to it. Taking this into consideration, it can be useful to ask other students about the professors and their class style; since many of them have already attended one of their classes and know how to deal with them. Moreover, it is always a good idea to ask them about the type of assignments, evaluations or projects you may be asked to do. This will allow you to plan ahead and to avoid feeling stressed. As a result, you will do well at school and you will have time to experience other aspects of students’ life around campus. Another aspect you need to know about, is student’s life in the city and around campus. In Mexico, most of the students spend at least half a day at school and then they go home; since none of them live on campus. The majority of students commute
to school by public transport because it is easy to take a bus in the city, the cost of the ride is cheap and there are lots of different buses that can take you almost anywhere in the city. Keep in mind that it is necessary for you to ask your classmates about the best bus option to go to school and any other place you want to go. This way, you will be able to move by freely to and from the school by yourself and to enjoy the city in your free time. Regarding life around public universities in Mexico, it is very common to see the campus being surrounded by movement and people. There are lots of stores where students can easily find things they need for classes such as stationary stores, cybercafĂŠs, and convenience stores, among others. There are also different places to buy inexpensive but delicious food such as small restaurants, Mexican fast foods, cafĂŠs and even food stalls. You can be sure that your classmates will be more than willing to help you choose the best store to buy anything you need around campus, and they will certainly show you the places where the best and most inexpensive food is served. Do not hesitate to ask them to recommend the good places around campus to you. I can assure you they will gladly share this information with you and even enjoy going with you to any of these places if you ask them to.
As you can see, students in public universities in Mexico are very friendly with exchange students. I certainly believe you will not have any problems making friends, yet it is always useful to know what to expect and how to interact when meeting people from a different country. This information will make things go easy with them and you will avoid misunderstandings. One of the things you must know about Mexican university students is that they enjoy meeting new people, and since there are no international students on a regular basis in a University, they really get excited when they have the opportunity to make friends with a student from another county. Usually, when exchange students arrive to a university, Mexican students address them right away, introduce themselves and try to get to know as much as they can about them. Therefore, be ready to be asked lots of questions about your life back at home and feel free to ask questions about students’ life when talking to them; most of them love talking about themselves. You should also keep in mind that Mexican people enjoy being very close to friends and family, so do not get surprised when friends start introducing you to a lot other friends and family members right
away, and be ready to get some warm handshakes and hugs from the people you meet, or even some kisses on the cheek from girls. All things considered, I believe that now that you know some of the basic information about the academic life in a public university, students’ life around campus, and what to expect when meeting other students, you should feel more prepared for the experience of studying in a public university in Mexico. All this information will certainly be useful for you, not only to survive this experience, but also to get the best out of it. Now you can say you are ready to go on this big adventure, and even though you will learn some new things on the way, you are one step ahead of others in terms of surviving your exchange student experience in a ‘Mexican style’ University.
Getting to know the real Mexico: An insider’s brief guide By Gabriela Rosas Martinez
C
hinese people are experts in Kung Fu. All Brazili-
ans play soccer as well as Pele. French people know everything about love. Have you heard something like that before? Even when some nationality related stereotypes are not funny or flattering at all, our need to synthesize something as complex as an entire culture has left us reproducing ideas that are not necessarily accurate or - in the worst scenario - are just completely wrong. Therefore, the purpose of this essay is to provide some general guidelines to the international tourists visiting Mexico, so they can have a better picture of the real Mexican culture. The reader will find useful information explaining where to find cultural manifestations in Mexico. This essay will also touch a little on the character of the Mexican people, and finally outline a few safety recommendations to have a pleasant experience. As well as other cultures, Mexican culture is vast and rich, and – in order to fully experience it – you need to take a closer look at the Mexican lifestyle, which is, without a doubt, far from the resorts and fancy hotels. Give yourself the opportunity to explore beyond those boundaries. Thinking about your senses is a good way to start, while trying to immerse oneself in a new culture. Taste is the obvious first choice. Mexico is well known for its gastronomy all over the world, and visiting a local marketplace would be the best idea to taste the real flavors of Mexican food. These spaces exist in big cities and small towns all over the country: their main purpose is to concentrate the offer of fresh ingredients to cook. There you will be able to see the fruits, vegetables, seeds, meat and other components of the Mexican diet. You can also find either pop-up or well-established restaurants there, where food is usually cheaper. The traditional dishes of a certain region will invariably be there.
The next sense should be hearing. Mexicans are very cheerful and music is a must in our daily lives. There are many traditional rhythms and styles throughout the country, which are not mainstream music but can be heard on special occasions or as part of the folklore available in downtowns and parks. If you want to hear what is current Mexican musical taste, the radio is a good option. There are many radio stations that reflect the musical taste of a certain region. Additionally, traditional Mexican parties are great source of cultural expressions, where music takes a significant place. If you ever happen to be invited to one, do not miss it. You will experience the way Mexicans celebrate relevant events
Thinking about your senses is a good way to . start, while trying to immerse oneself in a new
The next sense would be sight. There are many things to see in Mexico, starting by its nature. The most visited touristic places have geographical features as attractions. The beautiful beaches in Cancun and Baja California are a good example of that. Likewise, the archeological ruins existing in several States across the country are another point of great interest, due to Mexico’s pre-Columbian past. The colonial past also left a legacy of antique buildings and some modern cities have contemporary architecture worth seeing. In Mexico City, the very heart of the country, the Zocalo, a 240 meters square, is surrounded by the past and the present of Mexico’s history. It was built on the ruins of the ancient Aztec City, the ruins of Templo Mayor still can be seen and lie right next to the Metropolitan Cathedral and the National Palace.
culture.
Traditional Marketplace
Mexican shore in Quintana Roo / Zocalo in Mexico City / Crowded street in downtown Mexico City
Although such places are impressive, even more can be learnt from the Mexican culture by looking carefully at the people. In Mexico, there are ethnic groups that have conserved their traditions, costumes and languages. Sadly, this ancient heritage is about to disappear because of the standardization trends that have taken over the world. Native languages may not be here one day and having the chance to listen to them is an experience that cannot be overlooked. Getting to know this aspect is especially relevant to understand the plurality of realities that the Mexican territory comprises. The ethnic peoples Nahuatl, Maya, Zapoteco and Mixtecto have the largest population. All in all, we are a cultural mixed country. The last sense is touch. Mexican people are generally friendly. They are not afraid of physical contact and sometimes their way can be seen as invasive. Do not be scared if they try to kiss you on the cheek while being introduced, or if they hug you suddenly. Mexicans use those gestures to show they like you. If you do not feel comfortable with it, explain that it is not something that would happen in your culture. Last but not least, something very important while trying to experience Mexico is keeping in mind safety
measures. As in any place, there are good and bad people. Crimes are more prone, but not exclusively, to happen in big cities. Try to do research on the places you want to visit and do not go to places that are widely known as dangerous. Look for local help in the government offices for tourism or private agencies with good reputation. Be cautious while eating because the difference in diet can make you a little sick, however, do not let that prevent you from trying the national cuisine. Ask locals about their appreciations on the security of the place you are visiting. Finally, keep an open mind and be prepared to try new things. Travelling is an opportunity that not many people can afford. Always try to make the most of that experience by learning about the diversity that our world has to offer. This world with many racial conflicts is in desperate need for people who are able to share this planet in a peaceful and cooperative way. Therefore, the best way to start is by showing interest in the others, so don’t be afraid to get a little closer to the Mexican or any other culture while visiting. Let your senses be immersed in the local culture and learn to embrace and value the vast and beautiful human diversity.
Javier Aguilar
How to maximize a trip to the Mayan Riviera in Mexico. Think about the places when you see the words, beach, paradise, sun, food, chill; I guess at least one of these thoughts was a beach in Mexico! There are a lot of beautiful places in Mexico but one of the most visited places is the “Riviera Maya” located in the peninsula of the Yucatan. But what
if you don’t have much time to spend on vacation; what if you are a student or you are going on a trip with your friends, and you are not taking a lot of money; what would be the best option for you and your family or friends? What is a “must” and what is not. When we do not expect a trip or we suddenly decide to travel somewhere to relax and we did not have space or time to plan it, you may probably waste money or visit some places that were not
really nice, maybe you arrive to the place you wanted to go and you just ask for a tour with some people that just want to steal your money and you get bored of simply was kind of boring. I am going to tell you about places that you need to visit if you go to La Riviera Maya. First of all you may rent a car, this will give you the chance to move easier and faster, you may also take the loops or or the local transportation but if you have the chance don’t think about it, this will give you totally another perspective of your trip and you may be able to maximize your travel experience. If you do not have the possibility you can also use the public transportation, knowing more about our culture and travelling with the locals.
First of all you may rent a car, this will give you the chance to move easier and faster, you may also take the loops or or the local transportation but if you have the chance don’t think about it, this will give you totally another perspective of your trip and you may be able to maximize your travel experience. If you do not have the possibility you can also use the public transportation, knowing more about our culture and travelling with the locals. Starting from Cancun you probably want to stay there for the first night, relaxing after a long flight and you could stay in one of the hostels located in the hotel zone, even if it’s spring break or Christmas is easy to find a room and very cheap. “Hostal Mayapan”, “Hostel Haina”, “Hostel Marpez” are the best option to take a rest. They are located behind the market of handcrafts in the Hotel Zone. You can get tickets to the show in “Cocobongo”, the slogan of the place: “this is going to be the best night
of your life”, and believe me, it will be. You may also have dinner with your friends or family in local restaurants eating the traditional food from Mexico like quesadillas, tacos, tostadas and so on. All the places are cheap and the atmosphere is relaxing and amusing. The next day you can start your trip to the Riviera Maya, if you have a car you may take the
highway toward Playa del Carmen, in the middle you will find Puerto Morelos to have a delicious shrimp cocktail right in front of the beach, and if you wish you could take a boat trip to practice some snorkel around the bay.
You can continue your trip to Playa del Carmen, but do not forget to go to “Playa Maroma” which is in the top ten of the most beautiful beaches around the world, you just need to follow the signals and you will arrive very soon. This is a beautiful beach surrounded by lots of palms and a wonderful white sand everywhere you see. Take care of the people who is selling trips in boat because this will be the same thing as in Puerto Morelos.
At the end of the day, you could be a little bit tired because of the trip, continue your travel following the highway toward Playa del Carmen where you can find a non-
expensive place to sleep, for example “Posada del Carmen” or “Maria Bonita”. These places are located in downtown. “Maria bonita” is
blocks away from the beach.
3
At the next morning, you can take a break in Playa del Carmen and spend the whole day there having fun in some beach clubs such as “Mamitas Beach Club”, which is a good and nonexpensive place to be all day long, you could also choose other places to visit like “Coralinas” this is a beach club which has good music and has a pool by the beach, it is kind of expensive but trust me, it is worth.
Take a rest in one of the hostels I previously recommend, go to the next Walmart buy masks and snorkels because you are about to have an amazing experience in two places, the first are the “Cenotes” which are water holes in the middle of nowhere, then take the highway to “Tulum” and stop by the “Cenote Dos Ojos”, you will find a beautiful underground river full of turtles and fish, you may stay there the whole day and there is a inn or “posada” where you can sleep, the name is “Alux”. Finally, you could stay the rest of your days having fun in Playa del Carmen just relaxing in some of the Hostels there, the Rivera Maya is really exciting and there’s a lot of places to relax and to have fun in a descent price.
A Little Piece of Heaven, Atlixco Johana Ramírez Hernández
P
robably you have heard about many interesting places in Mexico such as important mo numents, pre-hispanic places, beaches, food. What do you think if I ask you about Atlixco?
Do you know where is it? Do you know what can you do there? Let’s see! The word Atlixco means “Water in the Valley” and it’s a town located 20 kilometers away from Puebla City at the foot of Popocatépetl volcano. This place is well known for its wonderful climate, adequate for growing a big variety of plants. Apart from being considered the best weather in the world, you can find churches from the 18th century, important because were made of stucco by natives of the region. When you arrive there, the first place that you must visit is “Cerro de San Miguel” on the top of a small mountain, dedicated to the Archangel Michael. Villagers talk about a story in which they describe that many years ago a demon was locked inside the church because of all the problems that he caused to the community. Besides being important for the story, you can also appreciate the panoramic view from this old building. Your next stop is a church called Nativi dad located downtown. The interior is beautiful and well worth seeing. After, you can enjoy an ice cream in Topolinos (Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt) that is in front of Atlixco’s town square, which is covered in decorative tiles.
At this point, you should be hungry, but that’s not a problem. We just need to continue our trip to San Baltazar Atlimeyaya, located to 20 minutes from the main street. There you will visit the trout farm supplied with water from the volcano in order to select your fish and eat it. There are several fish dishes, for example trout fried or empapelado (steamed in aluminum foil), grilled trout with garlic, trout deviled (prepared with hot sauce), almond trout, shrimps, all of them with handmade tortillas especially cooked for visitors at one of the restaurants that are around. When you return to the city, pay attention to the road, Atlixco is also famous for UFO sightings; so many people have arrived there with the intention of photographing one. In conclusion, in this town you can find several kinds of flowers, visiting beautiful churches, eating delicious fresh fish, photographing UFOS; in my opinion you have no excuse to not visit this “Little Piece of Heaven”.
How to Prepare an Exotic Mexican Food “Tlayoyos” Jorge Rivera Flores
The Tlayoyo is a typical food of the North East of the Puebla State in México. This word is born of the Nahuatl, the language of the Aztecs, the main civilization of Mexicans, and it means Tlaoyo, a kind of patty or small pies that is made of corn. It is an Antojito or a kind of food that is grouped and you can eat the pieces you decide. The Tlayoyo consists of an oval thick tortilla made of a mass of ground corn, which is filled with another mass of dry peas and avocado leaves. It is a delicious food that you can buy in the gastronomic markets in that region, and if you have time, I can tell you this great recipe. With little effort, you can prepare this kind of food and taste something exotic and energetic.
Get the Ingredients First of all, you need to go to the local supermarket and buy these ingredients: 1.5 kilograms of grain corn, 500 grams of dried peas, known in Mexico as alberjon, 10 avocado leaves, a jalapeño, 100 grams of quicklime and 100 grams of pig fat. You have to pay a special attention at the color of the leaves, they must be ripe. The mass of grain corn is only sold in some special places called grinders or molinos de nixtamal.
Let´s start cooking ingredients. The first step is to boil the alberjón in a pressure-cooker for one hour. Then you have to strain in order to separate the water. Next, you have to add the leaves and a one jalapeño. You have to look for a Molino near your house in order to grind this mixture and get a green mass. For the second ingredient, you have to use a pot in order to boil for one hour the corn, adding 100 grams of quicklime for peeling the corn. In this step, you have cooked the nixtamal, a boiled corn that were used by the Aztecs and nowadays is the basic food for Mexicans. Then, you have to strain and look for a Molino for grinding the grains and get a white corn mass.
Now, it´s time to shape the tlayoyos Then you have to add pig fat to the green mass and mix by hand and make balls of 2 cm of diameter. Then you have to put this green mass into the corn mass no mixing them, by hand, you have to mold the white mass in order to cover the green mass as an egg. You have to get a thick oval shaped form. Finally, you have to cook on a Comal like a griddle for 3 minutes, and you have to turn the Tlayoyo in order to cook the other side for 3 minutes more. At the end, you have to turn it again in order to brown it. Get a better flavor by adding some salsa, cheese and eat something spicy and delicious. If you have children in your family, you have not to add chili because this is a favorite food for them.
Mexican food has a lot of recipes that comes from our ancestors and have passed from generation to generation. If you want to eat something delicious and cheap you can spend little time making tlayoyos which are considered as treasure in Mexico.
Cuetzalan, a magic town in Puebla, Mexico.
H
Carmela Ochoa Jimenez
ave you ever heard about the magic towns in Mexico? Would you like to discover
one? A magic town is a tiny almost undiscovered place hidden somewhere in Mexico. These towns are unique places with history, tradition, local languages, dances and legends. The state of Puebla has five magic towns ideal for discovering in this amazing country. One of them is Cuetzalan de Progreso. It offers a rich mixture of pre-hispanic and colonial places, surrounded by quiet narrow stone streets and foggy mountains covered with thick green vegetation. This essay will show you how to get there, where to stay, what you can do and see in Cuetzalan, as well as its traditional food and nightlife. To begin with, I will let you know how to get there and some suggested places to stay. It is located to the north of Puebla City, about 174 kilometers away. You can take a bus straight to Cuetzalan from the CAPU, which is the bus station in Puebla City. It takes about five hours to get there. As soon as you arrive, look for accommodation. You can stay in a typical charming hotel downtown or if you like to be in touch with nature, you can rent a wood cabin. You can also take your sleeping bag with you and sleep in the woods. Once you decide where to stay, you can go sightseeing.
There are plenty of things to see and do in this magic town. If you want to discover amazing glassy waterfalls, you can visit Las Brisas or Las Amacas and swim there. You can also find out about the underground world. This magic town is full of deep caverns. The most popular are Aventura, Atepollihui and Chiovostoc. If you enjoy archeological zones, Yohualichan is the perfect place to go. It was built by the Totonacos, a pre-hipanic culture in 600 B.C. If you love churches, you can take a look at the Jarritos Church. This church has a Neo-gothic style, but it is well known for its tower made with handmade cups. Most of these magnificent places are surrounded by many typical restaurants. Cuetzalan attracts tourists for its typical food too. The restaurants offer a variety of traditional food such as smoked pork meat. Tlayoyos, which are a kind of tortilla made from corn and filled with garbanzo beans, are sold in the market of the town. Moreover, local people sell hot local mushrooms soup and tamales which are snacks made with corn and beans. They are accompanied with mole, a spicy sauce made with ingredients of the region. At night, you can try some coffee grown there. You will spend an unforgettable night in this town. You can go to a pub near the park to have a beer or sit at a terrace full of flowers in a colonial restaurant to try a glass of yolixpa, a
liqueur which contains a mixture of twenty-three local herbs sweet with honey. Most of the pubs offer live music, especially trova, popular Mexican music. However, if you look for tranquility, you can just take a walk in the main square and enjoy the view of the colorful town. As you can see, Cuetzalan is the perfect place to escape from the crowded, stressful city. Whenever you want to breathe tranquility and spend some time in a magic town, visit Cuetzalan. You will discover the secrets that Mexico hides in these magic places.
by Marta GarcĂa Acebal According to the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), Spain is the third most visited country in the world, right after France and the USA. In 2015, almost seventy million people came to visit it and about eleven million of them chose Madrid as their final destination. What does the capital of Spain have that it attracts so many visitors every year? Madrid is a city full
of life where there is always something to do. However, not everyone is able to stay for a long time and experience deeply what this beautiful place has to offer. In this essay, I am going to talk about how to spend the perfect day in Madrid by focusing on what to do in the morning, in the afternoon and at night. The best way to start the day is to go to San GinÊs, which is one of the most famous places to have breakfast in the city center, and order hot chocolate and porras, which are like churros but bigger and less flavored, and they will give you enough energy to go sightseeing until lunch time. After your breakfast, I would recommend walking to Plaza Mayor. It is a very big square that has just been remodeled where it is easy to find street performers as well as people wearing the regional costume. Tourists are able to wear it too and take a few pictures with it in front of the huge mural located in one of the sides of the square. At this point, it is very useful to get a map to try to not spend too much time looking for specific streets. You are in the city center, so it will not be difficult to find Atocha Street. At the end of it, you will find Atocha train station which is a very famous building. The biggest terrorist attack Spain has ever had happened here and now there is a big garden inside in memory of all the people who lost their lives twelve years ago. If you keep going on the promenade that starts in the station, you will be able to have a quick view of the Botanical Gardens and bump into Madrid’s two biggest fountains: Neptuno and Cibeles.
By the time you have done all of that, I would expect you to be hungry. However, in Spain we have lunch in the early afternoon so try to do a few more things. I would totally recommend going to El Prado art museum because its collection of paintings is recognized worldwide. Once you have visited the museum, it is lunch time. That means it is time to stop and eat something at any of the bars close by since all of them are pretty good. The typical thing to do is order a caĂąa, which is a small beer, and a few tapas, which are traditional dishes such as Spanish ham or paella.
Later, going to Gran VĂa Street is a good option to enjoy the afternoon since not only the buildings are impressive but also there are lots of stores where you can buy souvenirs. If you still have energy and time to do other thing at the end of the afternoon, go to El Retiro Park and ride in one of the little boats that sail in the lake. They can be rented for a few euros in the office that is next to them, and it is a very fun experience.
At the end of the day, there are lots of places to have dinner, but my favorite one is a rooftop bar in Gran VĂa Street. It has international food and the most interesting thing for me is that you can buy what you want to eat and they will cook it for you. Finally, I believe the best idea is to go to see the sunset at Debod Temple, and Egyptian structure so perfectly built that you can admire how the last rays of sun go through certain holes in the walls. Now, I want to mention a few things that any visitor should keep in mind. First, Spain is a very open-minded country, and the visitor will find out that the streets are full of people from different backgrounds and cultures. Second, get used to hearing Spanish people talking loudly and with lots of gestures. Third, Madrid is a very safe city but in case you end up going out at night, which is something I really like, is good for you to call a taxi or just use the subway system to get back to your hotel. Public transport is not very expensive and it works very well, especially when it is not rush hour in the capital. Fourth, there are free tours given by tour guides and they enable tourists to see quite a few things in a couple hours. To sum up, Madrid offers a variety of options to each traveler. If your stay is going to be short, you won’t be able to see everything. Nevertheless, by following the schedule I have mentioned before you should be able to get a very good idea of what the city looks like in just one day. I really hope this essay is a helpful tool for every reader.
SHANGHAI Have you ever heard about Shanghai, one of the most fashionable cities in
China? Do you want to travel in this magical city? The most useful and convenient mode of transportation in Shanghai is the subway. There are some useful steps for foreigners who are first time come to Shanghai to travel around Shanghai by the subway. First, take Line One, get down at the Xu Jiahui Station. It is one of the most prosperous places in Shanghai. There are also a lot of famous spots, such as a Catholic Cathedral. You also can transfer to Line Nine and get down at Qibao Station, which is one of the ancient towns in Shanghai, or get down at Pu Bridge and walk to one of the most scenic spots in Shanghai called Tianzi Fang. Shanghai also has one of the most world famous places called Disney Park. You just need to transfer to Line Eleven and get off at the Disney Station.
Have you ever heard about Shanghai, one of the most fashionable cities in China? Do you want to travel in this magical city? The most useful and convenient mode of transportation in Shanghai is the subway. There are some useful steps for foreigners who come to Shanghai for the first time to travel around Shanghai by the subway. First, take Line One, get off at the Xu Jiahui Station. It is one of the most prosperous places in Shanghai. There are also a lot of famous spots, such as a Catholic Cathedral. You also can transfer to Line Nine and get off at Qibao Station, which is one of the ancient towns in Shanghai, or get down at Pu Bridge and walk to one of the most scenic spots in Shanghai called Tianzi Fang. Shanghai also has one of the most world famous places called Disney Park. You just need to transfer to Line Eleven and get off at the Disney Station. Second of all, you can also get off at the South Shaanxi
Road Station in Line One and transfer to Line Ten, get down at Yu Garden Station. You can walk in Yu Garden, which is one of the oldest historical places of interest in Shanghai. There is also a variety of traditional Chinese foods.
After that, you also can get off at People Square Station which is the heart of Shanghai in Line One. You can visit many places here such as Shanghai Municipal Government, Shanghai Urban Planning Museum and Shanghai Museum. At this station, you can transfer to Line Two and get off at the Century Avenue Station. Then you can walk along the Band, also called International Building Expo Group. This is one of the must go-to places when you come to Shanghai. You also can get off at the Lu Jiazui Station which is the Shanghai National Financial Center. After that, you can also get off at the Hanzhong Road Station and transfer to Line Thirteen. Then get off at the World Expo Museum Station. This place has many famous museums which were used to hold the World Expo in 2010 in Shanghai. Last but not the least, if you prefer someplace that is quiet and beautiful, you can get off at the Shanghai Railway Station, and then transfer to Line Four, get off at the Zhongshan Park Station. Zhongshan Park is one of the most classical landscapes in Shanghai.
Shanghai is the biggest city in China. There are large places worth going to when you come to this fantastic city. The most important thing is using the subway in Shanghai, by using this mode of transportation, you can go to every place you want to go in Shanghai.
VisiƟng historic aƩracƟons is an old but sƟll interesƟng acƟvity in China. With long 5000 years history of this country, there are lots of sits leŌ. Historic aƩracƟons oŌen appear in the form of an ancient city remained well. Here even exist a specific category of poem, wriƩen by poets who went to historic aƩracƟons and imagine historic events happened there.
Historic aƩracƟons are important tourism resources, not only it can increase local economy, but it also will bring the area good reputaƟon. Now, this arƟcle is going to tell you how to find and visit historic aƩracƟons in China. You are promised to have fun and pleasure there.
The first step is to collect infor-
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maƟon about its locaƟon and ap-
net as suggesƟons, then you can
proach. Internet may be the help-
make your own decision.
er, and tourist brochure is also
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worth considering.
the beauƟful sightseeing and his-
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toric architecture as much as you
to go, you are considering the two
can!
situaƟons below. They are, to seek
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aƩracƟons in certain region, or to
unique they are, don’t forget to
find out where the specific site is.
take snapshot to record these im-
For example, those who want to pay tribute to a great figure can search his or her grave and old house, and then go there. It’s usually thought that finding interesƟng places is a piece of cake, however, things don’t always go that smoothly. Some tourist sites are worth your trips, while many of them isn’t.
pressing moments. In many Ɵmes, the ancient poems can be found etched on monument, leaving the everlasƟng trace on this plant. Those poems ranging from how beauƟful the scenery is to what poets think about themselves while seeing the scene.
These poems are great by reso-
Chat with the old naƟve people will
naƟng well with we public, which
let you learn more about the re-
causing an aestheƟc experience
gional history.
that makes the visit more enjoyable.
VisiƟng historic aƩracƟons is really a fun in China, with exciƟng sight-
To learn the customs, culture, and
seeing, trying delicious local foods,
ways of inhabitants of one place
appreciaƟng elaborate handicraŌ,
more, why not staying overnight
and feeling in-deep cultural signifi-
there?
cance, you will absolutely have a
It will help you know the prices
good Ɵme.
there which reflect the residents' living standards, as well as give you another way to contact the district as a local people.
Hangzhou is a city where I have lived for 12 years. Everyday I see it, hear it, and touch it in a new way. Everyday it changes and becomes better. I think maybe there always is one more surprise Hangzhou can show you even after several decades. For this reason, traveling around Hangzhou will be an amazing thing not only to feel nature, but also to relax yourself. First of all, you need to buy a ticket from your city to Hangzhou International Airport, which is a little far from downtown. So you need to take an airport express to the Wulin Square, it will cost just 20 yuan. Taxis are also very convenient in Hangzhou, but more expensive than the coach. Then you can check in your hotel. Remember one thing: if you go to Hangzhou in peak season, you should book hotel online after you decide the date. Living in Wulin Square can make you experience the local people’s life. The first day you may get up early and go for a walk around the West Lake, the most famous view spot in Hangzhou. You will see some elders doing excises by the lake. The soft wind makes the willow dance and the lake surface wave. Just walk down the street for a half hour, then take a boat to the center of the lake, and enjoy
yourself in nature. After that, it’s time for lunch. One of the famous restaurant
near the West Lake is The Grandma’s. You can order these meals: preserved plum and peanut, yolk pumpkin, Dongpo pork, tea with chicken.These are all traditional dishes in Southern China. I am sure that you will love it. After lunch, you can take a bus from the first park station to the Wu Mountain Square. There is a famous pedestrian street called Hefang Street.You can buy some souvenirs. One thing that you shouldn’t miss is towing bride, a kind of candy with some ”line” made by candy outside. In the evening, you can have dinner at the Wu Mountain Snack Street, a 50 meter long street with at least 20 stores. Every store has different kinds of food, because the dishes are always small component, you get a chance to try various styles. On the second day, you can eat small steamed buns at Xinfeng restaurant.Then you may take a bus to Xixi National Wetland Park. It is a place almost covered by water. In addition,
a
museum
shows
the
extensive history of cultivation in China. It is worth seeing. Near the park is a new area which includes many nice restaurants, pick whichever you like and you will have a good lunch. When you come back from Xixi, you can rent a bike to ride around the whole lake. Be aware of the time when the music fountain starts. It uses classical music to the fountain and it is
grand. The night scene of the West Lake may have a different style than the day time. Actually, I prefer the dark sky with bright light and moving music. Hangzhou is a city with high-quality life. The saying”Up above there is heaven;down below there are Suzhou and Hangzhou”just shows it beauty. West Lake is worth visiting in whether sunny or rainy, whether day or night. And the food in South China also make you feel the positive attitude of people. They cook carefully and even with the love for their family. What’s more, the local people are pretty nice, too.
Korea Busan
Joonghyun Park
How to Travel to Busan in Two Days There are many cities to visit in the world. There are many people who think that visiting a country means visiting the capital city of the country . That’s because the capital city has many places to visit and many things to do. One of the cities I would like to recommend is Busan where I live. It is the second biggest city in Korea and is located at the southern part of Korea. People don’t know much about this city, because it isn’t as famous as Seoul. There are many beautiful places to visit in Busan in two days. On the first day when you arrive in Busan, you should take subway to go to the hotel near Haeundae Beach. It is really beautiful when you see the beach from your hotel room at night. After you check the beach, you can go to Dongbaek Island which is close to beach. There is a long walkway along the island. The island has a really beautiful surrounding landscape and many good spots to take photos. In addition, you can see the whole sight of the beach from the observatory. Thereafter, you should have lunch. I recommend you to eat pork and rice soup. It is the representative food of Busan. I doubt whether you like this item because it has strong flavor, but try it anyway! After lunch, you should go to Centum City. It is the area with many skyscrapers and the biggest department store in the world. This department store consists of two large buildings and has an ice rink, movie theaters, a bookstore, spa, and many restaurants. You can go anywhere you want in this department store. There is Busan Cinema Center in Centum City. It has the really beautiful building where you can see the gorgeous lights on the ceiling at night. You can try a movie at the center if you are interested. When the Busan International Film Festival is held in October, you can see many Korean movie stars and watch movies from all around the world. Then you should go to Gwanganri Beach where you can see the beautiful night sight of the beach. You can buy sashimi at the Millak fish market near the beach. Sashimi is really famous food in Busan. You can eat sashimi in the restaurant, but it is expensive. I think it is better to buy sashimi in the market, because it is cheaper, and eat it in your room.
The next day, you can wake up early and take a walk around Haeundae Beach. It is the most famous and beautiful place in Busan. There are many people in the daytime at the beach, so it is better to go there early. If you like to go to beach, you can stay longer. Then, you take the subway and go to the Jagalchi Market. It is the most famous seafood market in Busan where there are many kinds of seafood such as squid, octopus, or shellfish. You can learn a lot about the culture of Korean markets, for example how Koreans buy things at the market. For the lunch, you can try Milmyeon. It is also the representative food in Busan. It is cold wheat noodles which many Koreans eat in the summer, because it is delicious and cheap. After lunch, take a taxi to go to Gamcheon Culture Village. Don’t worry too much about the taxi fee, because it is not so expensive as in USA. I want to recommend it to the people who are interested in the art, because it is the village full of houses with street art. There are many good places to take photos, because every place in this village is artistic, with many statues and paintings. If you go to the top of the village you can see the whole village, which is fantastic. There is a walkway in the village, so you can take a walk and enjoy the arts. You can come back to the market place. Next to the Jagalchi Market, there is Kkangtong Market. Go there at night, because you can have many street foods in the market at night. There are Kebobs, ice cream, grilled chicken skewers, and many other delicious foods. As you can see, there are many places to visit and good food in Busan. However I don’t think foreigners know how to travel to Busan, but they should. If you have enough time to travel to Korea, travel to Busan. I am sure that you will be satisfied by the trip.
How to Become Close Friends with Japanese By Shogo Mazaki Have you ever got confused by relationships between people from other countries? I bet everyone has gone through this issue at least once. It is not easy to understand other people’s personalities from different countries, because everyone thinks their perspective is normal. However, if you consider this issue objectively, it is no wonder that we have different personalities when we come from different countries. If you want to make international friends, you definitely should know the general personality in their countries. This essay will focus on how to become close friends with people from Japan, which some of you may think is difficult to do. By following these three steps; showing politeness, being punctual, and taking initiative, you will be able to get along with your Japanese friends.
First of all, showing politeness is essential. Being polite is important no matter where your friend comes from, but especially when you make Japanese friends, it is the most important thing of all. Since Japan is an island that is composed of almost the same ethnicity, Japanese are not used to seeing people from different countries. Also, despite the fact that they start studying English from elementary school, most Japanese think they cannot understand English. Many people feel a little scared of foreigners just because there are few opportunities to meet and talk to them.
Therefore, you should show your politeness to avoid making them scared. For example, you can talk to them in a higher pitch than usual to be friendly. You can use facial expression to make it easier for them to understand your feeling or what you say. Also, you should slow down when you talk to make them less worried about their listening skills. Being polite will make it easier for Japanese to open up to you. Being punctual is the next step you have to work on. In Japan, trains are always right on time. If it is going to be late for three minutes, there will be an announcement apologizing for the delay. This exemplifies the importance of promptness to Japanese. If you are going to meet someone, make sure to be at the place at least five minutes before the appointment. Never arrive late without informing them, and hurry as much as you can to show sincerity. Japanese feel very sorry to make people wait, and if you come late for your personal reason, they will consider you an irresponsible person. Even though when you are late, and they might not say anything face to face, that does not mean they are not angry or upset. In a sense, it is scarier when they do not say what they are thinking, so always be punctual!
Last of all, taking initiative helps you get along with Japanese smoothly. Japanese often do not say what they think, because it is considered a virtue to be ambiguous, which most people from other countries require time to understand. Also, Japanese tend to have shy personality. If you ask, “Where do you want to go today?”, they might answer, “Anywhere you want to go is fine.” In this situation, you should not press them hard for their opinion. You can suggest choices like, “How about going here?”, or you can just go to the place you want to go. Because Japanese
are shy, it requires time for them to say what they think to new friends. It might take a long time for them to open up to you, but they will start saying their opinions if you wait patiently and meet them regularly. Although this is just about the general personality in Japan, I think this applies to most Japanese. I hope this essay broadened your perspective of how to make Japanese friends. By carrying out these three steps, showing politeness, being punctual, and taking initiative, there is no doubt that you will make close Japanese friends. I’m sure Japanese people would love to make close international friends too!
How to Create Your Own Travel Blog
To most people creating a travel blog is also a way to share your most precious memories to the people around you because you can post your photos and also write about your experiences. Since you share a part of your life, a blog that you create is like a public diary. Whether it is about what to eat in a country or how to travel to specific city, you can write about anything. If you want to be a part of it and learn how to create your travel blog, just follow the three steps that I recommend which are choosing a name, choosing a theme and knowing your content.
How to Create Your Own Travel Blog
First thing you want to do is to choose a name for your blog. It is important that you choose something short so that people can remember it. If your name is memorable, there is more chance that it will spread through people to people. Before choosing the name, I recommend brainstorming. For instance, you can write down some words you can think of that describes your blog. If you cannot find a good name by yourself, you can always ask your friends for advice. Different suggestions can inspire you. Last thing about choosing a name is avoiding using a number because numbers make the name hard to remember and we want everyone to remember our blog’s name.
Secondly, you should plan your content. Are you going to write about your experiences or your travel plan? Maybe you are traveling right now and you want to keep a diary? Depending on your content, try to publish at least two or three articles per week. This is important because it keeps your blog updated. Obviously this what your reader wants. They want to read your articles. If you don’t publish articles regularly, it is possi-
ble that you will lose readers. Sharing what you know is the best way to create blog. People can get help from you. Even if you don’t know what to write about, you can always share fun memories in the places you’ve been, photo essays, food and accommodation recommendations in your blog. Just try to create useful and fun content. You will see that the possibilities are endless!
How to Create Your Own Travel Blog
Additionally, you shouldn’t forget about your theme. What theme means is that how your blog looks like. You need to be careful with the theme as it is the first thing your readers see. You want to make it personalized yet simple. Your theme should be easy on the eyes. With too many visual effects, readers can be distracted from your article. Making themes may require some help. To get some help, you can look for web-
sites that makes theme programs, these programs helps you to customize your theme. They also have the sidebar widgets commonly seen on blogs such as recent comments, advertisements, calendars, archive and so forth. These sidebars help your reader find what they are looking in your blog. Starting a travel blog may seem hard to do, of course it requires a lot of work and thinking but if you put effort into it you can be successful and be proud of your work. After seeing all of your hard work appreciated, and your memories seen as help for others who also want to travel, you will feel blessed. To feel this way, you only need to follow the steps I explained earlier, and then you will have your own travel blog as you always wished.