Americamagazine

The Land of Opportunity

A Look at Opportunities for Investment in the US Independence Day A Day of Pomp and Pride

US Peace Corps: Serving the World Changing Face of Higher Education

Abraham Lincoln

Hip-Hop:

John F. Kennedy

From the Streets to the Mainstream

American Cuisine Reflects Nation’s Diversity Certified Halal in the USA

Live it Up in Florida!

The Real Ambassadors:

New York! New York!

America Exports Jazz

All New 2014 GMC Sierra Debuts in Kuwait

Don’t Mess with Texas!

Washington DC

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LAND OF OPPORTUNITY

In cooperation with The United States Embassy Foreign Commercial Service Office Chairman & Editor-in-Chief

Managing Editor

Mohammed Al-Radwan

Mujahid Iqbal

- KUWAIT

Executive Editor

Amjad H. Qureshi

General Manager

Joint Editor

Consultant

M. Irfan Nagra

Prasana Menon

Ussuf Malik

Finance Manager

Sales Supervisor

Correspondent

Khurram Sajjad

Mahmood Ahmed

M. Yamin Siddiqui

Art Director

Distribution

Haneef Isahaq

Hafiz Nadeem

ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES:

Mujahid Iqbal

Cell: +965 – 9759 2064, 9955 8663 Email:talk2mujahid@yahoo.com

The contents and opinions expressed here in are not necessarily those of the publishers. While every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the contents, no liability can be assumed by the publishers for any inaccuracies.

Contents A Look at Opportunities for Investment in the US US Embassy Happenings American Cuisine Reflects Nation’s Diversity NASA: To Infinity and Beyond!

All-New 2014 GMC Sierra Debuts in Kuwait Changing Face of Higher Education 14 Most Beautiful and Iconic American College Quads A Permanent Unfinished Country US Peace Corps: Serving the World!

Independence Day: A Day of Pomp and Pride Abraham Lincoln John F. Kennedy Thanksgiving: A Cornucopia of Culinary Traditions Certified Halal in the USA The Dream Lives On, the Work Continues The Real Ambassadors: America Exports Jazz Hip-Hop: From the Streets to the Mainstream New York Fashion Week

Muhammad Ali: The Greatest of all Time Baseball: America’s National Pastime Basketball: Hopes in Hoops Hollywood Regales the World Travelling to the United States WASHINGTON DC NEW YORK! NEW YORK! Live it Up in Florida!

Don’t Mess with Texas!

Chicago: Metropolis on the Great Lakes

10 16 32 40 44 52 56 60 64 68 70 72 74 76 80 82 86 96 104 110 114 116 122 126 132 140 150 158

Credits: http://kuwait.usembassy.gov www.whitehouse.gov www.usa.pictures.com www.discoveramerica.com/usa/states.aspx http://photos.states.gov/libraries/images/ www.iipdigital.usembassy.gov

To maintain the desired quality of our publication, your contributions and feedback are welcome.

Dao M Le INTERVIEW

Senior Commercial Officer

A Look at Opportunities for Investment in the US ALC sits down with Dao M Le, Senior Commercial Officer of the US Embassy in Kuwait

By Mujahid Iqball ALC: Why should Kuwait businesses invest in the United States?

Le: The United States and Kuwait have a strong history of commerce, investment, and trade. Kuwait businesses traditionally invest in the United States because it is the largest single-country economy in the world. The US workforce is one of the best educated, most productive, and most innovative in the global economy. The United States hosts developed industry clusters that provide attractive opportunities for international investors, where creativity is rewarded and safeguarded by strong intellectual property rights laws. Firms also locate in the United States to benefit from its unparalleled access to global markets. As a result of our bilateral and multilateral trade agreements, a firm with US operations can reach billions of consumers around the world, a figure that will continue to grow now that trade agreements between the United States and Korea, Panama, and Colombia have gone into effect. International firms are increasingly utilizing the United States as a global sales platform, and these firms account for nearly one-fifth of all US exports.

ALC: What is the level of current Kuwait investment in the US? What about two-way trade between both countries?

Le: While the total stock of Kuwaiti FDI in the United States stood at $2.4 billion at the end of 2011 and the potential for much more mutual investment is far greater, Kuwait now ranks as the United

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States’ 13th fastest growing source of foreign direct investment.

Over the last three years alone, commercial relations between the United States and Kuwait have expanded at a brisk pace, with trade volumes growing by more than 175 percent from $5.7 billion in 2009 to $15.7 billion in 2012. Over the same period, US exports have grown by 41%.

ALC: What about other aspects of commercial ties between Kuwait and the US? Le: The people-to-people exchanges speak to the strong commercial relationship. We’ve seen a growing number of Kuwaitis and other residents traveling to the US. In the last 12 months, the Embassy has processed over 44,000 nonimmigrant visa cases, a 16% jump over the previous year, and that demand trends up each month.

Three sectors continue to witness impressive growth and cooperation – education, health and infrastructure development.

First, thousands of Kuwaitis travel to America to study at the undergraduate and graduate level, particularly in business and engineering. America is the #1 education destination for Kuwaitis worldwide, spanning over five generations. Second, thousands of Kuwaitis travel to the United States because they demand the most technologically advanced and highest quality medical care for complex conditions. It is a relationship that dates back to the establishment of the American Mission hospital in Kuwait over 100

ALC: What were the main developments in 2013 between the US and Kuwait?

Le: Many official trade delegations visited both countries.

For example, a Kuwaiti investor delegation attended the White House Foreign Direct Investment Summit in Washington, DC. This was the first national conference aimed at attracting foreign investment to the United States, with the participation of President Barack Obama. Kuwait had the largest delegation from the Gulf region.

ALC: In which industry sectors are Kuwait firms particularly compete to invest?

Le: The top sector for Kuwait’s US investments is transportation, although Kuwaiti firms are highly competitive in a wide variety of sectors such as plastics, transportation and financial services, as well as warehousing and storage.

For example, in January 2010, Al Mal Investment Company invested in New York City in the financial services sector. The firm is setting up a New York subsidiary named Eastbridge Al Mal Holdings, which will provide equity capital for real estate projects. Overall, there are practically unlimited opportunities, such as the transportation, residential real estate, financial services, plastic, coal, energy, alternative energy, entertainment, technology and merchandise.

ALC: To what degree is Kuwati investment in the US boosting economic growth for Kuwait and the United States?

Le: There’s no question that Kuwati investment in the US enables Kuwaiti firms to benefit from new innovative technologies that support business expansion and job growth in both countries. We know that US affiliates of Kuwaiti firms employed between 1,000 and 2,500 people in the United States according to the latest employment data available. At the same time, there are major US investors in Kuwait. For example, The Dow Chemical Company has been in Kuwait for 19 years partnering with Petrochemical Industries Company (PIC) of Kuwait in five industry-leading joint ventures including EQUATE, MEGlobal and The Kuwait Olefins Company. Dow Chemical is the largest foreign investor in the country and the largest private employer of Kuwaiti nationals through its joint ventures in the petrochemical industry in Kuwait.

ALC: What is one thing you would like Kuwaiti companies to know about investing in the United States, but may be unaware of?

Le: While the US is a very welcoming market for investment and trade, the country is a federal system with over 50 states and territories. As in any large country, navigating state, local and national government regulations can sometimes be a challenge. As a result, the US Government launched SelectUSA, the lead national resource to help foreign

investors navigate the country and serves as a point of introduction to state and local officials across the entire country.

ALC: What suggestions do you have for a Kuwaiti company to be a successful investor in the United States?

Le: Kuwaiti companies should keep in mind the following: First, do the necessary homework as to the market, product regulations, players, competition and best resellers. Second, it is more advantageous to start with an intermediary reseller or geographically-limited resellers of products; but, the agreement should be far more one-sided toward the manufacturer and lengthy than typical equivalent agreements in Kuwait. A lawyer is critical here. In this way, one can initially start without employees or an office in the United States, then grow the business. This type of approach to an agreement should be advantageous to the Kuwaiti party. Third, ensure familiarity with applicable US laws and regulations whether pertaining to visa status, intellectual property, taxation or customs. Fourth, while there are many other issues, such as state-specific laws, the lawyer can assist.

If the above are aligned, nothing too serious should arise.

INTERVIEW

years ago. Finally, America recognizes Kuwait is investing strongly in the future of its people and economy with the National Development Plan, and more US firms come here to play a prominent role in the energy and physical infrastructure sectors.

ALC: The US launched a new program called SELECTUSA - how does this streamline investment opportunities for countries like Kuwait?

Le: Launched by Executive Order of the President in 2011, SelectUSA is a federal government initiative to promote business investment in the United States. It works with international and domestic firms to provide a single point of contact for information about entry into the United States, offers research and information about the US business climate, connect firms to state- and regional-level contacts and provide visibility to the positive economic impact of business investment in the United States. SelectUSA also serves as ombudsman for the international investment community, working across the federal government to address investor concerns and issues involving federal agencies. So, in a sense, it’s a one-stop shop for investment information.

ALC: Who should Kuwait firms contact to pursue investment opportunities in the US? Le: A great place to start is here at the US Embassy in Kuwait.

It’s part of the worldwide US Commercial Service network of offices in more than 100 US cities and over 70 countries. In Kuwait, we connect US businesses with Kuwaiti firms looking to source US products and services, as well as providing information and counseling to Kuwaiti firms seeking to invest in the United States. SelectUSA is an integral part of the US Commercial Service network. Here at the US Embassy, we provide counseling, business matchmaking, US government advocacy and other services to connect US firms with potential Kuwait partners. I encourage anyone interested in investing in the US to contact me directly or visit the US Commercial Service in Kuwait at www.export.gov/Kuwait and www.SelectUSA.gov.

America - Kuwait (2014)

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Top FDI Sectors from Kuwait by number of projects, 2003 - 2013 YTD

Financial Services 14%

Plastics 14% Transportation 57%

Warehousing & Storage 15%

Bilateral FDI Position Trends in USD$ billions 500

0

2008

US FDI in Kuwait

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America - Kuwait (2014)

2009

2010

Kuwaiti FDI in US

2011

Friends in Rain and Shine Kuwait and the United States have always been bound by deep and historical ties. We Kuwaitis can never forget the role of America in liberating Kuwait from the occupation in 1991. We love all things American too – its muscle cars, technology, food and films to name a few.

And of course, we admire the ideals America stands for – of freedom, equality and opportunity for all.

America is also the preferred destination for students, with thousands heading there every year to pursue the degree of their choice. And when it comes to healthcare – there’s no better place than the US. I hope this special issue on America will provide the reader an insight into America and its ways. You can never get enough of it!

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America - Kuwait (2014)

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FOREWORD Mujahid Iqbal Managing Editor

The American Dream lives on Kuwait and the US have enjoyed excellent ties for decades, and these relations were only strengthened after a US-led coalition liberated Kuwait in 1991. And the ties are not just political – deep-rooted relations exist in all fields – but also commercial, military, educational, medical etc. American cars, gadgets, fast-food chains, clothing and entertainment are widely and wildly popular in Kuwait. The US is also the No. 1 destination for Kuwaiti students seeking a foreign education.

In this issue of America, we focus on all things America. Fasten your seatbelts as we take you on a journey from the urban landscapes of big and exciting cities to the rolling grasslands of the Midwest. Learn about American presidents, athletes and entertainers who left their mark on the world. Get to know more about America’s industry, education, culture and global programs. Get into the thick of action of US sports and sporting spectacles!

From New York to NASA, Hollywood to Halloween, JFK to jazz, Super Bowl to skyscrapers and Peace Corps to pizza, we’ve covered it all. But of course we’ve only scratched the surface. It’s difficult if not impossible to encapsulate the essence of America in one magazine, but one can get a glimpse into the many facets of this diverse nation.

Finally, I would like to extend my gratitude to the Embassy of the United States of America in Kuwait for their whole-hearted support to our staff in bringing out this issue. We are especially indebted to Mr. Dao M. Le, Senior Commerical Officer at the Embassy of the United States of America and the Public Affairs Section in Kuwait for their input and assistance in all aspects.

We would also like to thank all the advertisers for their support and we strongly hope that their objectives will be achieved through their presence in the magazine.

Happy reading!

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HAPPENINGS

US-Arab Chamber Supports ‘Discover America Festival’ in Kuwait

First-of-its-kind event showcases over 100 US institutions and draws thousands

T

he National US-Arab Chamber of Commerce (NUSACC) partnered with the US Commercial Service in support of the “Discover America Festival” in Kuwait. The five-day event showcased over 100 American entities in such sectors as education, franchising, health, security, tourism, and a wide range of consumer products. NUSACC served as a Gold Sponsor of the Festival, which was organized by the US Embassy, Mabanee, the American Business Council of Kuwait, LOYAC youth association and The Avenues (Kuwait’s largest mall).

The festival coincided with a visit by John Kerry, US Secretary of State, who was making his first visit to Kuwait since assuming his position as America’s top diplomat. While much of Kerry’s visit was dedicated to discussions about the situation in Syria, Iran’s recent elections, and his “shuttle diplomacy” in support of the peace process, America’s commercial interests were also near the top of his agenda.

“The ‘Discover America Festival,’ the first of its kind here in Kuwait, represents yet another milestone in the special relationship shared

by Kuwait and the United States,” noted David Hamod, President & CEO of the US-Arab Chamber. “The Festival provided Kuwaitis of all ages with an opportunity to enjoy a slice of American life. This was a fun and innovative way to bring our two peoples closer together and, at the same time, open the door for US firms looking to enter the Kuwait market.”

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America - Kuwait (2014)

Hamod joined other VIPs – including the US Ambassador to Kuwait and the Kuwaiti Ambassador to the United States – in cutting the ribbon to inaugurate the festival. Kuwait’s Ambassador to the United States, Sheikh Salem Abdullah Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, noted, “The festival offered a great opportunity for Kuwaitis to get a feel for what the United States has to offer. These commercial bonds represent an integral part of the strategic relationship between our two nations, and I would like nothing more than to see these bonds strengthened even further in the months and years ahead through events like these. I was very honored to be part of this important initiative.”

The US Ambassador to Kuwait Matthew Tueller said, “The United States has a unique and enduring relationship with Kuwait. While we have done much to expand education, health, and tourism exchanges between our two countries, the ‘Discover America Festival’ is a chance for Kuwaitis to see the increasing interest that America’s companies, educational, and medical institutions have in contributing to Kuwait’s future. It is this deep commitment that drives the commercial relationship between our two nations.” He added, “I take great pleasure in welcoming the National US-Arab Chamber of Commerce. The chamber’s work has proven invaluable to the promotion of stronger economic ties between the United States and the Arab world, and I trust that the Chamber will continue its great work.”

HAPPENINGS

The United States is the top supplier of goods to Kuwait, shipping $2.68 billion worth of products in 2012 – led by transportation equipment, machinery, and computer equipment. Kuwait is America’s fifth largest export destination in the Arab world, and Kuwait is expected to maintain this position in coming years.

According to projections by the National US-Arab Chamber of Commerce, US exports of goods and services to Kuwait are expected to rise to $9.25 billion by the end of 2015.

Kuwait sold over $13 billion to the United States last year, the vast majority of which revolved around petroleum-based products.

Bilateral trade volumes grew by half from 2011 to 2012, expanding from $10.5 billion to $15.7 billion. On the services side, US service exports to Kuwait are expected to total $1.29 billion for the year 2012, according to NUSACC. In the field of education, the United States is the top destination for Kuwaiti students, and US companies are the largest private sector employers of Kuwaiti nationals.

The commercial relationship has historically depended heavily on oil imports and exports, but Kuwait is working to diversify its economy away from hydrocarbons. Kuwait is laying groundwork for a number of mega-projects in the coming decade and, with this in mind, NUSACC held meetings with ministerial leaders on the sidelines of the Discover America Festival.

In discussions with the minister of communications and the minister for housing affairs, the focus was on new residential developments that will create nearly 75,000 housing units outside of central Kuwait. This will relieve some of the congestion in the Central Business District and will, at the same time, create new economic development, employment, and lifestyle opportunities.

These satellite cities will include commercial complexes, ministerial facilities, branches of universities, schools, mosques, hospitals, sports and entertainment areas, and related amenities. Making these cities functional, smart, safe, and secure is a very high priority for Kuwait’s government. The projects are divided into three contracts: the first covers development and maintenance; the second covers roads and telecommunications services; the third deals with infrastructure works in public facilities.

Kuwait will also see major upgrades in its infrastructure, beginning with expansion of Kuwait International Airport, which will grow to

serve 20 million passengers. Expansion will include construction of a new terminal, a new runway, and extension of the existing runways.

Infrastructure development is also expected to include expansion of highways and road networks, implementation of a mass transport system, and investment in a “smart” parking system.

An underground network and a railway system is being planned to link Kuwait to the other members of the Gulf Cooperation Council, Central Asia, Europe, and India. The National Railway System will be 324 miles long and is planned to link a proposed 1,250-mile-long Gulf railway line to Iraq, Iran, and beyond. It is projected to link the Saudi border in the south with the Iraqi border in the north, as well as east and west points in the country. In addition, Kuwait Metropolitan Rapid Transit is calling for construction of a 106-mile Kuwait Metro system. The Metro will include four lines, and almost half of the system will be built underground.

The “Discover America Festival” showcased 36 educational institutions, 40 hospitals and health care providers, and 40 iconic American consumer brands, many of which offered special “Discover America” discounts and promotions during the Festival. For Kuwaiti students interested in studying in the United States, US Embassy personnel were on hand to answer questions about study in the USA, including the visa process. Visitors were also invited to take a virtual guided tour of America’s top 10 cities and to post their experiences on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter. In the evenings, visitors were serenaded by the Kuwait Jazz Trio, which highlighted the musical culture and heritage of jazz, which was itself “Made in the USA”.

According to Dao Le, Senior Commercial Officer at the US Embassy and the driving force behind the Discover America Festival, “The approach of the festival is to take one of the United States’ best relationships in the Arab world and lay the foundation to make it even stronger for another generation to come. Business travelers, students, and tourists are coming and going every day in ever greater numbers. Kuwait’s openness to America and strong economic growth will further contribute to this key trend.”

He concluded, “The festival is a prime example of how public-private partnerships can have a positive impact in strengthening our bilateral economic relationship in so many ways. We look forward to a staging an even larger Discover America Festival in 2014.”

America - Kuwait (2014)

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HAPPENINGS

US Embassy honors

Bukhamseen Group for support of US trade On March 24, 2013 Charge d’Affaires Michael J Adler and US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce Holly Vineyard presented Mr. Jawad Bukhamseen, Chairman of Bukhamseen Group Holding Company with the US Commerce Department’s Achievement in Trade Award. This special award recognizes organizations that have contributed greatly to growth in trade between the US and Kuwait. “This award highlights the role of commercial cooperation in strengthening bilateral ties.

Bukhamseen Group Holding Company has brought multiple US brands to Kuwait – brands that remind Americans of home and whose presence links our countries together,” Adler said.

“It is an honor for me to take part in tonight’s event at which we also acknowledge Chairman Jawad Bukhamseen’s life story of remarkable accomplishment, overcoming challenges, and contributions to the strong friendship between Kuwait and the United States.”

“I would like to congratulate Bukhamseen Group Holding Company on its accomplishments and its significant, long-term contributions to advancing US-Kuwait trade,” said Vineyard.

“I am honored and pleased to receive this award from the US Department of Commerce. Within the many nominations and awards I have received in my line of business to date, this one is of particular significance to me, both as a Kuwaiti and as a businessman. It is particularly significant, because it is coming from a friendly country whose excellent relations with the State of Kuwait go back more than 60 years,” said Mr. Bukhamseen.

The US Department of Commerce’s Achievement in Trade

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Award recognizes foreign business partners and organizations that create opportunities for trade by working with the Department’s US Commercial Service to support US export development.

Bukhamseen Group Holding Company, headquartered in Kuwait, has grown from being a family business into a fullfledged institution with interests in several economic sectors.

In 1957, Jawad Ahmed Bukhamseen, a pioneering Kuwaiti businessman, founded the company which has transformed into a large group with presence in Kuwait and throughout the Middle East region. The Group operates in many sectors such as financial investment, banking, hospitality, travel and tourism, industrial production, media, and consultancy services in major development projects. In 1977, the company signed the first Holiday Inn Hotel in the Middle East, and later signed Kuwait’s Crowne Plaza. Bukhamseen has plans to build a wholly-owned Grand Hyatt Hotel and Towers complex, which is designed to be a 7-star hotel.

With its network of offices across the US and in more than 70 countries, the US Commercial Service utilizes its global presence and international marketing expertise to help match US companies selling their products and services with international buyers. To schedule an appointment, US and Kuwaiti companies can contact the US embassy at www.export. gov/kuwait.

HAPPENINGS

Chris Byars perform at Raikom Shabab on Al-Rai TV

Chris Byars Jazz Quartet concludes visit to Kuwait The Chris Byars Jazz Quartet returned to Kuwait to perform in the 19th Annual Al-Qurain Cultural Festival, in coordination with the US Embassy and the National Council of Culture, Arts and Letters. Tenor Saxophonist Chris Byars, along with Double-bassist Ari Roland, Alto Saxophonist Zaid Nasser and Drummer Keith Balla played before a crowd of over 300 people on January 22 at the Kuwait National Museum’s theater. The audience included seasoned musicians and fans, as well as people new to jazz.

The quartet took this opportunity to speak about the power music has to reach people across cultures. They exhibited this as they played jazz renditions of traditional Kuwaiti and Gulf songs. The Chris Byars Jazz Quartet further shared their experiences and their music with a diverse cross-section of people in Kuwait through master classes, jam sessions, and media appearances.

Chris Byars perform at the Amricani Cultural Center

American photographer Bret Webster concludes Kuwait visit American photographer Bret Webster visited Kuwait January 12-17, 2013 on a US Embassy in Kuwait sponsored program to exhibit his photographs. Webster’s exhibition was on display at Dar al Fanoon, Kuwaits oldest and most established art gallery. A diverse local audience gathered to see Websters work, a desert landscape photographer who spoke about the importance of connecting with ones surroundings to capture its beauty. While in Kuwait, Webster also conducted a 2-day photography workshop with over 20 participants - day one

consisted of technical lectures about photographing in the dark and in open spaces while day two consisted of on-location, hands-on photography training in the Kuwaiti desert. Webster also spoke to various groups including students, aspiring artists and people with disabilities.

Photos of Webster’s exhibit along with his workshops may be seen on the US Embassy, Kuwaits Facebook page (http://www. facebook.com/USEmbassyQ8).

America - Kuwait (2014)

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HAPPENINGS

Visiting US trade official

and embassy laud Kuwait’s entrepreneurial spirit On Sunday, March 24, 2013, US Embassy Charge d’Affaires Michael J Adler, US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce Holly Vineyard, Hameeda Al Yousifi, Wadha Al-Aqrooka, and Maryam Al Ali cut the ribbon and officially launched Auction Home. Auction Home is modeled after auction houses in the US that feature predominately high value antiques and collectors’ items. In addition to showcasing and selling different pieces of furniture, Auction Home staff will also appraise people’s furniture and collectors’ items, as well as pinpoint the time period in which it was created. Auction Home also provides workshops to help people learn how to restore antiques.

“It is exciting to witness the entrepreneurial spirit on display with this official launch of Auction Home, modeled after the US

concept. It is new enterprises such as this one that indicate the openness and market-based policies that help Kuwait thrive,” said Deputy Assistant Secretary Vineyard. “We look forward to an even greater and stronger trading partnership with newly established businesses like this one, and we are so pleased that Deputy Assistant Secretary Vineyard was able to attend this special opening,” said Adler.

Al-Yousifi, Al-Aqrooka, and Al-Ali are childhood friends who decided to turn their hobby of collecting high-end antiques from all over the world into a business. These entrepreneurs hope their newly-opened business will help people better appreciate both the historical and monetary value of antiques.

US Embassy celebrates Ramadan with YES alumni On July 22, 2013, the US Embassy hosted the Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) class of 2013-2014, along with YES alumni, parents, and embassy staff to a ghabga at Beit Al-Sadu. US Ambassador Matthew H Tueller congratulated students on having been selected for the YES program and commended parents for their enduring support of their children. He reminded students that [e]very day you are in the United States, you will be cultural ambassadors from Kuwait in your local communities. I urge you to use this as an opportunity to show them the wonderful aspects of Kuwaiti culture and tradition.

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The YES Program provides scholarships to high school students to spend up to one academic year in the United States. During the program, YES students live with American host families and are enrolled in accredited US high schools. In Kuwait, the program is administered by AMIDEAST and fully supported by the Ministry of Education. Over these past 10 years, over 100 students from Kuwait have participated in the YES program.

The 2013-2014 class of YES students is comprised of 11 students from Kuwait, and 2 alternates, have been chosen for this prestigious and competitive program. In the fall, they will be heading to various parts of the US on the YES program.

HAPPENINGS

Access students

celebrate 4th of July On July 2, 2013, US Embassy in Kuwait coordinated a US Independence Day event with over 50 students in the English Language Access Microscholarship Program’s Summer Intensive program coordinated by AMIDEAST. US Embassy’s Charge d’Affairs, Michael Adler welcomed students, parents, and guests. “Today we commemorate the 237h anniversary of the independence of the United States. On the fourth of July, Americans express gratitude for our country and its independence. We also traditionally spend time with family and friends, often engaging or watching sports. Americans and Kuwaitis share an appreciation of sports and its importance to both physical health and fun.”

This event was a wonderful opportunity to partner with local organizations: Shake Shack, Garrett Popcorn, and Kuwait Sports Club. These organizations are investing in their local community through their care and generosity by providing hot

dogs and ice cream, popcorn, and a great facility to play sports.

Abdul Rahman Al-Ansari, head of the media center club Kuwait Sports Club, states that the club is keen on cooperating with other organizations to organize sports activities and support the community. Kuwait Sports Club is the first to engage the sporting talents of the youth in order to build a healthy community. Al-Ansari praised the sports and community activities organized by the US Embassy in Kuwait, pointing out that this activity is only the beginning of a series of cooperation between the club and the embassy.

Shake Shack is a modern day “roadside” burger stand known for its all-natural burgers, flat-top dogs, frozen custard and more. With its fresh and simple, high-quality food at a great value, Shake Shack is a fun and lively community gathering place with widespread appeal. From its ingredients and employment practices to its environmental responsibility, design and community investment, Shake Shack’s mission is to continually “Stand for Something Good”.

America - Kuwait (2014)

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HAPPENINGS

New US visa appointment procedures The US Embassy in Kuwait has new procedures for obtaining appointments and picking up passports after visa issuance.

Beginning August 9, 2013, we now provide an online visa appointment system, live call center, and in-person pickup facilities in Kuwait. Please monitor our website and social media for additional information. This new system offers more flexibility for travelers to the US and to meet the increase in demand for visa appointments.

The general application steps on the new visa appointment system are: 1. Go to www.ustraveldocs.com/kw (if this is the first time on ustraveldocs.com, you will need to create a profile to login).

2. Please complete your DS-160 Online Visa Application which is available at ceac.state.gov/genNIV. 3. Please print and take your deposit slip to any Burgan Bank location to pay your visa application fee.

4. Schedule an appointment for your visa interview online at www.ustraveldocs.com/kw or by phone through the call center (at +965-2227-1673).

5. If you need to change or cancel your appointment, please do so 24 hours beforehand, as a courtesy to other applicants.

For more information, please visit the US Embassy website – kuwait.usembassy.gov – as it is the best source of information regarding these changes.

US visa status website The Consular Section of the US Embassy in Kuwait is pleased to introduce a new online resource for all US visa applicants: the US Visa Status Website. Applicants may now go online to check the status of their visas through https://ceac.state.gov as well as to receive more information about the visa application process.

This announcement is in keeping with the US Embassy’s efforts to facilitate travel to the US and to improve the visa application process. For additional information on how to apply for a visa

to the US, please see our website for more information: http:// kuwait.usembassy.gov/visas.html.

We remind all applicants to apply early. Special expedited appointments may be offered to students and those seeking medical treatment in the US. For further assistance or additional questions regarding visa applications to the US, please contact consularkuwaitm@state.gov directly.

US Embassy announces

visa drop-off service for Kuwaitis under 14 years of age Parents of Kuwaiti citizen children may drop off their sons’ and daughters’ visa applications – completely free of an interview or a trip inside the Embassy. The children must be under 14 years of age, and additional requirements do apply, but the service means parents will no longer have to schedule individual appointments for their children, nor come inside the Embassy (unless they are applying for themselves).

The service is only available for children holding Kuwaiti passports. To take advantage, parents must drop off the following documents: * Child Visa Drop-off cover sheet, available on the Embassy website (http://kuwait.usembassy.gov/child_visas.html) * Child›s passport * The child’s previous passport, if it contains a valid US visa * 5x5cm photo of child with eyes open (if uploaded into DS-

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160, photos must be a .jpg between 600x600 and 1200x1200 pixels, less than 240kb, and cannot be digitally altered) * A completed DS-160 form * Visa Fee Receipt from Burgan Bank * A copy of the valid visa of at least one parent. If one parent will not travel, provide a visa copy for the traveling parent, and a passport copy from the non-traveling parent with a letter stating no objection to the child›s travel. * For children of students (F2): a copy of the child›s I-20.

Children born in the US (with very few exceptions) are US citizens and would not be eligible for a visa. Parents may drop off the application packet at Window 2 at the Embassy from 1:00 to 3:00 pm, Monday to Wednesday, excluding holidays.

More information is available on the US Embassy website: kuwait.usembassy.gov/child_visas.html

THE AMERICAN BACCALAUREATE SCHOOL www.abs.edu.kw

Registration Now Open for 2014/2015

HAPPENINGS

US Embassy Hosts US Universities at Educational Fair in Kuwait The US Embassy in Kuwait sponsored an educational fair with representatives from more than 15 US colleges and universities at the Holiday Inn, Salmiya on November 2, 2013. This university fair gave students in Kuwait a chance to meet with representatives from accredited US institutions so that they could explore and pursue opportunities for higher education in the United States.

The following schools were represented at the fair: The University of Texas (Austin), George Washington University, Fairleigh Dickinson University, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Services,

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Bryant University, University of Bridgeport, University of Missouri, University of Illinois Chicago, George Mason University and others.

EducationUSA advisers were present at the fair to address students’ questions about studying in the US. In addition, US Embassy Consular Officers were also available to answer questions about the student visa process. US Embassy youth program alumni were present to share their experiences.

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HAPPENINGS

US Embassy celebrates

Ramadan with YES alumni On July 22, 2013, the US Embassy hosted the Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) class of 2013-2014, along with YES alumni, parents, and embassy staff to a ghabga at Beit Al-Sadu. US Ambassador Matthew H Tueller congratulated students on having been selected for the YES program and commended parents for their enduring support of their children.

He reminded students that “every day you are in the United States, you will be cultural ambassadors from Kuwait in your local communities. … I urge you to use this as an opportunity to show them the wonderful aspects of Kuwaiti culture and tradition.”

The YES Program provides scholarships to high school students to spend up to one academic year in the United States.

During the program, YES students live with

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HAPPENINGS

American host families and are enrolled in accredited US high schools. In Kuwait, the program is administered by AMIDEAST and fully supported by the Ministry of Education.

Over these past 10 years, over 100 students from Kuwait have participated in the YES program. The 2013-2014 class of YES students comprises of 11 students from Kuwait and 2 alternates chosen for this prestigious and competitive program. In the fall, they headed to various parts of the US on the YES program.

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HAPPENINGS

US Embassy and Access Students

Celebrate American Thanksgiving

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HAPPENINGS

On November 9, 2013, the US Embassy in Kuwait held an American Thanksgiving lunch event with over 80 students who participate in the English Access Microscholarship Program, coordinated by AMIDEAST, their parents, and other guests at Beit al-Othman Museum. US Ambassador Matthew H. Tueller welcomed attendees as they shared in a traditional American Thanksgiving meal including turkey, mashed potatoes and pumpkin pie. “Thanksgiving is a favorite holiday of many Americans. And while we often celebrate it away from home, Thanksgiving is a reminder to all of us to give thanks for our health, for opportunities, and for our great friendships,� he said. Samar Khleif, AMIDEAST Country Director, also commented on the great

opportunity for cultural exchange as a basis for English language learning that celebrating cultural traditions like an American Thanksgiving presents.

The English Access Program is a US Department of State funded two-year English language program for Kuwaiti students administered by AMIDEAST. In addition to language studies, students engage in cultural and leadership activities, community service, and discussions about educational opportunities. Since its establishment in Kuwait in 2004, the Access Program has worked with over 1,000 Kuwaiti students ages 13-15.

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Obama trade official

concludes trade mission to Saudi Arabia and Kuwait US Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade Francisco Sanchez concluded on October 2 a cyber-security and critical infrastructure protection trade mission to Saudi Arabia and Kuwait with representatives from 13 US companies from the safety and security sectors. The trade mission helped participating companies to identify opportunities for increased US exports and potential partnerships with Saudi Arabian and Kuwaiti companies.

The Saudi government has committed some $200 billion in infrastructure spending during the past two years, and will spend another $500 billion during the next five years. It remains heavily invested in strengthening its capabilities within the field of cyber security, public security, and infrastructure protection.

The Government of Kuwait also is expected to invest more than $28 billion on transportation and infrastructure development towards airport and refinery expansion.

“Kuwait and Saudi Arabia continue to be viable markets for US businesses looking to export and create lasting business relationships within the cyber security and infrastructure security sectors,” said S‫ل‬nchez. “This trade mission was an important step in advancing these individual relationships, as well as building upon our broader economic partnerships with these major trading partners.”

“These US companies have the technical expertise and highquality products to meet the needs of Saudi Arabia and Kuwait in sectors such as cyber security, aviation, critical infrastructure protection, emergency management, ports of entry, and border security,” Sanchez said. In 2012, US merchandise exports to Saudi Arabia and Kuwait combined grew to more than $20.6 billion, nearly a 25 percent increase from 2011.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Kuwait contain enormous commercial opportunities for US safety and security companies.

facts and figures About Kuwait Capital

Kuwait City

Geography

The State of Kuwait is found on the north eastern shore of the Arabian Peninsula.

It is bordered by the Arabian Gulf from the east, Iraq from the north and west and the KSA from the south. The area of the State of Kuwait is of 17.818 thousand square kilometers. The length of the coastal line along with the islands, reaches approximately 500 kilometers. The Gulf of Kuwait is considered one of the main coastal attractions. The State of Kuwait includes nine islands, which are: Bubyan, Failaka, Miskan, Kubbar, Qaruh, Um Al Maradim, Um Al Naml, and Auhah Island.

The Amir

The head of state is the Amir, and his official title is “His Highness the Amir of the State of Kuwait”.

H. H. Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al-Jaber AlSabah The Amir of the State of Kuwait on January 29, 2006, His Highness become the 15th Amir of the State of Kuwait

The Crown Prince

H.H. Sheikh Nawwaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, the Crown Prince of the State of Kuwait.

On February 7, 2006, His Highness, the Amir of Kuwait , appointed Nawaf as Crown prince.

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Administrative Distribution

The State of Kuwait is distributed into six governorates, which are the Capital, Hawally, Al Farwaniya, Al Ahmadi, Mubarak Al Kabir and Al Jahra.

Climate

Since Kuwait is located in a desert region, the climate is continental distinguished by long hot dry summers and warm short winters with occasional rainfall. Sandstorms often occur during the summer months.

Currency

The currency in the State of Kuwait is the Kuwaiti Dinar.

Area

The total area of the State of Kuwait is 17,818 square kilometers (6960 square miles).

Demographics

The population up until 30/June/2007 reached approximately 3,328,136. 1,038,598 of whom are Kuwaiti nationals and the rest expatriates and foreigners.

Religion and Language

The official religion of the State is Islam, with believers of other religions having their full rights to practice their religion, provided that they do not disrespect or harm Islam; the official language is the Arabic.

Flag

The Kuwaiti Flag was raised for the first

time following the independence of Kuwait on 24 November 1961. It includes a rectangle which is divided into three equal and horizontal sections, the first of which being green, followed by the white and then red colors. The flag holds a trapezium of black color. The colors were inspired from the following verse of Arabic poetry: White are our actions Green are our fields

Black are our wars Red is our past

Coat of Arms of Kuwait

The Coat of Arms consists of the shield of the flag design in color superimposed on a falcon with wings displayed. The falcon supports a disk containing a sailing ship (dhow) with the full name of the State written (in Arabic) at the top of the disk.

National Anthem

The National Anthem was first recited on 25 February 1978 and it is still recited today.

The idea of having a national anthem was that of the ministerial cabinet, that was headed by the late Sheikh Jaber Al Ahmed Al Sabah, when he was a crown prince and prime minister during the reign of the late Sheikh Sabah Al Salem Al Sabah, the ruler of Kuwait at the time.

Local Time

+3 hours from GMT.

Telephone Code +965

American Cuisine Reflects Nation’s Diversity T

he United States is a nation of immigrants, with only American Indians claiming this land as their ancestral home. Other Americans came to this land, or their ancestors came from many other places to a nation often called “the melting pot of the world”. US cooking is as diverse as its population. Because the American cookpot contains a blend of cuisines from many countries, the term “American cooking” loosely defines a collection of traditional dishes that have gained popularity across the country.

There’s no shared definition of traditional American cooking, but simple dishes like roast beef, fried chicken, grilled steak, stuffed turkey, meatloaf, corn on the cob,

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potato salad, apple pie, clam chowder, hamburgers, hotdogs and hot chicken wings would be on most lists. Contrary to popular belief, Americans do not eat fast food every day. They often eat real food in sit-down restaurants, and sometimes even prepare home-cooked meals.

But there are plenty of fast-food establishments and chain restaurants in the United States, convenient places that offer a consistent quality of food in clean surroundings with good service. Many allow visitors to try a sampling of local dishes.

REGIONAL FLAVORS Cuisine in different parts of the United

States developed independently. Each region was influenced by the nationality of colonists that settled in the area and by the ingredients locally available.

New England, the northeastern part of the nation, is renowned for hearty dishes imported by British colonists and for its coldwater seafood harvested locally. This is the land of Yankee pot roast and Boston baked beans. When visiting New England, sample the seafood and be sure to try New England clam chowder and Maine lobster.

Southeastern states are home to “down home southern cooking,” characterized by farm-style cooking with plenty of deep fried foods, heavy sauces and sweet desserts.

Elvis Presley loved southern cooking, and

it was reflected in his growing waistline.

Deep-fried chicken, known as southernfried chicken, and chicken-fried steak, a deep-fried beef cutlet, are often served with a thick white sauce called home-style gravy.

Southerners love barbeque, but unlike westerners, they do not favor sweet tomatobased sauces. Eastern barbeque usually means ribs, well spiced or marinated and slowly cooked over glowing coals.

Greens, black-eyed peas and corn bread are common side dishes. Pecan pie, peach cobbler, banana pudding and sweet potato pie are some favorite desserts.

New Orleans has a distinctly European culture with its own unique cuisine. This city at the mouth of the great Mississippi River was influenced by Spanish and French colonists and by the many African immigrants. It developed some of the finest cuisine in the USA. The city’s Creole and Cajun cuisine is a mixture of Spanish and French cooking spiced with African

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and West Indian flavors. Blackened fish and steaks are grilled with coatings of pepper and hot spices. Jambalaya and gumbo are flavored stews of meats, sausage and seafood. Much Cajun cooking is highly spiced with hot pepper and chili, but not all of the dishes are fiery. Traditional Spanish and French cooking and local variations of them are available in many fine restaurants throughout the city.

Cuisine in the southwestern states has been influenced by American Indians, early Spanish settlers and the United States’ Mexican neighbors. Southwestern cuisine includes a wide variety of dishes prepared with local ingredients and liberally sprinkled with Mexican spices. Southwestern restaurants create some interesting variations of familiar dishes by the creative use of unfamiliar ingredients and exotic spices.

Tex-Mex is a variant of southwestern cooking that is most popular in Texas and along the Mexican border. It includes barbeque and chili. These cowboy-inspired dishes are so popular in the southwest and across the nation that many places have annual chili festivals and barbeque cook-offs with prizes for the best recipes. It is also the home of salsa, nachos, tacos and burritos.

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California is blessed with a bountiful supply of fresh fruits, vegetables and seafood in all seasons. Its ethnically diverse population has developed a refreshingly healthy cuisine that uses fresh ingredients flavored with unusual combinations of spices. Fresh green salads topped with avocados and citrus fruits might be served with Asian spiced peanut sauce. Fish could be lightly grilled

in salsa and served with Chinese vegetables and Native American fry bread. Almost any combination of ethnic food styles can be combined in California cooking. This is the home of avant-garde, experimental cuisine.

Frost brings authentic gelato to Kuwait Welcome to Frost Gelato, an authentic Italian concept, born in the heart of Arizona, and brought right here in Kuwait by Haitham Al-Ghunaim.

Tell us a little about yourself and about Frost?

I am Haitham Al-Ghunaim, an architect by profession but not practicing. I worked as an architect with Kuwait University for many of their projects, and am now running my family business for the past five years.

Frost started 8.5 years ago in Tucson, Arizona by two University of Arizona graduates right out of college. Their goal was to duplicate the same authentic Italian gelato experience that you would get in Italy but in the US. The first challenge was to secure the likes of a master gelato chef. Frost found Nazario Melphionda from Bologna, Italy. He had been creating gelato for more than 20 years before joining Frost. Nazario, along with the founders, created all of their own recipes and made their gelato fresh on a daily basis and right on site in each of their locations by importing the majority of the raw ingredients from Italy.

Shortly after opening their first location, Frost expanded to multiple locations in Tucson. In 2010, Frost started franchising domestically in the US and on the Nov 1, 2013, they opened their first international and Middle East location in Kuwait. Frost has plans to expand throughout the region in the next few years. Frost is currently in Albuquerque, Chicago, Phoenix, Tucson and Kuwait, with more stores in cities opening in 2014. Frost has received many awards over the years, most noticeably being voted the Best Ice-Cream/ Gelato in the US.

How did you first get involved in gelato making?

I have always loved gelato since my childhood, and enjoyed it during my travels abroad with my family. My favorite gelato flavor is pistachio. It was very hard to find good pistachio-flavored gelato until I bumped into Frost by coincidence in 2011 in Tucson. Then my love affair with Frost gelato started.

Frost gelato combines the expertise of Italian gelato making with the excellence of an American management. It’s a new approach to gelato marketing in Kuwait that focuses on authenticity and quality above anything else.

How do you come up with new and exciting gelato flavors?

What are the flavors and assortments offered at Frost?

It depends on how each of the owners and myself like a certain flavor or desert. If we taste a new kind of fruit or nut that is good for the season during our travels, we usually try to incorporate it in our new flavors.

We have more than 100 flavors, but we display only 38 flavors every day ranging from gelatos to sorbets, prepared freshly in the store.

What new innovations can we expect from Frost in the future?

Do you make gelato on the premises or is it imported? Tell us about the process!

The only things imported are the raw ingredients from Italy; the rest is all bought fresh locally every day.

What is your favorite gelato flavor?

Pistachio! Without a doubt.

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What differentiates Frost from the other gelato makers in the market?

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We are going to create three new flavors every month that can be displayed. Our best selling flavors like Seasalt Caramel, Pistachio, Cardamom, Coconut, Lemon Sorbet, Strawberry Sorbet and Pineapple will always be there because they are staples and favorites of our customers. We also sell our signature gelato and sorbet-based drink that is created to enhance the joy of having a gelato any way you want i

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NASA:

To Infinity and Beyond!

I

n the more than 50 years since the dawn of space exploration, astronauts with the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) have circled the Earth, walked on the moon, piloted the first winged spacecraft and built the International Space Station. And that’s not all, NASA has engineered robotic spacecraft that have observed the Sun and all its planets, imaged the universe at many wavelengths and landed a new rover craft, Curiosity, on Mars, the second-closest planet to Earth.

In February 1962, astronaut John Glenn orbited the Earth aboard the Friendship 7 capsule propelled into orbit by a Mercury spacecraft. The flight put NASA on course to achieve more ambitious goals. And in August 1962, Mariner 2 sent back valuable atmospheric information about Venus, the Earth’s closest planetary neighbor. It was the world’s first successful interplanetary mission.

A WALK ON THE MOON The 10 two-man Gemini space flights of 1965 and 1966 showed that humans could function in space and paved the way for the first trips to the moon. History was made just three years after the last Gemini flight when Neil Armstrong became the first person to step onto the moon. “That is one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind,” he said during the Apollo 11 mission, summarizing the importance NASA and the world gave to the historic accomplishment.

In all, 12 people have set foot on the moon.

The next major step in space exploration came in 1981 with the launch of Columbia, the first space shuttle. The mission showed that a winged spacecraft could take off vertically and glide to an unpowered landing. Unfortunately, in 1986, the shuttle Challenger exploded at takeoff.

INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION Illustration of Neil Armstrong’s First Step on the Moon. A Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corporation’s artist concept depicting mankind’s first walk on ...

Another major accomplishment is the International Space Station, a collaboration America - Kuwait (2014)

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involving the United States, Russia, Canada, Japan and the countries participating in the European Space Agency. The first two elements of the station were launched in 1998, and the first crew arrived in 2000.

Larger than a football field, the station is the longest continuously inhabited spacecraft and continues to expand the boundaries of space research. Today the station has state-of-the-art equipment supporting experiments in physics, remote sensing and protein crystallization, plus research into human bones and muscles, radiation, plants and fluids, among other areas.

NASA has engaged other organizations in the space program, including other federal agencies and private companies. In October, Sunita Williams opened the International Space Station’s hatch to Space Exploration Technologies’ Dragon capsule, the first commercial cargo craft to reach the station.

VOYAGER NASA’s longest-operating spacecraft are Voyager 1 and 2, launched in 1977 and still going strong. Voyager 1 is drawing close to exiting the solar system and entering interstellar space. Voyager 2, the first to launch, is the only spacecraft to explore Uranus and Neptune.

NASA’s exploratory space work has reaped technological advancements including digital computers with software that can be quickly revised, nanotechnology, microspacecraft, data management techniques and technologies that can be adapted for everyday use. NASA missions also have advanced knowledge of sciences like geology and meteorology, and continue to inspire young people to study math and science.

FUTURE OF SPACE EXPLORATION Future space exploration will include craft collecting samples from interplanetary bodies and returning them to Earth for analysis. It will include rovers that can go beneath Mars’ surface and exploration of comets, asteroids and the outer solar system. As they were when Glenn orbited Earth and Armstrong walked on the moon, people around the world still are in awe of space exploration. As the retired shuttle Endeavour slowly rolled past onlookers along streets in Los Angeles to its resting spot at the California Science Center, the city’s police chief said he had never seen a crowd “so large and so proud.”

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B

ehbehani Company unveils the all-new GMC Sierra 2014–designed to be the most refined full-size pickup in the market – at an exclusive launch event held at the GMC showroom in Al-Rai

• All-new design advances GMC’s 111-year legacy • Segment-best standard V-6 torque and trailering – and best V-8 fuel economy • New double cab design enhances rear-seat entry and exit • Next-generation IntelliLink connectivity • Exceptional attention to detail

Kuwait: Mohammed Saleh and Reza Yousuf Behbehani Company, the authorized distributors of GMC in Kuwait introduced the all-new GMC Sierra 2014 Light Duty full-size pickup, the most powerful and advanced pickup in the brand’s 111-year history, at an exclusive launch event held on 9th December, 2013 at the GMC showroom in Al-Rai. The launch event was patronized by members of the media and members of General Motors Company who attended the event especially for this grand occasion. The event shed light on the 2014 model’s bold new exterior – which houses one of three all-new EcoTec3 engines, a fully updated cabin with the available option of the next-generation’s IntelliLink connectivity and other features designed for the most discerning pickup owners.

“We are pleased to introduce the new generation of the GMC Sierra, the 2014 GMC Sierra Light Duty in Kuwait,” said Mr. Adel Behbehani, Director of Sales at MSRY Behbehani. “The pioneering redesigned model– engineered and built to ‘Command Respect’ – further elevates GMC’s reputation as an industry leader in styling and quality.The 2014 Sierra offers best-in-class standards and sets an important benchmark for pickup safety and refinement.”

In addition to the all-new design and technology, the 2014 Sierra boasts the longest list of standard features ever for a full-size GMC pickup.

From connectivity solutions, to a standard tie-down system in the rear, to the segment’s only standard projector beam headlamps, many premium features are found on each of the All-New Sierra.

The 2014 GMC Sierra Light Duty is currently available in the GMC Behbehani showroom and is offered in Regular Cab, Double Cab, Crew Cab and Denali models.

Sierra Denali Details The distinctive Sierra Denali returns for 2014, delivering GMC capability with unique design cues and exclusive features.

On the exterior, the pickup has a signature Denali chrome grille, unique 20-inch chrome wheels, unique interior decorative trim, a polished stainless steel exhaust outlet and body-color front and rear bumpers. Denali-specific interior details include script on the bright door sills and embossed into the front seats and real aluminum trim.

Sierra Denali’s high-tech interior also features an exclusive eight-inch Customizable Driver Display that can show relevant settings, audio and navigation information in the instrument panel. Sierra Denali’s standard eight-inch Color Touch navigation radio with Intellilink, located above the center console, serves as the main hub for Bluetooth-connected phones and portable devices connected through five standard USB ports.

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All-New 2014 GMC Sierra Debuts in Kuwait

New Eco Tec3 engines Sierra’s engine portfolio is updated for 2014 with increased power, torque and fuel efficiency across the board. New 4.3L V-6, 5.3L V-8 and 6.2L V-8 powertrains are offered, all from a shared EcoTec3 engine family. Each engine features standard direct injection, continuously variable valve timing and Active Fuel Management, which means they seamlessly switch to run on four cylinders during light-load driving to enhance fuel efficiency.

The increased power and efficiency of the new engines are the result of more than 10 million hours of sophisticated computer modeling, more than half of which were used to make the best of the combustion process.

The new 4.3L V-6 EcoTec3 engine offers the most torque of any standard V-6 in the segment, with 413 Nm. Torque is the turning force that generates off-the-line acceleration and confident trailering performance. Sierras equipped with the 4.3L EcoTec3 V-6 will have trailering ratings up to 3,266 kg for a regular cab, standard bed, four-wheel-drive model.

Sierra’s standard V-6 also produces an SAEcertified 285 horsepower and is matched with a proven, efficient six-speed automatic transmission.

“Rather than adapting a V-6 intended for use in passenger cars, we built a new engine from the ground up based on the unique demands of a pickup,” said Jordan Lee, powertrain chief engineer in GMC. “Sierra’s 4.3L shares its basic design architecture with the latest iterations of the V-8 engines that GMC owners have trusted for generations.”

The new 5.3L EcoTec3 is SAE-certified at 355 horsepower and 519 Nm of torque.

With EPA-estimated fuel economy of 10.2L / 100km highway (2WD), it offers the best fuel economy of any V-8 pickup.

The new 6.2L V-8 is available in Sierra SLT and standard on Denali models. It is SAE-certified at 420 horsepower and 624 Nm of torque – the most horsepower and torque of any light duty pickup in the industry. The new 6.2L also enables a 5,443 kg maximum towing capacity for the Sierra Light Duty, which is expected to have the highest rating in the class.

With the new engine designs and additional developments, customers should expect Sierra’s second-generation Active Fuel Management to be more seamless and capable of operating longer in four-cylinder mode.

All three engines use lightweight aluminum blocks and heads and are mated with durable six-speed automatic transmissions.

A “cruise grade braking” feature down-shifts the transmission on downgrades, which is intended to reduce brake wear. V-8 models use new, larger 9.5- and 9.76-inch rear axles with the strength to accommodate the engines’ higher output.

Duralife brake rotors and electric power steering Strong brakes are important for stopping pickups, whether they’re full of people, payload or both. The 2014 Sierra features fourwheel disc brakes with Duralife brake rotors, which feature a hardened and strengthened surface to reduce corrosion. Duralife rotors – a GM-exclusive technology – are expected to last twice as long as conventional rotors and provide quieter braking with less vibration.

The 2014 Sierra also uses electric power steering. An electric motor in place of an engine-driven hydraulic pump saves fuel and allows for tuning that’s expected to result in a more consistent, crisp steering feel and plenty of assist for parking maneuvers.

The new standard in pickup interiors Premium materials, attention to detail and America - Kuwait (2014)

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purposeful technology define Sierra’s all-new cabin. New soft-touch materials and available aluminum trim line an interior that’s focused on usable and productive space.

“Pickup owners want a well-crafted cabin, but also one that still feels like a pickup,” said Bader ElHoussami – Reginal sales Manager at General Motors, Sierra interior design director. “They want a purposeful interior, not one that’s flowing like you’d find in a car or crossover.”

Sierra has an upright instrument panel designed for visibility and accessibility. Knobs and buttons are large, legible and within reach. All knobs are coated using a rubberover-mold technology, so they’re easy to grip.

A new instrument cluster on all models features six gauges with an available centrally located, 4.2-inch color Driver Information Center with vehicle status information, a trip computer and other information, such as radio and navigation.

A second, high-mounted glove box with a flat floor joins the traditional box below. Each of Sierra’s doors has storage crafted to hold most beverage containers and other personal items. Along the center stack and center console are additional cup holders, discreet compartments large enough for most laptop

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computers, and connectivity options. Sierra is available with a 230-volt outlet, up to five USB ports, four 12-volt outlets and an SD card slot.

Available IntelliLink connectivity uses a highdefinition, fully reconfigurable eight-inch color touch screen with an intuitive layout and easy-to-read icons that control audio features, Bluetooth phone features, and available navigation with all-new 3-D map displays.

The Sierra has been further improved with seats that use dual-density foam designed to stay comfortable over long hours and continue to look great after years of use.

Leather and cloth are offered, and Sierra’s new high-wear cloth is designed to last longer and resist staining. A spilled drink will bead on the fabric, not soak in.

New door and bed configurations For the first time on double cab models, the 2014 Sierra has new front-hinged rear doors with outside pull handles at the rear, providing improved access in tight parking spaces. Unlike pickups with rear-hinged doors, Sierra’s layout allows rear passengers to enter and exit the vehicle with the front doors remaining closed.

Crew cab customers, who represent more than 25 percent of retail Sierra owners, can

choose between two bed lengths: a new 6-foot, 6-inch box is available in addition to the standard 5-foot, 8-inch box. Regular cabs and double cabs will come exclusively with a 6-foot, 6-inch box.

Cargo box innovations Sierra’s rear bumper features standard corner steps that make climbing into the bed easy, regardless of whether the tailgate is up or down. The steps are paired with grips formed into the top of each bed side. Four movable upper tie downs are also standard. They can be placed in nine different locations and can bear a 113 kg load. Available LED cargo lights integrated beneath the bed rails will illuminate the bed when a tonneau cover is in place. The available EZ Lift and Lower tailgate uses an integrated torsion bar and damper to ease lifting and lowering.

Driver Alert Technology Several active safety features are available for the 2014 Sierra, including Forward Collision Alert, which uses a forward-facing camera to notify the driver of an imminent collision, and Lane Departure Warning, which uses the same camera to track the pickup’s position in relation to a road’s lane markers.

Paired with Forward Collision Alert and Land Departure Warning is GMC’s first-ever Driver

Alert Seat, which generates vibrating pulse patterns on the left and/or right side of the lower seat cushion bolster to alert the driver of potential dangers, such as an un-signaled lane change or approaching another vehicle too quickly. According to GM research, the seat’s vibrations may direct driver attention to the location of a potential collision more quickly and accurately than audible alerts.

Drivers have the option of selecting either audible or vibrating alerts.

Quieter, stronger, more aerodynamic Quietness doesn’t only come from factors within the cabin. The 2014 Sierra features new aerodynamic measures that benefit fuel efficiency and reduce wind noise. Updated mirrors that reduce wind turbulence, triplesealed inlaid doors, as well as roof and tailgate design features all help air flow smoothly and quietly over the Sierra. Additional sealing around the grille, headlamps and space between the cab and box are also designed to lower drag for the new pickups, along with new aerodynamic spats located in front of the rear wheels Updates to Sierra’s body and chassis are designed to improve ride and handling, comfort and capability. The fully boxed frame uses high-strength steel and hydroforming to provide more strength and rigidity with

less weight. New cab structures incorporate high-strength steel in the A-pillars, B-pillars, roof rails and rocker panels, while ultra-highstrength steel segments of the rocker panels provide added protection for shallow offset crashes.

Sierra’s aluminum hood saves approximately 7.7 kg versus a comparable steel hood. At the rear, a roll-formed box is stronger, lighter and more durable than a traditional stamped steel box.

Sierra uses aluminum for some suspension components for additional rigidity and weight saving, and new lightweight wheels are paired with low-rolling-resistance tyres in most applications. The tyres, along with new shear-style and redesigned hydraulic cab mounts, are designed to help reduce noise and vibration in the cabin.

“Pickups aren’t just a tool for GMC owners – they’re part of their everyday lives, and Sierra needs to be as useful on the way to the movies as it is on the way to a job site,” added Mr. Adel Behbehani. “The most important thing about the engineering behind this new pickup is that it benefits owners in so many different ways.”

Attention to detail GMC designers approached the exterior of the 2014 Sierra with respect for its predecessors, evolving its familiar shape while adding distinctive details like standard projector headlamps, available LED signature accent lighting and detailed new grilles. All Sierra models have chrome grille surrounds and premium black wheel arch moldings.

Different trim levels feature chrome belt moldings, mirror caps and door handles, as well as unique wheel designs and grille details.

Other new features include available front Park Assist, in addition to the rear Park Assist already available.

About GMC GMC has built pickups since 1902. Today GMC is evolving to offer more choice, including the Terrain and Acadia crossovers. The GMC Sierra Heavy Duty pickups are the most capable and powerful pickups in the market. Innovation and engineering excellence are woven into all GMCs. The GMC Denali represents the pinnacle of GMC’s offering by bringing upscale refinement and performance to its lineup. The GMC brand also ranked secondhighest among nameplates in the industry in the 2013 J.D. Power Initial Quality StudySM.

America - Kuwait (2014)

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American Mattress Company- the leading retailer for mattress and healthy bedding solutions and accessories was established in Kuwait in 1996.

In 2011 American Mattress Company opened its new lifestyle concept Good Night - Bed Pillow & More showroom in Kuwait. The new innovative and exciting concept introduced a new level of inspiring luxury and sophistication for all the family.

It hosts iconic American brand names specialized in manufacturing ultra-luxury bedding solutions, integrating the latest technologies, design, craftsmanship and the finest material.

Today American Mattress Company has four retail showrooms; two in Shuwaikh, one in Hawally and one in Farwaniya.

American Mattress offers customers a unique collection of fine luxury mattresses that give customers a variety of healthy sleep solutions such as; Kluft, Aireloom, Pure Latex Bliss, Stylution, Natura and Ergomotion.

A Unique Collection

of Fine Luxury & Comfort

Our line of mattresses is complimented by a great selection of pillows, linens and comforters. With more than 200 models of luxury mattresses - natural mattresses, orthopedic mattresses, adjustable beds with remote control, pillows and linens - American Mattress Company offers customers the latest and innovative products around the year.

All our healthy sleep solutions are made with great attention to details, and from raw, natural premium quality materials such as; 100% natural Latex, natural cotton, wool, in addition to cotton fabric and memory foam essential for your health protection.

The premium quality materials in all our healthy sleep solutions, guarantee support, help your muscles, your nerves system, and your heart perform efficiently during your sleep so you can wake up energetic and rejuvenated.

American.Mattress.Kuwait 50 48

America - Kuwait (2014)

follow @AMattressKuwait

www.americanmattress.com.kw

American Mattress Mall - Shuwaikh - Future Zone -KFTZ

American Mattress Showroom - Farwaniya

American Mattress Showroom - Shuwailkh American Mattress Latex Showroom - Hawally

Shuwaikh:

American Mattress Mall, Future Zone, Behind Kuwait University

24610300/ 01 / 02

Shuwaikh:

American Mattress, Pepsi Street, Behind Al Sayer (Lexus New Showroom)

22276822 / 33

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Farwaniya:

American Mattress, Dajeej, Wholesale Healthy Sleep, Boland Complex

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Hawally:

American Mattress, Latex Showroom, Tunis Street, Opp. Al Ahli Bank

Delivery & Installation Free After Sales Service

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americanmattress.com.kw

The American Academy

for girls

The American Academy for Girls, commonly known as AAG, was founded in 1995. The majority of AAG’s students are Kuwaiti, with a significant minority of students from other Gulf countries and abroad. Teachers are recruited from the United States, Canada, and other English-speaking countries, and from within Kuwait. AAG is one of five educational member institutions privately owned by the Al-Jeel Al-Jadeed Educational Institute.

Mission The American Academy for Girls is a private, single gender school, which provides an American style education crafted to meet Kuwait educational requirements and encourages students in their pursuit of academic excellence.

Core Values of AAG We believe that the community will strive to: • Provided learning experiences to cultivate self respect, resilience, and integrity • Create opportunities for personal, social, and academic excellence through the advancement of analytical skills,

independence, and responsibility • Maintain open lines of communication and work together with the school community for the success of

students.

• Develop citizenship, worldwide awareness, and an understanding for diversity • Continuously assess and modify the school’s curriculum for the optimal learning environment

Profile of an AAG Graduate The American Academy for Girls believes in fostering an environment of high academic achievement by empowering girls and young women to be: • Critical thinkers and problem solvers • Effective communicators • Academic achievers in a collaborative environment • Global citizens We guide students to experience that learning is best achieved through reflection, parental involvement, and community collaboration. The American Academy for Girls welcomes all nationalities and teaches appreciation of different cultures and respect for diversity within the international community.

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The American Academy

for girls

Contact Us: on Phone:

(965) 2563-9612 /14 /15, (965) 2562-1090

Facsimile Number: (965) 2563-9648 or Email:

jab@aag.edu.kw

Mailing Address: PO Box 6087 Hawalli 32035 Kuwait

Street Address: Block 5 Street 1 Bldg 288 Salwa, Kuwait

Changing Face of Higher Education

A

greater proportion of young people receive higher education in the United States than in any other country. These students also can choose from more than 4,000 very different institutions. They can attend two-year community colleges or more specialized technical training institutes. Traditional fouryear institutions range from small liberal arts colleges to massive state universities in places like California, Arizona, Ohio, and New York, each with multiple campuses and student populations exceeding 30,000.

Approximately one- third of US colleges and universities are private and generally charge tuition costs substantially higher than staterun public institutions.

Study in the United States

Foreign students have long been a familiar and vital element of American higher education. The top five areas of study for international students are business and

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management, engineering, physical and life sciences, social sciences, and mathematics and computer science. International students attend US colleges and institutions for the same reasons that Americans do: academic excellence, unparalleled choices in types of institutions and academic programs, and great flexibility in designing courses of study and even in transferring between different institutions.

With a wide range of tuition and living costs, plus opportunities for financial aid, foreign students find that a US education can be affordable as well. Most large schools have international student advisers, and a worldwide network of student-advising centers, along with a variety of publications, can guide prospective students through the sometimes complicated process of finding, applying, and being accepted by an American college or university.

Costs and Competition

Higher education in the United States is an enormous enterprise, costing almost $373 billion and consuming nearly 3 percent of the nation’s gross domestic product.

College costs for students can be high, especially for private institutions, which do not receive general subsidies from either state or federal governments. To ensure equal access to education for all, the United States administers an extensive financial aid program for students. Seven out of 10 students receive some form of financial aid, which typically combines grants, loans, and work opportunities to enable full-time students to meet their living costs and tuition.

Recently, several of the nation’s wealthiest and most prestigious universities – schools like Harvard, Princeton, Yale, Columbia, and Dartmouth, among others – announced plans to substantially increase their financial

aid for low- and middle- income families.

Students compete for openings in the nation’s better colleges and universities.

At the same time, American institutions of higher learning of all types must broadly compete for the nation’s top students and to admit sufficient numbers to maintain their enrollments. The most prestigious American universities – public and private – receive hundreds of applications for each opening. At the same time, it is true that most secondary school graduates with good grades and strong scores on college entrance exams receive hundreds of solicitations from institutions of higher learning.

Reflecting the decentralized nature of American education, state governments may license institutions of higher learning, but accreditation, which grants academic standing to the college or university, is accorded by nongovernmental associations, not by states or the federal government.

G.I. Bill

For much of their history, American institutions of higher learning remained bastions of privilege, with a predominantly white, male population. That pattern didn’t change significantly until passage of the G.I. Bill in 1944, when the federal government paid for millions of World War II veterans to attend college. (G.I., which stands for “government issue,” became a casual term for any Army soldier in World War II.) The G.I. Bill of Rights included subsidies for attending virtually any recognized institution of higher learning, as well as payments for vocational training and subsidies to encourage home ownership. Congress

didn’t expect many to take advantage of the college provision, but within two years more than 1 million veterans were enrolled at the nation’s colleges and universities, doubling the number of college students. Over a seven-year period, the G.I. Bill enabled more than 2.2 million veterans to attend college.

The social impact of the G.I. Bill has been little short of revolutionary. As scholar Milton Greenberg points out, “Today, American universities are now overwhelmingly public, focused heavily on occupational, technical, and scientific education, huge, urban-oriented, and highly democratic.”

In subsequent decades, colleges and universities grew rapidly, as veterans were followed by their children, the so-called baby boom generation that began entering college in the 1960s.

Colleges and universities also began opening their doors wider to minorities and women. In recent years, more women than men have been attending colleges and universities and earning more bachelor’s and master’s degrees – a pattern that shows no signs of changing, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. The proportion of minority students attending college has increased as well – from 14 percent in 1981 to 27 percent in 2005. Much of the change can be attributed to growing numbers of Hispanic and Asian students.

African American enrollments rose from 9 percent to 12 percent in the same period.

Community Colleges

For an American high school graduate with a modest academic record and limited funds, enrolling in a community college

may be a better option than attending a four-year college or university. Two-year, associate-degree programs in such growing professional fields as health, business, and computer technology can be found at most of the nation’s roughly 1,200 community colleges. Community colleges are also gateways to four-year undergraduate institutions for students who need to bolster mediocre high school grades with stronger college credits. Taking advantage of low fees and liberal admissions policies, more than 11 million American and an estimated 100,000 international students now attend community colleges.

HBCUs

Most Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) were founded at times when either slavery or segregation ruled the South, and higher education for African Americans elsewhere was ignored or marginalized. Although the first college for African Americans – now Cheney University of Pennsylvania – was established in 1837, many of today’s most prestigious black schools were established immediately after the Civil War, including Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee; Howard University in Washington, DC; and Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia.

Nineteen public HBCUs were founded with passage of the Second Morrill (Land Grant) Act in 1890 – many in the then firmly segregated South. Today the White House Initiative on HBCUs counts 40 fouryear public colleges and universities, 50 four-year private colleges, and 13 two-year community and business schools.

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California Miramar University (CMU) Although there are hundreds or even thousands of higher education institutions around the globe that offer their educational services domestically and internationally, very few of them provide economical , high quality, and internationally accredited education.

CMU believes that higher education should be affordable and that you shouldn›t have to break the bank to finance your education. On campus programs all offer year round enrollment. The faculty members at CMU drive the University›s innovative capacity as experts in their fields because of their combined academic and professional knowledge and expertise.

At California Miramar University, faculty members are chosen not only based upon their academic qualifications, but for their desire to teach and share their first hand professional experience with their students.

Our students are the main focus of all operations running at CMU; simply we are all there working to help them achieve their goals! According to our policy, we are customer focused; we spare no effort to provide guidance, support, and opportunity to our students. For that reason, CMU is an ideal destination for students in Kuwait to pursue their education.

California Miramar University (CMU) is a nationally accredited university through Distance Education and Training Council (DETC) and Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS).

You are invited to visit our campus in Kuwait to know about our four-year Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) program along with our 14-month Master of Business Administration Program (MBA) - both programs must be done via a full-time attendance scheme.

We, at CMU, are more than keen on supporting you in pursuing your education and achieving your goals!

Hanan Haloush Program Director-Kuwait 56

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The 14 Most Beautiful and Iconic American College Quads Although the college quad first became associated with academia on the campuses of Oxford and Cambridge, most of America›s great universities are now built around a similar model of surrounding a central space with residence halls and classrooms.

Many of these collegiate spaces have been listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places, and are considered among the most iconic examples of American architecture and design.

We›ve compiled a list of some of the most beautiful and iconic examples of American campus quads:

University of Alabama — The Quad The Quad at the center of UA’s campus used to host football games, but now might be best known as the home of Denny Chimes.

Harvard University — Harvard Yard Harvard Yard is the oldest part of Harvard’s campus, and the buildings surrounding it include freshman residence halls and some of the school’s main libraries.

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Cornell University — Arts Quad

University of Virginia — The Lawn

Cornell’s Arts Quad is the academic home of the Arts and Sciences college, and is watched over by two statues of the university›s founders, Ezra Cornell and A.D. White.

The Lawn at UVA was designed by school founder Thomas Jefferson and the Rotunda at the north-end of the quad was inspired by the Pantheon in Rome.

University of Missouri — Francis Quadrangle

Yale University — Branford Courtyard

Mizzou’s Francis Quadrangle — known on campus as The Quad — features two of the school’s most recognizable structures, Jesse Hall and The Columns.

The courtyard of Yale’s Branford residential college is considered by many — including, reportedly, poet Robert Frost — to be one of the most beautiful spaces of any college in America.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology — Killian Court - The center of MIT’s Killian Court is the

Great Dome, which is surrounded by marble buildings engraved with the names of prominent thinkers and philosophers.

University of Washington — The Quad The UW Quad is known for the scenic cherry trees that bloom in the springtime, bringing a beautiful light pink overtone to campus.

University of Pennsylvania — The Quad

University of Maryland — McKeldin Mall

The UPenn Quad hosts the majority of freshman residence halls and is the most desirable place to live your first year on campus.

UMD›s McKeldin Mall is flanked on either end by the school’s main library and a statue of its mascot — Testudo — a diamondback terrapin turtle.

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Stanford University — Main Quad

University of Wisconsin–Madison — Bascom Hill

The Main Quad is home to the Stanford Memorial Church, considered to be the earliest nondenominational church on the West Coast.

Bascom Hill is actually a drumlin — literally a «small hill» — that was likely formed by a glacier 20,000 years ago.

University of Michigan — The Diag The Diag — known for the diagonal walkways that cut through the square — is a central meeting place at UMich.

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign — Main Quad: The UIUC Main Quad houses Foellinger Auditorium, a concert space and lecture hall that can seat over 1,500 students.

University of Texas at Austin — South Lawn 60

America - Kuwait (2014)

Southern Methodist University — Main Quad

The British Institute of Training and Education ‫المعهد البريطاني للتدريب والتعليم‬ General English Courses

The After School Club!

Here at the AFTER SCHOOL CLUB, we host children and teenagers in our educational environment with a unique blend of fun and excitement. We bring to them learning opportunities beyond the scope of their school curriculum.

While we help children to improve their studying skills, we help them learn about their strengths and weaknesses and more importantly, we guide them to learn about their potentials and foresee career options. Self-management, time management, team work, problem solving, budgeting and communication are examples of the competencies children are to develop and improve upon completing our AFTER SCHOOL CLUB.

Our well experienced and proficient English teachers invite you all to acquire and improve your English language competency for all purposes.

Our English courses are designed to enable you to fulfill your work duties competently, to lead your academic education successfully, to socialize with groups and individuals appropriately, to assist your children in doing their homework confidently, to comprehend and enjoy what is written and said to you through the different communication channels, etc.

Professional Sign Language Interpreter- Kuwaiti Dialect “You have heard how through a little word dropped from the fingers of another, a ray of light from another soul touched the darkness of my mind and I found myself, found the world, found God.” –Helen Keller

Arabic Courses for Non-Arabic Speakers

We at BITE create learning opportunities to offer more communication tools to widen the scope of interaction between members of our community. We are committed to assisting members of the deaf community who strive to pursue their higher education.

Improve your Arabic language with our qualified and proficient Arabic Teachers here at BITE. We offer Arabic Courses to Non-Native speakers that cover the four fundamentals of the Arabic language: Reading, Writing, and Listening & Speaking. Our courses offer you the blend of the various Arabic dialects and the Arabic Language that are most commonly used in business environments.

Our proficient sign language instructors offer you effective tools to assist deaf students in universities to make the most of the learning sessions and lectures and to accomplish best in exams. Join our sign language courses to create more positive and effective communication channels within the community.

Boost Up Your Computer Skills, Photoshop & InDesign To lead your career goals, to enhance your leadership competencies and to compete you must improve your computing applications skills. To lead the responsibilities as a professional in any industry you must be able to make the best use of computing aids. We offer you a range of quality computing applications courses that range from the Do’s and Don’ts of using search engines such as Google, basic skill training for Microsoft applications to understanding the terminology of copyrights, etc. We also offer courses in Photoshop and InDesign to enable you to perform and achieve more effectively.

Jaber Al Mubarak Street, Sharq Dasman Commercial Complex, Block 2B, 3rd Floor Tel:- +965 22470117 /6 /5 Fax:- +965 22470118

@retailacademy

@ra_bite

Welcome immigrants!

America

is glad to have you

A Permanently Unfinished Country

T

62

he United States has been called “a permanently unfinished country,” because it has been continuously built and rebuilt by immigrants. Indeed, it has been the world’s leading destination country for immigrants from the 19th century to the present. Newcomers pose a recurrent challenge fundamental to American life: How can communities of immigrants - different from natives and from each other - learn to act collaboratively under conditions of openness, change and choice?

to help meet this challenge by enlarging immigrants’ opportunities for education and social mobility. Leaders have also promoted a pluralistic form of democracy that includes newcomers in voluntary activity and civil association. Immigration has sparked social and cultural change that has resulted in immigrants and nativeborn citizens partnering to create a shared collective and institutional life, both as a national community and as a constellation of local communities marked by differences in class, race, religion and culture.

US legislators and policymakers have promulgated laws and institutional reforms

Early Immigrants

America - Kuwait (2014)

In the 1840s, an average of 170,000

immigrants arrived each year on US shores and, by 1850, 10 percent of the country’s total population of 23,000,000 was foreign-born. From the 1840s to the Civil War, Irish Catholic immigrants fleeing from famine spurred the growth of cities and provided the labor for canal building and railroad construction. Germans, Dutch and Scandinavians moved into the upper Midwest where their family farms developed the region’s agricultural economy. They often established rural communities that replicated the villages of Norway, Sweden, Germany and the Netherlands. Emigration from southeastern China also increased during this period. Farmers and laborers

whose families had lived for generations in the vicinity of Hong Kong and its hinterland began to immigrate to the United States and Hawaii to seek improved living conditions and opportunities.

In the decades after the Civil War, the immigrant flow reached new peaks. By the 1880s, more than 500,000 immigrants entered the country each year. The majority of these newcomers continued to come from Ireland, Germany, the Netherlands and Scandinavia.

Britain and Canada also supplied many newcomers.

In the 1890s, the patterns of European immigration began to shift from northern and western Europe to southern and eastern Europe, bringing Italians, Greeks, Slavs and Jews from eastern Europe and Russia, who were labeled as “new immigrants� by newspapers of the day. The number of immigrants arriving each year rose to just under a million. Fearing the re-composition of the American populace by immigration, some opinion makers and leaders called for the exclusion of immigrants from Asia and the introduction of a quota system based on national origin to reduce the number of immigrants from Europe, especially from countries in southern and eastern Europe. In 1921 and 1924, Congress followed suit and passed new legislation establishing restrictive quotas and exclusions.

Ellis Island, sold by New York State to the US government for the princely sum of ÂŁ5,500 at the beginning of the 19th century, was the main entry point to the US

From 1930 to 1960, immigration played a minor role in American life. The quota system greatly limited the flow of legally admissible foreign-born persons. In addition, the high unemployment levels of the Great Depression created an enormous economic disincentive for immigrating to the United States, and World War II hindered voluntary migration. After the war ended, the US admitted some refugees, but the quota system limited immigration.

20th-Century Turning Point

A turning point occurred in 1965 with the adoption of the Hart-Celler Immigration Act. This law abolished exclusions and restrictions on immigration based on race and national origins and established a new immigration framework prioritizing family reunification and occupational preferences. This opened the US to people from all parts of the world and generated a large influx both of highly educated and less well-educated immigrants. The number arriving each year began to equal and exceed the annual immigration rates of the early 20th century. Most importantly, the national origins of immigrants shifted from Europe to Latin America and Asia. By 2000, more than half of all US immigrants came from Latin America and over a quarter came from Asia, in contrast to a century earlier when nearly nine out of 10 immigrants came from Europe.

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“ Love ye therefore the (Immigrant): for ye were (immigrants)...”

Dout 10:19

Germany < > Mexico < > Italy < > Great Britain < > Ireland < > Canada/Newfoundland < > Russian Federation 7,227,324 6,675,296 5,443,948 5,320,551 4,786,062 4,561,629 4,050,706

Austria < > Hungary < > Phillipines < > China < > Sweden < > India < > Cuba < > Dominican Rep. < > Korea 1,849,270 1,680,833 1,673,400 1,477,660 1,264,263 998,713 980,343 915,274 858,638

Africa < > France 841,088 838,387

Misc. Asia 1,964,610, S. America 1,084,745, Cen. America 959,588, Caribean 935,659, Europe 272,285, America 110,188, Not specified 355,154

Japan 556,524

<>

< > Vietnam 832,785

Portugal < > 527,972

<>

Poland < > Norway < > 808,395 760,335

Columbia < > 473,128

Haiti <> 468,067

Greece < > Jamaica < > Salvador 735,059 641,475 579,973

Turkey < > Hong Kong < > Netherlands 461,282 435,288 393,069

Denmark < > Switzerland < > Spain < > Oceania < > Romania < > Iran < > Equador < > Yogoslavia < > Belgium < > Israel < > Argentina < > Czechoslovokia 378,323 375,446 306,904 279,358 270,104 265,909 259,657 258,177 220,008 190,519 168,249 160,874 The USCIS website (usds.gov/graphics/shared/statistics) lists exactly 50 categories in its chart of the number of immigrants from each country from 1820 through 2003 - the same number as the stars on the U.S. flag. Much of Africa didn’t have nations when these records began so it is reported as a single continent. “ Ocenia” means Australia and surrounding island nations including NewZealand.68,923,308 legally immigrated between 1820 2003. Mexico is second on this list, but propotionate to U.S. population at the time of immigration, has had less impact than those who came much earlier whose raw numbers are smaller. Thanks to CRW Flags for most of flags icons. (www.crwflags.com) The 115, 864 legally admitted from Mexico in fiscal 2003 is down from 219,380 in 2002 and 206,426 in 2001. USCIC quotas don’t allow legally accepted immigrants from any country, who are accepted because they are extended family members or have jobs here, to extend 7% of total immigration. Thus 25,600 were legally admitted to work during the most recent year for which there are statistics, and 29,526 becuase they were extended family members of U.S. citizens. Immediate family members of citizens escape thethe 7% cap, so 42,586 spouses, 14826 children, and 20,786 parents were received.

Smaller categories: 116, refugeeand asylee adjustment; 14, diversity programs; 2,461 cancellation of removal; 1,516, misc.

Flag of U.S. Immigration < > America’s International Roots From the 1970s to the start of the 21st century — an era of increasing globalization — immigrants continued to select the United States as their preferred destination. More than ever before, the US populace was heterogeneous, and the United States’ reputation as a land of opportunity and a society open to ethnic and cultural pluralism continued to attract newcomers. Just as the national foods, speech, music, dress and behaviors of Italians, Germans, Jews and Irish had transformed US communities during the Industrial Revolution, the cultures brought by Mexican, Brazilian, Korean, Filipino, Arab and Caribbean immigrants reshaped cultural and consumer behavior in the post-industrial era.

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New Immigrants Adapt

By the late 20th century, the descendants of the early 20th century “new immigrants” from southern and eastern Europe — and the first Asian, Hispanic and Caribbean immigrants from that era — were fully integrated into US society. Slavic, Jewish and Mediterranean immigrants of the early 20th century had gained a central place in the regional culture of the industrial North, while Mexicans in the Southwest, and Chinese, Japanese, Koreans and Filipinos of the Pacific coast and Hawaii, profoundly influenced these regions. Moreover, as residential and social mobility increased among the descendants of these immigrants, ethnicity became less significant in occupational, educational, housing, and even marriage choices.

Since 1824

The United States successfully maintained national cohesion while absorbing the enormous influx of immigrants of the early 20th century. Recently, some scholars and commentators have wondered whether this pattern will continue as the nation integrates arrivals from Latin America, Asia, Africa, Europe and the Middle East.

Some public leaders and commentators indicate that continued popular support for immigration depends on the long-term progress and integration of all immigrant groups. History shows that successive waves of US immigrants have displayed remarkable creativity and flexibility in adapting to the American pluralistic culture, even as they helped to transform it.

US Peace Corps: Serving the World

T

he US Peace Corps started as a simple challenge to American college students to give up two years of their lives to help people in countries in the developing world, and it became a significant humanitarian assistance effort

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to bring help and hope to the people of 139 nations with more than 200,000 American volunteers. On March 1, 2011, the Peace Corps celebrated 50 years of service to the world.

The original mission of the Peace Corps â&#x20AC;&#x201C; to send Americans abroad to share skills, promote peace and friendship and to improve inter-cultural understanding â&#x20AC;&#x201C; is anchored to one of the most optimistic moments in US history. An exhausted John

F Kennedy, the story goes, was campaigning for election as president in 1960. He arrived at the University of Michigan in the middle of the night, ready to sleep, but when he encountered a crowd of 10,000 students who had been patiently waiting for him, candidate Kennedy agreed to speak. For some reason, instead of simply shouting a few campaign slogans and going to bed, JFK issued a historical challenge that would echo across generations: “How many of you who are going to be

doctors are willing to spend your days in Ghana?” he asked. “Technicians or engineers, how many of you are willing to work in the Foreign Service and spend your lives traveling around the world?”

Kennedy’s quick and improvised speech looked ahead to the famous line from his inaugural address a few months later: “Ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.” But this first challenge to the students in Michigan was more specific, and it struck a strong nerve among those who heard it.

As it turned out, there were plenty of Americans willing to spend their days in Ghana, their lives traveling the world. The idea was not entirely new, but a major government initiative to create and manage such a force of volunteers was new, and in March 1961, only months after being sworn in as president, Kennedy signed Executive Order 10924, providing for the establishment and administration of the Peace Corps. “Life in the Peace Corps will not be easy,” he warned. “Men and women will be expected to work and live alongside the

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67

nationals of the country in which they are stationed – doing the same work, eating the same food, talking the same language.”

Despite these challenges, volunteers signed up by the thousands. As more and more governments invited the Peace Corps to work in their countries, the program quickly expanded from two countries – Ghana and Tanzania – to dozens of developing countries worldwide. They lived deep in their assigned cities and villages. They worked with farmers, teachers, and health workers; they taught English; they helped raise fish and farm animals.

Throughout the 1960s, Peace Corps volunteers were assigned to newly independent but impoverished countries emerging from colonialism.

The organization’s lofty goals of peace and development were genuine, and so was the Cold War–inspired mission to promote democracy and improve America’s image and influence. In the 1970s, assignments became more targeted, and volunteers with more work experience were selected to serve. The average age of volunteers rose during this time – from 22 to 28 – and the percentage of volunteers over the age of 50 also climbed. By 1974, the Peace Corps had been invited to work in 69 countries, an alltime high.

In 1979, the Peace Corps was finally granted full autonomy within the executive branch of the US government (it had previously been an agency within the State Department). During President Ronald Reagan’s administration in the 1980s, the size of the program and number of volunteers dropped, but new initiatives, especially to promote food security, were launched in the Caribbean, Central America and Africa.

The organization continued to evolve with the times. In 1991, after the collapse of the Soviet Union, volunteers were assigned to Eastern Europe for the first time, to Lithuania, Estonia and other newly independent nations, where they were asked to help with small business development. These were transitional programs designed to assist countries as they moved from socialist- to market-based economies; within 10 years, the Baltic States programs closed, their job completed.

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In 1993, the first volunteers arrived in China, primarily to teach English. Fifteen years later, there were 114 “US-China Friendship Volunteers,” as Peace Corps volunteers (PCVs) are known there, teaching English in dozens of universities, medical schools and vocational colleges throughout the country.

Whatever the prevailing global political climate, once on the ground Peace Corps volunteers simply struggle to connect, fit in, and find meaningful work.

This impact travels both ways and crosses oceans. Returned Peace Corps volunteers come home to the United States with knowledge of the cultures they’ve visited – and with new world views. They go into education, health care,

development work, politics, business and the arts. Most continue working to “strengthen Americans’ understanding about the world and its peoples,” one of Kennedy’s original goals for the Peace Corps.

Of course “the world and its peoples” continued to change. After Sept 11, 2001, for example, as US embassies around the world fortified their buildings, security concerns caused the Peace Corps to close some programs in some Central Asian countries and reassign them to areas such as the Caribbean and Latin America, which were perceived as safer.

In the years since those first volunteers

traveled to Africa, support for the Peace Corps has grown dramatically, with 13,000 applications considered for about 4,000 positions annually. The 2010 fiscal year budget was $400 million, the agency’s largest appropriation from Congress.

The biggest of the Peace Corps’ program sectors are education (37 percent) and health and HIV/AIDS (22 percent). The highest percentage of volunteers serves in Africa (37 percent) and Latin America (24 percent). In Sept 2005, Peace Corps volunteers for the first time were deployed domestically to assist the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s relief operations in the Gulf Coast region following hurricanes Katrina and Rita. The three goals set forth at the organization’s founding continue to guide the Peace Corps: helping the people of interested countries in meeting their need for trained men and women; helping promote a better understanding of Americans on the part of the peoples served; and helping promote a better understanding of other peoples on the part of Americans. The commitment required of a Peace Corps volunteer is a 27-month term of service.

While the minimum age for volunteers is 18, there is no upper age limit. The average volunteer age is 28, but 7 percent of volunteers are over the age of 50.

Today, more than 9,000 volunteers are serving in some 77 countries. They work on projects in education, health, HIV/AIDS, business, the environment, agriculture and youth development. The Peace Corps’ mission remains unique. Despite great changes in the United States and in the world over the decades, the Peace Corps continues to attract bipartisan US political support. More than 200,000 Americans have served in the US Peace Corps in 139 countries.

In a proclamation to honor the Peace Corps on its 50th anniversary in 2011, President Obama said, “With each village that now has access to clean water, each young woman who has received an education, and each family empowered to prevent disease because of the service of a Peace Corps Volunteer, President Kennedy’s noble vision lives on.”

Independence Day: A Day of Pomp and Pride wasn’t enough: They wanted to explain their decision to the world. So two days after its momentous vote, the Continental Congress approved the Declaration of Independence and sent copies throughout the fledgling country.

The declaration bore the date of July 4, which the new nation embraced as Independence Day. Adams was right about the ways Americans would celebrate. Even as the new nation fought to make independence a reality, July 4 was quickly marked by parades, concerts, dinners and fireworks.

The 1777 celebration in Philadelphia included music by a band of Hessian soldiers — mercenaries fighting for Britain who had been taken prisoner the previous winter. Parades to celebrate Independence Day began as military displays but quickly became democratic affairs. The 1788 parade in Philadelphia was more than a mile long, with horse-drawn floats and workers of all kinds marching in costume.

Rowdy Celebrations Quiet Down

T

he founders of the United States knew that independence was something to celebrate. And although US Independence Day celebrations have evolved over time, July 4th festivities remain an important part of American life. But Independence Day wasn’t supposed to be on July 4. In the spring of 1775, after more than a decade of agitation against British policies and the first battles of the War for Independence, the 13 American colonies sent representatives to the first Continental Congress in Philadelphia. After much debate about severing ties with Britain, the representatives voted unanimously for independence on July 2, 1776.

The next day, in a letter to his wife, Massachusetts Representative John Adams said the date “ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more.” Many representatives to the Continental Congress worried that a vote on independence

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The ways in which Americans mark July 4 have quieted down, according to James Heintze, a retired American University librarian and a historian of Independence Day. Through much of the 19th century, he says, it was a “loud, raucous time,” and the noise was considered a show of patriotism — whether by small boys with firecrackers, miners with dynamite or towns with artillery firing salutes throughout the afternoon. A major feature of the holiday during the 1800s would have been a patriotic speech by a leading citizen, sometimes lasting as long as two hours. “That was kind of the media event of that time,” Heintze explains.

Independence Day has also been used by Americans to express dissenting political views. In the years leading up to the American Civil War, leaders of the anti-slavery movement organized events — typically on July 5 — to remind people that, for African Americans, the Revolution’s promise of liberty had not been fulfilled. And from the beginning of the Civil War, Americans in the South stopped celebrating July 4 out of loyalty to the Confederacy. July 4th celebrations did not return to parts of the South for more than 35 years, Heintze says.

Today, most citizens celebrate in much the same ways as Americans did during the 18th century, with parades, picnics, neighborhood parties, outdoor concerts, sporting events and fireworks displays at night. Government offices and many businesses are closed, and workers typically have a paid holiday. July 4 also remains a day for making a commitment to the country, as the signers of the Declaration did in 1776 when they pledged “our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor” to securing American independence. In many cities and at many historic sites, thousands of immigrants take an oath of allegiance and become US citizens on Independence Day.

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Abraham Lincoln

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incoln warned the South in his Inaugural Address: “In your hands, my dissatisfied fellow countrymen, and not in mine, is the momentous issue of civil war. The government will not assail you....

You have no oath registered in Heaven to destroy the government, while I shall have the most solemn one to preserve, protect and defend it.”

Lincoln thought secession illegal, and was willing to use force to defend Federal law and the Union. When Confederate batteries fired on Fort Sumter and forced its surrender, he called on the states for 75,000 volunteers. Four more slave states joined the Confederacy but four remained within the Union. The Civil War had begun.

The son of a Kentucky frontiersman, Lincoln had to struggle for a living and for learning.

Five months before receiving his party›s nomination for President, he sketched his life: “I was born Feb. 12, 1809, in Hardin County,

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Kentucky. My parents were both born in Virginia, of undistinguished families--second families, perhaps I should say. My mother, who died in my tenth year, was of a family of the name of Hanks.... My father ... removed from Kentucky to ... Indiana, in my eighth year.... It was a wild region, with many bears and other wild animals still in the woods.

There I grew up.... Of course when I came of age I did not know much. Still somehow, I could read, write, and cipher ... but that was all.”

for Senator. He lost the election, but in debating with Douglas he gained a national reputation that won him the Republican nomination for President in 1860.

Lincoln made extraordinary efforts to attain knowledge while working on a farm, splitting rails for fences, and keeping store at New Salem, Illinois. He was a captain in the Black Hawk War, spent eight years in the Illinois legislature, and rode the circuit of courts for many years. His law partner said of him, “His ambition was a little engine that knew no rest.”

Lincoln never let the world forget that the Civil War involved an even larger issue. This he stated most movingly in dedicating the military cemetery at Gettysburg: “that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain--that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom-and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”

He married Mary Todd, and they had four boys, only one of whom lived to maturity. In 1858 Lincoln ran against Stephen A. Douglas

As President, he built the Republican Party into a strong national organization. Further, he rallied most of the northern Democrats to the Union cause. On January 1, 1863, he issued the Emancipation Proclamation that declared forever free those slaves within the Confederacy.

Lincoln won re-election in 1864, as Union military triumphs heralded an end to the

war. In his planning for peace, the President was flexible and generous, encouraging Southerners to lay down their arms and join speedily in reunion.

The spirit that guided him was clearly that of his Second Inaugural Address, now inscribed on one wall of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D. C.: “With malice toward none; with charity for all; with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in; to bind up the nation›s wounds.... “ On Good Friday, April 14, 1865, Lincoln was assassinated at Ford›s Theatre in Washington by John Wilkes Booth, an actor, who somehow thought he was helping the South. The opposite was the result, for with Lincoln’s death, the possibility of peace with magnanimity died.

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n November 22, 1963, when he was hardly past his first thousand days in office, John Fitzgerald Kennedy was killed by an assassin’s bullets as his motorcade wound through Dallas, Texas.

Kennedy was the youngest man elected President; he was the youngest to die.

Back from the war, he became a Democratic Congressman from the Boston area, advancing in 1953 to the Senate. He married Jacqueline Bouvier on September 12, 1953.

In 1955, while recuperating from a back operation, he wrote Profiles in Courage, which won the Pulitzer Prize in history.

Of Irish descent, he was born in Brookline, Massachusetts, on May 29, 1917. Graduating from Harvard in 1940, he entered the Navy.

In 1943, when his PT boat was rammed and sunk by a Japanese destroyer, Kennedy, despite grave injuries, led the survivors through perilous waters to safety.

In 1956 Kennedy almost gained the Democratic nomination for Vice President, and four years later was a first-ballot nominee for President. Millions watched his television debates with the Republican candidate, Richard M. Nixon. Winning by a narrow margin in the popular vote, Kennedy became the first Roman Catholic President.

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His Inaugural Address offered the memorable injunction: «Ask not what your country can do for you--ask what you can do for your country.» As President, he set out to redeem his campaign pledge to get America moving again. His economic programs launched the country on its longest sustained expansion since World War II; before his death, he laid plans for a massive assault on persisting pockets of privation and poverty.

Responding to ever more urgent demands, he took vigorous action in the cause of equal rights, calling for new civil rights legislation.

His vision of America extended to the quality of the national culture and the central role of

the arts in a vital society.

He wished America to resume its old mission as the first nation dedicated to the revolution of human rights. With the Alliance for Progress and the Peace Corps, he brought American idealism to the aid of developing nations. But the hard reality of the Communist challenge remained.

Shortly after his inauguration, Kennedy permitted a band of Cuban exiles, already armed and trained, to invade their homeland. The attempt to overthrow the regime of Fidel Castro was a failure. Soon thereafter, the Soviet Union renewed its

campaign against West Berlin. Kennedy replied by reinforcing the Berlin garrison and increasing the Nation’s military strength, including new efforts in outer space. Confronted by this reaction, Moscow, after the erection of the Berlin Wall, relaxed its pressure in central Europe.

Instead, the Russians now sought to install nuclear missiles in Cuba. When this was discovered by air reconnaissance in October 1962, Kennedy imposed a quarantine on all offensive weapons bound for Cuba. While the world trembled on the brink of nuclear war, the Russians backed down and agreed to take the missiles away. The American

response to the Cuban crisis evidently persuaded Moscow of the futility of nuclear blackmail.

Kennedy now contended that both sides had a vital interest in stopping the spread of nuclear weapons and slowing the arms race--a contention which led to the test ban treaty of 1963. The months after the Cuban crisis showed significant progress toward his goal of «a world of law and free choice, banishing the world of war and coercion.»

His administration thus saw the beginning of new hope for both the equal rights of Americans and the peace of the world.

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Thanksgiving: A Cornucopia of Culinary Traditions

Sharing a meal with family and friends is a major part of American Thanksgiving.

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n the autumn of 1621, almost one year after the English Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock in what is now Massachusetts, they gathered with the Wampanoag Indians for a feast celebrating the colonists’ first successful harvest. A blend of Native American and English Puritan customs, the three-day celebration combined eating with expressions of gratitude and friendship.

Historians believe the two groups dined on foods native to North America such as turkey, duck, venison, lobster, crab, berries, pumpkin and squash. Although the modern American Thanksgiving menu differs slightly from the original fare, the holiday’s essence remains the same: giving thanks for what you have and sharing with others.

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Modern Interpretation The modern Thanksgiving meal still revolves around foods native to North America.

Turkey — whether brined overnight, basted with butter in the oven or deep fried outdoors — takes center stage. In fact, so many Americans eat turkey on Thanksgiving that the holiday is often referred to as “Turkey Day.” Side dishes typically include bread stuffing, cranberry sauce and mashed potatoes, with slices of pumpkin pie for dessert.

Regional Variations While the typical Thanksgiving meal consists of staple foods such as turkey and cranberry sauce, how those staples are interpreted depends largely on who is doing the cooking. Different family traditions, ethnic backgrounds and regional flavors make each Thanksgiving meal unique.

In the U.S. Northeast, for example, a Thanksgiving meal might feature a turkey glazed in Vermont maple syrup and bread dressing spruced up with chestnuts, rosemary and thyme. And no Baltimore Thanksgiving would be complete without a side dish of sauerkraut — a testament to the city’s German heritage.

Chefs in the U.S. Southeast are responsible for variations that have become popular outside their region.

Southeastern concoctions such as cornbread dressing with oysters and candied sweet potatoes with roasted marshmallows are showing up on tables across America. How to finish the meal is an area for greater variation, with Floridians choosing Key lime pie, Georgians preferring pecan pie and North Carolinians opting for sweet potato pie.

A volunteer delivers a tray of Thanksgiving dinners to guests at a California rescue mission. Each plate contains modern staples such as turkey, dressing, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes and gravy, green bean casserole and bread rolls.

The bill of fare in the U.S. Midwest honors the region’s status as America’s heartland.

Diners might gobble up wild rice dressing in Minnesota, green bean casserole in Illinois and cranberry sauce with cherries in Michigan. Folks in Indiana might finish their meal with persimmon pudding, a steamed pudding similar to England’s plum pudding that features the local persimmon fruit.

Inspired by Native American, Mexican and Spanish culinary traditions, a Thanksgiving menu in the U.S. Southwest may feature

plenty of spice. Southwestern chefs might serve turkey rubbed in ancho chile paste and cumin alongside cornbread dressing dotted with green chiles and whipped sweet potatoes infused with chipotle peppers.

Pumpkin flan might take pumpkin pie’s place as the preferred Thanksgiving dessert.

A region renowned for its plentiful produce, the U.S. West boasts a fresh Thanksgiving flavor. Cooks in California might season their turkeys with garlic, sage and thyme and incorporate wild mushrooms into their

sourdough dressing. Their counterparts in Washington might substitute mashed yams for potatoes and sprinkle local hazelnuts into their dressing.

From maple syrup and chestnuts to garlic and hazelnuts, the regional variations of the modern Thanksgiving meal reflect not only the unique history of each cook, but also the rich diversity of America. How to repurpose the holiday’s leftover food is yet another area of great debate — and variation.

Most Americans would consider a Thanksgiving meal incomplete without turkey. According to the National Turkey Federation, onefifth of all turkeys consumed in the United States are eaten on Thanksgiving.

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Certified Halal in the USA

Ken White/State Department

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alal restaurants are booming in the United States, from kabob shops to food trucks. South Asian and Middle Eastern cuisine is appreciated by Muslims and non-Muslims alike, and most such restaurants feature halal meat.

As the U.S. Muslim population increases, more authorized organizations certify food as halal — conforming to Muslim standards. Consumers who see one of these organizations’ symbols on a package know that the food is free from pork or anything haram, or forbidden. Certification ensures that Islamic guidelines for the slaughter and processing of meat have been observed.

Early Muslim immigrants to the United States formed informal associations to preserve religious customs surrounding birth, death and daily life. Muslim migrants to California early in the 20th century kept their traditions in small, local groups. This was repeated throughout the United States, in places like Cedar Rapids, Iowa, home of the first U.S. mosque, where observant Muslims have resided since the 1880s.

According to Hajj Habib Ghanim, president

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of the USA Halal Chamber of Commerce and director of Halal Certification at the Islamic Society of the Washington Area (ISWA) in Silver Spring, Maryland, Muslim student associations sparked demand for halal food in the 1960s, a demand that increased as the Muslim population grew.

Also, American businesses exporting food to Muslim countries needed a reliable way to demonstrate that their food was halal.

Ghanim’s organization started when he was working for the U.S. Arab Chamber of Commerce, which helps businesses complete paperwork and certification requirements for exports to the Middle East.

Those concerned about halal called the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to find out about halal-certified foods, but the USDA monitors food health and safety rather than compliance with religious requirements, so people turned to the U.S. Arab Chamber of Commerce.

“I would refer some of these people to local centers to have somebody do the slaughter and issue the paper and I would stamp it to show it was in compliance. It was very scattered and very informal. So that is how

we got started in 1987,” Ghanim says.

More certification organizations sprang up.

Today, besides ISWA, there are several main certifiers operating in the United States, among them the Islamic Food and Nutrition Council of America, Islamic Services of America, the Islamic Society of North America›s Halal Certification Agency and Halal Food Council International.

Until recently, most halal certification was for foods exported to Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Pakistan, Indonesia and Malaysia, among other Muslim countries. But the domestic market is catching up.

“Business is growing so fast — like lightning.

It amazes everybody. …You have hospitals, schools, cafeterias, all the main chains like Kentucky Fried Chicken, Subway, Cheesecake Factory,” Ghanim says. The halal label attracts business too, he adds.

Halal certification organizations inspect restaurant and grocery suppliers, the large and small factories that process meat. Large poultry producers Tyson, George’s, Koch and Pilgrim are among ISWA›s clients.

Ghanim says the halal certification business owes a lot to kosher food certifiers, who have performed a similar function for much longer and know the industry. “We have learned from them. We have a good relationship with people like Star-K and others because of the similarities,” he says. “We learn from our Jewish cousins who have been doing it for years. We are learning and we are getting a lot of support from them.”

The United States government is not involved in religious matters, which is why agencies such as the USDA do not certify halal or kosher foods. That must be done by religious authorities or those they sanction.

USDA does inform exporters of other countries’ import standards and directs exporters to U.S. halal certifiers approved by destination countries. ISWA is among those internationally recognized halal certifiers.

Besides being halal, food must be tayyiban, or wholesome, meaning clean and free from contamination, to be certified. “The USDA does half of our work there,” Ghanim says, referring to strict USDA hygienic standards.

ISWA inspects factories to make sure that halal meats are processed separately from nonhalal meats, on equipment that has not been used for pork. Small factories may set aside special days for halal processing.

Larger factories that export to foreign markets have dedicated halal processing facilities.

ISWA certifiers cooperate with USDA agents and onsite veterinarians. They also verify that individuals who oversee the halal slaughter and recite appropriate prayers are practicing Muslims of good standing. ISWA guarantees all procedures are followed.

ISWA staff offer training for food industry personnel and programs to increase cultural understanding. As a co-founder of the World Halal Council, ISWA works with a network of halal certification organizations to promote unified, global halal standards. “We are trying to do more education programs with trade missions and get people to recognize and trust the halal symbol,” Ghanim says.

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1941

4

F RE E DOM S The speech that moved America , tyranny gripped much of the world. Fascist Italy had annexed Ethiopia.

Japan had invaded China .Nazi Germany had conquered Norway, Denmark, Holland,

In 1941

Belgium and France and stood poised to invade Great Britain.

U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt had recently proposed sending aid to Great Britain, but knew many Americans felt strongly that their nation should stay out of the conict. Roosevelt decided to explain to Americans and to all the peoples of the world why resisting aggression was necessary.

“Just as our national policy in upon a decent respect for the rights and the dignity of all our fellow men, so our national policy in foreign aairs has been based on a decent respect for the rights and dignity of all nations, large and small.”

President Franklin D. Roosevelt 6th January 1941

Roosevelt oered this vision to the U.S.

Congress and the American people on January 6, 1941. The president described the threat to the United States and other democratic nations and enunciated a vision of a peaceful, secure, democratic world in which individuals would enjoy fundamental human rights. President Roosevelt’s words became known as the “Four Freedoms” speech, for on that day FDR enunciated the rights which the nation would defend— freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom from want and freedom from fear. These, Roosevelt explained, were not just for Americans, but for all peoples. This was “no vision of a distant millennium,” he promised. “It is a denite basis for a kind of world attainable in our own time and generation.”§ Nations and peoples would look to Roosevelt’s four freedoms as they built the postwar world. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted by the United Nations in 1948, and other instruments guaranteeing fundamental freedoms bear the imprint of Roosevelt’s speech. Today, Americans continue to build the world Roosevelt envisioned, a world where people everywhere are free to speak and to pray , free from want and from fear.

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The Dream Lives on, the Work Continues

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“It was a very peaceful day. A sea of white as well as black faces enveloped the Mall,” the late Dorothy Height, president emeritus of the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW), wrote in 2005. Height, one of the march’s organizers, sat behind King on the platform. “I think it was a decisive moment not only in U.S. civil rights history, but also in American history. It resulted in a new determination to move toward equality, freedom and greater employment for people of color.”

t was a speech that the world cannot forget. On August 28, 1963, an estimated 250,000 people marched to the Lincoln Memorial in Washington where they heard Martin Luther King Jr. give a speech destined to resonate According to Height, “The real significance through the ages. of the march, and the speech, was that it changed attitudes. Righteous indignation In what became known as the “I Have a against racial discrimination became Dream” speech, King gave impassioned widespread after the march. It led to a voice to the demands of the U.S. Civil time so full of promise and achievement.

Rights Movement — equal rights for all You could feel it.” citizens, regardless of the color of their skin.

Less than a year after the march, President Lyndon Johnson signed into law the Some historians maintain that King’s 1964 Civil Rights Act, which banned speech, delivered at one of the largest discrimination in public facilities, such civil rights demonstrations in U.S. as hotels and restaurants, and also history, was one of those rare moments prohibited employment discrimination. that changed a nation — paving the The following year, passage of the Voting way for a transformation of American Rights Act ensured African Americans law and life. could freely exercise their franchise.

Martin Luther King Jr. acknowledges the crowd gathered for his “I Have a Dream” speech at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington.

The speech—delivered in 1963—was part of the March on Washington to support proposed civil rights legislation.

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In 1968, the Fair Housing Act sought to remove discrimination in buying and renting of housing. That legislation was complemented by new policies, such as affirmative action, designed to counter the legacy of discrimination.

King’s dream of racial equality and fight for justice transcended U.S. borders. He traveled the world proclaiming his vision of the “beloved community” and defining racism as a worldwide evil. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964.

The sweeping legal changes seemed abrupt to some Americans, and U.S. communities struggled to catch up. In a 1963 Newsweek poll, 74 percent of whites said racial integration was“moving too fast,”a viewpoint that seems shocking today when attitudes are very different. By 2000, a New York Times poll reported 93 percent of whites said they would vote for a qualified black presidential candidate. More than 60 percent approved of interracial marriage. And 80 percent said they did not care whether their neighbors were white or black.

In his 1967 book, Where Do We Go From Here: Chaos or Community?, King stated that, “Among the moral imperatives of our time, we are challenged to work all over the world with unshakable determination to wipe out the last vestiges of racism .…

Racism is no mere American phenomenon.

Its vicious grasp knows no geographical boundaries.”

The dream King expressed at the March on Washington is now part of the U.S. political mainstream. His birthday is a national holiday on which Americans honor his ideas and his memory. His legacy is commemorated with a memorial in the nation’s capital, near those dedicated to Abraham Lincoln, Thomas Jefferson and Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

Height. “Wherever I have been in the world these last 40 years, it’s incredible to me how much people know about the Civil Rights Movement and Dr. King — often in very specific detail. The world was watching us on that day,” she says. “The march touched the world as well as America.”

Formed of solid granite, the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial in Washington captures the leader’s unwavering commitment to civil rights and commemorates his legacy of peaceful protest.

Even on the day of his “I Have a Dream” speech, when he was addressing Americans in particular, King was conscious of the worldwide impact of the march and its message. “As television beamed the image of this extraordinary gathering across the borders and oceans,” he said, “everyone who believed in man’s capacity to better himself had a moment of inspiration and confidence in the future of the human race.”

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Count Basie at the final rehearsal of the popular Burmese song “Emerald Dusk” in Rangoon, Burma Courtesy of Special Collections, University of Arkansas Libraries, Fayetteville

The Real Ambassadors: America Exports Jazz

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rom the 1950s to the 1970s — as jazz took the world by storm, thanks to popular jazz broadcasts like Willis Conover’s Voice of America radio show, Music USA — the U.S. Department of State sent dozens of America’s greatest jazz musicians to tour the globe sharing their unique talents. Dubbed “the Jazz Ambassadors,” these American jazz greats were embraced by enthusiastic audiences from Africa to the Middle East, Europe, Asia and Latin America.

America’s jazz ambassadors were thrilled by the opportunity to “play for the people.” They were so committed to reaching out to foreign audiences that several artists refused to play concerts until eager fans unable to afford tickets were admitted for free. Many of the musicians were equally eager to learn about the music and culture of their international hosts and held impromptu jam sessions with local musicians.

Southern University Jazz Ensemble Director Alvin Batiste (left) teaches Togolese musicians to play “Soul Soothing Beach” from Duke Ellington’s Togo Brava Suite during a workshop at the USIS Cultural Center in Lomé, Togo.

Courtesy of Special Collections, University of Arkansas Libraries, Fayetteville

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The Dave Brubeck Trio featuring Gerry Mulligan in concert at the Palace of Culture in Warsaw, Poland Courtesy of the Brubeck Collection, Holt-Atherton Special Collections, University of the Pacific Library, Copyright Dave Brubeck

Through the power of jazz, these artists were able to transcend national boundaries, build bridges and tell a larger story about freedom in America. Jazz Ambassador Louis Armstrong explained it best as he sang on the album, The Real Ambassadors, produced in collaboration with fellow Jazz Ambassador Dave Brubeck and his wife, Iola: The State Department has discovered jazz; It reaches folks like nothing ever has.

Like when they feel that jazzy rhythm, They know we’re really with ’em.

That’s what we call cultural exchange.

Duke Ellington addresses the audience at a reception in his honor hosted by the U.S. ambassador in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Courtesy of Special Collections, University of Arkansas Libraries, Fayetteville

Lucille Armstrong films Louis in a classic tourist setting in Giza, Egypt. Courtesy of the Louis Armstrong House Museum

Clark Terry and His Jolly Giants perform at the Pakistan American Cultural Center in Karachi, Pakistan.

Courtesy of Special Collections, University of Arkansas Libraries, Fayetteville America - Kuwait (2014)

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Hip-Hop: From the Streets to the Mainstream

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ip-hop is more than just music. The term encompasses a whole culture, and that helps explain how it has become one of the most influential elements shaping global entertainment and youth self-expression. All over the world, hip-hop is a tool for explaining the complexities of daily life and speaking truth to power, whether through spoken lyrics, graffiti art, dance or disc jockey mastery.

Not to be confused with commercial rap - which often glorifies material excess, violence and misogyny - hip-hop was born in the South Bronx, New York, more than 40 years ago as an alternative to self-destructive gang culture. Hip-hop gave disaffected youth in impoverished neighborhoods an opportunity to channel their frustrations into art rather than violence. In a rented Sedgwick Avenue recreation room on Aug 11, 1973, a Jamaican-born DJ named Kool Herc debuted the art of separating the breakbeat from recorded songs and extending it using two turntables that were playing the same record.

Herc’s friend Coke La Rock began rapping over the infectious beats. The sound sparked an instant revolution, and it was soon being

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recreated at parties all over the South Bronx.

The extended breakbeat also encouraged the evolution of break dancing, in addition to rapping, and graffiti artists offered a visual complement to the musical and dance performance. “Culture doesn’t begin on a single day, but events can happen on a single day that put a lot of things in motion,” says Ben Ortiz, assistant curator of Cornell University’s Hip Hop Collection in Ithaca, New York. The university has been preserving hip-hop artifacts and recordings since 2007 and boasts the largest collection of its kind in the world.

South Bronx DJ and founder of the hip-hop awareness group the Universal Zulu Nation chose the term “hip-hop” as the name for the culture and identified its core elements as rapping or emceeing, breakbeat deejaying, break dancing (b-boying and b-girling) and graffiti art. “The fifth element that Afrika Bambataa described is knowledge, and hip-hop’s art forms are the tools to achieve it,” Ortiz said. “Knowledge, in this case, means an awareness, a consciousness and understanding about the world and understanding of yourself, your history and heritage and the heritage of other people.”

Cornell’s curator of rare books and manuscripts, Katherine Reagan, says the university not only is preserving the story of hip-hop’s beginnings, but also giving its originators and new artists a chance to tell the story to students and community youth organizations, as well as musicologists.

“We want to give this living culture a voice because the originators of that culture are by and large still alive and we want to include them in this process of documentation while we still can,” she said.

Hip-hop grew to include techniques such as vocal percussion, known as beat boxing, and vinyl scratching, and through recordings such as the Sugarhill Gang’s 1979 hit “Rapper’s Delight,” its fan base began to expand from the urban African-American, Afro-Caribbean and Latino communities of the South Bronx to include suburban American kids of all racial and ethnic backgrounds.

Cornell has recruited hip-hop pioneer Afrika Bambaataa as a visiting scholar. The

Today, without question, hip-hop is a global phenomenon. Break dance moves have spread to countries that only recently have been connected to the Internet, and

rap lyrics are being spoken in nearly every language. Easily adapting hip-hop to their own cultures, young artists worldwide are using it to express themselves, as bluntly or as eloquently as they prefer, making statements on anything from love and abandonment to poverty and corruption.

Noting hip-hop’s amazing growth from its roots in the South Bronx, Bambaataa said the culture “has brought more people together than all the politicians on Earth put together.” “Through hip-hop, people in different religions who wouldn’t ever speak to one another come together. People of different races and nationalities who would never cross barriers and borders or come into each other’s homes do so because of the music and culture of hip-hop,” Bambaataa said. “Understanding each other is the power of hip-hop.”

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Modern Cowboy Maintains Many Traditions

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t is cold in Wyoming and the first snow blankets the ground white, even though it is only mid-September. This is the time of year Duane Wood likes best, when he moves cattle to pastures near the ranch so they will be easier to find and feed when the real storms of winter arrive. As the days grow shorter, Wood’s pace slows ever so slightly.

Before long, he and other ranch workers will be pushing cattle into corrals, sorting them and separating the calves. As summer quickly wanes, Wood is getting ready for winter. Slim, with a quiet manner and neat mustache, he repairs fences and corrals and positions the hay for easier winter feeding.

He also cuts and hauls firewood to heat his family’s home.

Driving the Cattle It is tough to define “cowboy” today. Once thought of as a man on horseback in the American West, today’s cowboy still values his horse but also may use an all-terrain vehicle or pickup truck. In the 1800s, most cowboys were young men who helped gather cattle on southern ranges, mainly in Texas, and moved them on cattle drives so they could roam, eat, and grow fat to be eventually sold.

The early image of the cowboy might be a young man driving hundreds or thousands of head of cattle over the land, crossing rivers, eventually selling the herd and then spending his pay in rail towns like Dodge City or Abilene in Kansas, or Ogallala, Nebraska. Over time, more people moved into the range areas. Some of the range was fenced, and while the size of many ranching operations diminished, others have remained large enough for thousands of head of cattle. On those ranches, cowboys maintain the tradition of moving the cattle to be certain they have plenty to eat and caring for the herds.

The ranch where Wood works also conducts research to improve the cattle breed, and he spends part of his time tracking cattle

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statistics such as birth and weaning weights.

The office work punctuates the physical labor of ranching. Wood has not always lived and worked cattle on the Wyoming ranch that employs him now. Like many cowboys he has moved around to seek new or better opportunities. In the past, he worked on a ranch in New Mexico.

Man, Horse and Dog No matter where a cowboy works, two of his most important tools are his horse and his dog. The horse provides transportation to gather the cattle, especially where the country is rough and rugged; the dog helps with the work. Wood’s dog, Rosie, is an assistant and a companion when he works alone, as often is the case. Wood trains his own horses. “My relationship with my horse is not unlike my relationship with my wife,” Wood said. “We depend on each other. He takes care of me; I take care of him.”

A cowboy’s work changes with the seasons.

In the fall, Wood gathers the cows and calves, then separates them (weaning the calves from their mothers) so the calves can be shipped and sold to feeders, who will raise them for another year until they are

sold. Most ranches keep some of the heifer (female) calves for breeding to replenish the herd. Others, like the ranch where Wood works, keep young bull calves to raise and sell in the spring when other ranchers need them for breeding in their own herds.

During the winter, Wood keeps the cattle close to the home ranch so it is easier to feed them hay as snow piles up. Regardless of the weather, the cattle must be fed every day, and that is the main work on a ranch until calving begins in the late winter or early spring. When Wood sets out on a winter day or night to check cattle as a Wyoming snowstorm blows across the mountain country, he wears several layers of clothes: insulated underwear, heavy wool shirt, wool vest, heavy overcoat, jeans and wool socks inside his insulated boots. His gloves are warm, usually waterproof. If he needs to clear the ice from a water tank, he can put his hand in, remove the ice and never get his fingers wet. If a blizzard is howling outside, Wood knows his job; he must head into the bitter cold to feed the herd or handle some other task. “We just do it. We may dread going out the door, but we just do it.”

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Ranch hands come in all sizes: Wood’s 8-year-old daughter, Cora, regularly helps out her dad.

Professional cowboy Duane Wood’s responsibilities include driving cattle on the ranch and running statistics in the office. Candy Moulton

Growing the Herd Spring work involves calving, branding the calves to establish ownership, fixing fences and preparing to move cattle out to the summer range. For calving, Wood moves the cows to a pasture that has trees and other natural protection not far from ranch headquarters. This part of the yearly work is hard. Using a vehicle or a horse, Wood moves through the herd, day and night, checking on the calves, doctoring any that are sick with a shot of medicine, and making sure new ones are paired with their mothers.

Sleep comes in short snatches, as the herd must be evaluated every few hours.

“Ultimately, we are in animal husbandry,” Wood says. “They depend on us, and we’ve got to be there to help them.” That can mean moving the animals from an area where water or grass no longer is available or assisting a cow giving birth. A cowboy is always aware of the livestock. During the summer, the cattle are on ranges farther from ranch headquarters, eating the natural grass and forage. This time of year, Wood becomes a hayfield worker, cutting, baling then stacking the hay where it will be available as winter feed.

On some ranches, cowboys might spend summer days riding from dawn until nearly

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dark, moving cattle to different pastures, checking for illness and caring for the herd. The image of a cowboy decked out in cowboy hat and chaps (leather leggings they place over their pants for protection against weather or brush), wearing boots and spurs that jingle when they walk, is accurate to a degree; all cowboys wear that outfit some of the time, and Wood does too. But today’s cowboys are just as likely to wear a short-billed baseball cap (usually advertising a type of livestock feed, ropes or perhaps fertilizer) and jeans without chaps.

In winter, they often wear insulated overalls and a wool “scotch” cap with warm ear flaps.

Cowboy Families Cowboys come in all shapes and sizes, and they are male and female. Ranch women who work with cattle often are also called cowboys. They might be 18 or 38, or in some cases 8, as is Wood’s daughter, Cora, who has been riding and helping her dad move cattle since she was 3. As a tot she rode Chester, a Shetland pony, and Wood used a long lead to guide the pony as they rode.

Eventually Cora took the reins herself, and now she rides a quarter horse just like her dad. Chester has become the mount of her little brother, Bonner, 5, and like Cora, he began riding alone at age 3.

Sometimes Wood’s wife, Laurie, helps move cattle. As is usually the case on ranches, Laurie and the children may do the work of cowboys, but they don’t receive a paycheck.

Though she is small, Cora is a cowboy kid who knows how to saddle and unsaddle her own horse, how to clean his feet, where to ride as they move the cattle, how to open the gate — and then how to get out of the way so the cattle can move through it.

Ranch kids are strong, self-reliant, usually dependable, and they are hard workers because they learn early to take part in the work, Wood says.

“What keeps me in this life is the outdoors and the cattle,” Wood said. The opportunity to “get my kids on horseback once in a while” also is attractive because he wants to pass on cowboy traditions. He enjoys the satisfaction of riding his horse across good rangeland, where the grass is abundant and nutritious, or through a swiftly flowing creek or river, knowing it provides good water for the animals. “I don’t do the same thing every day,” Wood says. “My association with other people is very limited. Most of the time I’m not around a lot of people, and I don’t mind that. Matter of fact, I get along a lot better with animals than people.”

Power consumers Rain sensor Cigarette lighter

Sliding roof Heated rear window Back up light

Heated and remotely controlled outside mirror Air condition

Hifi- and TV-system

Stoplight

Car computer

Windscreen wiper

Night sensing equipment

Fan

Fuel pump Alarm system

Injection

Central locking system

Ignition

Seat heater Power windows

ESP Headlightscleaningsystem

Navigation system Engine management system Indicator

Ventilator Parking distance control system

Starting motor

Dimmed headlight / driving light ABS / TCS

Fog light Automatic tyre pressure control

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Halloween: An Ancient Celebration

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alloween — celebrated on October 31 — is one of the most ancient holidays still observed in the Western world. Once it was the most important day of the year for the Celtic peoples, whose descendants include the Irish, Welsh, Scots and Bretons. Samhain, as it was known then, was believed to be a time when the souls of the dead were set free for one night to roam the earth. Bonfires were lit to help guide these souls back to the land of the dead and to frighten them away from the living. Offerings of food were made to appease potentially threatening spirits.

Throughout history, many agrarian cultures celebrated the harvest with festivals. The Romans, for example, honored Pomona, the goddess of orchards and the harvest, on November 1. It coincided with the Celts’ Samhain festivities, and where Romans and Celts inhabited the same villages in Europe, customs intermingled.

When Christianity spread across the Roman Empire and beyond, church leaders often found ways to assimilate existing pagan holidays into new Christian ones. Thus, Samhain celebrations were incorporated into the feasts of All Saints’ Day on November 1, which commemorates early Christian martyrs, and All Souls’ Day on November 2, when all the dead are remembered with prayers. The evening immediately preceding All Saints’ Day was known originally as “All Hallows’ Eve” (“hallowed” means “sanctified” or

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“holy”), and it is from this title that Halloween derives its name.

Various immigrant groups brought their Halloween traditions to the United States. But the holiday really took root with the mid-19th century arrival of millions of Irish escaping famine in their motherland. The Irish brought with them the Halloween customs handed down to them by their Celtic forebears, and soon Halloween celebrations spread across America, merging with similar

observances practiced by Africans, Germans, English and Scots. Today, Halloween — although not a public holiday — is hugely popular with the American public.

Halloween Customs Carving pumpkins Jack-o’-lanterns recall an Irish legend about a man who tried to outwit the Devil and was condemned to wander the earth for eternity using as a lantern a lighted ember in a carved turnip. Today Americans delight in carving pumpkins into fantastical faces, and there are even competitions showcasing this unusual art form.

Dressing in costumes During Samhain, masked Celts representing the souls of the dead tried to trick the wandering spirits by forming a parade to lead them out of the villages of the living.

Today, Americans enjoy dressing up as witches, ghosts, goblins, politicians and movie characters each Halloween.

Trick-or-treating Today costumed children go from house to house calling “trick or treat” — mostly a good-natured bribe that threatens some sort of “trick” if the children are not given a candy “treat.” The custom descends from “souling,” when the earliest Christians offered little pastries and breads to the poor, who, in exchange, would pray for the souls of departed family members.

Halloween serves good causes, too. In 1950 the “Trick or Treat with UNICEF” fundraising campaign began in the United States as a way for schoolchildren to help their peers who are in need. It has since spread around the world.

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Bold Colors, Textures on New York Runways

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eavy, voluminous coats, sweater dresses and chunky cable-knit sweaters took on a heightened relevancy on the runways as fashion executives struggled to navigate the snow and slush of New York Fashion Week. But even the miserable winter weather couldn’t dampen the enthusiasm of retailers for the fall collections.

“So many designers were presenting collections that you want to wear now,” said Tomoko Ogura, senior fashion director at Barneys New York. Barbara Atkin, vice president of fashion direction at Holt Renfrew, said, “We’re seeing what we want to wear right now. I need that fur scarf, I want the Marc by Marc Jacobs boots.”

Several retailers identified the trend of“urban warriors” or “urban survival” on the runways, which mirrored what was happening outdoors. “Women were going into fashion week worried, ‘How am I going to layer up?’ ” Atkin said. “This season, you see the melding of seasons.” That was evident in the heavy coats or sweaters thrown over lightweight fabrics, such as Michael Kors’ chiffon dress worn with a heavy cardigan. “Our closets are filled with light and heavyweight fabrics,”

Atkin said. “It’s all in the mix. New York spoke to that in a very strong way.”

Here’s what retailers had to say: Ken Downing, senior vice president and fashion director, Neiman Marcus Favorite collections: Victoria Beckham, Narciso Rodriguez, Rodarte, Alexander Wang and Prabal Gurung.

Favorite trends: “Jog pants and tweeds and laces injected with metallics. The global wanderer where designers took inspiration from cultures such as India, Guatemala, Japan and China and gave it a modern attitude. Also knit dressing and ponchos.”

Sound off: “Gray is very pretty, but the customer loves color. We found color and are still looking for color. We’re hoping to see an embrace of color in London. Many collections with oversize clothes that all but forgot about the female form.”

Jennifer Cuvillier, style director of Le Bon Marche Favorite collection: “Proenza Schouler was the most exciting show of the season with high-tech fabrics and vivid colors.”

Favorite trend: The artistic touch with beautiful novelties in terms of fabrics,

patterns, prints, drawings and 3-D effects.

Must-haves: Novelty shearling in color; multicolored patchwork coats, and oversize jackets.

Up-and-coming talents: “Opening Ceremony and Phillip Lim are fresh and easy with new silhouettes. Edun was great with the new designer direction.”

Aymeric de Beco, chief merchandising officer and head of buying at Printemps Favorite collection: “Victoria Beckham, luxurious fabrics, perfect coats. Feminine yet sharp. We’re opening a shop-in-shop for her on Feb 28.”

Favorite trends: Luxurious coats and strong pops of color.

Trend I’d like to see go away: “The mule bootie.”

Colleen Sherin, senior fashion director, Saks Fifth Avenue Favorite collections: Michael Kors, Donna Karan, Ralph Lauren, Jason Wu, Oscar de la Renta, Derek Lam, Altuzarra, Marc Jacobs and Alexander Wang.

Favorite trends: “With a focus on luxe layers and an emphasis on rich textures, New York America - Kuwait (2014)

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has put us in a warm and cozy mood for fall/winter 2014. The polar vortex has been designers’ number-one muse this season.”

Must-haves: Shearling jackets and vests; sculpted, round-shouldered jackets and cocoon-shape coats; bomber jackets; novelty knitwear culottes and gauchos, and fringe.

Up-and-coming talent: Ryan Lobo and Ramon Martin of Tome presented a strong collection.

children’s wear, Harrods Favorite shows: Victoria Beckham, Carolina Herrera, 3.1 Phillip Lim and Marc by Marc Jacobs.

Favorite trends: “Last season’s tailoring was given a feminine twist with organza hemlines and chain closures. The lean pants were very wearable and elegant. The boyishness of last season was replaced

Ed Burstell, managing director, Liberty of London Favorite collection: “Alexander Wang. Well worth the trek to Brooklyn. The show was a masterwork of fabric technology mixed with modern utilitarian detail.”

Favorite trend: Reworking of outerwear, from work jackets at Rag & Bone, Victoria Beckham’s vintage-inspired modern coats, Phillip Lim’s shearlings, The Row’s stunning sweepers and Altuzarra’s wool coats with electric accents.

Trend I’d like to see go away: “Brown. It rarely looks good on anyone!”

Helen David, fashion director, women’s wear, accessories, fine jewelry and

by sophisticated tailoring that was flattering and commercial.”

Linda Fargo, senior vice president, fashion office and store presentation, Bergdorf Goodman Favorite collections: Prabal Gurung, Michael Kors, Rodarte, Proenza Schouler, Diane von Furstenberg and Marc Jacobs.

Favorite trends: “Winter white was a favorite color, and coats were strong in

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Must-haves: Generous coats; bomber, biker and sleeveless jackets; big, chunky-knit oversize ski sweaters; fuller pleated pants and track pants in dressed-up fabrics, asymmetric midcalf-length skirts.

Up-and-coming talents: “Public School. We bought it for men’s wear and I was excited by what I saw for women’s wear. Jonathan Simkhai, we’re getting behind him.

We’re watching Hood by Air and Rosie Assoulin.”

every collection. Knits, shearling, fur, suede and double-face were favorites as cozy materials.

Simplified luxurious sportswear and modern tailoring.”

Sound off: “We would like to see more shows back at Lincoln Center.”

Brooke Jaffe, operating vice president and fashion director for women’s ready-to-wear, Bloomingdale’s Favorite shows: Band of Outsiders, Marissa Webb, Narciso Rodriguez, Ralph Lauren, Alice + Olivia, Michael Kors and Marc by Marc Jacobs.

Favorite trends: “The biggest message is going to be about mixing fabrics and textures.

Big, cozy chunky sweaters with texture paired with something soft and fluid. Longer lengths,

Tomoko Ogura, senior fashion director, Barneys New York Favorite collections: The Row, Baja East, Public School — “we’re eagerly waiting for the introduction of women’s.” Also, Pas Barbara Atkin, vice president of fashion direction, Holt de Calais, Protagonist and R13.

Favorite trends: The slouchy Renfrew Favorite collections: Marc by Marc Jacobs, Alexander Wang, look, wider trousers, oversize outerwear, knits, more forgiving Phillip Lim, The Row and Oscar de la Renta.

Favorite trends: Heavy coats and sweaters thrown over coat silhouettes and forest green. lightweight silk and chiffon dresses, parkas, furs, fluffy furry sweaters, the belted waist, dresses over pants. shine and sparkle, fluid pants and culottes.”

Up-and-coming talents: Band of Outsiders, Wes Gordon and Marissa Webb. “I’m excited about the newness Luella Bartley will bring to Marc by Marc Jacobs.”

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Must-haves: Prabal Gurung’s chunky waffleand cable-knit sweater, Edun’s striped herringbone wide-leg trouser, Thakoon’s striped turtleneck capelet, Public School’s cape, Altuzarra’s double-faced coat, Pas de Calais’ sweater coat.

Sound off: “The logistics are crazy, but because it’s been such a strong season, I’m able to be forgiving about all that.”

Must-haves: Two-piece sweater sets with pencil skirts, fit-and-flare skirts, longer silhouettes, moto and bomber jackets, men’s wear coats, crewneck sweaters and track pants.

Up-and-coming talents: Timo Weiland, Alexandre Herchcovitch and Clover Canyon.

Suzanne Timmins, senior vice president, fashion director, Hudson’s Bay, Toronto Favorite collections: Alexander Wang, Prabal Gurung, Proenza Schouler and Donna Karan.

Favorite trends: Utility and survival references, urban parkas, high necks, layering details, multiple pockets and big knits.

Must-haves: Big knits, full trousers, novelty skirts, something gray and roomy coats.

Up-and-coming talent: “I loved the Protagonist collection. It was relaxed, modern chic.”

Jeffrey Kalinsky, vice president, designer fashion director, Nordstrom Favorite collections: Alexander Wang, Joseph Altuzarra, Proenza Schouler and Marc Jacobs.

Favorite trends: Fur-trimmed pieces, midcalf skirts, puffy jackets and heavy knitwear.

Must-haves: Anything fur, including a scarf, hat or fur-trimmed parka.

Up-and-coming talent: “We were excited about the debut of Public School’s women’s collection.”

Sarah Rutson, fashion director, Lane Crawford, Hong Kong Favorite collections: Victoria Beckham, Marc by Marc Jacobs, Alexander Wang and J Crew.

Favorite trends: Winter white and flashes of bold color, more tailoring worn with a soft sweater and skirt or pants.

Trends I’d like to see go away: “Brown, it never sells, especially in our market.

Asymmetric hemlines won’t translate to anyone but a niche group.”

Must-haves: A beautifully tailored coat and a cozy, slightly oversize sweater with a soft midcalf skirt.

Sound off: “Perhaps there are some brands in the contemporary area that really don’t need to be doing fashion shows.”

Nicole Fischelis, group vice president and fashion director, global forecasting, Macy’s Favorite collections: Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger, Marc by Marc Jacobs, Michael Kors, Calvin Klein and Vera Wang.

Favorite trends: The new take on men’s wear, loosening proportions, the leisure feeling, winter florals, an array of plaids, lots of shine and metallic in colors.

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Khajak Keledjian, founder and chief executive officer, Intermix Favorite collection: “Proenza Schouler felt very fresh and forward.”

Favorite trends: Men’s wear, wide-leg pants, vests, suiting fabrications, plaids and pinstripes with a modern edge.

Must-haves: Rag & Bone’s men’s wear jacket with red contrast, Phillip Lim’s patchwork shearling and leather coat. Veronica Beard’s Neoprene-bonded leather biker jacket.

Up-and-coming talent: “We started carrying Marissa Webb this season.”

Must-haves: The boots at Alexander Wang, the coats at Victoria Beckham and the knits at The Row.

Flow batteries store energy in external tanks, instead of inside the battery container itself

Battery advance

could boost renewable energy take-up

US researchers have made an important step forward in the quest to store electricity from intermittent energy sources such as wind and solar.

A

Harvard University team came up with a way to drive down the cost of flow battery technology, which is capable of storing energy on large scales - within an electrical power grid, for example.

Grid-scale storage for renewables could be a game-changer - making wind and solar more economical and reliable.

Details appear in the journal Nature.

While flow battery designs are suited to storing large amounts of energy cheaply, they have previously relied on chemicals that are expensive or difficult to maintain, driving up costs.

Battery basics Electrode: Batteries contain two types of electrode where reactions take place.

A reaction in one generates electrons and a reaction in the other absorbs them, yielding electrical energy Electrolyte: Usually a liquid or gel containing an acid, base or salt. In batteries, it is the medium that allows electric charge to flow between the two electrodes

you do when the sun isn’t shining and the wind isn’t blowing? This problem is the one we think we can solve with a way to store massive amounts of electrical energy, if we can make it cost effective and safe. And we think we›ve taken a big step in that direction now.”

Much like fuel cells, flow batteries store energy in chemical fluids contained by external tanks, instead of within the battery container itself as do the solid-electrode batteries found in cars and mobile devices.

“[A flow battery is] similar to a fuel cell in that respect. It stores energy as hydrogen gas outside the fuel cell and when you need to convert that chemical energy into electrical energy, you run it through the fuel cell to make electricity,” Prof Aziz explained.

Most previous flow batteries have chemistries based on metals.

Vanadium is used in the most commercially advanced flow battery “The difference with a flow battery is that you need to run it forwards technology, but its cost is relatively high. Other variants contain and backwards. You run it backwards to turn the electrical energy into chemical energy and store it in the tanks. precious metal catalysts such as platinum.

Then you run it forwards to get the energy The researchers say their new battery already Other battery approaches back out, converting the chemical energy performs as well as vanadium flow batteries, for grid storage back into electricity.” but uses no precious metal catalyst and has an underlying chemistry that is metal-free, Lithium-ion: A type of The amount of energy that can be stored by a instead relying on naturally abundant, more rechargeable battery in which flow battery is limited only by the size of the affordable chemicals called quinones. charged lithium atoms move tanks and the amounts of storage chemicals from the positive electrode to the that can be afforded, he added.

These water-soluble compounds are organic negative electrode when charging, (carbon-based) and are similar to chemicals and back when discharging In an accompanying article in Nature, Grigorii that store energy in plants and animals.

Soloveichik, from General Electric Global “These molecules are cheap and they›re in all Sodium-ion: These work in Research in New York, called the results green vegetables, as well as crude oil,” said coa similar way to lithium-ion «promising», and said the approach “may author Michael Aziz from the Harvard School batteries, but promise lower costs serve as the basis for a new flow-battery of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) because sodium is so much more technology”. in Cambridge, Massachusetts. abundant than lithium The scientist, who was not involved with the The mismatch between the availability Liquid metal: Consists of a dense latest study, added: “If long-term capacity of intermittent wind or sunshine and the positive liquid metal electrode and energy efficiency retention can be changing demand for grid electricity is one of at the bottom of the battery and demonstrated, and if practically useful the main obstacles to boosting the fraction of a lighter liquid metal electrode batteries can indeed be prepared cheaply, then this technology will be suitable for a energy that comes from renewable sources. floating on top. A molten salt wide array of energy-storage applications.” electrolyte lies in-between Prof Aziz told the Nature podcast: “What do

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Jassem Al-Qanaei: Inventor and Innovator

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eet Jassem Malallah Al-Qanaei, a Kuwaiti inventor. The US-trained Qanaei has several interesting and practical inventions to his credit, and has been feted and recognised by many institutions and countries. Qanaei’s famous products include a speed bump that can produce electricity, a storm drain that prevents hazardous emissions and Speed Safety (SS), a device that can be implanted in vehicles to prevent accidents.

Qanaei holds a US patent for the underlying idea behind the SS device, a method for regulating the speed of a motor vehicle that includes the steps of sensing an open door, verifying the authorisation of a driver and preventing the flow of fuel to the engine until an authorised driver has securely closed the vehicle doors. The method also includes the steps of sensing that the driver’s seatbelt is securely fastened and limiting the flow of fuel to thereby provide a relatively slow speed until the seat belt is fastened and thereafter limiting the flow of fuel to provide a second pre-selected speed. Furthermore, the method includes the step of overriding the second pre-selected speed and activating a vehicle’s flashers when the second pre-selected speed is exceeded.

Qanaei’s latest invention to be patented in the US is a storm drain with water trap, which can be installed in the opening of a storm or sewer drain to close off the underlying drain channels and residual water therein from the open air, thus preventing escape of mold, mosquitoes and other hazards into the air. The device has an insert having an open top and bottom.

A shallow water trap pan is suspended below the insert. In dry conditions, the water trap contains little water, the relatively light weight of the trap and contained water allowing it to be lifted by springs against the bottom of the insert to form a seal. When runoff water flows into the drain, the greater amount of water and its weight draws the insert downward, extending the springs and opening a gap between the lower edge of the insert and the water trap pan to allow the runoff water to flow there through.

Qanaei has been awarded the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) award for ‘Outstanding Inventor’ and the Gold Award by the Seoul International Invention Fair for the SS device, among other recognitions.

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THE LEGEND A Chronicled History of Greatness

Muhammad Ali: The Greatest of all Time THE MAN

He’s still the most recognizable man on earth. And over forty years after he burst onto the scene as a gold-medal winner at the 1960 Rome Olympics, Muhammad Ali remains a magical figure, known and loved throughout the world.

His success as a boxer is widely respected, but Ali’s greatest triumph lies in his legacy as a champion, leader, humanitarian, and artist. His work both inside and outside the ring truly makes Muhammad Ali «The Greatest of All Time.»

CHAMPION

Muhammad has constantly been recognized for his contributions to sports. His honors include: • Sports Illustrated›s “Sportsman of the Century” • BBC’s “Sports Personality of the Century” • GQ magazine”s “Athlete of the Century” • World Sports Award’s “World Sportsman of the Century” As a boxer, Muhammad brought unprecedented speed and grace to his sport, while his charm and wit changed forever what the public expected a champion to be. His accomplishments in the ring are the stuff of legend – two fights with Sonny

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Liston, where he proclaimed himself “The Greatest” and proved he was; three epic wars with Joe Frazier; the stunning victory over George Foreman in the Rumble in the Jungle; and dethroning Leon Spinks to become heavyweight champion for an unprecedented third time. But there was always far more to Muhammad than what took place in a boxing ring.

LEADER

Muhammad’s life and career have been played out as much on the front pages of newspapers as on the inside sports pages.

His early relationship with the Nation of Islam and his insistence on being called Muhammad Ali instead of his «slave name,» Cassius Clay, heralded a new era in black pride. His refusal to be inducted into the United States Army anticipated the growing antiwar movement of the 1960›s. His willingness to stage his muchpromoted and publicized fights in such farflung locales as Kinshasa, Manila, and Kuala Lumpur signaled a shift from superpower dominance toward a growing awareness of the developing world.

Daring to go against political policy to help people in need, Muhammad has made goodwill missions to Afghanistan and North Korea; delivered sorely-needed medical

supplies to an embargoed Cuba; traveled to Iraq and secured the release of 15 United States hostages during the first Gulf War; and journeyed to South Africa to meet Nelson Mandela upon his release from prison.

HUMANITARIAN

Today, championing the issues in the developing world has become a major focus of Muhammad›s life. He has been instrumental in providing over 232 million meals to the world’s hungry. Traveling across continents, he has hand-delivered food and medical supplies to children in Cote D’Ivoire, Indonesia, Mexico, and Morocco among other countries.

In addition to his international efforts, Muhammad is equally devoted tohelping charities at home. He has visited countless numbers of soup kitchens and hospitals, and helped such organizations as the Make-A-Wish-Foundation and the Special Olympics. At the State Capitol in Michigan, he advocated new laws for protecting children.

He annually participates in “Fight Night,” which generates funds for the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Research Center at Barrow Neurological Institute, in Phoenix, Arizona.

He is also the namesake of the Muhammad

Ali Boxing Reform Act, a federal law that regulates professional boxing to protect boxers from unscrupulous promoters and poor health and bout conditions.

Muhammad has testified before the United States Senate several times regarding boxing reform.

For his humanitarian efforts, Muhammad has been the recipient of countless awards.

His recognitions include: • United Nations Messenger of Peace in 1998-2008, for his work with developing nations • Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2005, the United States of America’s highest civil award • Amnesty International’s Lifetime Achievement Award • Germany’s 2005 Otto Hahn Peace Medal, for his involvement in the U.S. civil rights movement and the United Nations • International Ambassador of Jubilee 2000, a global organization dedicated to relieving debt in developing nations • State of Kentucky’s “Kentuckian of the Century” • The Advertising Club of Louisville’s «Louisvillian of the Century» Other honors include an Essence Award, an XNBA Human Spirit Award and recognition from the National Urban League; 100 Black

Men; Givat Haviva; the Oleander Foundation; The National Conference of Christians and Jews; TIME magazine and many others.

career. He is also the co-author of Healing: A Journal of Tolerance and Understanding and The Greatest: My Own Story.

President Jimmy Carter once cited Muhammad as “Mr. International Friendship.

In 2005, Muhammad opened the Muhammad Ali Center in his hometown of Louisville, Kentucky. In addition to displaying a selection of his memorabilia, the Center›s exhibits focus on themes of peace, social responsibility, respect, and personal growth. In 2006, he partnered with CKX, Inc. to form Muhammad Ali Enterprises for the licensing of his name, image, and likeness and to continue promoting his cultural and philosophical legacy throughout the world.

ARTIST

Ever the entertainer, Muhammad has appeared in several motion pictures, including the big-screen adaptation of his first autobiography, The Greatest, playing himself. His life has been the subject of numerous films, including the Academy Award-winning documentary When We Were Kings and Michael Mann›s biopic, ALI, starring Will Smith.

Muhammad starred in the television film, Freedom Road, and has made guest numerous appearances on numerous popular television seriesranging from Diff›rent Strokes to Touched by an Angel. He also starred on Broadway in the short-lived musical, Big Time Buck White, and recorded a popular album, I Am The Greatest!

Muhammad recently published a memoir entitled, The Soul of a Butterfly: Reflections on Life›s Journey, in which he discusses the meaning of religion, forgiveness, and some of the defining moments in his life and

Muhammad has nine children: Maryum, Rasheda, Jamillah, Hana, Laila, Khaliah, Miya, Muhammad, and Asaad. He is married to the former Lonnie Williams of Louisville, whom he has known since her family moved across the street from the Clay family when she was 6 years old.

Whether promoting tolerance and understanding, feeding the hungry, studying his religion, or reaching out to children in need, Muhammad Ali is devoted to making the world a better place for all people. No athlete has ever contributed more to the life of his country, or the world, than Muhammad Ali. America - Kuwait (2014)

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San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick signals to the team’s line during the second half of a playoff game.

Super Bowl Sunday: An Unofficial Holiday for Millions

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ach year, on a Sunday at the end of January or beginning of February, tens of mil¬lions of Americans declare their own unofficial holiday. Gathered in groups large and small, nearly half of all U.S. households participate vicariously in a televised spectacle that has far outgrown its origins as a sporting event.

The Super Bowl, which determines the championship of American football, is most of all a shared experience, when Americans disproportionately choose to spend this day

in the company of friends.

Neither the hugely popular Major League Baseball World Series nor the National Basketball Association championship commands so intense a grip on the nation’s attention. Possibly this is because the Super Bowl is a single game, a winner-take-all contest. Add in the entertainments that have sprung up around the game and Super Bowl Sunday becomes an event even for those who are not football fans.

Super Bowl Beginnings American football is unrelated to the game most of the world knows by that name, which Americans and some others call soccer. And even the American game has vari¬ants, as there are slightly different rules for the versions played by col¬lege teams, professional teams and Canadian Football League teams. For most of its history, professional American football was played within a single National Football League (NFL). In 1960, a rival league, the American Football League (AFL), began to compete for premier talent. As the leagues contemplated a merger, they agreed to a single game each year between their respective champi¬ons.

Because many collegiate foot¬ball championships were known as “bowls” for the bowl-shaped sta¬diums that hosted them, one AFL owner referred to the new game as a “super” bowl. The name stuck.

Four Super Bowl games were played before the two leagues merged in 1970 into a single National Football League, which was realigned into the American and National “conferences.” Each year, the conference champions play each other in the Super Bowl to determine the NFL champion.

While most U.S. sports champion¬ships are determined in the home cities of the contestants, a Super Bowl — as with the Olympics and the World Cup — is awarded to a city some three years to five years in advance, opening the door to broad marketing and promotional opportunities.

Because the game is played in winter, it

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affords warm cities like New Orleans, Miami and Los Angeles a substantial advan¬tage.

Occasionally, a northern city with an indoor stadium will host the game. New Orleans is host¬ing the 2013 championship game, Super Bowl XLVII — between the Baltimore Ravens and the San Francisco 49ers — on February 3.

For the first time in Super Bowl history, two brothers will face off against each other as head coaches — Baltimore Ravens’ older brother John Harbaugh and San Francisco 49ers’ Jim Harbaugh.

A Super Bowl generates substantial economic activity within its host city. Many ticket holders, media representatives and others arrive a week before the game, exploring the area and spending freely.

Cities that seek to host the game must submit environmental plans detailing how they plan to make the Super Bowl as “green” as possible. On the eve of Super Bowl XLVII, the Super Bowl Host Committee will hold a community initiative called Super Saturday of Service. The program will be a collabora¬tion between the committee, NFL, City of New Orleans, the New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity and other groups and will result in the renovation and beautification of New Orleans public parks.

even Americans who are not football fans might adopt a team just for Super Bowl Sunday.

Some of the most-watched televi¬sion programs in U.S. history have been Super Bowls. The game played in 2012, Super Bowl XLVI, set a record of 111.3 million viewers.

Super Bowl XLV in 2011 had an audience of 111 million viewers and broke the record set by the 2010 game as the most-watched U.S. tele¬vision program in history.

Another key to the Super Bowl’s success is the carefully choreo¬graphed entertainment events that surround the game itself. The “halftime show,” musical and other entertainment offered by major stars, takes place on the field during the midgame rest period. In 2013, the headliner will be Beyoncé.

For many television viewers, the highlight

of the Super Bowl isn’t the game, it’s the commercials. Advertisers compete to display their most creative efforts and introduce their newest products. Given the huge audience, adver¬tisers are willing to pay dearly to parade their wares on the Super Bowl broadcast. In 2013, a 30-sec¬ond ad will cost a record $4 million.

Although serious football fans would disagree, Super Bowl Sunday, for millions of Americans, is less about which team prevails than it is about fun. Whether at the stadium or with friends in front of the television, most Americans find something to enjoy on this unofficial national holiday.

Additional information on the game is available on the official website of Super Bowl XLVII.

A Social Event Americans increasingly have gath¬ered in private Super Bowl par¬ties, where they enjoy food, drink and televised football.

The game is always played on a Sunday, when Americans are not likely to be at work.

Because of the event’s national prominence,

Baltimore Ravens inside linebacker Ray Lewis waits for the snap against the Denver Broncos in the fourth quarter of an NFL playoff game.

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Baseball:

Americaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s National Pastime

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he sport that evokes more nostalgia among Americans than any other is baseball. So many people play the game as children (or play its close relative, softball) that it has become known as “the national pastime”. It is also a democratic game.

Unlike football and basketball, baseball can be played well by people of average height and weight.

Baseball originated before the American Civil War (1861-1865) as rounders, a humble game played on sandlots. Early champions of the game finetuned it to include the kind of skills and mental judgment that made cricket respectable in England.

In particular, scoring and record-keeping gave baseball gravity. “Today,” notes John Thorn in The Baseball Encyclopedia, “baseball without records is inconceivable.” More Americans undoubtedly know that Roger Maris’s 61 home runs in 1961 broke Babe Ruth’s record of 60 in 1927 than that

President Ronald Reagan’s 525 electoralcollege votes in 1984 broke President Franklin Roosevelt’s record of 523 in 1936.

In 1871 the first professional baseball league was born. By the beginning of the 20th century, most large cities in the eastern United States had a professional baseball team. The teams were divided into two leagues, the National and

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they have been hit out of the field). Over the decades, every team has had its great players. One of the most noteworthy was the Brooklyn Dodgers’ Jackie Robinson (1919-1972), a gifted and courageous athlete who became the first African-American player in the major leagues in 1947. (Prior to Robinson, black players had been restricted to the Negro League.)

Starting in the 1950s, baseball expanded its geographical range. Western cities got teams, either by luring them to move

American; during the regular season, a team played only against other teams within its league. The most victorious team in each league was said to have won the “pennant;” the two pennant winners met after the end of the regular season in the World Series. The winner of at least four games (out of a possible seven) was the champion for that year. This arrangement still holds today, although the leagues are now subdivided and pennants are decided in post-season playoff series between the winners of each division.

a business, late in the 20th century many disgruntled fans view the business side as the dominant one.

Baseball became popular in Japan after American soldiers introduced it during the occupation following World War II. In the 1990s a Japanese player, Hideo Nomo, became a star pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Baseball is also widely played in Cuba and other Caribbean nations.

In the 1996 Olympics, it was a measure of baseball’s appeal outside the United States that the contest for the gold medal came down to Japan and Cuba (Cuba won).

Baseball came of age in the 1920s, when Babe Ruth (18951948) led the New York Yankees to several World Series titles and became a national hero on the strength of his home runs (balls that cannot be played because

from eastern cities or by forming so-called expansion teams with players made available by established teams. Until the 1970s, because of strict contracts, the owners of baseball teams also virtually owned the players; since then, the rules have changed so that players are free, within certain limits, to sell their services to any team. The results have been bidding wars and stars who are paid millions of dollars a year. Disputes between the players’ union and the owners have at times halted baseball for months at a time. If baseball is both a sport and

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Basketball:

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n American game that has traveled well is basketball, now played by more than 250 million people worldwide in an organized fashion, as well as by countless others in “pick-up” games. Basketball originated in 1891 when a future Presbyterian minister named James Naismith (1861-1939) was assigned to teach a physical education class at a Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) training school in Springfield, Massachusetts. The class had been noted for being disorderly, and Naismith was told to invent a new game to keep the young men occupied. Since it was winter and very cold outside, a game that could be played indoors was desirable.

Naismith thought back to his boyhood in Canada, where he and his friends had played “duck on a rock,” which involved trying to knock a large rock off a boulder by throwing smaller rocks at it. He also recalled watching rugby players toss a ball into a box in a gymnasium.

He had the idea of nailing up raised boxes into which players would attempt to throw a ball. When boxes couldn’t be found, he used peach baskets. According to Alexander Wolff, in his book 100 Years of Hoops, Naismith drew up the rules for the new game in “about an hour.” Most of them still apply in some form today.

Basketball caught on because graduates of the YMCA school traveled widely, because Naismith disseminated the rules freely, and because there

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Hopes in Hoops was a need for a simple game that could be played indoors during winter. Naismith’s legacy included the first great college basketball coach, Forrest “Phog” Allen (1885-1974), who played for Naismith at the University of Kansas and went on to win 771 games as a coach at Kansas himself. Among Allen’s star players was Wilt Chamberlain, who became one of professional basketball’s first superstars – one night in 1962, he scored a record 100 points in a game.

The first professional basketball league was formed in 1898; players earned $2.50 for home games, $1.25 for games on the road. Not quite 100 years later, Juwan Howard, a star player for the Washington Bullets (now called the Washington Wizards), had competing offers of more than $100 million over seven seasons from the Bullets and the Miami Heat.

Many teams in the National Basketball Association now have foreign players, who return home to represent their native countries during the Olympic Games.

The so-called Dream Team, made up of the top American professional basketball players, has represented the United States in recent Olympic Games. In 1996 the Dream Team trailed some opponents until fairly late in the games – an indication of basketball’s growing international status.

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Hollywood Regales the World

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he American film critic Pauline Kael gave a 1968 collection of her reviews the title Kiss Kiss Bang Bang. By way of explanation, she said that the words, which came from an Italian movie poster, were “perhaps the briefest statement imaginable of the basic appeal of movies.” Certainly, they sum up the raw energy of many American films.

If moving pictures were not an American invention, they have nonetheless been the preeminent American contribution to world entertainment. In the early 1900s, when the medium was new, many immigrants, particularly Jews, found employment in the U.S. film industry. Kept out of other occupations by racial prejudice, they were able to make their mark in a brand-new business: the exhibition of short films in storefront theaters called nickelodeons, after their admission price of a nickel (five cents). Within a few years, ambitious men like Samuel Goldwyn, Carl Laemmle, Adolph Zukor, Louis B. Mayer, and the Warner Brothers – Harry, Albert, Samuel, and Jack – had switched to the production side of the business. Soon they were the heads of a new kind of enterprise: the movie studio.

The major studios were located in the Hollywood section of Los Angeles, California. Before World War I, movies were made in several US cities, but filmmakers gravitated to southern California as the industry developed. They were attracted by the mild climate, which made it possible to film movies outdoors year-round, and by the

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varied scenery that was available.

Other moviemakers arrived from Europe after World War I: directors like Ernst Lubitsch, Alfred Hitchcock, Fritz Lang, and Jean Renoir; actors like Rudolph Valentino, Marlene Dietrich, Greta Garbo, Ronald Colman, and Charles Boyer. They joined a homegrown supply of actors – lured west from the New York City stage after the introduction of sound films – to form one of the 20th century’s most remarkable growth industries. At motion pictures’ height of popularity in the mid-1940s, the studios were cranking out a total of about 400 movies a year, seen by an audience of 90 million Americans per week.

During the so-called Golden Age of Hollywood, the 1930s and 1940s, movies issued from the Hollywood studios rather like the cars rolling off Henry Ford’s assembly lines. No two movies were exactly the same, but most followed a formula: Western, slapstick comedy, film noir, musical, animated cartoon, biopic (biographical picture), etc.

Yet each movie was a little different, and, unlike the craftsmen who made cars, many of the people who made movies were artists.

To Have and Have Not (1944) is famous not only for the first pairing of actors Humphrey Bogart (1899-1957) and Lauren Bacall (1924) but also for being written by two future winners of the Nobel Prize for literature: Ernest Hemingway (1899-1961), author of the novel on which the script was based, and William Faulkner (1897-1962), who worked on the screen adaptation.

Moviemaking was still a business, however, and motion picture companies made money by operating under the so-called studio system. The major studios kept thousands of people on salary – actors, producers, directors, writers, stuntmen, craftspersons, and technicians. And they owned hundreds of theaters in cities and towns across the nation –theaters that showed their films and that were always in need of fresh material.

What is remarkable is how much quality entertainment emerged from such a regimented process. One reason this was possible is that, with so many movies being made, not every one had to be a big hit. A studio could gamble on a medium-budget feature with a good script and relatively unknown actors: Citizen Kane (1941), directed by Orson Welles (1915-1985) and widely regarded as the greatest of all American movies, fits that description. In other cases, strong-willed directors like Howard Hawks (1896-1977) and Frank Capra (1897-1991) battled the studios in order to achieve their artistic visions. The apogee of the studio system may have been the year 1939, which saw the release of such classics as The Wizard of Oz, Gone With the Wind, Stagecoach, Mr Smith Goes to Washington (directed by Capra), Only Angels Have Wings (Hawks), Ninotchka (Lubitsch), and Midnight.

The studio system succumbed to two forces in the late 1940s: (1) a federal antitrust action that separated the production of films from their exhibition; and (2) the advent of television. The number of movies being

made dropped sharply, even as the average budget soared, because Hollywood wanted to offer audiences the kind of spectacle they couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t see on television.

This blockbuster syndrome has continued to affect Hollywood.

Added to the skyrocketing salaries paid actors, studio heads, and deal-making agents, it means that movies released today tend to be either huge successes or huge failures, depending on how well their enormous costs match up with the public taste.

The studios still exist, often in partnership with other media companies, but many of the most interesting American movies are now independent productions. The films of Woody Allen (1935- ), for example, fall into this category. Critics rate them highly and most of them make a profit, but since good actors are willing to work with Allen for relatively little money, the films are inexpensive to make. Thus, if one happens to fail at the box office, the loss is not crushing. In contrast, a movie featuring top stars typically begins with a cost of $10 million or more just for the starâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s salary. With multiples of a sum like that at stake, Hollywood studio executives tend to play it safe.

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World Dances to American Tunes

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he first major composer of popular music with a uniquely American style was Stephen Foster (1826-1864).

He established a pattern that has shaped American music ever since - combining elements of the European musical tradition with African-American rhythms and themes.

Of Irish ancestry, Foster grew up in the South, where he heard slave music and saw minstrel shows, which featured white performers in black make-up performing African-American songs and dances. Such material inspired some of Foster’s best songs, which many Americans still know by heart: “Oh! Susanna,” “Camptown Races,” “Ring the Banjo,” “Old Folks at Home” (better known by its opening line: “Way down upon the Swanee River”).

Before the movies and radio, most Americans

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had to entertain themselves or wait for the arrival in town of lecturers, circuses, or the traveling stage revues known as vaudeville.

Dozens of prominent American entertainers got their starts in vaudeville – W C Fields, Jack Benny, George Burns and Gracie Allen, Buster Keaton, Sophie Tucker, Fanny Brice, Al Jolson, and the Three Stooges, to name just a few – and the medium demanded a steady supply of new songs. Late in the 19th century, music publishing became a big business in the United States, with many firms clustered in New York City, on a street that became known as Tin Pan Alley.

Vaudeville and the European genre of operetta spawned the Broadway musical, which integrates songs and dancing into a continuous story with spoken dialogue. The first successful example of the new genre – and still one of the best – was Jerome Kern’s Showboat, which premiered in 1927. Interestingly, Showboat pays tribute to the black influence on mainstream American music with a story centered on miscegenation and, as its most poignant song, the slave lament “Ol’ Man River.”

America,” “Easter Parade,” “White Christmas,” “There’s No Business Like Show Business,” and “Cheek to Cheek.” Cole Porter (18911964) took the Broadway show song to new heights of sophistication with his witty lyrics and rousing melodies, combined in such songs as “Anything Goes,” “My Heart Belongs to Daddy,” “You’re the Top,” “I Get a Kick Out of You,” and “It’s De-Lovely .”

Black composers such as Scott Joplin (18681917) and Eubie Blake (1883-1983) drew

on their own heritage to compose songs, ragtime pieces for piano, and, in Joplin’s case, an opera. Joplin was all but forgotten after his death, but his music made a comeback starting in the 1970s. Blake wrote the music for Shuffle Along, the first Broadway musical by and about blacks, and continued to perform well into his 90s. Blues songs, which had evolved from slaves’ work songs, became the rage in New York City and elsewhere during the 1920s and 1930s; two of the blues’ finest practitioners were

Songwriter Irving Berlin (1888-1989) made a smooth transition from Tin Pan Alley to Broadway. An immigrant of RussianJewish extraction, he wrote some of the most popular American songs: “God Bless America - Kuwait (2014)

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Ma Rainey (1886-1939) and Bessie Smith (c.1898-1937).

JAZZ

W C Handy’s “St Louis Blues” is one of the most frequently recorded songs written in the 20th century. Of all those recordings, one stands out: Bessie Smith’s 1925 version, with Louis Armstrong (1900-1971) accompanying her on the cornet – a collaboration of three great figures (composer, singer, instrumentalist) in a new kind of music called jazz. Though the meaning of “jazz” is obscure, originally the term almost certainly had to do with sex. The music, which originated in New Orleans early in the 20th century, brought together elements from ragtime, slave songs, and brass bands. One of the distinguishing elements of jazz was its fluidity: in live performances, the musicians would almost never play a song the same way twice but would improvise variations on its notes and words.

Blessed with composers and performers of genius – Jelly Roll Morton (1885-1941) and Duke Ellington (1899-1974), Louis Armstrong and Benny Goodman (19091986) and Bix Beiderbecke (1903-1931), Billie Holiday (1915-1959), and Ella Fitzgerald (1918-1996) -- jazz was the reigning popular

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American music from the 1920s through the 1940s. In the 1930s and 1940s the most popular form of jazz was “big-band swing,” so called after large ensembles conducted by the likes of Glenn Miller (1909-1944) and William “Count” Basie (1904-1984). In the late 1940s a new, more cerebral form of mostly instrumental jazz, called be-bop, began to attract audiences. Its practitioners included trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie (19171993) and saxophonist Charlie Parker (19201955). Trumpeter Miles Davis (1926-1991) experimented with a wide range of musical influences, including classical music, which he incorporated into such compositions as “Sketches from Spain.”

ROCK AND ROLL AND COUNTRY By the early 1950s, however, jazz had lost some of its appeal to a mass audience.

A new form of pop music, rock and roll, evolved from a black style known as rhythm and blues: songs with strong beats and often risque lyrics. Though written by and for blacks, rhythm and blues also appealed to white teenagers, for whom listening to it over black-oriented radio stations late at night became a secret pleasure. To make the new music more acceptable to a mainstream audience, white performers and arrangers began to “cover” rhythm and blues songs

– singing them with the beat toned down and the lyrics cleaned up. A typical example is “Ain’t That a Shame,” a 1955 hit in a rock version by its black composer, Antoine “Fats” Domino, but an even bigger hit as a balladlike cover by a white performer, Pat Boone.

Shrewd record producers of the time realized that a magnetic white man who could sing with the energy of a black man would have enormous appeal. Just such a figure appeared in the person of Elvis Presley (1935-1977), who had grown up poor in the South. Besides an emotional singing voice, Presley had sultry good looks and a way of shaking his hips that struck adults as obscene but teenagers as natural to rock and roll. At first, Presley, too, covered black singers: One of his first big hits was “Hound Dog,” which had been sung by blues artist Big Mama Thornton. Soon, however, Presley was singing original material, supplied by a new breed of rock-and-roll songwriters.

A few years after its debut, rock and roll was well on its way to becoming the American form of pop music, especially among the young. It spread quickly to Great Britain, where the Beatles and the Rolling Stones got their starts in the early 1960s. In the meantime, however, a challenge to rock had appeared in the form of folk music,

based largely on ballads brought over from Scotland, England, and Ireland and preserved in such enclaves as the mountains of North Carolina and West Virginia. Often accompanying themselves on acoustic guitar or banjo, such performers as the Weavers, Joan Baez, Judy Collins, and Peter, Paul, and Mary offered a low-tech alternative to rock and roll.

Modern country music – original songs about contemporary concerns – developed in the 1920s, roughly coinciding with a mass migration of rural people to big cities in search of work. Country music tends to have a melancholy sound, and many classic songs are about loss or separation – lost homes, parents left behind, lost loves. Like many other forms of American pop music, country

lends itself easily to a rock-and-roll beat, and country rock has been yet another successful American merger. Overall, country is second only to rock in popularity, and country singer Garth Brooks (1962- ) has sold more albums than any other single artist in American musical history – including Elvis Presley and Michael Jackson.

Bob Dylan (1941- ) extended the reach of folk music by writing striking new songs that addressed contemporary social problems, especially the denial of civil rights to black Americans. The division between the two camps – rock enthusiasts and folk purists – came to a head when Dylan was booed for “going electric” (accompanying himself on electric guitar) at the 1965 Newport Folk Festival. Far from being deterred, Dylan led virtually the entire folk movement into a blend of rock and folk.

This merger was a watershed event, setting a pattern that holds true to this day. Rock remains the prevalent pop music of America – and much of the rest of the world – largely because it can assimilate almost any other kind of music, along with new varieties of outlandish showmanship, into its strong rhythmical framework. Whenever rock shows signs of creative exhaustion, it seems to get a transfusion, often from African Americans, as happened in the 1980s with the rise of rap: rhyming, often rude lyrics set to minimalist tunes.

Like folk, country music descends from the songs brought to the United States from England, Scotland, and Ireland. The original form of country music, called “old-time” and played by string bands (typically made up of fiddle, banjo, guitar, and base fiddle), can still be heard at festivals held each year in Virginia, North Carolina, and other southern states.

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Welcome to the

USA

The Empire State Building stands tall over the New York skyline.

Traveling to the United States

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record 62 million international travelers visited the United States in 2011. From students and tourists to academics and professionals, travelers from all over the world flock to the United States each year to learn, work and catch a glimpse of the landmarks they have seen in art, photography and Hollywood films. But there is more to visiting the United States than famous destinations. From a diverse populace and breathtaking natural wonders to a smorgasbord of culinary delights, traveling in the United States offers a host of rewards you may not have seen in the movies.

Getting Your Visa

Depending on your country of origin, you may have to apply for a visa before you can enter the United States. US embassies can help with questions about visa requirements. Whether you are traveling for tourism, business, study, a professional exchange or other reasons, knowing in advance about how to apply for the type of visa you need can simplify the process.

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According to Shusmita Khan of Bangladesh, a recent participant in a State Department– funded professional exchange program, the application process was “very structured.”

First, she filled out an online application; then, she submitted payment and scheduled an interview at the embassy. At the interview, “the visa officers were nice but professional,” she says. “I also noticed that there were interpreters for people with limited knowledge in English.”

Thomas Barlue, from Liberia, remembers being asked “just a few” questions about his occupation and his purpose for traveling to the United States. Chris Reyes, from the Philippines, agrees. He did not experience the “long lines and long wait” he had been expecting.

Getting Around

When Peruvian exchange participant Angela Marin Rivera touched down in the United States, the first thing she noticed was the American readiness to lend a hand. “People helped me during all the process until I met

the person who was waiting for me,” she says.

Marin, who is blind, asked for wheelchair service to help her navigate the airport.

She was impressed by the US emphasis on accessibility. “I had no problems,” she says. “I learned how to walk safely around the cities I visited, and also I learned how to take a bus, walk inside places and go shopping.”

“Everything is so planned and organized,” says Khan. “Things are labeled properly so anyone who can read English [is] able to understand where to go and what to do.”

Barlue agrees. Everywhere he went, “there was some kind of instruction posted to help newcomers get around and get the help they needed,” he says. “I felt welcome and secure,” says Marie Soudnie Rivette, an exchange participant from Haiti.

Meeting Americans Americans are very approachable, says Natia Jikia, a graduate exchange student from Georgia. “I can relate to them equally as much as I can relate to my fellow Georgians,” she says. Indeed, says Reyes, the American

Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C.

people are “very expressive of their emotions, very candid, and very open to cultural diversity.” Ra’ed Almickawi, an Israeli participant who worked in Anchorage, Alaska, felt welcome right away. “I was so touched by the people of Alaska, [by] their warmth and great hospitality,” he says. “It made me feel at home already on the first day.” Bela Khan, an undergraduate exchange student from Pakistan, agrees. Americans are “warm and welcoming,” and have “a high threshold of tolerance and respect for diversity,” she says.

Seeing the Sights

That respect for diversity, Bela Khan says, is reflected in America’s varied cities and towns. Her favorite was San Francisco.

“It is a city with much soul,” she says. She particularly liked Alcatraz Island, home to the notorious maximum-security prison that closed in 1963, and the shopping district surrounding the city’s historic Fisherman’s Wharf. Reyes, whose favorite part of the city was the colorful Castro District, agrees. “I fell in love” with the city, he says.

Jikia preferred New York for its “distinct culture, pace and diversity.” In her view, “it embodies the true American spirit.” Barlue especially enjoyed seeing Times Square, the

Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts and the striking architecture of the city’s historic churches. Rivette, on the other hand, recommends Washington. “It was really impressive to walk by the White House and Capitol,” she says. “I smelled and touched the sense of power and honor. Visiting the Martin Luther King and Abraham Lincoln memorials was inspiring.”

Baigalmaa Bayandroj, a participant from Mongolia, eschewed the monuments to take in an Orioles baseball game in Baltimore and a college football match in Annapolis, Maryland. Watching traditional American sports in person was “wonderful,” she says. Almickawi most enjoyed the natural beauty of Anchorage. “I was so fortunate to experience the great summer,” he says. He took full advantage of the long daylight hours afforded by Alaska’s high latitude to hike, mountain climb and harvest vegetables. “I really enjoyed the nature,” he says.

Likewise, Jikia took pleasure in the United States’ natural wonders. She describes her visit to the Grand Canyon as “truly phenomenal.” The canyon “made a huge impression on me. It was everything I expected and much more.” Bela Khan advises

travelers to the United States to “take time to visit the local areas” rather than just the main attractions. Each place is different, she says, and tourists should “make it a point to travel across the country.”

Tasting American Diversity

Culinary differences abound as well, says Bela Khan. From “Mexican, Spanish, Italian” to “Chinese and Thai,” she says, “you get to try everything under the sun here!”

Jikia agrees, calling the variety of ethnic food “adventurous and amazing.” In Reyes’ estimation, “America is a wonderful place to visit to understand diversity, experience openness and to taste food that can range from the most exquisite to the most unique.”

In spite of the gastronomic variety, traditional American dishes such as hamburgers, pizza, corn on the cob and cookies still top the list of favorites. Bela Khan’s personal favorite? Chicken pot pie, a dish made by baking chicken and potatoes in a pastry shell. Almickawi’s tastes, on the other hand, stayed true to his natural inclinations. “Being in Alaska,” he says, “I was so privileged to eat fresh salmon.”

Making Memories

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The sun rises over the South Rim of the Grand Canyon in Arizona.

Almickawi will remember “the amazing people and the dear friends” he made along the way. “I have amazing American friends that are an integral part of my life,” agrees Jikia. Indeed, when she reflects on what she will remember most about her time in the United States, “It is the relationships I have built and friends I made” that are most important. Reyes will remember the “thriving spirit to help” he felt during his travels, which renewed his sense of “how we are all interconnected”.

“I learned how the American people are working hard through volunteerism to help solve community and society issues” such

as homelessness, he says. “Regardless of the diversity of culture and traditions” in the United States, “there is really a strong sense of national pride.” Marin’s favorite memory of her stay in Lincoln, Nebraska, is more downto-earth. “There’s no snow where I live,” she says. “I enjoyed touching and feeling it. … It was a great experience for me.”

Preparing for Your Trip

Because the United States is “a very diverse society,” Barlue recommends researching the communities you will be visiting. “People’s thinking and ways of doing things are quite different from my experiences with other

One of San Francisco’s famous cable cars makes its way up Hyde Street with the Pacific Ocean and Alcatraz Island at its back.

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countries I have traveled to.” Marin says most Americans “have an open mind and heart” to people from other countries. To get the most out of your travels, recommends Almickawi, try to “meet the people and share your culture.” The others agree. “Be open, be attentive to opportunities and do not be afraid to express your point,” suggests Rivette. “Think big, but be proud of your own culture and personality.” Finally, “ask for help if necessary,” advises Marin. Jikia agrees. “Be open, ask questions, be positive and smile,” she says. “Here, everything is possible!”

Washington DC

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apital of the most powerful nation in the world, Washington, DC draws in visitors with its impressive monuments, extraordinary museums and open-plan European feel. Washington, DC’s elegant National Mall and its stately buildings were once a marshy swamp but now its green parks, wide tree-lined streets and neighbourhoods make it a chic place to live. For many, the power and politics give it a heady mix and now DC has come of age with a truly excellent restaurant, club and cultural scene, the city is a magnet for those who want to be where it is all happening.

History

It is hard to believe, but the land on which Washington, DC’s elegant National Mall and its stately buildings stand was once a marshy swamp. George Washington created this special district as a federal power hub to avoid the problem of establishing the capital city in any one state. Its strategic location, with accessibility to the sea via the Potomac River and between the South and the North, made it an attractive site. Originally designed by the French architect Pierre L’Enfant in 1791, Washington is a city of green parks, wide treelined streets and very few skyscrapers, all of which give it a European air.

Washington, DC is very much a purposebuilt capital, a city of grand buildings (such as the White House and the US Capitol) and impressive monuments (the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial, to name but two). Congress and the second President, John Adams, moved to Washington, DC in 1800, but it was a further six decades before it began to look like a capital city. In the interim period, foreign ambassadors considered it a hardship posting. Now, this political centre stage, capital of the most powerful nation in the world, is the place to be. Washington, DC is always in the international spotlight.

Things to see Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial The Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial pays tribute to the accomplishments of the 32nd US president. With sculptures, waterfalls, pools and walls of grey granite, it honours his services to the country during four terms of office and highlights historical events like the Great Depression and WWII. Most interesting are the two FDR bronze statues. Since Roosevelt never wanted to be pictured in a wheelchair, there is a largerthan-life statue in which he is wearing a floorlength cape. The true-to-scale sculpture, where he is sitting in his wheelchair, was added later. There is also a bronze likeness of Eleanor Roosevelt.

International Spy Museum All is not what it seems at one of Washington’s most fun museums. Through multimedia presentations, hands-on exhibits and audiovisual effects, the focus is on educating the public about espionage’s impact on current and historic events. Examine spy paraphernalia such as decoder machines, miniature cameras and a lipstick pistol, and test your powers of observations, analysis and surveillance at interactive stations.

‘Operation Spy’ allows visitors to assume a cover, and among other things, conduct video surveillance, carry out a polygraph test on a suspect agent and escape from a high-security compound.

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Jefferson Memorial The Jefferson Memorial is a 5.8 m statue of the third US president, Thomas Jefferson.

Surrounded by passages from the 1776 Declaration of Independence, his memorial was not erected until over 100 years after his death. Built in a neo-classical style and framed by the cherry trees along the Tidal Basin, it is one of the most attractive monuments on National Mall, especially at night.

Korean War Veterans Memorial Located adjacent to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, the marble and limestone Korean War Veterans Memorial was built entirely with funds donated from individuals and dedicated in 1995. Sitting on a 0.9-hectare site, the sculpture features

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5.8 m soldiers in combat, with the American flag as their symbolic objective. A mural wall is inscribed with the words ‘Freedom is not free’ and the images of thousands of the ordinary personnel who supported the combat troops in the military operation.

Library of Congress Housing the world’s largest library containing collections of rare American history materials and more than 144 million items, including copies of the Gutenberg Bible and a copy of the musical score of the ‘Star Spangled Banner’, the library itself is embellished with murals, stained glass windows and statuary. Exhibitions change regularly. There are daily guided tours of the 19th-century Thomas Jefferson Building.

Lincoln Memorial The imposing 5.8 m marble statue of Abraham Lincoln, the 16th president of the United States, gazes from the Lincoln Memorial across the Reflecting Pool to the Washington Monument. The style of the memorial is that of a Greek temple with 36 Doric columns, but it is the statue of Lincoln, sculpted by Daniel Chester French, that steals the show. On the interior walls are inscriptions from the Gettysburg Address and Lincoln’s second inaugural speech. As a symbol of freedom and racial harmony, the Lincoln Memorial was the site of Martin Luther King’s ‘I Have a Dream’ speech in August 1963.

National Air and Space Museum The most popular of all the Smithsonian

Museums, the National Air and Space Museum traces the development of air and space travel. It is home to the original Wright Brothers’ 1903 Flyer, Charles Lindbergh’s Spirit of St Louis, the Bell X-1 (the plane that broke the sound barrier in 1947), the Apollo 11 lunar command module and a vast collection of aviation and space technology memorabilia. The museum also houses an IMAX film theatre and the Albert Einstein Planetarium. A second vast NASA museum next to Dulles airport houses historically significant craft including Space Shuttle Enterprise and the Enola Gay. National Archives & Records Administration (NARA) Although the archives house more than 3 billion records, the ones that visitors

flock to see are the Charters of Freedom the Declaration of Independence, the US Constitution and the Bill of Rights which are encased and displayed in a large marble rotunda. They are difficult to read, but then again they are the 200-plus-yearold originals. The Public Vaults contain fascinating documents such as George Washington’s handwritten letters, materials and evidence from famous investigations, such as the Kennedy assassination, and recordings of debates on Prohibition in 1918 and reinstating the Draft in 1940.

National Mall Many of Washington’s most important monuments and institutions, described individually, are located in the National Mall, a green park area extending 3 km from the

US Capitol to the Washington Monument.

Major Pierre L’Enfant originally planned the Mall as a grand avenue lined with mansions, but lack of funds meant that the site was just left as an open area used for grazing animals.

It was not until the beginning of the 20th century, when many more public institutions and monuments had been constructed in the immediate area (including the White House), that they were linked with the series of gardens that now make up the Mall.

National Museum of Natural History The Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History has a superb collection of dinosaur fossils, an insect zoo, the world’s largest preserved bush elephant, the 45.5-carat Hope Diamond and an IMAX film theatre. The Mammal Hall is devoted

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to mammal and human diversity, evolution and adaptation. The Sant Ocean Hall uses state-of-the-art technology to demonstrate the oceans’ essential role and includes a coral reef teeming with marine life. The newest exhibition, the David H Koch Hall of Human Origins, tells the epic story of the evolution of man.

National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI) NMAI is a tribute to Native Americans. The impressive structure is circular and faces east in accordance to American Indian traditions. Decorated in earthy tones, it is designed to reflect indigenous aesthetics. The museum is divided into four sections: ‘Our Universe’ focuses on Native philosophies related to creation and the relationship between man and the universe; ‘Our Peoples’ relates the life of Native Americans via videos; ‘Our Lives’ focuses on the contemporary life and identities of eight Native Communities; and there is also a changing contemporary exhibit.

In the Lelawi Theater, the audience is put in the middle of a unique multi-media presentation about tribal life.

National WWII Memorial The newest addition to the National Mall is a commemoration to WWII soldiers, the home front and the nation. Pools and erupting fountains are surrounded by pathways, two large arches (each representing the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans), a hero’s memorial and one pillar for every state in the Union at that period and its territories.

Newseum The Newseum highlights the history of the media. Visitors can visit more than a dozen galleries to learn the history of news and how the past century’s important world events have been reported. A broadcast studio, an interactive newsroom and the largest section of the Berlin Wall outside of Germany along with an East German guard tower are exhibits worth exploring. Some of the dramatic events in journalism are recreated in A4-D Time Travel Adventure film.

US Capitol US legislative policy is shaped under the magnificent 55 m white dome of the US Capitol, home to the Senate and the House of Representatives. The white-painted dome is visible from all parts of the city and is topped by the 5.8 m Statue of Freedom. Several areas of the building are open to the public, including Statuary Hall, the Rotunda and the Crypt (the intended burial place of George Washington and his wife). The Capitol Visitor Center opened in Dec 2008 and is now the main entrance, located on First Street, between Independence and Constitution avenues.

Vietnam Veterans Memorial Though simply designed, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial is the most moving attraction in Washington, DC. Opened in 1982, the 70 separate panels of the V-shaped black granite walls, 150 m in length, are inscribed with the names of the 58,209 Americans missing or killed in the Vietnam War. What makes the site even

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more poignant is the common occurrence of relatives making rubbings of their loved ones’ names.

Washington Monument Dedicated to the first president of the United States, the Washington Monument dates from 1885 and is 169 m tall. A lift takes visitors to the top to enjoy spectacular views of the surrounding area. The 193 restored Memorial Stones, which have been donated over the years (from July 1848) by states, cities and foreign countries, pay tribute to George Washington. There are also exhibits about the monument’s history and the nation’s Founding Father. The monument is currently closed due to earthquake damage from 2011.

White House With the exception of George Washington, the White House, home to the first family, has been home to every US president and his family. Tours of the most famous building in DC are only available with passes from congressman or, for foreign visitors, from their respective embassies (passes must be requested months in advance). Very little of the building is on display but most enjoy the opportunity to enter the powerhouse of the USA. Information on the architecture, first families, social events and more can be obtained from the White House Visitor Information Center on the southeast corner of 15th and E Streets.

Excursions from Washington Arlington National Cemetery Just across the Memorial Bridge from the Lincoln Memorial is America’s largest national cemetery. Over 260,000 US soldiers, who fought in wars from the American Revolution onwards, are buried here, together with President John F Kennedy and the world champion boxer Joe Louis. Arlington National Cemetery is open daily year-round and admission is free.

George Washington’s Mount Vernon Estate and Garden Located in Virginia around 26 km from Washington, DC, the delightful home of George and Martha Washington covers 200 hectares and includes his mansion, tomb, Slave Memorial, gardens and restaurants.

Gettysburg Just 90 minutes from Washington, DC, Abraham Lincoln made a two-minute speech to dedicate the new cemetery to the Civil War dead. His famous Gettysburg Address at Cemetery Ridge reminded the nation of the true purpose of the sacrifice the people had made. Gettysburg is also the site of the largest battle ever fought on American soil when, in July 1863, the Union Army under General George C Meade defeated the Confederate forces under General Robert E Lee. There are numerous places of interest in the town, including houses that featured significantly in the fighting, now open to the public.

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New York! New York!

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enowned for its incredible dynamism, New York is one of the world’s most exciting cities. Home to venerated restaurants, chic nightspots, cutting-edge theatre and architectural masterpieces, New York City is forever on the cusp of reinvention, its creativity fuelled in no small part by immigrants who hail from every corner of the globe.

The epicentre of New York City life always has been the island of Manhattan, which is home to a fascinating jumble of neighbourhoods, each with its own distinct character. Strolling the city sidewalks is the best way to come face to face with the city in all its frenetic diversity, from the bustling, sensory-rich streets of Chinatown to the peaceful, tree-lined lanes of the West Village. North, south and east of the island, are NYC’s four other boroughs - the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island - all of which have their own particular attractions.

New York City is packed with highlights, and it would take a lifetime to see it all. First-time visitors will want to tick off world-class attractions like the Met Museum, the Empire State Building and the Guggenheim, while those who’ve visited Manhattan before should explore the city’s evolving urban landscape, particularly along the park-lined West Side waterfront.

A venture out to the boroughs reveals a totally different dimension to the city - whether rooting for the ‘Bronx Bombers’ at Yankee stadium in the Bronx, feasting on Indian cuisine in Jackson Heights, Queens; or taking in the incredible nightlife in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

Visiting the city’s iconic sights is only part of the appeal of this burgeoning metropolis. The shimmering lights of Broadway, the jazz clubs of downtown, the indie rock scene of Brooklyn, and highbrow cultural fare at Lincoln Center are all part of the incredibly varied cultural scene. And those more interested in shopping have much to celebrate in New York City, with an astounding collection of colourful boutiques, high-end department stores and edgy shops selling cutting-edge couture. New York City is also a dining hub, with thousands of restaurants serving up all the world’s cuisines.

Although New York City still remembers the harrowing events of Sept 11, 2001, it has regained its vitality, and now marches forward to confront the challenges of the future. Symbolic of this was the reopening of the National September 11 Memorial on the 10th anniversary of the attack.

Two giant pools, set in the footprints of the former twin towers, feature cascading waterfalls and the names of the 3,000 victims of 9/11. Overhead rises the soaring One World Trade Center, a 104-storey skyscraper due for completion in 2014.

Other parts of the city have also seen dramatic makeovers in recent years. Coney Island has opened newly restored amusement parks, which continue to offer high-thrill rides, while still retaining its vintage character right off the boardwalk. Further north, the Brooklyn Bridge Park is substantially expanding green space within the city, adding a series of parks, ball fields and playgrounds between the Brooklyn Bridge and Atlantic Avenue.

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History

This area of the North American continent was originally inhabited by the Lenape tribe of Native Americans, specifically the Unami subgroup. Though European settlement began around 1609, the story of modern New York City really began with the formal creation of the five boroughs in 1898. The early 20th century bought mass immigration, from all across the world. Each community established roots in a different neighbourhood, giving the city its unique character, including Chinatown, Little Italy and the Lower East Side - once a stronghold of Jewish immigrants. African-Americans migrated from the south and helped fuel the cultural boom of art, music and literature happening in Harlem.

Despite the Great Depression of the 1930s, development continued, and skyscrapers began to shape the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s aesthetic. Art deco buildings went up, as well as bridges and parkways, and this continued right through to WWII. A post-war economic boom saw a real expansion of the residential parts of the boroughs, with Wall Street and the United Nations leading the way in world economics and political affairs. Shipbuilding and fabric production declined while hotels, estaurants

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and bars opened up on an astonishing scale, transforming the city into a service economy.

Mass immigration saw New York City under pressure in the 1960s, with race riots, gang wars and activism on a proactive scale. Even through to the late 1970s, much of the city had a slightly edgy atmosphere. As Wall Street took centre stage during the materialism of the 1980s, crime and unemployment were still high, but as the 1990s approached, reform and social recovery were in the air.

The dot-com market roared to life, fuelling a building boom across the city. Meanwhile, tough-talking Mayor Rudy Giuliani tackled crime, helping make New York Americaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s safest big city.

2001 saw the globally defining moment of the horrendous terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, when 3,000 people died. The trauma, witnessed on live TV by the entire world, eventually fortified the city, and New York set about rebuilding itself, both in a psychological sense as well as in a physical one.

The last decade has seen New York City on the ascendant. A flurry of new projects

have reshaped the city, from the addition of waterfront parks on Manhattan’s West Side and in Brooklyn, to the building of new stadiums and ballparks (including new arenas for the NY Yankees, the Mets as well as the Brooklyn Nets). Brooklyn has become a much more popular destination, both for residents and out-of-town visitors, with its own fabled restaurant, art and music scene.

New York has also become a much greener city. More residents began shopping in local food markets, which sprang up throughout the city. More and more commuters started getting around by bicycle, spurred by the addition of hundreds of kilometres of new bike lanes in the last decade, plus a bike sharing network that rolled out in 2013.

New York City is ever changing, yet it still remains a centre of culture, finance, gastronomy and fashion.

Things to see Central Park A magnificent city sanctuary situated in the centre of Manhattan. Designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, it opened in 1876 and now offers numerous recreational and cultural outlets. The Belvedere Castle (a stone castle built on Vista Rock in the middle

of the park at the 79th Street Transverse) offers excellent views, while the Shakespeare Garden, just west of the castle, contains flowers and herbs mentioned in the Bard’s plays. The Central Park Conservancy offers various free walking tours. There is also a theatre and sports facilities in addition to the celebrated Central Park Zoo. Empire State Building Immortalised by Hollywood cinema, this stunning skyscraper is one of New York’s most recognized buildings. Completed in 1931, the 102-storey Empire State Building is a wonderful example of art deco architecture and the observatories on the 86th and 102nd floors offer magical views of the city; the 86th floor deck is open air. Each night, the top 31 storeys are illuminated with colours that reflect a holiday, a special event or pays homage to a particular organization.

The New York Skyride, on the second floor, features a video and a motion-simulator ride around NYC’s attractions.

Times Square Don’t miss the bright lights of Times Square.

Inside the flagship Toys “R” Us store, visitors will find an 18 m Ferris wheel and a twostorey Barbie house. Madame Tussauds is America - Kuwait (2014)

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also close by, as are the many theatres of Broadway.

Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) Founded by Abby Aldrich Rockefeller, John D Rockefeller II’s wife, the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), houses the most important modern art collection in the USA, covering a variety of media from the late 19th and 20th centuries, with impressive touring exhibitions. Some of the most prominent features include a lobby that connects 53rd and 54th streets; an atrium that soars 33.5 m above street level; and innovative glass curtain walls that provide views of the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Sculpture Garden and the vibrant midtown surroundings.

National September 11 Memorial and Museum One of New York’s most evocative memorials opened on Sept 11, 2011, 10 years after the terrorist attack that destroyed the World Trade Center and claimed nearly 3,000 lives.

Names of everyone killed that day surround two bronze reflecting pools set inside the footprints of the twin towers. A museum dedicated to the events surrounding Sept 11 is scheduled to open in 2013. Visitor passes

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to the memorial, for a specific date and time, can be reserved on the website. Passes for same-day visits are also available on a firstcome, first-served basis at the memorial.

The building is close to the new, striking 541-m-high One World Trade Center, the city’s tallest building.

Statue of Liberty The ultimate symbol of the American Dream, Lady Liberty, standing majestically over New York Harbor, is probably the most famous landmark in America. The people of France donated the statue in 1886, to commemorate the alliance during the American Revolution. It was the first sight of the New World to be seen by the 12 million immigrants who passed through Ellis Island in the early and mid 20th century. Limited tickets to visit the crown are available by advance reservation. Park rangers give guided tours.

Brooklyn Bridge Dubbed the eighth wonder of the world when it was completed after 30 years of construction in 1883, John Augustus Roebling’s design remains a masterful feat of engineering. One of the world’s first steel

wire suspension bridges (and at one time one of the world’s longest) links Manhattan with Brooklyn, over the East River. The bridge’s mile-long wooden promenade, located above the car traffic, is open to pedestrians and cyclists and offers stunning views of the city. Go early in the morning to beat the heavy crowds.

Greenwich Village & the West Village Greenwich Village is one of the liveliest and trendiest districts of New York City. For much of the 20th century, Greenwich had a reputation as New York’s bohemian district, where artists and writers would gather in salons and coffee houses. The Village was also the epicentre of the gay rights movement after the infamous Stonewall Riots occurred here in 1969. These days, wellheeled professionals rather than struggling artists live in the restored townhouses and small apartments of the Village. Christopher Street, which runs through the centre of the district, is still a lively part of New York’s gay scene, whilst Bleecker Street is a good place to shop, with high-end boutiques (Marc Jacobs, Cynthia Rowley) scattered west of Seventh Avenue. Greenwich Village also has a thriving nightlife, with lively cafés and bars

staying open late into the night.

Metropolitan Museum of Art ‘The Met,’ a most cherished New York institution, is home to more than two million works of art. It opened in 1870 with a modest collection of 174 European paintings and has grown to be the largest art museum in the western hemisphere.

Now its collected works span 5,000 years of culture and the museum is home to some 2,500 of the finest paintings, including Vermeers, Rembrandts, Impressionists and Post-Impressionists as well as Renaissance, African, Asian, and Islamic art. It is believed that its 36,000 pieces of Egyptian art is the greatest outside of Cairo.

Rockefeller Center Built in 1932-40, the Rockefeller Center is a masterpiece of urban design. The best approach is from the Channel Gardens, opposite Saks on Fifth Avenue to arrive at the focal point of the complex, the sunken plaza, used as an ice-skating rink in winter and an open-air restaurant in summer.

Behind this, the GE building dominates the scene with its art deco ambience. The Rockefeller Center is home to NBC, Radio

City Music Hall and Christie’s Auction House.

NBC Studio tours are available.

High Line The most recent high-profile addition to the city’s green space is the conversion of the elevated railway tracks that ran along part of Manhattan’s West Side from 30th Street to Gansevoort Street. Today visitors can stroll this picturesque greenway that runs between Chelsea and the Meatpacking district, with various access points (including lifts) along the way. There are places to lounge and admire the view (of the city, the Hudson River and the street life below the tracks), plus food vendors and abundant greenery; designers used scrubby native plants and reinstalled the rail tracks to give the setting a slightly wild appearance.

Solomon R Guggenheim Museum The Guggenheim Museum, a seven-storey conical building designed by US master architect Frank Lloyd Wright, is worth visiting for the architecture alone. Opened in 1959, its design represented a new way to view art and was a radical departure. Visitors ascend to the top floor via a lift and descend at their own pace on a continuous, circular

ramp. The open rotunda makes it possible to see many levels and exhibits simultaneously.

The Guggenheim’s acclaimed collection consists of late 19th- and 20th-century art works, many of which came from the private collection of Solomon’s niece, Peggy Guggenheim.

Top of the Rock Originally inspired by the slick designs of the grand ocean liners, the Rockefeller Center’s observation deck offers exceptional views.

The deckchairs upon which New Yorkers once relaxed to escape the bustle below may be long gone, but the exceptional views remain. From the 70th floor, 260m (850ft) above street level, the unobstructed 360-degree vista takes in the best of the city’s landmarks, including the Brooklyn Bridge, the Empire State Building, the Chrysler Building and Central Park. Hands-on exhibits keep visitors busy on the mezzanine floor.

Excursions from New York City Coney Island Located just a 45-minute subway ride from Manhattan in south Brooklyn, Coney Island is a popular haunt for New Yorkers and tourists alike, because of its stretch of beach America - Kuwait (2014)

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and historical amusement parks. Major attractions include the New York Aquarium, Surf Avenue and West Eighth Street. Coney Island’s amusement area comprises several amusement parks, including the redesigned Luna Park, opened in 2010, and the Wonder Wheel, the tallest ferris wheel in the world.

Many visitors partake of a Nathan’s Famous hot dog on the boardwalk.

Hudson Valley Roughly two hours’ drive north of New York City, the picturesque Hudson Valley makes a refreshing break from the concrete jungle, with its leafy state parks, farms and apple orchards and quaint country towns. Highlights here include hiking and swimming in Harriman State Park or nearby

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Bear Mountain State Park. Art-minded visitors will want to visit the Storm King Art Center, a sprawling open-air museum in the town of Mountainville, or the Dia Beacon, with cutting-edge exhibits in a former factory.

Long Island Situated to the east of New York City, Long Island stretches for 190 km into the Atlantic.

Coastal parts of residential Long Island have some beautiful white sand beaches popular with New Yorkers for weekend retreats. The north and south shores differ greatly. The south shore is fringed by almost continuous sandy coastline, including Jones Beach and Fire Island National Seashore, reachable by ferry. Meanwhile, the north shore is more

immediately beautiful; its cliffs topped with luxurious mansions, estates, farms and excellent ‘ma and pa’ wineries.

Sandy Hook Set on an alluring stretch of the New Jersey Shore, Sandy Hook has a mix of ocean and bay beaches, an historic lighthouse (the nation’s oldest) and good bird watching.

It’s also an easy escape from New York City, accessible via a one-hour ferry ride from Lower Manhattan. Other attractions include the abandoned barracks of Fort Hancock and biking and walking along the Henry Hudson Trail, which stretches for 14.5 km.

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Live it Up in Florida!

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lorida, known as ‘The Sunshine State’, is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. For families, fun-packed Orlando is the face of Florida that many people recognise, with its enormous number of theme parks, movie studios, water parks and entertainment facilities. For singles and young adults, it’s all about Miami, with its sizzling beaches, naughty nightlife and spicy culture.

But there is certainly more to Florida than Disney World and South Beach.

Winding waterways, freshwater lakes, hills, forests, exciting cities, 13,560 km of coastline, countless bays, inlets and islands, and a legendary climate make this one of the most popular states - for visitors and residents alike - in the USA. Florida can be divided into three main geographical regions: South, Central and North Florida. The epicentre of South Florida is Miami and Miami Beach, which have long been magnets for the rich, famous, young and beautiful.

The Fort Lauderdale area is a popular spot for families, offering sports and recreational activities. Palm Beach represents a more genteel opulence, with storied families like the Kennedys maintaining residences in the area.

Further to the south, the Florida Keys archipelago offers a tropical climate, beautiful beaches and clear blue waters, while the Everglades National Park provides adventure seekers with airboat rides and alligator tales. To the west, the southern Gulf Coast cities of Sarasota, Fort Myers and Naples serve up culture and tranquillity alongside stellar sunsets.

Home to most of the state’s massive theme parks and tourist attractions - not to mention the scores of budget hotels, outlet malls, all-you-can-eat buffets and gaudy T-shirt shops - the Orlando area is the axis around which Central America - Kuwait (2014)

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Florida revolves. Flanking the city to the east is the Space Coast, named for Kennedy Space Centre and its cadre of sky-bound rockets, and Daytona Beach, home of the hard-packed beach sands that spawned the auto racing industry. To the west of Orlando is burgeoning Tampa and St Petersburg, the main cities of the Gulf Coast, with mileslong beaches, theme parks and picturesque historical sites to offer visitors.

Tucked in amongst the rolling red clay hills and mossy oak trees of North Florida, the capital of the state, Tallahassee, is a popular university town strictly Southern in tone.

Nearby, the beaches of the Panhandle, anchored by Pensacola in the west, have thankfully escaped the worst of the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill. In the northeastern corner of Florida stands Jacksonville, an industrial centre named after General Andrew Jackson. Nearby Saint Augustine is known as ‘America’s Oldest City’ while Amelia Island is the only place in the country to have been governed by eight different countries during its history.

Between the cities, motorists can find stretches of windswept coastal highways, faded attractions from the early days of Florida tourism, perfectly planned orange groves and boiled peanuts sold by the bag.

If lazing on the beach for an entire week is your thing, you’re well within your rights, but it won’t be because there’s nothing else to do in this fascinating place.

History

Florida had been settled as early as 14,000 years ago and permanently inhabited by Native American tribes before the earliest known European contact with the Spanish

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on 2 April 1513, when Juan Ponce de LeĂłn first caught sight of the peninsula and named it La Florida (florid land). The Spanish and French alternately settled the region over the following two centuries with Spain retaining control until 1763, when the colony went to Great Britain. The British divided the colony into East and West Florida, but lost both Floridas to Spain in 1783.

Land grants offered to settlers attracted many Americans to the territory, which incited increasing hostilities between settlers and Indian tribes. US president Andrew Jackson launched a campaign against the Seminole tribe in 1817, encouraging the Spanish to cede the territory to the United States in exchange for $5 million and all claims on Texas. In 1830, the Indian Removal Act passed, pressuring the federal government to remove the Native Americans from their tribal lands, a process aggravated by the presence of runaway black slave communities that resisted white settlement alongside the Indians.

Florida became the 27th state of the union in 1845, while attacks and skirmishes between white settlers, backed by the government, and the Seminoles continued unabated.

By 1858, most of the Indians in Florida had been forcibly removed to territories west of the Mississippi River â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a distance of over 1,900km (1180 miles), and plantation slavery began to flourish. By 1860, 44 percent of the stateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 140,000 people were enslaved. Florida seceded from the United States at the start of the American Civil War in 1861 and remained under military control from the end of the war in 1865 until 1868. Agriculture (citrus, sugar, cotton and cattle) and tourism remained the mainstays of the America - Kuwait (2014)

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state’s economy until the end of the 19th century, as many of Florida’s African-American population left the state because of racial violence and job opportunities elsewhere.

By the 1920s, Florida experienced a tourism and land boom that bust after a couple of hurricanes and the Great Depression devastated the state. WWII marked the start of the state’s recovery, as the development of air conditioning and the low cost of living attracted a steady migration of people from other parts of the country, mainly the northeast, for the second half of the 20th century. After the Cuban Revolution of 1959, Florida became a haven for Latin American immigrants settling in Miami, with Haitians, Jamaicans, Colombians, and Venezuelans following in successive decades.

Orlando started its ascent as a centre of family tourism with the opening of the Magic Kingdom in 1971. The

Mariel Boatlift in 1980, in which Fidel Castro allowed scores of immigrants to cross the Florida Straits, tilted the demographics of the region permanently, as Miami became a de-facto cultural and economic capital of Latin America. Hurricane Andrew in 1992 was Florida’s most expensive natural disaster, while the 2008 real estate crash and the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill became the state’s biggest man-made disasters. Fortunately, Florida is slowly but steadily recovering from them both.

Places to visit Miami

Miami is almost more Latin American than simply American - famed for its sunny weather, savoir faire, legendary party scene and super-cool South Beach style.

Miami and its neighbouring city Miami Beach are cities of emotion, colour and texture. Much of Miami’s appeal is due to its diverse neighbourhoods, which range from

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towering, contemporary skyscrapers in Downtown Miami (the commercial heart of the city) to Little Havana, home to its thriving Cuban community. Meanwhile, the Port of Miami is the world’s largest cruise port.

Miami Beach is world-renowned for its ‘gold coast’ hotel strip, palatial properties and exceptional outdoor recreational facilities. Its glamorous, see-and-be-seen South Beach neighbourhood is instantly recognisable, with its candy-coloured art deco buildings set against a pure South Florida backdrop of cloudless skies, dazzling blue ocean, pale sandy beaches and swaying palm trees.

Beautiful, tanned bodies parade the sands and everyone dresses - or dresses down - to impress. This is a city where sporting Speedos on Ocean Drive – and little else – will barely raise an eyebrow.

Throw in plenty of celebrity kudos and the city’s glittering reputation is sealed. It started in the 1990s when TV cop show Miami Vice helped to glamorise the city; in essence,

the growth of many of its swanky nightclubs and condos were bankrolled by the illegal drug trade and criminal underworld. Today, the city’s exclusive bars and clubs draw a host of Hollywood A-listers, jet-setters, models and wannabes.

But there is much more to the city that its superficial trappings of sun, sand and heat. It is fast becoming one of the most exciting cultural cities in the United States.

The Wynwood Arts District and Miami Design District are thriving hubs for the arts. Meanwhile, 2013 will see the Miami Art Museum move to new premises in the middle of a sprawling museum park at Biscayne Bay. In 2014, it will be joined by a new science museum harnessing energy from the water, sun and wind, and featuring a 600,000 gallon aquarium and a 3D planetarium. In 2011, the Frank Gehry-created New World Center created waves of excitement thanks to its show-stopping, postmodernist design that offers something else to gawp at America - Kuwait (2014)

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in Miami Beach. In addition, the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) has recently benefitted from a multi-million dollar refurb that has tripled its gallery space.

Meanwhile, for food aficionados, the city’s dining scene offers an eclectic mix. Of course, it pays to try some Cuban food; arroz con pollo (baked chicken with saffron rice) or the ubiquitous platanos (fried plantains) are ubiquitous, as is yuca, a potato-like vegetable. But there’s something for every palate, including steakhouses, Japanese, Italian, and New World cuisine, a mouthwatering blend of local produce, Latin American and Caribbean fare.

If you want to explore beyond Miami, then head west to the Everglades, a sprawling

flooded wetland and home to wild alligators.

Alternatively, seek out classy Fort Lauderdale to the north; bohemian Florida Keys to the south or Biscayne National Park for some manatee-spotting, snorkelling, diving or canoeing. All this only serves to underline the one ethos that Miami locals abide by: life here is not about work but plenty of play.

South Beach

Glitzy, glamorous South Beach (known locally as SoBe) is the trendiest part of town and a magnet for celebrities, wannabes and fun-lovers who thrive on its cosmopolitan atmosphere, designer shopping, upbeat restaurants and fast-paced nightlife. By day, a young, hip crowd cruise Ocean Drive; by night, exotic Latino beats flow from the many famed dance clubs onto the busy streets.

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South Beach itself boasts white sands, palm trees and dazzling blue sea. However, the most striking feature here is the famous art deco historic district - over 800 buildings within 1.5 sq km, all in the same streamlined architectural style, painted in pastel shades and lit with brilliantly coloured neon lights.

It is a hub for the young and beautiful who have claimed this stretch of the American Riviera as their own centre of trendy fashion and open lifestyles.

Wide, white sandy beaches and clear sparkling blue waters are popular with locals and vacationers, who enjoy swimming, sunning, people watching, volleyball and windsurfing. Cyclists, skaters and joggers enjoy the palm-fringed boardwalk, which runs alongside the beach. Miami is a boater’s

paradise, offering pleasure cruising, sailing, kayaking, fishing, surfing, snorkelling and scuba diving. Vizcaya Museum and Gardens, an Italian Renaissance-style estate built for agricultural industrialist James Deering, is a memorable step back in time.

Miami Beach offers much for the family, with beaches patrolled by lifeguards in colourful stands, beach volleyball, cycling, fishing, golf, and family entertainment at major malls and marketplaces. Family attractions are a short drive from most hotels in South Beach.

South Beach is ideally positioned on South Florida’s Gold Coast. Airboat tours of the Everglades swamps are a family favourite, searching for alligators, crocodiles, and a

variety of bird and wildlife. A glass bottom boat reef tour is the way to explore Biscayne National Park. Close to downtown, the Port of Miami is the largest cruise ship port in the world, and starting point for cruising adventures to the Caribbean, South and Central America. A side trip to the Florida Keys for a taste of island spice should end in the charming, laid back, Jimmy Buffetstyle town of Key West, where conch chowder, fresh seafood and key lime pie are accompanied by a perfect tropical sunset.

Fort Lauderdale

Lauderdale (locals drop the ‘Fort’) is a smart Atlantic coast resort that’s been a hit with vacationers for more than 50 years. Visitors from landlocked areas are drawn to its miles of fabulous white sand beaches - and

to ride water taxis and water buses along its 482 km of canals. The city also boasts upscale shopping, top museums and trendy nightlife. Lauderdale seems the ‘common man’s’ approachable answer to glitzy, bubbling-over Miami, less than 30 crowded miles to the south.

Port Everglades is the clever title for the commercial harbour serving attractive Fort Lauderdale even though the port is actually more than 32 km from Florida’s celebrated Everglades. Lauderdale’s county has more boats registered than any of Florida’s 66 other counties - largely because the canals make it convenient for residents to commute to jobs, head for waterside entertainment districts, or venture into the Atlantic to fish or float. Visitors can enjoy the canals by

stepping aboard the frequent water taxis or booking aboard a tour boat.

which runs from forested park through the commercial downtown.

including hotels, shops and golf courses to make it a true ‘World’ resort.

Alternatively, visitors can take a land taxi to the edge of the Everglades and then roar over its waters on an airboat. This vast subtropical wilderness, a national wildlife preserve, is home to rare plants, birds and animals, including the endangered Florida panther, ospreys, manatees, black bear and saltwater crocodiles. There are several visitor centres that organise ranger-led walks and talks, tram tours and canoe trails.

Orlando

With Disney setting the example, SeaWorld (three theme parks) and Universal (two) have added to Orlando’s reputation as the family entertainment capital of the world. Between them, they draw nearly 50 million visitors every year, and that has meant a huge growth in associated hotels, restaurants and shops, plus a host of smallerscale attractions.

Tampa

Its days as a lumber, cattle and phosphateshipping port have diminished, but Tampa is richly flavored by the migration in the late 19th century of Hispanics to the 200 cigar-

If there was ever a city dedicated to enjoyment, then Orlando is it. Even the most cursory drive through the city will tell you one thing: there is no disguising the fact Orlando is a city built on theme parks. Lots of them. Strange to think that until 1966, though, there was precious little here in central Florida. A few roadside attractions aside, it was one man, Walt Disney, who really changed the scenery here. No matter which way you slice it, growth has spiralled thanks to a huge influx of tourists that followed the arrival of Walt Disney World Resort.

Almost all of Florida’s cities and resorts are

rolling factories. Sports fans know Tampa as home to a professional football team, an ice hockey team that plays just blocks from the cruise terminal and a major league baseball franchise to the west, in St Petersburg.

Tampa is the business hub of the Gulf Coast of Florida, with emphasis on banking, real estate, insurance and shipping interests.

based around its long coastline, naturally capitalising on the beaches or swampland national parks that attract so many international visitors. Orlando is the only real exception, a strange, idiosyncratic place in the middle of the Floridian wasteland, and coincidentally one of the most famous resort towns in the world.

Next to the cruise terminal is the Florida Aquarium; here are otters, wading birds and more. For a fee you can don a wetsuit and swim with the sharks. The Ybor City entertainment district can be reached via electric tram or taxi from the ship; former cigar factories are artists’ studios and shopping malls; a community museum offers walking tours. Canoe rentals are available along the Hillsborough River,

There are conflicting legends as to how the city of Orlando came by its name, from heroic soldiers to local cattle ranchers to a nod to Shakespeare. Whatever the case may be, some 47 million tourists a year come to see the place for themselves. From the original Magic Kingdom, which opened in 1971, the colossal Disney empire has added three more theme parks, two water parks and a host of associated developments,

However, this young city has also developed its own identity that stretches beyond the wearing of plastic mouse ears and thrill rides. There are a significant number of high-tech industries relocating here, and the downtown area is fast developing yuppie

overtones. There are even ambitious plans to become a major cultural centre. Orlando is also the USA’s number two convention location; the attraction for incentive activities for competing sales teams is no mystery.

There has been a stab at giving the city some historic context with the promotion of ‘Old Orlando’, which is part of Downtown, encompassing Orange Avenue and Garland Avenue. There’s also a historic district around Lake Eola, with brick streets lined with old oak trees. Some of the homes here may have been originally built by the wealthy citrus traders of the late 19th century.

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parks, together with the likes of the nearby Kennedy Space Center. There are also some charming, retro-looking former roadside attractions such as Gatorland that have survived as lucrative sidelines to the more high-tech main attractions. And, in order to attract the all-important repeat visitors, Orlando has become adept at re-inventing itself and providing new attractions at regular intervals.

The Keys and Key West

This chain of small coral-and-limestone islands (known as â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;keysâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;) south of Miami, stretches 202 km out across Florida Bay and is linked by just one highway, the US1. The Keys offer some of the best sport fishing, scuba diving, boating, swimming and snorkelling in the world. Key West is the quaint and festive jewel at the end

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offering a myriad fascinating museums, Caribbean-influenced restaurants and art galleries. Check out its Old Town featuring quaint narrow streets lined with beautifully restored Victorian shotgun cottages or follow in the footsteps of author Ernest Hemingway to his house where the famous six-toed cats still lounge lazily.

Everglades

South of Miami, the Everglades National Park is the second largest national park in America, with its 6,070 sq km marshes, mangrove forests, freshwater and saltwater areas and open grass prairies. Gatorspotting is one of the main attractions in this vast subtropical wilderness, which is also home to an abundance of rare plants, birds and animals - including wild orchids, Florida panthers, ospreys, manatees, giant

loggerhead turtles, the Everglades mink, the Florida black bear and the only saltwater crocodiles in America.

The Everglades make up the largest subtropical wilderness on the United States mainland, and were designated a national park in 1947. Both temperate and tropical plant communities are represented in the park, including cypress swamps, pinelands and sawgrass prairies. Florida Bay, the largest body of water within the park, covering 2,072 sq km, is home to fish, shellfish, coral and sponges. The park is particularly well known for its abundant birdlife. Other endangered species protected in the park are the Green turtle, the Key Largo Cotton mouse, the American crocodile and the Schaus swallowtail butterfly.

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S A X E T

H

ome to vast mountain ranges, broad plains, beautiful beaches and countless miles of rolling countryside and uninhabitable desert, the southern state of Texas is arguably one of the most awe-inspiring of all the fifty in the Union.

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“Everything is bigger in Texas” is slogan Texan natives like to brag about, and there is ample evidence on display to support the claim. The second-largest state in the USA after Alaska, and bigger than several sizeable European countries combined (a vast space which would easily engulf Germany and the UK and then some more), in Texas you’ll find

almost everything is huge - the mountains, the wide open expanses, the cities, the food portions, and yes, some of the people too.

The ‘Lone Star State’ is world renowned for its Wild West spirit and a brazen “don’t mess with Texas” attitude, but there is much more to this state than big-headed cowboys, small-town girls in their Daisy Dukes line dancing, a nationalistic defiance and George Bush.

Don’t Mess with Texas!

In fact, Texas, which has at various times in its history been its own nation-state, may surprise many who visit with how cultured and advanced it is in many areas of the state. It is host to a plethora of cosmopolitan and sophisticated cities, sprinkled with creative businesses districts, smart urban types, Internet millionaires and artistic communities. And Texas boasts a powerful economy to rival that of any advanced Western nation, so it is certainly no slouch or dummy.

The capital Austin is a dynamic and happening city with a lively music scene, retro vibe, boutique stores and an out of

the ordinary motto - even by Southern standards - of ‘Keep Austin Weird’. The state’s largest city (and fourth largest in the USA), Houston is an expansive, multi-ethnic municipality with plenty of charm, and is famously the home of NASA and the point of call for astronauts who have “a problem”.

Dallas, with its glittering high-rise skyline, elegant stores, fine restaurants and a rich cultural and sporting life, is another case to point. Many come here to see the famous Dallas Cowboys American football team play, or with the decidedly more gruesome aim of finding out exactly what happened on Dealey Plaza that fateful day in 1963.

All that aside, if it is a more Wild West or small town America experience you are after, then Texas will more than deliver the goods there too. Visit Fort Worth, with its still retains an Old West charm and features rodeos every Saturday night and cattle drives through the city. And lest we forget San Antonio; the beautiful South-central city that is the home of a stunning Paseo del Rio (River Walk) and what is undoubtedly one of the state’s most famous historical monuments: The Alamo.

Visitors to Texas are really spoilt for choice, and alternative to exploring the many cities and towns, you can saddle up at one of the working ranches, lounge on a America - Kuwait (2014)

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sun-kissed and unspoilt beach along the spectacular Gulf Coast, discover one of the many astonishing National Parks (such as Big Bend or Guadalupe Mountains) or spend some quality family time at one of the many amusement parks, zoos and aquariums that are dotted around the state.

Despite their regular depiction as chestbeating, brash southerners with attitude, Texans are generally very friendly and welcoming folk (unless you are illegally crossing the border that is). Much like William B Travis, James Bowie, Davy Crockett and the

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other heroes of the Alamo, Texas as a state is filled with character and an indomitable spirit that will likely bowl you over.

History

Before the arrival of any European settlers, the area we call Texas is thought to have been habited by the indigenous Native American population. The beginning of the European colonisers began with the arrival of the Spanish exploration headed by Alonso Alvarez de Pineda in 1520. After settling, there were many attempts from the French to ambush the Spanish and to colonize the

land for French ownership. However this wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t successful and the Spanish declared Texas as a colony and in 1691 appointed Texas with its first governor Domingo Teran de los RĂ­os.

In 1799 the Spanish ceded control of Louisiana to the French but the agreement was unclear over borders. So much so, that when the French later sold the state of Louisiana to the US in1803, the US believed that the deal also included the Texas area due to boundary confusions. Due to this, the Napoleon demanded that the king of

Spain should abdicate. The result of this was an attempt by both Mexican and US revolutionaries to declare Mexico and Texas independent. Although unsuccessful, eventually, in 1821 Texas became a part of Mexico, which was newly independent from Spain. The stateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Hispanic legacy has left its mark with place names such as San Antonio and from names of rivers such as Rio Grande.

Within years of becoming part of Mexico, unrest began to take place over political disputes of land and colonialism which created the Texan revolution in 1835. In

only three months, Texan forces successfully defeated the Mexican forces and so a year later signed the Texas Declaration of Independence, effectively making Texas a new republic. Continued disagreements rumbled on but in 1845, the US congress passed a bill allowing it to annex the Republic of Texas, thus making it a US state.

Mexico strongly opposed annexation and the Mexican-American war took hold.

In 1861, Texas joined the Confederate States of America siding with the south during the Civil War between the North and South.

However, by 1865 the Confederacy had collapsed, in part due to the economic difficulties caused by war. After the war Texas grew increasingly prosperous due to the growth of industries such as ranching and banking, leading to wealthier citizens and higher standards of living.

WWII affected Texas significantly, creating more jobs for people working within new military factories, and less people working on traditional ranches. The shortage in farm workers meant that Mexican migrants were brought in, due to their acceptance

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of lower wages. When the war ended, Texas began its transformation and modernized to what it is today along with the rest of the US. This included the oil boom that brought along huge economic benefits for the local economy and for citizens of Texas.

Places to visit Austin

Austin was named by Forbes Magazine as the fastest growing city in America due to its boom in population. The City of Austin claims that 115 new people move to the area each day. It should come as no surprise that this capital city in the heart of the Lone Star state is so popular; with its city motto and attitude of “keeping it weird” mixed with the culture and growing innovation of much larger cities, Austin offers a little something for everyone.

Whether you’re a cowboy, tech wunderkind, musician or retiree, Austin keeps topping lists of best places to live for everyone. Though idyllic as a whole, it’s the individual neighbourhoods that make this city so special.

Austin’s epicenter boasts a fine contrast between development - the city features the tallest residential skyscraper west of the Mississippi River - and the antiquated architecture of Texas’ early settlers. The iconic State Capitol sparkles with pink granite and proudly claims the title of the second largest Capitol after the US Capitol in Washington DC. Scenic Lady Bird Lake snakes through Downtown, with a championed hike and bike trail that locals and visitors use to exercise or catch some of the city’s most famous sights.

Heading westward down the lake lies Zilker Park, home of various music festivals and offering beautiful views of Downtown, and Barton Springs Pool, a spring-fed pool that cools off inhabitants in the sweltering months. Surrounding the walkable downtown are several varying neighborhoods, from quaint to hip, high-end to working class.

The South Congress Avenue shopping strip, a straight shot south from

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the Capitol, features Austin’s most beloved independent clothing boutiques, antique stores and restaurants. The city’s southside is often called the “old-school” neighbourhood and features some of the most beloved Mexican restaurants, vintage clothing stores and free-spirited coffee shops in town.

Head east into East Austin and you will see where the artists and freespirits live. Filled with art galleries and cool eateries, this area was named by Forbes Magazine as one of the most hip neighbourhoods in the US. Head north from Downtown and you’ll hit the University of Texas; this revered school sees an influx of 50,000 students every year and boasts an impressive 423-acre campus. Dotted throughout the university are various museums, art galleries and, of course, large stadiums that house popular sports games. Don’t be surprised if you hear the occasional “Hook’em Longhorns!” shouted from the campus.

This is the official phrase celebrating the students’ football team, The Texas Longhorns.

As you keep heading north, you’ll hit quaint neighbourhoods such as Hyde Park, North Loop, Crestview and North Burnet with their independent boutiques and mid-century ranch-style houses. You’ll be hard-pressed to find characterless chain businesses in central Austin; keeping it local is one of the city’s main mottos.

However, Austin is no longer just a bubbling town whose population waxes and wanes when college is in session. Due to the popularity of Austin, its suburbs are growing - and fast. Suburban neighbourhoods such as Round Rock, Pflugerville and Leander are now within the city limits.

Austin is not only an appealing city for young professionals, but families looking for a safe and unique town to raise their kids in. With the popularity of SXSW music and film festival and F1 racing, Austin has also become an international destination. With its recent rush of new inhabitants and visitors, this one-time sleepy Texan town shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon.

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Dallas

Dallas is a young city with all the vigour of youth. Effigies of modern architecture rise like glass trees out of the downtown area. In 1841, it was simply a plan of 20 streets on the 256 hectares of south central America, claimed by a Tennessee lawyer, John Neely Bryan. Today, it is the ninth largest city in the USA, and including its western neighbour of Fort Worth, it is the nation’s fastest growing metropolitan area.

Thriving at the bottom edge of America’s Great Plains, Dallas has embraced dreamers and entrepreneurs for the better part of two centuries. Big D, as it’s affectionately called, merges Southern hospitality with modern sophistication. Though the landscape looks different than at its humble beginning, the city still welcomes enterprising people who gather to share their grand ideas and stake claims on new frontiers.

Dallas will always be remembered for one, if not two, shootings. The first and most shocking occurred on 22 November 1963, when President J F Kennedy was assassinated in downtown Dallas. The second shooting may only have been fictional but, when J R Ewing was shot by an unknown killer in the TV series Dallas in the early 1980s, fans across the world were devastated. Even today, the legend of J R remains strong, as does the legacy of President Kennedy.

Today the city is a hub for the banking, electronics and oil industries, as well as for dining, shopping, arts and entertainment.

Large scale developments of urban lofts, apartments, condominiums, retail and both indoor and outdoor recreational facilities are springing up across the city. An impressive new Dallas Center for the Performing Arts opened in 2009 to vie with New York’s

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Lincoln Center. New facilities and relevant attractions in and around this cultural centre continue to grow.

Among things you probably didn’t know about Dallas: The city has the largest urban arts district in the United States spanning 19 blocks. What’s more, the Dallas Arts District has more buildings designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architects in one contiguous location than anywhere else in the world.

And Dallas’ Fair Park, just a short distance east of the arts district and a district with numerous museums and venues, features the nation’s largest collection of 1930s Art Deco, exposition-style architecture.

Dallas offers true Southern hospitality, be it in a humble hideaway cafe or in the Mansion on Turtle Creek, repeatedly and regularly ranked as one of the world’s top hotels. And with a 10th of its workforce in the hospitality industry, Dallas is always happy to have y’all come on in and stick around awhile.

Those wishing to explore further afield should take the busy freeway 30 miles to the west to the easy-going, cattle-driving, twin city of Fort Worth, home to a national historic district and a surprising stash of world-class art museums. The similarities between the two include a stunning rate of business and population growth, in spite of a sluggish recent economy; a shared passion for the pro sports teams, including the Dallas Cowboys, whose new billion-dollar stadium is now in Tarrant County instead of Dallas; and a great pride in being Texan.

Houston

With a bayou at its heart, dozens of inspirational museums, a theatre district and a nightlife scene to be envied it’s hard to know where to start with Houston. This is

a city that is continually reinventing itself. It was once most famous as an oil boom town where the oil barons were king, it turned itself into Space City when NASA came to town. And now Houston’s downtown is a pulsating entertainment and residential district where loft apartments sell for a premium.

Take time to explore. You are spoilt for choice with innovative attractions in the museum district; the arts are well catered for in the theatre district; nature lovers can enjoy a unique view of the city from its many open spaces; sport lovers just won’t know where to start; foodies will be in their element; and those who require retail therapy can roam upmarket malls or quirky shops in the neighbourhoods.

Fort Worth

The yin to Dallas’ yang, Fort Worth – also called Cowtown – sits about 40 miles to the west of Big D. Begun as a military outpost before developing into a transport centre for shipping cattle from the surrounding ranch lands, it is now a prosperous and dynamic city with a deep heritage of cowboy culture.

Sites to visit include the Stockyards National Historic District, one-time hub of the industry and home today to the world’s largest honky-tonk, a weekly rodeo and a whole lot of places to buy western attire; three world-class art museums; a superbly lively downtown district, called Sundance Square; and an exceptional zoo.

San Antonio

Located 127 km southwest of Austin, this large city features both the world-famous Alamo and River Walk. Just a short day trip from Austin, it’s worth taking the trek just to see a slice of Texas history.

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Toastmasters International is a world leader in communication and leadership development. Today, our membership is 270,000 strong.

These members improve their speaking and leadership skills by attending one of the 13,000 clubs in 116 countries that make up our global network of meeting locations.

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can make in yourself. At a nominal cost, it is also one of the most cost-effective skill-building tools available anywhere.

How Does It Work?

A Toastmasters meeting is a learn-by-doing workshop in which participants hone their speaking and leadership skills in a no-pressure atmosphere.

A typical group has 20 to 40 members who meet weekly, biweekly or monthly, 1 to 2 hours There is no instructor in a Toastmasters meeting. Instead, members evaluate one another’s presentations. This feedback process is a key part of the program’s success. Meeting participants also give impromptu talks on assigned topics, conduct meetings and develop skills related to timekeeping, grammar and parliamentary procedure.

Why should I join?

The Toastmasters program offers many benefits that help people in all walks of life. As a result of participating in Toastmasters, you will:

· Increase your self-confidence · Become a better speaker and a leader · Communicate more effectively Toastmaster members have testified that by way of joining TMI has greatly improved their quality and productivity in their work.

That is one of the reason corporates show a great deal of interest in joining their employees as members of Toastmasters.

More than 4 million people have discovered the benefits of this proven learning formula. What are you waiting for?

Joining is easy – just a few simple steps...

For more information, please log on to www.Taostmsters.org or even Toastmasters Kuwait.

Email or call us: johnicn@rediffmail.com or 99529776 America - Kuwait (2014)

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Trump International Hotel and Tower

Chicago

Metropolis on the Great Lakes

T

he third-largest city in the United States, Chicago is the unofficial capital of the American Midwest, rooted in the Industrial Revolution that transformed the country into a manufacturing powerhouse as urban centers welcomed new immigrant populations. In the early 20th century, the city became famous for the style of blues music developed by its African-American residents.

Then and Now Before European traders and settlers arrived, the area around Chicago was inhabited primarily by the Potawatomi tribe. In 1674, French Jesuit missionaries and explorers Louis Joliet and Père Marquette spent the winter on the site of the future metropolis.

Jean Baptiste Point du Sable, of African and French descent, became the first nonindigenous resident in the 1780s. In 1833, the town of Chicago was organized with a population of 200.

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Sited on the shores of Lake Michigan and linked by canals and waterways to the Mississippi River, Chicago, the trading and transportation hub connecting the eastern United States and its ever-expanding westward settlements, soon became the world’s fastest-growing city.

Milestones in the city’s history include: • 1837 — Chicago is incorporated as a city.

• 1848 — The Chicago Board of Trade, the world’s oldest futures and options exchange, opens.

• 1871 — The Great Chicago Fire kills hundreds and destroys about 9 square kilometers, but spurs a massive rebuilding campaign using steel frames and plate glass.

• 1872 — Chicago’s Montgomery Ward & Company establishes the first mail-order business.

• 1884 — The world’s first skyscraper, the Home Insurance Building Company, is built.

• 1893 — The Ferris wheel makes its international debut at the Chicago World’s Fair.

• 1929 — The St. Valentine’s Day Massacre involving gang leader Al Capone becomes one of the most notorious examples of criminal mob violence.

• 1956 — Chicago-based Zenith Electronics invents the first wireless television remote control.

• 1983 — Harold Washington is elected by Chicagoans as the first African-American mayor.

• 1992 — Chicago’s Carol Moseley Braun becomes the first female African-American U.S. senator.

Skyscrapers, Sports, Celebrities Today Chicago is famous as the home of President Obama, who got his start in politics as a community organizer and went on to represent his South Shore neighborhood in the Illinois state Senate before his 2004

The People Chicago is diverse: 45 percent white, 32.9 percent African-American and 28.9 percent identifying as Hispanic or Latino. The city’s African-American population is the thirdlargest among U.S. cities, after New York City and Atlanta. It is also home to the third-largest South Asian population in U.S. cities, after New York City and San Francisco.

Chicago’s Polish immigrants make up the largest ethnically Polish population outside Poland itself. Its Irish community is also vibrant, with a substantial presence in the city’s fire and police departments, and in its political leadership for more than 150 years.

The Land

Bagpipers at an annual Saint Patrick’s Day Parade in Chicago.

election to the U.S. Senate. It is also where television host Oprah Winfrey rose to fame.

Chicago is home to some of the world’s most famous sports teams and athletes. Michael Jordan led the Chicago Bulls to six National Basketball Association championships between 1991 and 1998. The city hosts two Major League Baseball teams (the Chicago White Sox and the Chicago Cubs), the National Football League’s Chicago Bears, the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League, and Major League Soccer’s Chicago Fire.

The two tallest skyscrapers in the United States are both in Chicago — Willis

Tower (formerly Sears Tower), and Trump International Hotel and Tower. At a height of 442 meters, the Willis Tower, with 103 floors and 2,232 steps, is the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere.

According to most local legends the nickname «the Windy City» comes from the hot air bellowing from its politicians and the fondness of Chicagoans for talking about their home. Many are especially proud of the city’s deep dish pizza, Italian beef sandwiches and Chicago-style hot dogs.

Chicago occupies the southwest corner shore of Lake Michigan on flat and fertile terrain that was once the bottom of Lake Chicago, the prehistoric ancestor to Lake Michigan. The lake is the largest fresh-water sea on the planet and contains 20 percent of Earth’s fresh water.

Stretching 251 kilometers, the Chicago River, which makes its way through downtown Chicago, originally emptied into Lake Michigan. In 1900 engineers constructed a series of canal locks to reverse its flow to provide better sanitation for city residents.

Every March 17, the river is dyed green to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day.

The Climate Chicago enjoys distinct seasons but generally avoids extremes of heat and cold. The most pleasant times to visit are in the spring and the fall. Average temperatures range from 22 degrees Fahrenheit (-6 degrees Celsius) in January to 74 degrees Fahrenheit (23 degrees Celsius) in July.

Trump-International-Hotel-Tower

Bagpipers at an annual Saint Patrick’s Day Parade in Chicago.

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