the WORLD Issue #9

the WORLD Issue No. 9

by Global Youth Goodwill Ambassadors for Foreign Embassies to the Republic of Korea

TABLE OF CONTENTS

- Articles written by goodwill ambassadors from September 2022 to January 2023

- Reflections on offline activities

- Names of Goodlwill Ambassadors

Special Thanks to

the Embassy of Azerbaijan, the Embassy of Bangladesh, the Embassy of Côte d’Ivoire, the Embassy of Czech Republic, the Embassy of Ecuador, the Embassy of Egypt, the Embassy of Gabon, Embassy of Kenya, the Embassy of Mexico, the Embassy of Nepal, the Embassy of Nicaragua, Embassy of Vietnam, and the Embassy of Zambia to the Republic of Korea for your continuous support to make this project go further

Your unwavering support paves the way for a world of peace and prosperity, uniting the global community.

‘글로벌 청소년 주한외국대사관 홍보대사(Global Youth

Goodwill Ambassadors for Foreign Embassies in the Republic of Korea)’는 다른 나라의 문화, 과학, 경제, 사회 등을 이해하고 공유함으로써 대한민국 공공외교에 기여하고자 합니다.

오늘의 대한민국은 경제력, 국방력, 문화적 영향력 등 여러 측면에서 강국으로 평가받고 있습니다.

특히 한류라는 강력한 소프트파워를 통해 대한민국의

문화, 음식, 음악, 영화 등은 글로벌한 영향력을 갖고 세계인들에게 사랑받고 있습니다.

이처럼 세계 많은 나라들이 우리나라의 문화를 사랑해주고

배우려고 하는 만큼 우리도 그들의 문화와 사회에 관심을 갖고 알아가려고 노력하는 모습을 보여주는 것이 그들의

신뢰를 얻어 대한민국의 진정한 친구로 만들 수 있는

길이라고 믿습니다.

또한, 홍보대사 개개인에게는 전공이나 진로를 초월하여

‘글로벌화, 다문화, 다원화’의 시대, 여러 나라의 역사, 전통, 문화, 가치, 정책, 비전, 세계관 등을 제대로 이해하고

존중할 줄 아는‘Global Awareness’ 를 높여 high impact personal trait를 가질 수 있는 좋은 활동이기도 합니다.

글로벌 청소년 주한외국대사관 홍보대사 공식 매거진인

‘the WORLD - we make more colorful and connected’ 은

2019년 1월에 첫 호를 선보였습니다. 오랜 역사를 가진

매거진, 그 이름처럼 서로의 다름을 이해하고 존중함을

바탕으로 세상을 더욱 다채롭게 이어주는 끈이 되길

바랍니다.

Articles

Azerbaijan Sweets

by Yeonwoo Cha

In Azerbaijan, you can try out many different kinds of tasty sweets. Azerbaijan sweets differ from region to region—many people like them for their colorful scents. Most of them include ingredients like honey, nuts, fruits, butter, and spices. For baking, the dough is either short crust dough or yeast dough.

Badambura is a pastry filled with almonds, sugar, and ground cardamom. The pastry is usually brushed with egg wash and baked until it turns golden-brown. After that, it is sprinkled with powdered sugar. It got its name from badam, meaning almond, and bura, meaning pie. It is traditionally prepared for Novruz, a spring holiday, but it can also be eaten at any time of the year.

Shekerbura is a famous sweet pastry that is often prepared by housewives and made out of butter-based dough and sweet nut filling. Ground almonds, hazelnuts, or walnuts are used for it. The pastry is also decorated with different geometrical shapes and is crescent shaped. When it isn’t decorated, it is usually dusted with powdered sugar. Like badambura, this dessert is also traditionally served during Novruz.

Kurabiye are tasty cookies that are loved by people of all ages and can be found anywhere in Azerbaijan. The form of kurabiye is different depending on the region. In Baku style, it is flower-shaped and made from shortbread dough. In its center, a drop of jam is placed on it. There is also a form in which it is a hollow stick filled with fruit jam and sprinkled with powdered sugar.

Baklava is one of Azerbaijan’s the most popular sweets. Baku baklava, which is the most common form, is shaped like diamonds which symbolizes fire. This sweet consists of 10-12 thin layers of wheat dough filled with nuts, sugar, and cardamom. The Ganja baklava is similar to the Baku baklava, except a pink infusion is added to its dough during cooking and the walnuts used for filling are peeled. It is smeared with a tincture of saffron and sprinkled with poppy seed.

References

https://azertag.az/en/xeber/What_sweets_to_try_in_Azerbaijan-1261291

https://travelinbaku.com/en/blog-detailed/85

https://www.tasteatlas.com/most-popular-desserts-in-azerbaijan

Image Sources

https://www.azerifood.com/?page_id=4466

Photo by Husniyya on Istock

Pink Pearls in Bangladesh

by Chester Chan-Hyun Park

Pearls are often called diamonds inside the sea. Jewelers commonly use them for their tremendous beauty. There are three types of pearls: natural, cultured, and artificial. Artificial pearls are manufactured chemically and are not considered to be genuine pearls. Both cultured (also known as farmed) and natural pearls come from real oysters, but the process of collecting them is different. Several countries are famous for pearls: Japan, China, Bahrain, etc. One of them is Bangladesh.

Bangladesh is especially famous for pink pearls. Pink pearls, locally known as Mukta, are one of the industry’s most expensive types of pearls. Interestingly, the color of the pink pearls is actually gold, not pink. Most of these beautiful pearls come from the southeastern region of Bangladesh, from Comilla district to Cox’s Bazar district. It leads to Chittagong- the port city that has historically played an essential role in pearl trading. Pink pearls come from pure water, making them rare to discover. Because Bangladesh has a clean and uncontaminated environment, they are famous for pearl farming and natural pearls.

If you visit Bangladesh, you can see many stores related to pearls. At some stores, you can choose an oyster and open it by yourself to earn a random pearl inside. Then, you can make your pearls into a bracelet, ring, necklace, or other accessories. Bangladesh’s pearls are also famous among people in Bangladesh. They are not only famous for their jewelry but the pearls themselves were seen as a great gift from mother nature for some families in Bangladesh. This small, beautiful element from the oyster in the sea reflects Bangladesh’s people, environment, and history.

Resource https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pearling_in_Bangladesh#cite_note-2%20fao.org/3/s2622e/S2622E05.htm%20Istock%20-%20pink%20pearl

Image Source

Photo by Rawpixel on Istock

Historical Architectures in Ivory Coast

by Maeji Son

Architecture is more than just the built environment; but is a medium connecting individuals and the history of a country. It is remarkable in that tourists get to feel and sense the country’s historical, cultural, and religious roots through the lens of an architect’s eye.

Here in Côte d’Ivoire, Architecture is a salient reminder of the pains of the past, the footsteps of the Côte d’Ivoire’s development, and the soul of the country’s legends. Heritage in the form of historical architecture goes well with Côte d’Ivoire’s rich natural environment and fine scenery. Amongst those architectural landmarks, the following two architectures have been grabbing the world’s attention for decades:

Basilica Of Our Lady of Peace and GrandBassam.

The church was created by architect Pierre Fakhoury and is located in Yamoussoukro. Guinness World Records classify it as the World’s Largest Basilica. As a symbol of peace, it is intended as a memorial to the first president, Félix Houphouët-Boigny, of the Ivory Coast. Basilica was constructed on the understanding that a hospital would be built nearby to benefit the region’s poor. Although

Resource

hospitals were not constructed until 2015 due to the civil war, the intent clearly showed how thoughtful Boigny was at that time.

In many respects, the Basilica depicts the history of the Ivory Coast, commemorating the spread of Christianity as a new religion and the effort of the first president in forming a country. Moreover, Basilica today serves to be a place of pilgrimage for African Catholics and remains a source of pride for local people. The Historic Town of Grand-Bassam, Côte d’Ivoire’s first capital, is an example of a colonial town. The property comprises the African fishing town of N’zima and colonial architecture characterized by practical residences with galleries, verandas, and gardens. While it was once the most important economic center of Ivory Coast, for the most part, the town is abandoned and turned into a landmark being preserved for tourists. It attests to the complicated

social interactions between Europeans and Africans and the subsequent independence movement to overcome colonialism.

It has a universal value in that its town vividly symbolizes the history of the colonial period and people’s daily life in the town. Some buildings left falling apart due to the independence movement during the colonial period shows the pain and the acts taken during the movement. As a world heritage site, Grand-Bassam allows historians to perceive the history of the Ivory Coast during the colonial period.

All in all, Historical Architectures in Ivory Coast are witness to the aesthetic and cultural history of a city, contributing to people’s feeling of location and connection to the heritage. Here, architecture bridges the gap between the bygone eras and the present day and contributes to understanding the environment during the era.

https://discover-ivorycoast.com/the-district-of-yamoussoukro/ https://www.traveltourxp.com/top-5-attractions-of-ivory-coast/ https://www.wondermondo.com/wonders-of-cote-divoire/ http://www.newstatesman.com/africa/2008/10/houphouet-boigny-yamoussoukro https://web.archive.org/web/20150223025429/http://www.reidsitaly.com/destinations/lazio/ro me/sights/st _peters.html

https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2015/may/15/yamoussoukro-notre-dame-de-la-paix-ivory-coast-worlds-largest-basilica-history-ofcities-in-50-buildings-day-37

https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2004/jun/17/architecture

https://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1077/is_n2_v46/ai_9177142

Image Source

GettyImages-660569339-589b5c7c3df78c475879c7e9.jpg

Football : The Unifying Force of Côte D’Ivoire

by Gyurin Kim

Among the many passions of Ivorian people, football (soccer) is undoubtedly one of the most popular. Côte d’Ivoire has a national team that competes in national leagues and popular international competitions, including the African Cup of Nations, Africa Nations Championship, and the World Cup. Their team is exceptional, having won three African Cup of Nations, two Africa Nations Championships, and qualifying for several World Cups, including the 2006 World Cup in Germany.

The Ivory Coast team’s famous players have included Didier Drogba, Wilfried Bony, Salomon Kalou, and Seydou Doumbia. Drogba, the Ivorian star who was once the talisman for Chelsea and the national team, said in a FIFA interview that “football brings the whole country together.” It is indeed a unifying force for the nation, to the point that the government closed all schools during the African Cup of Nations matches. Furthermore, according to Britannica, “a football field exists in almost every town and village, and there is at least one football club in every city.”

References

Al Jazeera. (2012, October 8). Football Only Unifying Force in Ivory Coast. https://www.aljazeera.com/sports/2012/10/8/football-onlyunifying-force-in-ivory.

Encyclopedia Britannica. (n.d.). Côte d’Ivoire - Côte d’Ivoire since independence. In Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved March 13, 2023, from https://www.britannica.com/place/Cote-dIvoire/Cote-dIvoire-since-independence.

World Soccer Shop. (n.d.). Ivory Coast National Team Soccer Jerseys & Gear. In World Soccer Shop. Retrieved March 13, 2023, from https:// www.worldsoccershop.com/shop/national-teams/ivory-coast. Goal.com. (2021, February 17). Ivory Coast confirm friendly match against France in March. Goal. https://www.goal.com/en-ug/news/ivorycoast-confirm-friendly-match-against-france-in-march/blt7c3f85056bb8e573.

Image Sources

https://www.azerifood.com/?page_id=4466

Photo by Husniyya on Istock

Abidjan

Cote D'ivoire's economic capital

Image credit: Adobe Photo Stock (free image)

Ecuador’s cuisine

by Changyong Hwang

Ecuador, a country located on the western coast of South America, is home to a diverse range of cuisines that reflect its varied geography and cultural influences. From the coastal regions to the highlands, Ecuador's cuisine is rich in flavor, color, and texture, making it one of the most delicious and fascinating in the world.

Another popular dish is Locro, a potato soup made with cheese, avocado, and corn. It is a hearty and warming dish that is perfect for cold Andean nights.

One of the most famous foods in Ecuador is Ceviche. This seafood dish is typically made with raw fish or shrimp marinated in lime juice, onion, and chili peppers. It's often served with corn chips or popcorn on the side.

Finally, no discussion of Ecuador's cuisine would be complete without mentioning the country's amazing desserts. One of the most popular is Tres leches cake, a sponge cake soaked in three types of milk and topped with whipped cream.

Ecuador's cuisine is as diverse and varied as its geography and culture. From the seafood-rich coastal regions to the hearty dishes of the highlands and the sweet desserts, there is something for every palate in Ecuador. Whether you are a foodie or just someone who loves to try new things, Ecuador's cuisine is definitely worth exploring.

Resources

https://www.oceandreamcabarete.com/dominican-republic-dishes/ https://www.goya.com/en/recipes/shrimp-ceviche-from-ecuador https://en.astelus.com/typical-food-of-ecuador/Ecuadorian-locro https://www.livewellbakeoften.com/tres-leches-cake/

Ecuadorian rich artistic tradition

by Changyong Hwang

Ecuador is a country with a rich artistic tradition that reflects its diverse cultural heritage and natural beauty. From ancient indigenous art to contemporary works by Ecuadorian artists, the country's art scene is vibrant and diverse.

One of the most notable forms of indigenous art in Ecuador is the weaving of textiles. Indigenous communities throughout the country have a long tradition of weaving, using techniques that have been passed down for generations. The textiles feature intricate designs and vibrant colors, often reflecting the natural environment and traditional beliefs of the weaver's community. Some of the most famous examples of Ecuadorian textiles include the ponchos of Otavalo and the shawls of the Salasaca people.

In the modern era, Ecuador has produced a number of notable artists in a range of mediums. One of the most famous is Oswaldo Guayasamin, whose paintings are known for their powerful and emotive themes. Other notable Ecuadorian artists include Eduardo Kingman, whose works often depict social and political issues, and Camilo Egas, who is known for his portraits of indigenous people.

Overall, Ecuador's art scene is a rich and diverse reflection of the country's cultural heritage and natural beauty. From ancient textiles and ceramics to contemporary paintings and sculptures, there's something for everyone in the world of Ecuadorian art. Whether you're a fan of traditional indigenous art or contemporary works by emerging artists, Ecuador has something to offer.

Resources

Copyright Infringement Intended.

https://garlandmag.com/article/the-macanas-of-gualaceo-ecuadorian-ikat/

Image Sources

https://garlandmag.com/article/the-macanas-of-gualaceo-ecuadorian-ikat/ https://www.wikiart.org/en/oswaldo-guayasamin/ternura-1989

-> HOBY Korea hereby declares that we do not own the rights to this art. All rights belong to the owner. No

Copyright Infringement Intended.

HOBY Korea hereby declares that we do not own the rights to this art. All rights belong to the owner. No

체코의 국호

글: 이성민 (Sungmin Lee)

체코는 여러 이름을 지니고 있습니다. 이는 유구한 지역의 역사를 나타내며 그들의 정체성을 보여주기도 합니다. 뿐만 아니라 국가가 지닌 세계에서의 위상과 위치를 나타내는 대표적인 방식이 국호입니다.

체코의 첫번째 국호는 사모 제국(Sámova říše) 입니다. 선사 시대에 프랑크인 사모(Sámo)가 세운 국가로 체코 위치에

들어선 최초의 슬라브 국가입니다 . 국호에서부터 알 수 있듯, 이 국가는 사모가 즉위한 국가 그 자체를 명시합니다. 그의

재위 기간 20년을 끝으로 국가가 무너졌기 때문에 특별히 이름 붙이지 않고 간단히 사모의 제국이 된 것입니다.

그다음 국호는 대모라비아 왕국(Veľkomoravská ríša)입니다. 왕국인 이름에서부터 알 수 있듯, 모이미르 왕조 (Mojmírovci)를 기반으로 하는 국가입니다. 여기서 처음으로 현대 체코 공화국의 동쪽이 모라비아로 확실히 명명되었으며, 모라비아 지방뿐만 아니라 주위 지역가지도 규합하였기 때문에 대(大)가 붙었습니다.

보헤미아 왕국(České království)은 체코가 한창 중부 유럽의 중심지가 되었을 때의 국호입니다. 프르셰미슬 왕조 (Dynastie Přemyslovců) 부터 시작하여 룩셈부르크 가문(Lucemburkové)까지 네 번 왕조가 변하였지만, 신성로마제국의

일원으로 체코는 보헤미아 왕국인 채로 남았습니다. 이름 보헤미아는 기원전 3세기경 그 일대를 지배하던 보이 부족의 땅이라는 의미를 지닙니다.

그 뒤로는 기성세대 이후에게 익숙한 체코 슬로바키아(Československo)가 국호로 쓰입니다. 체코와 슬로바키아가 오스트리아-헝가리 제국으로부터 독립한 이후 함께 독립한 형태입니다. 그래서 국호도 체코와 슬로바키아를 합친

모양입니다. 이는 체코슬로바키아 초대 대통령인 토마시 마사리크의 의도가 컸습니다. 각각의 민족보다는 슬라브인이라는

더 큰 정체성을 강조한 것입니다. 그렇게 체코슬로바키아는 민주주의에서 공산주의로, 그리고 다시 민주주의로 돌아올

때까지 쓰입니다.

체코의 벨벳 혁명은 거대한 체코슬로바키아를 다시 민족 별로 나눈 벨벳 이혼 이후로 다시 ‘체코’가 국호로 쓰입니다. 사실

체코라는 이름도 상당히 오래된 이름입니다. 이전에 포스팅했던 ‘체흐’의 이름에서 이를 의미하는 체흐 부족의 나라라는 의미로 체코가 사용되었습니다. 그래서 체코와 보헤미아는 사실상 같은 의미로 통용되었습니다.

체코라는 국호도 바뀔 뻔한 적이 있습니다. 93년에는 체스코(Česko)라는 이름으로 쓰이려고 했습니다. 이전에 체코슬로바키아에서 체코를 의미하던 부분만 떼어온 것입니다. 그러나 체코인들이 잘 사용하지 않고 발음이 불편하다는 이유로 사용되지 않았습니다. 97년에는 체키아(Czechia)라는 국호가 건의되기도 하였는데 2016년부터 정식적으로 통용되기는 하지만, 체코 공화국이 더 익숙한 이름이기에 잘 쓰이지는 않습니다.

체코라는 이름은 익숙하기도 하면서 깊은 역사를 지닌 국호입니다. 이의 변천사를 알아보면 더더욱 체코라는 국호가 특별해 집니다.

Resource

Hurbanič, Martin. “The Eastern Roman Empire and the Avar Khaganate in the Years 622–624 AD.” Acta Antiqua Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae, vol. 51, no. 3-4, 2011, pp. 315–328., https://doi.org/10.1556/aant.51.2011.3-4.7.

Bartl Július. Slovak History: Chronology & Lexicon. Bolchazy-Carducci, 2002.

Bouzek, Jan. The Story of the Boii, 2013.

Gogolák, Ludwig von. “Tomáš Masaryk”. Encyclopedia Britannica, 10 Sep. 2022, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Tomas-Masaryk.

Accessed 12 September 2022.

Ulc, Otto. “Czechoslovakia’s Velvet Divorce.” East European Quarterly, vol. 30, no. 3, Sept. 1996, pp. 331–352. J., Culik. “From the Czech Republic to ‘Czechia’: Shaping Modern Identity.” European Futures, 26 Apr. 2016

Image Source

https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=432452

Lake Nicaragua by

Subin Lee

As the country of Nicaragua is located in South America, the country has various different and special geological features scattered throughout the country. In this post, I would like to introduce to you the most famous lake in Nicaragua!

Nicaragua consists of many famous lakes. Lake Nicaragua is the most famous and popular lake among the others for its special landscape. What makes Lake Nicaragua so special is that it is the largest of the many lakes in the country. It is locally called ‘Cocibolca,’ and the Spanish called it ‘Mar Dulce.’

Ometepe Island, or Isla de Ometepe in Spanish, is the largest island in Lake Nicaragua. It is also called Alta Gracia by the local population. This island is special for its geographical structure as it consists of two joined islands. Although it seems unlikely, Ometepe Island has very fertile ground and therefore is forested throughout the island. The island’s forestation consists of various plants, from coffee to tobacco.

These special features of Ometepe Island are very attractive to tourists, and therefore the island is a very popular tourist location.

Resources

“Lake Nicaragua - Wikipedia.” Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia, Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., 5 Jan. 2002, https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Nicaragua. https://www.britannica.com/place/Lake-Nicaragua https://en.unesco.org/biosphere/lac/ometepe-island

Image Sources

Photo by Fabian Wiktor: https://www.pexels.com/photo/mountain-under-white-cloudy-sky-3470872/

A Historical Figure: Muhammad Anwar el-Sadat

by Junghyun Clair Park

Even now, in the 21st century, to most of the world’s population, Egypt probably remains to be ‘the country with all those pyramids.’ Although some might go slightly further and attempt to display their bountiful intellect by mentioning the invention of the calendar, the creation of the sphynx cats, and the myriad of deserts, curses, and legends, it still remains a fact that not a lot of us are informed about the fascinations of modern Egypt. Therefore, to at least marginally broaden the perspective most of us have toward Egypt, this article incorporates the life of ‘Muhammad Anwar el-Sadat (Figure 1)’.

Born on December 25th, 1918, Anwar el-Sadat’s life was strongly influenced by World War II (WW2), which occurred between the years 1939 and 1945. After joining Gamal Abdel Nasser’s coup’ in the 1950s, he graduated from the Cairo Military Academy and became vice president in 1964 and president by 1970. Even though Egypt lost the ‘Yom Kippur War’ against Israel under his regime in 1973, the setback in their military force antithetically boosted support for this political status, which made him a prominent figure within the Arab populous. Nevertheless, without being complacent with his status of generous acclaim, he incessantly endeavored to forge a peace treaty between Egypt and Israel (Egypt and Israel have been in a several decadeslong religious and territorial conflict, and tensions have been running high—there were even a few wars—especially during Anwar el-Sadat’s rule). As a result of Anwar elSadat’s exertions, by 1979, he could sign the Camp David Accords (i.e., a peace treaty) with Israeli prime minister Menachem Begin. Although this peace treaty did earn him a Nobel Peace Prize alongside the Israeli prime minister because his course of action had been against what was deemed preferable by the Arabs (and partly the Jewish as well), Anwar el-Sadat’s popularity promptly declined. And in 1981, they even got him assassinated by a group of Arab radicals. This brief bibliography of Muhammad Anwar elSadat presents to you an Egyptian politician who actively put his life at risk to make the decision he thought was best for his country (and the others around Egypt).

Even though logically, from a utilitarian point of view, this might seem like a small sacrifice to make; however, when you’re in the position of being the one person who has to sacrifice himself or herself, the decision becomes considerably harder to make, and the action, even more so. Especially as Anwar el-Sadat had already been in a position of homage and was most likely aware of the change in attitude he might have to endure, it isn’t challenging to comprehend or at least estimate the fortitude required behind his actions. Now, when the topic of Egypt is mentioned, just remember: remember that once a man named Muhammad Anwar el-Sadat existed, and remember that he made decisions to benefit others more than just himself. Remember his tenacity and valor, and tell your interlocutor a story—a story of a very, very brave man.

Resources

Encyclopædia Britannica, inc. (n.d.). Anwar Sadat. Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved July 10, 2022, from https://www.britannica.com/biography/Anwar-Sadat Encyclopædia Britannica, inc. (n.d.). Anwar El-Sādāt summary. Encyclopædia Britannica.

Retrieved July 10, 2022, from https://www.britannica.com/summary/Anwar-Sadat

Image Source

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica •. (2022). Muhammad Anwar el-Sadat in Uniform. Britannica. AP/Shutterstock.com.

Retrieved July 10, 2022, from https://www.britannica.com/biography/Menachem-Begin.

Gabon: A Haven of Biodiversity and Pristine Landscapes

by Sierra Kim

Gabon, located in the heart of Africa, is home to a wealth of diverse wildlife and natural beauty. The country boasts vast expanses of tropical rainforest, lush savannas, and a pristine coastline, making it a must-visit destination for nature lovers.

Gabon has taken significant steps to protect its wildlife, with over 10% of the country’s landmass designated as protected areas. One of the most significant features of Gabon’s natural beauty is its rainforest, home to some of Africa’s most iconic wildlife species. The dense forests are home to populations of western lowland gorillas, forest elephants, and chimpanzees, which are all endangered species. Gabon is the first African country paid to protect its rainforest.

In addition to its forests, Gabon’s coastline is also a sight to behold, with pristine beaches and clear waters that are home to numerous species of marine life. The Pongara National Park, located just 20 kilometers from the capital city of Libreville, is one of the best places to experience Gabon’s coastal beauty. The park is home to several species of sea turtles, dolphins, and humpback whales, which can be seen during certain times of the year.

Resources

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-57567829

https://news.mongabay.com/2005/09/gabon-sets-aside-10-percent-of-country-as-protected-parks/

Image Sources

https://tiplr.com/tips/africa/gabon/estuaire/libreville/pongara-national-park/

Image credit: Adobe Photo Stock (free image)

The Basilica of the National Vow in the historic center of Quito, Ecuador

Languages of Kenya

by Eunhyung Lee

Kenya is a diverse nation of about 40 major ethnic groups.

This diverse ethnic makeup makes it a multilingual country with multiple languages within its borders. Swahili and English are two official languages that are recognized by law. There are other important regional languages in the country, and the two most widely spoken languages are Kikuyu and Luhya.

Kenya’s Official Two Languages

Swahili

Swahili is one of the major languages spoken in Kenya. The language is spoken by default by the Swahili ethnic group living in coastal areas of the country. Swahili is also known as the official language of the African Union and the East African Community.

Swahili is a Bantu language belonging to the Niger Congolese. The first document in Swahili was a letter in Arabic in 1711. Many Swahili dialects exist along the Kenyan coast— especially Kiumba (South Coast), Mambrui (Malindi), and Kimvita (Mombasa). The Swahili language is integrated into the Kenyan education system and is a compulsory subject for teaching up to the secondary school level.

Engliish

English is another language recognized by law as Kenya’s official language. After Kenya became a British colony in the 19th century, English was introduced to the country. English is the primary language used in formal conversation in this country. It is also the language used when drafting legal documents and during legal proceedings.

Most English-speaking people are from English-speaking countries or are expatriates in the United States. However, the language is spoken by millions of Kenyans, mainly in urban areas. English is also one of the main languages used in print and electronic media.

Kenya’s Major Regional Languages

Kikuyu

Kikuyu is one of the country’s major regional languages. It is the native language of the members of the Kikuyu tribe living in the Central Region. Kenya has about 7 million Kikuyu users, accounting for 22 percent of the population. Like Swahili, Kikuyu is also classified as the Bantu language in the Nigerian-Congolian group. The language consists of four geographically defined dialects: the Kirinyaga dialect, the Kiambu dialect, the Murang’a dialect, and the Nyeri dialect.

Luhya

Luhya is another major regional language spoken in Kenya. The Luhya language is derived mainly from the Luhya ethnic group found in the western region. The total number of native Luhya speakers in Kenya is estimated at 1.2 million. The Luhya language consists of six main dialects: Hanga, Oriental Nyala, Marama, Cabras, Tsotsi, and Kisa.

Resources

Flag of Kenya (GIF) / All Waving Flags

https://www.allwavingflags.com/2018/06/flag-of-kenya.html

Official Languages Of Kenya [Updated 2021] / Milestone Localization / July 13, 2021

https://www.milestoneloc.com/official-languages-of-kenya/

Language use by language and class level in Kenya.

https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Language-use-by-language-and-class-level-in-Kenya_fig3_271671494

THE KIKUYU PEOPLE - Fatherland Gazette – Culture / Fatherland Gazette / September 16, 2021

https://fatherlandgazette.com/the-kikuyu-people/

Luhya Tribe of Kenya / Medium / September 05, 2020

https://medium.com/@abebaebrima/luhya-tribe-of-kenya-7d0a3f64e659

[출처] Language of Kenya|작성자 celine

Nancy Castro Breaks the Boundaries of Traditional Korean Folk Songs

by Keonhee Ahn

Today, I will introduce Nancy Lorena Castro, a Mexican Minyo singer who seeks to promote Korean traditional music to the world. She became interested in Korean culture as a fan of the KPOP group “Super Junior.” From then on, she began to study Korea and pursued her education at the King Sejong Institute in Mexico.

Hoy les presento a Nancy Lorena Castro, una cantante mexicana de Minyo que busca promover la música tradicional coreana en el mundo. Se interesó por la cultura coreana como seguidora del grupo de KPOP “Super Junior”. A partir de entonces, comenzó a estudiar sobre Corea y prosiguió su formación en el Instituto Rey Sejong de México.

As a fan, Nancy took a photo with Lee Chun-hee, the master of Minyo, holding the National Intangible Cultural Property, the folk songs of Gyeonggi, in one of his concerts in Mexico. The photo later surprised Master Lee Chun-hee when they reconvened as teacher and student. This marked the beginning of a special relationship between a master of Minyo and a disciple who became the first foreigner to inherit folk songs in Gyeonggi Province.

Como aficionada, Nancy se hizo una foto con Lee Chun-hee, el maestro del Minyo que sujetaba el Bien Cultural Inmaterial Nacional, Canciones folclóricas de Gyeonggi, en uno de sus conciertos en México. La foto sorprendió más tarde al maestro Lee Chun-hee, cuando se reconciliaron como maestro y alumna. Esto marcó el comienzo de una relación especial entre un maestro de Minyo y un discípulo que se convirtió en el primer extranjero en heredar canciones folclóricas en la provincia de Gyeonggi.

Lee Chun-hee, impressed by Nancy’s devotion despite being a foreigner, questioned why she was willing to learn Minyo. Her response admired Lee: Nancy wanted to preserve and share the traditional music of another culture.

Lee Chun-hee, impresionado por la devoción de Nancy, a pesar de ser extranjera, le preguntó por qué estaba dispuesta a aprender Minyo. Lee quedó admirado por su respuesta: Nancy quería preservar y compartir la música tradicional de otra cultura.

Nancy not only performs Minyo in Korea but also operates a YouTube channel introducing Korean traditional music in Spanish. She is an honored performer of ‘the Korea Tourism Organization’,

‘Seoul Tourism Organization’, and ‘Korea Ne’, introducing Korean landmarks in Spanish and appearing on various broadcasting programs such as ‘Let’s Learn the Sound Season 2’ and ‘Quiz on Korea’.”

Nancy no sólo interpreta Minyo en Corea, sino que también gestiona un canal de YouTube en el que presenta la música tradicional coreana en español. Es una artista de honor de la ‘Organización de Turismo de Corea’, la ‘Organización de Turismo de Seúl’ y ‘Korea Ne’, que presenta lugares emblemáticos de Corea en español y aparece en varios programas de radiodifusión como ‘Let’s Learn the Sound Season 2’ y ‘Quiz on Korea’.”

In June 2022, she appeared in a human theater program, “Falling for Nancy’s Minyo,” showcasing her daily life in Korea. Minyo practitioner Eui-Chul, who she met in school, received an invitation from the Mexican embassy through their friendship and Nancy. Eui-Chul and Nancy performed together to commemorate the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Korea and Mexico.

En junio de 2022, apareció en un programa de teatro humano llamado “Falling for Nancy’s Minyo”, que mostraba su vida cotidiana en Corea.

La practicante de Minyo Eui-chul , a quien conoció en la escuela, recibió una invitación de la embajada mexicana gracias a su amistad y a Nancy. Juntas, Eui-chul y Nancy actuaron para conmemorar el 60 aniversario de las relaciones diplomáticas entre Corea y México.

On her first performance in her home country, Nancy sang “Arirang” in Spanish. The Mexican audience filled the concert hall, and her performance was met with great acclaim thanks to her lively and captivating singing. The stage where Nancy showed her family for the first time was a proud and heart-warming stage.

En su primera actuación en su país natal, Nancy cantó “Arirang” en español. El público mexicano llenó la sala de conciertos y su actuación fue muy aplaudida gracias a su canto vivo y cautivador. El escenario donde Nancy mostró a su familia por primera vez fue un escenario de orgullo y emoción.

“When singing Arirang, I saw both Korean and Mexican audiences singing along and thought, ‘wow, these two countries are really friends.”

“It is fascinating to note that the emotional impact of the Arirang remained unchanged, even when I first heard it before fully understanding the lyrics in Korean. It truly demonstrates the power of music to connect and communicate emotions through the heart, transcending language barriers.”

“Al cantar el Arirang, vi que tanto el público coreano como el mexicano cantaban y pensé ‘vaya, estos dos países son realmente amigos’. “ Es fascinante observar que el impacto emocional del Arirang permaneció inalterado, incluso cuando lo escuché por primera vez antes de entender completamente la letra en coreano. Realmente demuestra el poder de la música para conectar y comunicar emociones a través del corazón, trascendiendo las barreras del idioma.”

Nancy’s love and passion for Minyo served as a lesson for Korean society, which is slowly forgetting Minyo, treating it as mere history. The effort of Nancy, who introduces Minyo as a new culture to Spaniards and promotes the value of Korean traditional music to the world, is admirable. Many foreigners like Nancy are encouraged to fulfill their dreams and make connections between their homeland and Korea.

El amor y la pasión de Nancy por el Minyo sirvieron de lección para la sociedad coreana, que poco a poco está olvidando el Minyo, tratándolo como mera historia. El esfuerzo de Nancy, que presenta el Minyo como una nueva cultura a los españoles y promueve el valor de la música tradicional coreana al mundo, es admirable. Muchos extranjeros como Nancy se animan a cumplir sus sueños y a establecer conexiones entre su patria y Corea.

Resources

Screening Humanity, 2022년 6월 7일, https:// tv.naver.com/v/27210280

고미혜, “한국민요에 빠져 엄마 몰래 한국행…멕시코 소리꾼 난시”, 연합뉴스, 2022-05-08, https://www.yna.co.kr/view/ AKR20220508002300087

마리아 몬세라트 랑헬 잭스, “한국에서 꿈을

좇는 멕시코인 난시 카스트로”, 중도일보, 2020-11-17, http://www.joongdo.co.kr/web/ view.php?key=20201116010005487

Image Sources

https://www.yna.co.kr/view/ AKR20220508002300087

https://www.instagram.com/p/ Clcy6VDJG3G/

Legends and Myths in Nicaragua

by Brendan Lee Seo

Nicaragua has a massive amount of legends and myths, and they are very similar to the other countries’ legends in Latin America. Many of them originated from Columbia and the history of the Spaniards. Here are the three most famous legends in Nicaragua.

La Mocuana was a princess of India; her father welcomed the Spanish conquistadors but later ordered them to leave. The Spaniards then returned to occupy and loot the villages. The village chieftain hid the treasure, and only his daughter Mocuana knew where it was. Later, the Spaniards sealed La Mocuana in a cave, which broke her heart, and she wandered through the woods after escaping the cave, increasingly driven by feelings of betrayal and guilt. People in the village say they sometimes see her sad and hopeless at night. La Cegua,also known as Segua orTzegua,is a character from Central American legends. La Cegua is a terrible specter (ghost) who torments the lonely paths of Central America. She reveals herself only at night on deserted roads, asking travelers for help and to bring her to a town close by. The ghost appears to attract

men in the form of a beautiful woman and later transforms into a monstrous creature with a horse head. The only way to escape from her is by throwing mustard seeds before her; then, she will begin picking them up. It is one of the few spirits of Latino-American legend that is respected and feared. El Cadejo is a story of two cadejos, one black and one white; both are very mysterious, large, strong, and hairy animals that look like dogs. They spend most of their time with their tongues out and have large claws on their legs, producing a noisy sound when walking. The black cadejo is an evil spirit and a declared enemy of the man who tries to harm him in his nocturnal wanderings. When it appears or attacks the man, the white cadejo gets in the way and distracts him from harming the man. The cadejos never get to kill each other; instead, they only get hurt, and the black cadejo is defeated because it symbolizes the evil side. The white cadejo is a protective guardian of man; he is kind and walks next to the person to keep him from evil spirits, and it defends him from any danger on all his trips to the place where the lonely walker is going.

References:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_ Nicaragua#Legends

https://villains.fandom.com/wiki/La_Cegua

https://www.wattpad.com/667953301-leyendasde-nicaragua-el-cadejo-Blanco-y-el-cadejo -> translated (Spanish -> English)

https://info-nicaragua.com/information-ofnicaragua/legends-and-traditions-nicaragua/

Image Sources:

https://escuelaparatodos.cr/10671-2/

https://mitosyleyendascr.com/costa-ricalegends/legends02/

https://www.elsalvadortips.com/el-cadejo-legend

Tet Nguyen Dan

by Chaemin Hwang

Tet Nguyen Dán is a traditional Vietnamese New Year’s day. It starts on January 1st to the 7th in the lunar calendar. It is one of the big holidays in Vietnam, the biggest festival in Vietnam. It is the day that family gathers around and spends time together. They make traditional food together and visit temples. The Tet festival is one of the important festivals in Vietnam; it means thanking God for spring’s arrival, and people show respect to their ancestors when they are gathered with other family members. There are small local celebrations such as fireworks, dances, and fashion shows. This day is also representing the first day of spring in Vietnam.

Tet Trung Thu is a mid-autumn festival, one of the two most popular festivals in Vietnam. It is during mid-August, based on the lunar calendar. The original meaning of the festival was to give parents time to spend with their children because they missed a lot of time with their children due to harvesting agriculture. At the same time, they celebrate the harvest. Eating Mooncakes is a traditional thing that people do in Tet Trung Thu. In the street, there are lanterns and costumed lions and dragons. To compare Tet Trung Thu with western festivals, it is much like a combination of Halloween and Thanksgiving.

Article based on personal research by Chaemin Hwang

References:

« Top 15 Vietnam Festivals with Calendar 2021 - 2022 - 2023.” | Top 15 Vietnam Festivals with Calendar 2021 - 2022 - 2023, https://sonasia-holiday.com/sonabee/vietnam-festivals. “Legend of MID-AUTUMN Festival in Vietnam.” Vietravel, https://www.vietravel.com/en/cultures-and-customs/legend-of-midautumn-festival_in-vi etnam-v11383.aspx. “Vietnam’s Magical Mid-Autumn Festival.” Vietnam Tourism, https://vietnam.travel/things-to-do/vietnams-magical-mid-autumn-festival.

Image Sources:

Photo by Min An: https://www.pexels.com/photo/two-person-standing-near-assorted-color-paper-lanterns-1313814/

Nairobi

Kenya’s capital city

Image credit: Adobe Photo Stock (free image)

Global Youth Goodwill Ambassador for Foreign Embassies in the Republic of Korea

잠비아의 전통음악

글: 이주아 (Jua Lee)

잠비아의 전통 음악은 많은 사람들이 특히 노래와 춤을 많이 춘다는 것이 특징이다. 가장 많이 연주되는 악기는 드럼이며, 잠비아어로는

칼림바(kalimba), 칸고비오(kangombio), 카탄디(kathandi), 문화권에서는 음비라(mbira)라고 부르는 직사각형 상자에 장착되고 양쪽

엄지손가락으로 튕기며 연주하는 작은 악기인 엄지 피아노(thumb piano), 킬림바(kilimba) 등이 있다.

위 사진은 칼룸부(kalumbu)라는 한 줄로 된 활로, 고대의 기원은 산 사람들에게 있다. 잠비아에서는 남부 주에 있는 바통가(Ba-Tonga)와 바라 족(Ba-lla)에서만 발견된다.

이 중 잠비아에서 가장 많이 연주되는 악기는 단연코 북이다. 북소리는 전통 의식, 세레모니, 그리고 공동체 의사소통의 중요한 부분을 차지한다. 소통의 도구로 잘 알려진 아프리카 드럼도 기본 악기로 널리 사용된다. 음악의 가장 중요한 용도 중 하나는 가르침과 민속을 세대에 걸쳐 전달하는 수단으로 사용되어 왔다는 것이다. 글자가 유행하기 훨씬 전에, 북을 연주하는 것은 먼 거리에서 메시지를 전달하는 방법으로 사용되었다. 가장 흥미로운 종류의 북은 전통 장례식에서 사용되는 소위 “사자 북”이다.

아프리카의 다른 나라들과 마찬가지로 잠비아에서도 많은 일들에 음악이 쓰인다. 레크리에이션, 일, 결혼식, 아이가 태어났을 때, 장례식, 기도, 그리고 특별한 행사

등 거의 모든 행사에 음악이 쓰인다. 오늘날 잠비아의 음악은 잠비아의 다양한 전통 그룹의 영향을 받은 전통적, 아프리카적, 서구적, 현대적 음악과 콩고 민주 공화국과 남아프리카 공화국과 같은 다른 아프리카 국가의 음악, 자메이카와 미국 장르의 음악이 혼합되어 있다. 잠비아의 전통 음악은 잠비아의 다양한 민족 집단의 믿음과 풍습에 뿌리를 두고 있으며 지난 30년 동안 약간의 쇠퇴를 겪었다고 한다. 전통적인 잠비아 음악은 한때 명확한 의식적인 목적이 있었거나 문화의 사회적 구조의 표현이었다. 노래는 가르침, 치유, 그리고 영혼에 호소하기 위해 사용되었었다. 아프리카인들의 전통 음악의 문화 중 춤은 아주 중요한 부분이며, 그들이 표현하는 사상과 함께 혼란과 평화, 긴장과 자신감, 후퇴와 전진, 정복과 패배, 수세기에 걸친 삶과 사고의 반영자 역할을 한다.

잠비아의 전통적인 춤 동작은 활기찬 스텝과 우아한

움직임이 결합되었다. 잠비아인들은 고도로 발달된

리듬 감각을 보여주고 있다. 사진 속 춤은 전사 춤

(warrior dance)라고 불리우는데, 리듬 드럼의

박자에 맞춰 춤을 추는 모의 전투의 남자들을

묘사한다. 춤은 아주 강렬하고, 한번 보게 되면

움직임을 통해 전해지는 흥분과 이야기에 단번에

매려될 것이다. 이 춤은 잠비아의 장례식과 문화

행사들에서 공연된다.

Resource https://zambianmusic2.weebly.com/

https://www.victoriafalls-guide.net/zambian-culture.html

Image Source CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=633254

https://cms.thehorniman.net/object/1971.1166

https://www.afrocharts.com/artist?id=7be9526c1a, Traditional music and

dance in Zambia.

Photo: blog.motherlandsfinest.com

Traditional Music of Zambia

by Jua Lee

Characteristic of traditional music in Zambia is that many people sing and dance. The most commonly played instrument is the drum. Other instruments include the kalimba, kangombio, kathandi, and thumb piano (mbira), a small instrument mounted on a rectangular box and played by flicking with the thumbs on both sides. Kilimba is also used.

Dance is a very important part of the culture of traditional African music, and it reflects the beliefs and ideas that they express, including confusion and peace, tension and confidence, retreat and progress, conquest and defeat, and the reflection of life and thought over centuries. The traditional dance movements in Zambia combine energetic steps with graceful movements. Zambians demonstrate a highly developed sense of rhythm. The dance shown in the photo is called the “warrior dance,” which depicts men engaging in mock battles, dancing to the beat of rhythm drums. The dance is very intense and once seen, it is easy to become enthralled by the excitement and story conveyed through the movements. This dance is performed at funerals and cultural events in Zambia.

The picture shows the kalumbu, a single-stringed bow with its origins among the mountain people of ancient times. It is found only among the Ba-Tonga and Ba-lla tribes in southern Zambia. The most commonly played instrument in Zambia is the drum. The sound of the drum is an important part of traditional ceremonies, rituals, and community communication. African drums, well known as communication tools, are also widely used as basic instruments. One of the most important uses of music is to transmit teachings and folklore to the next generation. Long before the written word became prevalent, drumming was used to send messages over long distances. The most interesting type of drum is the so-called “lion drum” Namalwa in Tonga used in traditional funerals.

As in other African countries, music is used for many things in Zambia, including recreation, work, weddings, births, funerals, prayer, and special events. Today, Zambia’s music is a blend of traditional, African, Western, and modern music influenced by various traditional groups in Zambia and music from other African countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Africa, as well as genres from Jamaica and the United States. Traditional Zambian music is rooted in the beliefs and customs of the country’s diverse ethnic groups and has experienced some decline over the past 30 years. Traditional Zambian music was once clearly purposeful or an expression of the social structure of culture. Songs were used for teaching, healing, and appealing to the spirit.

Resource https://zambianmusic2.weebly.com/ https://www.victoriafalls-guide.net/zambian-culture.html

Image Source

CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=633254 https://cms.thehorniman.net/object/1971.1166 https://www.afrocharts.com/artist?id=7be9526c1a, Traditional music and dance in Zambia. Photo: blog.motherlandsfinest.com

Most Famous Bangladeshi Food

by Jessica Choi

Countries around the world enjoy eating a variety of traditional foods made through their different cultures and lifestyles. Food gives us pleasure and sometimes introduces us to new things. Bangladesh has been influenced by tropical regions such as Persia and India. Its cuisine is not only beautiful but also tasty, as it combines rich spices which have a variety of smells and distinct properties.

There are many foods that people try when they visit Bangladesh, such as Shorshe IIish, Kacchi Biryani, etc.

Most of Bangladesh’s population generally enjoys fish. Fish is a significant part of this country, as people all over the world travel to Bangladesh for it. For instance, hilsa is one of Bangladesh’s national fish, and the country is responsible for almost 70% of production across the world. One of the most famous dishes using hilsa is Shorshe Ilish; hilsa is cooked in savory mustard gravy, which is commonly served with rice.

Biryani is a common food widely enjoyed in Bangladesh. The word ‘Kacchi’ means ‘raw’, which symbolizes the way of cooking Kacchi Biryani. Unlike other types of Biryani, Kacchi Biryani is made by marinating meat with spices and placing it at the bottom when cooking.

In conclusion, the traditional foods of Bangladesh all share the characteristics of having rich flavors from different spices and unique flavor profiles. To summarize, Shorshe Ilish is one of the traditional foods made with the national fish of Bangladesh, Hilsa. Another traditional food is Kacchi Biryani which is very popular in South Asia.

Both cuisines represent the diverse flavor of Bangladesh’s traditional food and have become foods that most travelers try.

Resource https://butfirstchai.com/kacchi-mutton-biryani/

Image Source

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shorshe_ilish https://www.dhakafoodster.com/sultans-diinemirpur-finest-kacchi-biriyani-in-dhaka/

Cote d’Ivoire: A Strong Player in the Global Cashew Nut Market

by Jian Jang

We all know that Cote d’Ivoire has been one of the economically wealthy countries of West Africa since it gained independence from France in 1960. This is believed to be due to its relative political stability compared to its neighboring West African countries, thanks to President Alassane OUATTARA, who is now in power for the third time. Indeed, according to World Bank data, Cote d’Ivoire’s gross domestic product (GDP) was $67.96 billion (about $2612 per capita) in 2021.

Cote d’Ivoire is a very developed agricultural country in West Africa compared to neighboring countries, of which coffee, cocoa, and cashew nuts are mainly produced and exported. For example, its coffee production in 2020 is known to be about 60,000 tons.

Meanwhile, Cote d’Ivoire produced about 1 million tons of cashew nuts in 2021. This represents 25% of the world’s production, but the number of cashew nuts processed is only third in the world. The Cote d’Ivoire government was struggling with this, and it attracted foreign cashew nut processing plants.

This year, the completion ceremony of the cashew nut processing plant in Toumodi on July 8 is a hot topic. The plant is a subsidiary of Singapore’s Royal Nuts and is said to be invested 15 billion francs. If the plant, named Dorado Ivory, is successfully completed, the domestic processing rate of agricultural products is expected to rise significantly, which is currently less than 20%. The Cote d’Ivoire government expects an additional export volume of $3 billion in cashew nuts alone.

We look forward to the successful completion of this plant, which will contribute to the economic prosperity of Cote d’Ivoire.

Resource

https://overseas.mofa.go.kr/ci-ko/brd/m_21077/view.do?seq=94&page=1 (concerning the News Content)

https://www.ceicdata.com/ko/indicator/ivory-coast/https://knoema.com/atlas/C%C3%B4te-dIvoire/topics/Agriculture/Crops-ProductionQuantitytonnes/Coffee-production (concerning coffee production)

https://google.com/search?q=cote+d%27ivoire+GDP&oq=co&aqs=chrome.0.69i59l2j69i57j46i199i433i465i512j0i433i512l2j0i51 2j0i433i512l2.1517j1j15&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF8 (concerning the GDP)

Image Source

https://www.worldagroforestry.org/blog/2021/10/21/call-rethink-cashew-restoration-

Cashew nuts. Photo: Marina Leonova from Pexels,

crop-ivory-coast

Cenote Samula,.Yucatan, Mexico

Image credit: Adobe Photo Stock (free image)

Life in the Czech by Sojung Ohk

Life in the Czech The Cultural Diversity of the Czech Republic

Around 64% of the 10.5 million people who call the Czech Republic home are of Czech ancestry, followed by 4.5% Moravians, 1.5% Slovaks, and 30% other groups. In 2017, roughly 500,000 foreigners were residing in the Czech Republic. 14% of people living in the capital and 7% of the entire population were born abroad. Vietnamese, Slovaks, and Ukrainians make up the major ethnic groups among international residents.

The majority of people in the Czech Republic identified as atheists (34.5%), Christians (11.5%), “others” (54%), or they did not specify, according to the most recent census, which was carried out in 2011.

Culture and Cuisine Czech Republic

The Czech Republic is home to several well-known composers, such as Antonin Dvoák and Bohuslav Martin. Furthermore, preand post-Soviet Czech movies are well-liked in Europe. One of the most well-known cultural exports from the Czech Republic is the cartoon character “Krtek the little mole,” which has appeared on children’s television shows in 80 different nations.

The Czech Republic also has a rich history of puppetry and (sometimes hilarious) marionette theater, even though Slavic comedy may not be to everyone’s taste.

The Czech Republic has held the record for the highest per capita beer consumption for the past 23 years, averaging 142.4 liters per person. The meat and beer prominent in Czech cuisine are hearty and delicious.

Healthcare in the Czech Republic

There are no particular health risks for foreigners living in the Czech Republic. If you do get sick, though, you shouldn’t worry because medical facilities typically provide very high standards of care and treatment. A good network of public and private medical facilities can be found in the Czech Republic. Everyone who works there is automatically enrolled in the country’s national health insurance scheme. Some major international firms may offer you a private health insurance plan in place of or in addition to general health insurance. Although patients have a choice of doctors, they might be turned away in non-emergency situations if the doctor’s caseload is too large for them to provide adequate care.

Resource

Living in the Czech Republic as an Expat. (n.d.). InterNations.,https://www.internations.org/czech-republic-expats/guide/living-short Image Source

Blodgett, Bonnie. *OPINION EXCHANGE Heah Care, Done Well. Where? The Czech Republic.” Star Tribune, www.startribune.com/health-caredone-well/333391571/.Accessed 18 Dec. 2022.

Still from The Little Mole and the Green Star, 1969 Czechoslovakia. Director: Zdenek Miler Animation. Photo:

Photo by fauxels: https://www.pexels.com/photo/photo-of-people-near-wooden-table-3184418/

Photo 12 / Alamy Stock Photo / Be&W

Egyptian Traditional Food

by Seohyon Lee

Egypt is a place full of significant cultural heritage. In addition to cultural heritage, various foods and diverse religious cultures in Egypt have developed. Egyptians mainly eat cattle, sheep, rabbits, and goats as meat and enjoy eating garlic, onions, and onions and stimulating seasonings.

First, Koshari is one of the most famous traditional Egyptian foods. It is a dish made from rice, lentils, onions, garlic, chickpeas, and tomato sauce, and it is a favorite food of ordinary people. You can eat it very cheaply in Egypt. It is a food that represents the familiar people, so the civil revolution in Egypt is sometimes called the Koshari revolution.

Next, Hamam is a dish made from pigeons. In Egypt, pigeons used for Hamam are bred separately, so the pigeons used for Hamam differ from common pigeons. Seasoned rice is put inside the pigeon and grilled.

And Basboosa is a dessert made in Egypt. A sweet syrup is applied to the dough, often covered with almonds or cream.

Lastly, kabab and kofta is also popular dish in Egypt, which is flame-grilled chunks of lamb or seasoned minced meat formed into a sausage and roasted on a skewer. It is often served with a flatbread disc and a straightforward chopped tomato and cucumber salad.

References

https://cmobile.g-news.com/view. php?ud=201512020927395984190_1&md=20151202130040_V

https://www.egypttoursportal.com/en-us/the-top-10-types-ofegyptian-food/

https://www.cleopatraegypttours.com/travel-guide/egyptianculture/top-10-egyptian-food/

Image Sources

https://www.mondaycampaigns.org/meatless-monday/recipes/ kushari

https://www.traveltalktours.com/tasty-egyptian-dishes-youneed-to-try/

https://magtheweekly.com/detail/5673-basboosa-semolina-cake

https://food52.com/recipes/83632-egyptian-kofta

Jambo, Jambo, Bwana

by Seungmin Jung

Have you heard about Kenya? How much do you know about it?

Wild Savana, national park Salengetti, famous capital Nirobi, or just simple Swahili words ‘Jambo’ and song ‘Jambo Bwana’ (or Hakuna Matata). There is a lot of fascinating culture in Kenya. To start with, I want to introduce you to the most famous African Swahili Song ‘Jambo’.Jambo, Jambo, Bwana! Have you ever heard this song? Yes, you may have heard about this song in elementary school music textbooks, or some background music for something African in a TV show.(If you haven’t heard about this song, you must have heard about this phrase (‘Hakuna Matata’) This song, which is really familiar to us, is from Kenya! Kenya’s pop song Bend ‘Them Mushroom’ composed this song and was published in 1982. Song was written in Swahili, which is one of the most renowned, pervasive languages on the east coast of Africa.Them Mushroom, producer of this song, composed this song while they played at the hotel near Mombasa-second largest city in Kenya-. For this reason the song’s lyrics imply a welcoming phrase for tourists. For example, in the first line ‘Jambo, Bwana’ word ‘Bwana’ actually means ‘sir’ or ‘Lord’ in Swahili. Also in the third line the phrase ‘Wageni, mwakaribishwa’ means ‘welcome foreigners’.Not only that, this song also involves common greeting phrases in Africa. Including ‘Habari Gani? Mzuri Sana’-meaning ‘how are things going? Very well’, and most famous phrase even show up in the Disney movie ‘Lion King’ ,’Hakuna Matata’ this well known phrase means ‘no problem With a cheerful, indigenous African rhythm and optimistic lyrics such as Hakuna Matata, this song seems like talking to the whole world’s people, ‘no problem’. Just hearing this song I feel I’m gaining solace and freedom from wild Salengatti. Lastly, Hakuna Matata to all!

Resource

Living in the Czech Republic as an Expat. (n.d.). InterNations.,https://www.internations.org/czech-republic-expats/guide/living-short Image Source

Blodgett, Bonnie. *OPINION EXCHANGE Heah Care, Done Well. Where? The Czech Republic.” Star Tribune, www.startribune.com/health-caredone-well/333391571/.Accessed 18 Dec. 2022.

Still from The Little Mole and the Green Star, 1969

Czechoslovakia. Director: Zdenek Miler Animation. Photo: Photo 12 / Alamy Stock Photo / Be&W

Photo by fauxels: https://www.pexels.com/photo/photo-of-people-near-wooden-table-3184418/

Dumpling from the Other Side of the World

by Seoyeong Lee

Transformations of the Dumpling

Did you know that Czech dumplings are different from the ones from Korea? In Korea, people usually have dumplings called “Mandu” filled with various ingredients – such as pork, leek, onion, and noodles – with a thin flour dough holding it. However, Czech dumplings called “knedlík” are made from dough similar to bread dough, and have many versions of those dumplings.

One version of the knedlík is the bread dumpling also called a “houskový knedlíky” in Czech. There are tales guessing the origin of the bread dumplings, but no one actually knows the real story of the origin. It uses flour, egg, milk, bun, and salt for the ingredients with an oval shape. It bloomed in the 19th century since it was similar to Austrian and German dumplings. The bread dumplings are used in the national dish called, “vepřo-knedlozelo” meaning pork-dumplings-cabbage. Not only were the dumplings made of bread but it was also made of other ingredients.

Another version of knedlík is the potato dumpling. As you can see by the name, it uses mashed potato, eggs, flour, butter, etc. as the ingredients. This dumpling is popular in the surrounding countries too. People usually serve potato dumplings as a side dish with roast meat.

Different Versions of Dumplings around the World

Dumplings have a great role in the Czech people’s dishes however, by location, the versions of dumplings vary with the shape and ingredients. Two main versions of the dumplings in the Czech Republic are the bread dumpling and the potato dumpling. They both have a great role to gain people access to carbohydrates which is useful in making energy for our body to use.

Resource https://b-c-ing-u.com/general/are-dumplings-a-czech-invention-recipe-for-czech-traditional-houskovy-knedlik/ https://www.masalaherb.com/cheese-bread-dumpling/ https://www.cooklikeczechs.com/czech-potato-dumplings/ https://www.simplyrecipes.com/mandu-korean-dumplings-5212997

Houskový Knedlíky (Bread Dumpling)

Bramborové knedlíky (Potato Dumpling)

Lusaka

Zambian Capital city

Image credit:Image by Michael Nkhoma from Pixabay

New year in Mexico

by Ashely Park

Mexico, like many other nations, celebrates New Year’s Eve (also known as Nochevieja or Año Nuevo in Spanish), but there are several distinctive traditions that set Mexico’s celebration apart from the rest. It is a very important night in Mexico, and festivities can take place at home with a late-night dinner with family and friends or in restaurants and bars, where you can dance the night away. Some local governments organize enormous celebrations in town squares, such as the Zocalo of Mexico City, which hosts some of the country’s largest festivals. During the festivities, many new and old customs are centered on bringing in the new year with good luck, health, and fortune. At New Year’s Eve gatherings, traditional Mexican holiday meals such as bacalao, pozole, tamales, and ponche are frequently offered. Houses are completely cleaned, pets are bathed, and cars are washed before midnight to symbolize rejuvenation and planning for a clean future. People dress in colorful underwear that represents what they want in the new year. Wearing red underwear will bring good fortune in love, a good and passionate year for married people, and a new love for unmarried people. Wearing yellow underpants may bring you happiness, financial luck, and possibly a promotion at work. It is a tradition for each person to eat 12 grapes at midnight, before the clock strikes 12, to ensure safe travels and experiences in the new year. People have to eat one grape for every chime of the clock’s bell. “Las ocho uvas de suerte” is said to bring good fortune in the new year. The number 12 represents 12 wishes as well as the 12 months of the year. This is a Hispanic tradition that can be seen throughout Latin America. It’s not as easy as it seems since stuffing 12 grapes into your mouth in around 60 seconds is considerably more difficult than you imagine. If you eat all of the grapes before midnight, your 12 wishes will be granted! Others will pour a bucket of water out a window to ensure a fresh start or sweep coins thrown on the porch inside the house to represent prosperity. A scoop of cooked lentils also promises good fortune for the following year. Another custom is to bless guests with a handful of dry lentils. And, of course, the midnight fireworks to ward off evil spirits and welcome good luck. After watching the fireworks at midnight, many Mexicans like to prolong the party with a late feast. Music is also an important aspect of Mexican culture, and no New Year’s Eve celebration is complete without the traditional songs “Faltan 5 Pa´ Las 12” and “El Año Viejo.” Aside from these customs, there are several other intriguing and exciting New Year’s Eve traditions in Mexico.

Would you like to celebrate New Year’s Eve in Mexico? In your country, how do you celebrate the New Year? Let us know! Happy New Year! ¡Feliz Año Nuevo!

Resource https://www.cityexpress.com/en/travel-blog/a-guide-to-popular-mexican-traditions-on-new-years-eve https://travel2next.com/mexican-traditions/ https://www.eljalisco.com/9-mexican-year-traditions/ https://www.spanishpod101.com/blog/2018/12/20/new-vears-eve-in-mexico/

Image Source

Mexico City fireworks by Marti Bug Catcher, https://saltandwind.com/travel-mexico-new-years/

Clothing and Traditional Costumes in Nicaragua

by Brendan Lee Seo

Most of Nicaragua’s dresses originated in different regions in Nicaragua at some time in the past, where they were used during celebration dances. Most Nicaraguans still wear traditional dresses while dancing with many people, and the costumes were created throughout the country; they are a valuable illustration of traditions in many regions that helped shape Nicaragua’s cultural festivals and colorful side.

The most common traditional clothing of a Nicaraguan woman consists of a long, full cotton skirt and a short-sleeved cotton blouse. And the conventional men’s clothes are cotton pants, a long-sleeved white shirt with no collar, and sandals. Cotton is the best choice for Nicaraguans because the weather is hot, and even business people avoid wearing suit jackets in the warm climate. Traditional Nicaraguan women’s clothing is adorned with bright and fancy colors, wearing many jewelry pieces. Men’s clothes are much simpler and consist of either blue or white cotton pants paired with a white shirt and a red scarf tied around the neck.

1. Las Inditas

Las Inditas originated from Masaya, a type of dance performed in a completely white dress. The dance is still performed in the traditional festivals in Masaya, and it symbolizes the hard-working women in this town. It is a graceful and proud dance; female dancers wear white dresses accented by red ribbons, with baskets balanced on their heads. Men are allowed only the briefest moment to respect the dance and women.

Trencilla Costume originated from the Pacific (possibly Masaya). This dress is taken from the traditional clothing of mestizo or indigenous women. The dress is white with colorful and fancy lines on the upper and bottom parts. Red or black ribbons are added for further decoration, and many wear earrings and flowers. Nicaraguans wear the Trencilla dress in all types of marimba dances.

Mestizaje Costume originated from the Pacific. It demonstrates the flamboyant Spanish influence on Nicaraguan clothes. The women wear dresses with colorful skirts and spangles to decorate their outfits. The man has a white shirt with a red or dark cape decorated with spangles, a sombrero with a red flower, and a large, folded ribbon on the chest. Most male dancers wear white stockings, short black pants, and shoes.

References

https://vianica.com/go/specials/19-traditional-nicaraguan-costumes.html https://www.reference.com/world-view/kind-clothing-traditional-nicaragua-211814244564430a https://dance.lovetoknow.com/What_is_a_Traditional_Dance_in_Nicaragua Image Sources

https://wingsdancing.wordpress.com/2018/06/09/tradiciones-de-mi-pais-baile-las-inditas-de-monimbo-masaya/ https://www.flickr.com/photos/aforum/8657794725/, Photo by Carnival.com Studios https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b4/Nicaragua_Mestizaje.jpg

2. Trencilla

3. Mestizaje

Global Youth Goodwill Ambassador for Foreign Embassies in the Republic of Korea

잠비아 음식

글: 이주아 (Jua Lee)

잠비아는 아프리카에 있는 국가로 공용어로는 영어를 사용한다. 잠비아에는 약 35개의 부족이 있는데, 각 부족마다 다른 고유어들을 사용한다고 한다. 다양한 부족이 있는 만큼 잠비아에는 다양한 전통 음식들이 있다. 때문에 이 다양하고 특색 있는

잠비아에서 첫번째로 유명한 전통 음식은 엔시마 (Nshima)는 잠비아의 주요 탄수화물이다. 이

음식은 옥수수를 가공하여 만드는데, 옥수수 가루를

물과 섞어 죽처럼 만든 뒤 옥수수 가루를 더 넣어서

질게 만들어준다. 그럼 떡이나 빵같은 느낌으로

만들어지는데, 이것을 일반적으로 고기나 생선, 한두 개의 채소와 함께 먹는 음식이다. 엔시마는

잠비아의 길거리, 많은 전통적인 레스토랑 그리고

호텔 등에서 즐길 수 있는 흔한 음식이다.

이핀쿠발라(모판웜/애벌레)(Ifinkubala)도 흔히

먹는 음식 중 하나인데, 애벌레의 종류이다. 이

특이한 음식은 많은 잠비아인들이 좋아하는

인기있는 별비이다. 대부분 북부 지방에서 나오는

애벌레들은 전국적으로 진출되어 많은 사람들이

즐기고 있다고 알려진다. 신선한 애벌레들은 보통

11월과 3월 사이 우기때 손으로 수확된다. 그리고

나서 애벌레의 내장을 깨끗이 제거한 뒤 그것들을

일년 내내 섭취할 수 있도록 건조한다. 고단백의

애벌레는 간식으로 즐기기도 하고, 앞서 소개된

엔시마와 함께 즐기기도 한다. 이핀쿠발라는

준비하기도 쉽고 간편하게 먹을 수 있기에

대부분의 시장에서 쉽게 찾아 먹을 수 있는 맛있는

간식이라고 한다.

마지막으로 소개할 음식은 치칸다 (Chikanda(Arican Polony)이다. 치칸다는 북부

지역의 벰바(Bemba) 사람들 사이에서 만들어지기

시작한 고기같은 특별한 음식으로, 아프리카 폴로니 (African Polony)라고도 불리운다. 이 음식은 말린

후 찧은 야생 난초를 사용하여 만들어진다. 찧은

난초를 찧은 견과류의 두꺼운 혼합물과 함께 섞은

뒤 고기와 같은 질감을 가질 때까지 저어준다. 그

후 기호에 따라 양념으로 고춧가루를 넣어주기도

한다고 한다. 치칸다는 간식처럼 먹거나 식사로

먹기도 한다. 또한 흔한 길거리 음식 중 하나로, 주로 큰 치칸다 케이크를 머리에 이고 여성들이

많이 판매한다고 전해진다.

References

https://www.chefspencil.com/top-20-most-popularfoods-in-zambia/

https://www.safari.co.za/Travel_Tips-travel/zambiapeople-faq.html

Image Sources

Clara Kapelembe Bwali, https://www.blackfoodie.co/ recipe/zambian-fish-curry-with-nshima/ @fooditudewithfaith, https://www.chefspencil.com/top20-most-popular-foods-in-zambia/ https://zambiankitchen.com/

잠비아의 전통 음식들을 소개해보도록 하겠다.

Exploring the Traditional Foods of Zambia

by Jua Lee

Zambia is a country located in Africa and the official language is English. Zambia has about 35 tribes, each of which uses different indigenous languages. With the diversity of tribes, Zambia has a variety of traditional foods. Therefore, let me introduce you to some of Zambia's diverse and distinctive traditional foods.

The first famous traditional food in Zambia is Nshima, which is the main carbohydrate in Zambia. This food is made by processing cornmeal. The cornmeal is mixed with water and cooked until it forms a thick, dough-like consistency. Then, more cornmeal is added to make it firmer. The resulting texture is similar to that of bread or a thick porridge. Typically, Nshima is eaten with meat, fish, and one or two vegetables. Nshima is a common food that can be found on the streets of Zambia, in many traditional restaurants, and hotels.

Ifinkubala (Mopane Worms/Caterpillars) is also a commonly eaten food and a type of caterpillar. This unique food is a popular delicacy that many Zambians enjoy. The caterpillars mostly come from the northern region and are sold throughout the country. Fresh caterpillars are usually hand-picked between November and March during the rainy season. They are then cleaned and dried so that they can be consumed throughout the year. High in protein, the caterpillars can be enjoyed as a snack or eaten with Nshima. Ifinkubala is an easily prepared and convenient snack that can be found and enjoyed in most markets.

The last food I want to introduce is Chikanda (African Polony). Chikanda is a special meat-like food that originated among the Bemba people in the northern region and is also known as African Polony. It is made by using dried and ground wild orchids. The ground orchids are mixed with a thick paste of ground nuts and stirred until it has a meat-like texture. Then, according to taste, chili powder is added as a seasoning. Chikanda can be eaten as a snack or as a meal. It is also a common street food, where women often sell large Chikanda cakes on their heads.

References

https://www.chefspencil.com/top-20-most-popularfoods-in-zambia/

https://www.safari.co.za/Travel_Tips-travel/zambiapeople-faq.html

Image Sources

Clara Kapelembe Bwali, https://www.blackfoodie.co/ recipe/zambian-fish-curry-with-nshima/ @fooditudewithfaith, https://www.chefspencil.com/top20-most-popular-foods-in-zambia/ https://zambiankitchen.com/

Image credit: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b9/Libreville_vue_de_la_r%C3%A9gion_du_cap_au_Gabon.jpg

Literature of Côte d’Ivoire: Storytelling & Novels

by Gyurin Kim

Côte d’Ivoire, like many other African countries, has a rich history of oral tradition, where stories, memories, myths, and traditions are verbally transmitted from generation to generation. The significance of oral tradition in African culture cannot be overstated, as it is a necessary social antecedent and cultural heritage of the people. In Côte d’Ivoire, griots or storytellers play a vital role in passing down regional history, folktales, and stories that embody the country’s important history, social, cultural, and religious values to the next generation.

Since the French colonization in the late 19th century, Côte d’Ivoire has also experienced a literature boom, introducing written literature in the French language. Famous Ivorian authors who contributed to this literature boom include Bernard Binlin Dadié, Ahmadou Kourouma, and Tidiane Dem. Ivorian novels typically feature Ivorian culture through family stories, as exemplified in Tidiane Dem’s book, Masseni, which portrays the socio-cultural traditions of Côte d’Ivoire through the story of a young girl who must leave her hometown to marry a powerful chief.

References

TheFreeGeography. (n.d.). Ivory Coast Arts and Literature. Retrieved from https://www.thefreegeography.com/ivory-coast-arts-andliterature/

Apaloo, J., & Asaam, D. K. (2021). The Contemporary Relevance of Oral Tradition in the Digital Age: The Case of Africa. Tydskrif vir Letterkunde, 58(2), 421-437. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.17159/tvl.v.58i2.7

Right for Education. (2018, July 4). The Rich History of Oral Tradition in Africa. Retrieved from https://rightforeducation.org/2018/07/04/therich-history-of-oral-tradition-in-africa/#:~:text=Oral%20tradition%20is%20when%20history.show%20African%20attitudes%20/and%20 feelings.

Minahan, J. (2017). Côte d’Ivoire. In Countries and Their Cultures. Retrieved from https://www.everyculture.com/Bo-Co/C-te-d-lvoire.html

Image Sources

Adobe free stock

체코의 종교 변천사 글:

이성민 (Sungmin Lee)

체코는 유럽의 문화적 중심지인 동시에 종교들의 격전지이기도 했습니다.

다양한 종교들이 거쳐 갔고 그 과정에서 몇 번의 전쟁도 있었습니다. 더

나아가 체코의 역사를 바꾼 일도 있었습니다.

슬라브 이교는 고대 체코인들의 종교입니다. 데이보스(Dyḗus)라는

창조신 아래 다양한 신들이 존재하는 다신(多神) 종교로 지금까지 발견된

직접적인 글자 기록은 없는 종교입니다. 현대에 와서는 주로 구전된

내용이나 9세기 중반에 기독교 선교사들이 작성한 문헌만으로 확인되는

종교입니다. 세계수의 개념으로 세상을 바라보았고, 북유럽 신화처럼

신들이 관장하는 구역과 인간들의 구역이 나누어져 있습니다. 9세기

중엽, 비잔틴 제국의 키릴로스(Кѷрїллъ)와 메토디우스(Мефодий)가

대모라비아 왕국의 라스티슬라프(Rastislav) 왕의 초청으로 기독교를

전파하러 옵니다. 그러면서 체코는 본격적으로 기독교 세상으로 편입됩니다.

이는 역사적으로 큰 의미가 있는데, 유럽사의 관점에서는 기독교 세계에서의 편입은 문명 세계로의 진입을 의미하기 때문입니다. 처음에는 동방 기독교에 가까웠던 체코는 보헤미아 공국 시기 동안 점차 서방

기독교로 바뀌어 나갑니다. 이를 바로 보여주는 사건이 바로 프라하에

로마 카톨릭교회 대교구의 설치입니다. 973년부터 시작된 본격적인

체코의 카톨릭화는 이후 신성로마제국의 일원이 되었을 때 더 강력한

영향력을 미치게 됩니다.

한동안 이어질 것 같았던 카톨릭의 막대한 영향은 카톨릭 내부의

부패로 인하여 여러 나라에 걸쳐 개혁 운동이 벌어졌고 체코 또한 마찬가지였습니다. 얀 후스 (Jan Hus)는 체코인들의 민족성을

강력히 주장하는 동시에 개혁하면서 교황 중심이 아닌 성서 중심의 개신교를 외쳤습니다. 특히, 면죄부에 관해서는 개신교의 타락이라며 반발하였습니다. 결과적으로 그는 체코인들의 열렬한 지지를 받았으나, 콘스탄츠 평의회에 의하여 이단으로 규탄받고 화형당했습니다.

그의 화형은 체코인들을 상당히 자극하였고 이는 프라하 창밖 투척 사건 (Pražská defenestrace)로 이어집니다. 후스파와 로마 카톨릭의 대립의 골이 깊어 지자 사건은 전쟁이 되었으며 이는 후스 전쟁이라고 불립니다. 체코인들의 정체성을 재확인하고 후스 주의를 앞세운 반(反) 카톨릭 정서는 후에도 이어져 이전과 같은 카톨릭의 압도적 우세는 점차 약해집니다. 후스 주의도 훗날 후스 모라비아 교회라는 형태로 현대까지 명맥을 유지합니다. 합스부르크 왕조 아래의 체코는 카톨릭의 재부흥이 있었으나, 체코의 공산화는 안 그래도 세를 잃어가던 체코의 카톨릭을 약화하는 결과를 낳았습니다. 체코는 중세 이후로 종교 격동의 중심지입니다. 현대 체코는 타 유럽 국가들에 비해서 종교를 믿지 않는 사람들이 많은 국가가 되었습니다. 그러나 체코인들의 문화나 도시 곳곳에서 그것의 흔적을 찾아볼 수 있습니다.

References:

Apha.cz. “O Arcibiskupství.” Arcibiskupství Pražské, https://web.archive.org/web/20200601000653/http://www.apha.cz/o-arcibiskupstvi. Artist, Unknown. “Hussite Wars.” World History Encyclopedia, Https://Www.worldhistory.org#Organization, 16 Sept. 2022, https://www. worldhistory.org/image/14883/hussite-wars/.

Heppell, Muriel. “The Celebration of the Methodian Anniversary in Central and Eastern Europe.” Religion in Communist Lands, vol. 13, no. 2, 1985, pp. 218–220., https://doi.org/10.1080/09637498508431198.

“Https://Www.czso.cz/Csu/2008edicniplan.Nsf/Engt/24003E05ED/%24File/4032080119.Pdf.” Obyvatelstvo Podle Náboženského Vyznání a Pohlaví Podle Výsledků Sčítání Lidu v Letech 1921, 1930, 1950, 1991 a 2001 Population by Denomination and Sex: as Measured by 1921, 1930, 1950, 1991 and 2001 Censuses, Feb. 2011, https://archive.org/web/.

Minarik, Pavol. “A Religious Organization under Oppressive Regulation: The Official and Underground Church in Czechoslovakia.” SSRN Electronic Journal, 2019, https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3506694.

Morav_íková, Michaela. “Law, Religion and Belief in Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Poland.” Religion, Rights and Secular Society, pp. 215–232., https://doi.org/10.4337/9781781953495.00016.

Palaver, Wolfgang, et al. The European Wars of Religion: An Interdisciplinary Reassessment of Sources, Interpretations, and Myths. Routledge, 2016./Pettazzoni, Raffaele. Essays on the History of Religions. BRILL, 1967.

Spinka, Matthew and Bartoš, František M.. “Jan Hus”. Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Jul. 2022, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Jan-Hus.

Accessed 18 September 2022.

Image Sources:

By 미상 - Jenaer Kodex, 퍼블릭 도메인, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=18576346

Photo by Husniyya on Istock

Global Youth Goodwill Ambassador for Foreign Embassies in the Republic of Korea

체코의 종교 건축물

글: 이성민 (Sungmin Lee)

체코의 종교 변천사만큼 교회 더 나아가 종교 건축물에는 시대별로 변화가 있었습니다. 특히, 문화의 중심지로서 체코에는 수많은 기법이

적용된 다양한 건축물이 온건하게 보존되어 있습니다. 고대의 신비한 건축물부터 점차 웅장해지고, 세련되게 발전하는 체코의 종교 건축물은 타 국가들보다 더 다양한 시대적 범주를 보여줍니다.

체코의 종교 건축물 중 가장 오래된 종교 건축물은 920년에 지어진 성 조지 바실리카(St George ’ s Basilica)입니다. 브라티슬라프 1세 (Vratislaus I)에 의해 지어진 이 건축물은 973년에 수녀 믈라다 (Mlada)가 수도원을 증축하면서 재건축되었습니다. 이후 1142 년에 한 번 더 재건축되는데, 이는 화제 때문에 건물 일부가 손상 입었기 때문입니다. 우리가 지금 볼 수 있는 바실리카의 모습은 1671년부터 1691년까지 여러 건물이 증축된 모습입니다. 성 조지의 바실리카가 가지고 있는 가장 큰 의의는 체코의 로마네스크 형식을 훌륭하게 보존했다는 점입니다. 벽면의 필라스터(Pilaster)라고 불리는 조형물과 아치형 천장이 그것의 특징입니다.

세들레츠 납골당(Kostnice v Sedlec)은 또 다른 이름인 ‘뼈 교회(Bone Church)’로 유명합니다. 1278년에 헨리(Henry) 수도원장에 의해 건설되었고 중부 유럽의 대표적인 납골당이 되었습니다. 특히, 14세기 중엽의 흑사병이 창궐할 때, 그리고 여러 전쟁(저번에 소개했던 후스 전쟁도 포함됩니다.)의 전사자들을 모시던 곳으로 지정되었습니다. 그 결과, 약 7만 명 정도의 묘가 납골당 주위에 있습니다. 세들레츠 납골당 또한 독특한 바로크 양식을 유지하고 있다는 점에서 유네스코로부터 세계유산으로 지정되었습니다. 납골당에서 바로크 양식은 그것의 내부에 있는 여러 정교한 장식들로부터 알 수 있습니다만, 그 장식들이 흑사병으로 죽은

성 비투스 대성당(Katedrála svatého Víta) 은 체코의 가장 대표적이며 큰 성당으로

1344년 프라하가 대주교의 담당으로 승격되면서 건설이 시작되었습니다. 완공 자체는

1929년에 되었으며 시대가 흐르는 동안 다양한 인물들이 여러 부분에서 건축물에

완성도를 높였습니다. 그런데도 성 비투스 대성당은 고딕 양식을 유지하고 있습니다. 특히, 내부의 스테인드글라스들은 성 바투스 대성당의 고딕 기법의 두각을 드러낸 부분입니다.

이 성당과 재미있는 일화가 있습니다. 바로 소유권을 두고 벨벳 혁명 이후로 청원이 빗발쳤습니다. 결과적으로 2012년에 대성당이 공산 정권 당시 압수되었다고 판단하면서

정부 소유로 지정되며 일단락되었습니다.

체코에는 이 밖에도 수백

개의 엄청난 종교 건축물이

존재합니다.

가장 시대를 대표하면서도

독특한 건축물을 3개 꼽는데도

상당히 어려웠습니다.

체코에 여행을 간다면 이를

중심적으로 관광하는 것도

괜찮다고 생각합니다. 특히, 시대마다 건축물의 모습이

확연히 다르기에 차이점을

구경하는 것도 하나의

재미입니다.

Bednarz, Christine. “Visit the Creepy Bone Church of Czech Republic.” Travel, National Geographic, 4 May 2021, https://www. nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/things-to-see-bone-church-sedlec-ossuary.

Duca, Marc Di. Czech Republic: The Bradt Travel Guide. Bradt Travel Guides Ltd., 2006.

Havel, Woody. “La Basilique Saint George.” La Basilique Saint George Du Château De Prague, Toutsurprague, 3 Apr. 2017, http://www. toutsurprague.fr/visiter/monuments/basilique-saint-george/.

“Sedlec Ossuary - Bone Church.” Livingprague.com, https://livingprague.com/trips-from-prague/sedlec-ossuary-bone-church/.

“St. George’s Basilica (Prague) - Visitor Information & Reviews - Whichmuseum.” (Prague) - Visitor Information & Reviews, https:// whichmuseum.co.uk/museum/st-george-s-basilica-prague-7057.

“St. George’s Basilica: Welcometoprague.cz.” St. George’s Basilica | Welcometoprague.cz, https://www.welcometoprague.eu/st-georgesbasilica.

“St. Vitus Cathedral, Czech Republic.” Locationscout.net, https://www.locationscout.net/czech-republic/25904-st-vitus-cathedral.

“Visiting Prague Castle St.Vitus Cathedral 2022: History, Architecture & More.” Visiting Prague Castle St.Vitus Cathedral 2022 | History, Architecture & More, https://www.praguecastletickets.com/st-vitus-cathedral/.

Image Source

By Dennis Jarvis from Halifax, Canada - Czech-03809 - St. George's Basilica, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index. php?curid=66935767

https://www.regiontourist.cz/co-podniknout/kostnice-sedlec/

By

Alvesgaspar - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=52660920

Festivals in Bangladesh

by Chester Chan-Hyun Park

December of 2022 is the last month of the year and the month that leads us to the following year. Everyone in the world is busy celebrating this event in their own ways. These events show the difference and similarities between each culture. How about Bangladesh? How does Bangladesh celebrate its close of the year and upcoming new year?

First of all, let’s look at December public holidays in Bangladesh. Bangladesh celebrates Victory day on December 16. It is the day that celebrates Bangladesh’s victory against the Pakistan army at the end of the Liberation war in 1971. Even though Bangladesh has many Muslims, they also celebrate Christmas on December 25, just like many other countries.

How about the upcoming new year? They also have a public holiday on New Year’s Eve, but the bigger celebration for New Year is on April 14. Why April 14 and not January 1st? According to the Bengali calendar, also known as the official calendar of Bangladesh, the New Year is called Pôhela Boishakh, which is April 14 in the Gregorian calendar. Pôhela Boishakh is one of the most important and biggest celebrations in Bangladesh. Streets are filled with decorations and parades while people spend time with loved ones wearing new clothes, visiting temples, and eating delicious foods. Like “Happy New Year,” people greet each other by saying Shubho Nabo Barsho (Happy New Year). At Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, the celebration starts with a famous Bengali composer’s song titled “Esho he Boishakh” under the Banyan tree at the Ramna Batamul. Students from the University of Dhaka organize colorful activities, and the fine arts faculty entertain the citizens.

Recently, diverse cultural activities from young generations have also added to the celebrations, such as modern bands or sports competitions. Specific details of how people celebrate new years might differ, but the energy they get from each other is a universal commonality.

Resource https://publicholidays.com.bd/2022-dates/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pohela_Boishakh

Image Source

By Abidhasan00 - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=36175456

What Quote is Written on Your Shirts?

by Seungmin Jung

What country do you think after you hear the word ‘Fashion’? France with luxury? Italy with Milan? Many of you will say something in western Europe. However, Africa, especially Kenya, has a fantastic fashion of their own. After reading this article, you may think of Kenya as one of the fashionable countries.

In East Africa, especially Kenya and Tannia, a vast of females wear cloth called ‘Kanga.’ Kanga is like Bojagi (a rectangular fabric, started from the Chosen Dynasty, that is used to wrap or cover something.) in Korea with colorful and fancy patterns or colors. Kenyans use Kangas in diverse fields. They use it as a skirt, outer coat, hat to cover their hair, baby blanket, and even as a floor cover (rug) or blanket for sleeping. Not only that, some people use Kangas as a curtain or wall decoration. What a diverse use!

If you read only this part, you will think of Kanga as a common Bojagi. However, there is great significance at Kanga. What quote is written on your shirts? Different from other cloth, Kenyans wrote Swahilian maxims on their Kanga! Kanga started as a women’s wraparound in the 19th century on the East coast of Africa. In this era, Kagna was just ordinary cloth. However, in the 20th century, one merchant in Kenya wrote a company name and Swahili quote on the Kanga. It causes an unexpected boom, and from this time, all Kanga has contained a quote as a name tag.

People in Kanya buy Kanga with consideration of the quote in Kanga. Women, who were passive in personal statements, used Kanga to appeal to their thoughts. Quotes on the Kanga are usually a maxim, old quote, or some sort of satire that can happen in daily life.

For example, when you notice someone talking behind your back, wear Kanga with the quote that says, ‘Let them he/she talks whatever he/she wants.’ Like this, Kanga is a tool to show their mind in a roundabout way; because of this symbolic meaning of the Kanga, males give Kanga to their girlfriend, wife, or mother regularly to express their heart.

Those are a few quotes that show up in Kanga a lot.

(Quote at image means: May we be blessed every time)

‘Akiba haiozi’: It is good to store or invest in the future.

‘Chokochoko si njema mchague la kusema’: Warning message to those who create conflicts or confusion in people.

‘Kanga nenda na urembo, shani urembo na shani’: Confirmation from the person who gives Kanga to confirm the relationship with whom he/she loves.

Like this, Kanga is more than a cloth to Kenyan and East Africans. Its symbolic meanings and splendid colors show its significance. If you have difficulty in delivering your mind, how about trying Kanga? Especially for males, who will read this article (I hope..), it can be a great idea for you!

Resource https://if-blog.tistory.com/5393

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/ci/AC_FhM891jPjVz4N0KwfCzuBxypHlZPIoAuYZ4JreGngHN_ tU98NqvKPjFrUQWmSznaC-1_u8bIIiw=s1200

https://i.etsystatic.com/10640096/r/il/d07974/3936765314/il_fullxfull.3936765314_cbxe.jpg

Exploring the Flavors of Gabon

by Sierra Kim

Gabon is a country located in Central Africa and is known for its unique cuisine. The traditional cuisine of Gabon is characterized by its use of local ingredients, such as cassava, plantains, yams, and peanuts. These ingredients are used to prepare a variety of dishes, some of which have gained international recognition.

One of the most famous foods in Gabon is the “Poulet Nyembwe,” which is a chicken dish that is cooked with palm oil and served with a side of plantains. The dish is known for its rich, earthy flavor and is often served at special occasions and celebrations.

Another popular dish in Gabon is “Saka Saka,” which is made by boiling cassava leaves and then pounding them into a pulp. The pulp is then mixed with peanut butter and cooked with meat or fish to create a hearty stew.

Finally, “Mbongo Tchobi” is a famous dish in Gabon that is made by cooking meat or fish in a spicy tomato and peanut sauce. The dish is typically served with fufu, which is a starchy side dish made from cassava or yams.

Gabonese cuisine is rich in flavors and textures, and its unique blend of African and French influences has made it a favorite among food lovers around the world. Poulet Nyembwe, Saka Saka, and Mbongo Tchobi are just a few examples of the delicious and famous foods that Gabon offers.

References

https://www.tasteatlas.com/pouletnyembwe

https://www.marmiton.org/recettes/ recette_saka-saka_68034.aspx

https://afritibi.com/en/mbogo-tchobirecipe/

Port Ghalib town

Marsa Alam, Egypt

Image credit: Adobe Photo Stock (free image)

About Vietnamese Food

by Chaemin Hwang

Pho is the most well-known Vietnamese national dish. It is a soup with rice noodles and can be cooked with either chicken or beef. After it is all cooked, some people prefer to put some parsley, onions, and green onions on top.

Bun Cha is made with patties of seasoned pork and marinated pork belly. After they are made crisp enough, they are served with fish broth, herbs, and rice noodles. They are cooked with charcoal fire.

Banh Mi is made out of a short baguette with a crisp crust. The baguette is cut in the middle and filled with pork sausage, cucumber, pickled carrots, and some herbs.

Image Sources

Photo by RODNAE Productions: https://www.pexels.com/photo/ cooked-food-in-the-bowl-6646034/

Photo by Markus Winkler: https://www.pexels.com/photo/bun-chaserved-on-a-winnowing-basket-3858270/

Photo by Flo Dahm: https://www.pexels.com/photo/slices-ofbreads-1483769/

Banh Xeo is a crispy pancake that is stuffed with ingredients. The batter is made with rice flour and turmeric powder. Some common ingredients to stuff in Banh Xeo are pork, shrimp, and bean sprouts. It is served with some lettuce.

References

https://nomadparadise.com/vietnamese-food/ https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/vietnam-food-dishes/index. html

Article based on personal research by Chaemin Hwang

Photo by 1900mmc from Pixabay

Ruins of the Buddhist Vihara at Paharpur

by Jessica Choi

Today, Paharpur, located in Bangladesh, is a spectacular and impressive monument. Furthermore, it is considered to be the second-largest single Buddhist monastery in South Himalayas.

Ruins of the Buddhist Vihara at Paharpur are the main evidence of the rise of Mahayana Buddhism in Bengal from the 7th century onwards. Its artistic layout presents many different religious meanings as well as the unique artistic achievement of the monastery. In the past, the simple yet harmonious lines and sculptural decorations of the ruins highly affected Buddhist architecture in places as far as Cambodia.

The main circumambulatory path is below the base of the terracotta plaques. The 15-foot pathway follows an exquisite cruciform shape, a feature that can be discovered from the foundations of the outer wall enclosing the path. At the base of the shrine, over 60 stone sculptures are found that depict a diverse appearance of Hindu divinities. Moreover, epigraphic records have shown the cultural and religious life of this great Vihara, which were linked with modern Buddhist centers of fame and history at Bodhgaya and Nalanda. This shows that most Buddhist treatises were completed at Paharpur- a center where the Vajrayana trend of Mahayana Buddhism was practiced. Paharpur was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985 and has been widely recognized for its value around the world. The important historical ruins it includes effectively show the culture of that time. Currently, parts of the third and second floors have been lost and cannot be confirmed intact. Yet, thousands of clay plates remaining at the base alone show the figures of the time, including farmers, musicians, dancers, and simple life.

Resource

entre, UNESCO World Heritage. “Ruins of the Buddhist Vihara at Paharpur.” UNESCO World Heritage Centre, whc.unesco.org/en/list/322/. m.post.naver.com/viewer/postView.naver?volumeNo=18262720&memberNo=38158951

Image Source

By Abidhasan00 - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=36175456

The Republic of Ecuador

by Yejoo Cha

The Republic of Ecuador is located in northwestern South America and is home to a population of 18,041,000 people of diverse ethnicities. The capital city is the beautiful and artistically renowned Quito, founded in the 16th century. Ecuador is one of the 17th most environmentally diverse countries in the world thanks to the vast range of its local flora and fauna.

History: A great majority of Ecuador was built up from the Inca Empire, and although its rule over the country was quite short, traces of the empire have been left behind. The largest historical site of the Inca people in Ecuador is Ingapirca in the Cañar province which is said to have been for war storage purposes and also provides a look at an aqueduct. Later, during the colonial period, Ecuador became a Spanish colony and then became independent through the victory of the Battle of Pichincha.

Ethnicity and Languages: Ecuador is filled with a great assortment of ethnic groups, most of that are selfidentified and regionally based. The main of these ethnic groups would be the Amerindians; indigenous peoples, and the Spanish-speaking mestizos; people of Spanish/indigenous and European blood. The officialized language of Ecuador is Spanish; however, the indigenous people use different dialects and ancestral languages. As a result, most indigenous people are bilingual.

Religion: Ecuador is a predominantly Roman Catholic country. Places like the famous New The Cathedral of Cuenca shows extravagant designs and makes the major public belief in this religion quite evident. Other religions like Protestantism, which is continuously expanding, and Mormonism is also widely accepted over other religions.

Tradition: Art is a huge part of Ecuadorian tradition. The art that the locals make is both visually appealing and practically useful. One of the most famous of these arts is the Panama hat, made from the Carludovica Palmata plant, is woven into the needed shape. The Panama hat is able to keep its shape no matter the circumstances it is kept in and does a pretty good job at holding water. Other types of crafts that can be frequently seen are the craft of weaving, woodcarvings, and bread figures.

Festivities: One of the most popular traditions or holidays is the Day of the Dead in November 2nd. On “Dia de los Difuntos,” families would visit the graves of relatives who had passed away to pray. They would bring colada morada, a thick, fruity drink, guaguas de pan or “bread babies,” and occasionally the relative’s favorite meal. Other Ecuadorian holidays include Guayaquil state’s Independence Day, Carnival, and The Festival of San Juan Bautista are considered very important, especially by the indigenous peoples.

References

“Art - Cultures in Ecuador: Ecuador.” Ecuador.com, Ecuador.com, 13 Aug. 2020, www.ecuador.com/culture/art/. BIOFIN. “Ecuador.” BIOFIN, www.biofin.org/ecuador.

Centre, UNESCO World Heritage. “City of Quito.” UNESCO World Heritage Centre, whc.unesco.org/en/list/2/.

“Ecuador Day of the Dead.” Life, Life-in-Ecuador.com, www.life-in-ecuador.com/day-of-the-dead.html. Insiders, Ecuador & Galapagos. “Trace of the Incas in Ecuador.” Galapagos Insiders, 25 Feb. 2020, galapagosinsiders.com/travel-blog/incasin-ecuador/.

MacLeod, Murdo J., et al. “Ecuador.” Encyclopædia BrMitannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., www.britannica.com/place/Ecuador

Image Sources

Free image of Ecuadorian flag by https://pixabay.com/users/kaufdex-2137215/

Free image of the New Cathedral of Cuenca by https://pixabay.com/users/fernandozhiminaicela-6246704/

Coco: A Vibrant Celebration of Mexico’s Day of the Dead

by Ashley Park

Have you ever seen the film Coco before? I personally really enjoyed the movie. It is about a boy named Miguel finding himself in the Land of the Dead as a musician after meeting his long-lost ancestors. The setting was inspired by Mexican culture ‘Día de Muertos, which means Day of the Dead. This is known in Mexico as one of the most magical holidays and a genuinely distinct Mexican cultural experience. The Day of the Dead is a two-day event in Mexico that honors deceased relatives and loved ones. It is one of the most popular holidays and customs. The offerings are thought to encourage visitation from the land of the dead since the departed souls hear their prayers, smell their food, and partake in the festivities. While American Halloween and other death-related celebrations are dark and sad, Dia de Muertos is a celebration. It runs from October 31 to November 2. The ghosts of the deceased adults return at midnight on November 2 (or the night of November 1). This is the official Day of the Dead day. Costumes, face painting, vivid colors, street dancing, parades, beautiful ofrendas (altars), traditional Mexican cuisine produced exclusively for the event, and much more are all part of the festivities. People commonly wear skull masks and eat sugar candies shaped like skulls. Pan de muerto, the typical sweet baked pastries of Day of the Dead celebrations today, reflects the pan de ánimas of All Souls Day traditions in Spain.

Fun facts!

1. Mexico City hosted its first-ever Day of the Dead celebration in 2016, inspired by the 2015 James Bond film Spectre, which featured a big Day of the Dead parade.

2. It is NOT Mexican Halloween!

3. It is a celebration, NOT a sad thing. If you want to have a look and experience this fascinating and one-of-a-kind Mexican ritual, go and have a visit during that time!! ¡Adiós!

Resource https://travelmexicosolo.com/mexicantraditions-mexico-holidays/ https://www.history.com/topics/halloween/dayof-the-dead https://dayofthedead.holiday/

Image Source Disney Pixar, https://www.smithsonianmag. com/smithsonian-institution/did-disney-pixarget-day-dead-celebrations-right-its-filmcoco-180967286/

by Bohyun Park

1. Economy

The oil/gas industry is the core industry, accounting for 45-50% of GDP and more than 90% of exports [1]. The oil/gas industry continued to grow in 2005 due to the opening of the BTC pipeline and increased investment by BP, but ACG oil output dropped 2.8% year-on-year The Manat currency’s appreciation due to the massive dollar inflow has been sluggish due to rising agricultural prices and inflow of imported agricultural products. Still, the telecommunications sector, such as mobile phones, is growing rapidly, and the construction sector is also growing rapidly, expanding its market size from $1.9 billion in 2005 to $7 billion in 2013. Structurally, it is a country with high volatility in national economic activities depending on the influence of natural gas prices and oil prices.

2. Cultural and tourist attractions

2-1. Cultural and Climate

1). Ethnicity: Azerbaijani (91.6%), Leziin(2%), Russians (1.3%), etc.

Language: Azerbaijan (similar to Turkish and Russian)

Religion: 96% of Islam (Shia: 85%, Sunni: 15%, Russian Orthodox: 2.5%, etc.)

Climate: Azerbaijan has nine climatic regions, including subtropical (metropolitan area) and dry temperate grassland climate.

2). Business manners: Business attire values appearance, so men should wear suits with ties as much as possible, and women should not wear revealing clothes, although they are freer than countries around the Middle East. It is common to arrive 10 minutes before the appointment time and shake hands, but there are also cases where hugs or kisses on the cheek show intimacy. It’s better to give it.

Figure1. Climate map of Azerbaijan by region * If you travel for a long time, regional tourism by climate will also be distinctive tourism.

Figure2. Baku- a subway map of Baku, It has a two-way track of 38.1 km, with 26 stations operating on three routes.

2-2. Tourist attractions

2-3. Accommodation, food, and Risk factors

1) Hotels in Baku where medieval and modern coexist

2) Food: Azerbaijan’s traditional food is originally similar to Turkish or Central Asian food, and meat is essential for meals.

Kebab is the most frequently eaten dish at home dinner. It is grilled in a brazier with lamb on a skewer and is eaten with vegetable skewers. There are many different kinds of Dolma. A typical example is “Karam Dolma,” which is made by mixing minced lamb and rice with mint or spices and wrapping them with vine leaves or cabbage leaves. Soup is a representative food that is eaten a lot, such as hot and thick Dovga made of yogurt, rice, spinach, and fennel, cold Dogramas made of sour milk, potatoes, onions, cucumbers, Piti with lamb, Egyptian beans, and Dushbara with lamb dumplings.Balig is a popular fish dish. Usually, sturgeon meat is cut into chunks, grilled on skewers as kebabs, and served with plum sauce.

3). Risk factors

The security environment is so good that there is no problem even if you go late in the evening. They’re currently at war with Armenia. But tourist cities don’t have to worry. Some disputed areas along the Armenian-Azerbaijan [4] border are designated as travel-banned areas. You also can’t move from Armenia to Azerbaijan or from Azerbaijan to Armenia. That’s why you must return to Armenia and Azerbaijan via Georgia. Lastly, if you stay more than 15 days, you must apply for a residence visa.

Resource Jung Dongyeon, Azerbaijan Economic Development Strategy and New Cooperation with Korea, Korea Institute for Foreign Economic Policy,29.June.2021, https://www.kiep.go.kr

Kwon Oh-young (2015).the intersection of East and West cultures in the Caspian Sea-Cocassus South Rock Historical Reports, 226(), 427466. https://www.dbpia.co.kr/Journal/articleDetail?nodeId=NODE06364040#:~:text=DOI%20%3A%2010.16912/tkhr.2015.06.226.427

KOTRA, Global Window, Azerbaijan Business Etiquette, 2015.6 DataSource: http://www.globalwindow.org

Why Armenia and Azerbaijan are fighting: a short version and a long version,2020.06 BBC newspaper https://www.bbc.com/korean/international-54337262

By Enhanced, modified, and vectorized by Ali Zifan. - Derived from World Köppen Classification (with authors).svg., CC BY-SA 4.0, https:// commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=47085253

Photo credit: Inga Belova, https://www.mircorp.com/travelers-tale-baku-azerbaijan-shores-of-caspian-sea/

By Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=52208381 https://www.wideworldtrips.com/things-to-do-in-baku/

Figure3. If you take the subway and walk down from Shail station, you can see the world’s largest lake, the Caspian sea.

Figure 4. a medieval atmosphere in the city center. Historical sites

include Maiden Tower, Shurbanxia Palace, and various alleys.

Figure 5. It embodies the fireworks of the landmark Fairmont hotel and Sapphire City Hotel with a Western medieval feel in Baku, Azerbaijan.

Figure6. These are some of the famous dishes in Azerbaijan.

Ho Chi Minh City at night Vietnam

Image credit: Adobe Photo Stock (free image)

The Center of Maritime Trade in West Africa, Cote d’Ivoire

by Jian Jang

According to Reuters, on November 25, 2022, Cote d’Ivoire completed the construction of a second container terminal at the port in Abidjan, the capital city. The Cote d’Ivoire government hopes that the terminal, which will be called the Cote d’Ivoire Terminal (CIT), will help Abidjan’s economic development and become a shipping hub in the West African region. It is said that the construction of this terminal will increase transportation from 1.2 million TEUs a year to 3 million.

Cote d’Ivoire is clearly the leading economic powerhouse in West Africa, but its trade volume with South Korea has yet to be very high so far. According to data from the Korean Embassy in Cote d’Ivoire, Cote d’Ivoire exported about 10.1 billion francs to Korea in 2021, and the amount imported from Korea is about 120 billion francs. South Korea mainly imports non-ferrous metals such as copper and aluminum and agricultural products such as cocoa. On the contrary, Cote d’Ivoire mainly imported industrial products such as plastic and machinery.

Currently, there is not much mutual trade, but the construction of the second container terminal is expected to contribute to expanding business with South Korea in the future.

Resource https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/ivory-coast-completes-second-shipping-container-terminal-2022-11-25/ (concerning the News Content)

https://overseas.mofa.go.kr/ci-ko/brd/m_21077/view.do?seq=98&page=1 (Korean Embassy in Cote d’Ivoire)

Image Source

https://www.apmterminals.com/en/cit

University of Cocody

by Bonjun Gu

Université de Cocody, also known as the University of Cocody, is a highly esteemed public university located in Abidjan, the capital city of Côte d’Ivoire. Established in 1964, the university has grown to become one of the largest and most prestigious in West Africa, offering a broad range of undergraduate and graduate programs in fields such as engineering, medicine, law, economics, and sciences.

The university is organized into several faculties, including the Faculties of Medicine and Pharmacy, Law and Political Science, Economics and Management, Sciences, Applied Sciences, Humanities and Social Sciences, Technology and Industrial Sciences, Arts and Humanities, and Languages and Literature.

Université de Cocody has a strong research program, with research centers and institutes focused on areas such as medicine, engineering, and social sciences. Its collaborations with many national and international institutions and organizations provide numerous research and training opportunities for students and faculty.

In addition to its academic programs, the university offers a diverse range of extracurricular activities such as sports teams, clubs, and organizations. The university also provides modern facilities, including libraries, computer labs, research centers, student housing, and dining options. The University of Cocody is renowned for its large student population, attracting over 30,000 students from Côte d’Ivoire and other countries in West Africa. This diverse student body fosters an international learning environment and enriches the educational experience.

Resource

Université Félix Houphouët-Boigny. (n.d.). Accueil. https://univ-cocody.ci/ Image Source

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universit%C3%A9_F%C3%A9lix_Houphou%C3%ABt-Boigny

Global Youth Goodwill Ambassador for Foreign Embassies in the Republic of Korea

체코 전통 춤 폴카와 텍사스

글: 이성민 (Sungmin Lee)

폴카(Polka)는 이름 때문에 폴란드와 관련 있

을 것 같지만 사실 체코의 전통춤입니다. 나

름대로 빠른 템포와 흥겨운 음악과 경쾌한 스

텝으로 유명한 폴카는 유래부터 재밌습니다.

안나 슬레자코바 (Anna Slezáková)라는 하

녀가 체코 전통 음악에 보헤미아식의 춤을 추

는 것을 음악 교사였던 요제프 네루다 (Josef Neruda) 가 이를 기 록 하여 체계화하였다는

주류 의견이 있습니다. 이는 19세기 유럽 전

역에 퍼졌고 무도회장에서 추는 춤으로 유명

해졌습니다. 폴카에 어원에 대해서는 체코 민

족 학자인 체네크 지브르트 (Čeněk Zíbrt)의

Jak se kdy v Čechách tancovalo (한국어

로 “보헤미아의 춤은?”)에 따르면 절반을 의

미하는 체코어 půlka에서 유래되었다고 합니

다. 그 이유는 폴카의 형식을 통해 이해할 수

있습니다.

폴카는 기본적으로 2/4 박자를 따릅니다. 가

장 근본적인 폴카의 리듬은 두 번째 사진과 같

고 이는 발동작과 연관이 깊습니다. 음표를 3

개씩 나누어서 각각 발끝, 발꿈치, 발 전체에

대응시킵니다. 그냥 보면 폴짝폴짝 뛰는 것 같

지만 잘 보면 이를 계속 지키고 있음이 보입니

다. 이를

(Polka Rhythm, Revisiting Music Theory: A Guide to the Practice)

또 유심히 보면 움직이는 발의 위치 동안 매번 바뀐다는 점을 알 수 있습니다. 이것만 해도 폴카에 빠르기에 비하여 동작이 많음을 알 수

있으나 춤을 추는 것에 혼란을 더 주는 요소가 존재합니다.

춤을 한 곳에서 춘다면 복잡한 동작도 비교적 나을 것입니다. 그러나 폴카에서 가장 중요하고 눈에 띄는 것은 춤을 출 때 계속 빙빙 돈다 는 점입니다. 파트너와 돌거나 무대 전체를 도는 등의 형식입니다. 경쾌하고 활발하게 돌면서 발동작처럼 규칙은 지키는 것이 흥미로운 부분입니다.

대부분의 무도회용 춤곡이 그렇듯 폴카도 쇠락의 길을 걷나 하더니 유럽이 아닌 다른 곳에서 중흥기를 맞게 됩니다. 그곳이 바로 텍사스 입니다. 20세기 초, 양차 세계대전을 겪으면서 많은 체코인이 이민을 결정하게 됩니다. 특히 텍사스와 위스콘신에 체코인들이 단체로 모 여서 살게 되며 집단 이주지를 중심으로 미국에 폴카 열풍이 돕니다. 위스콘신의 경우 미국의 컨트리 음악과 폴카가 조합되었다는 기록 이 있으며, 여러 밴드가 이를 공연했음을 알 수 있습니다. 텍사스의 경우 타지역에 비하여 모라비아 출신 체코인들이 많이 이주해 왔기에

모라비아식 폴카가 유행했습니다. 텍사스 폴카의 특별한 점은 문화적 이동이 끝내 지역에 뿌리내리는 데 성공하였다는 것입니다. 체코인

이라는 정체성이 흐려진 세대들에게도 폴카가 자리 잡은 것이 결정적인 증거입니다. 그들은 텍사스의 느낌을 더하여 텍사스 폴카라는 새

로운 장르를 파생시켰습니다.

폴카는 전통춤이 서서히 비주류가 되던 애매한 등장 시기에 비하여 사랑받는 장르입니다. 매우 클래식한 왈츠와 현대적인 팝 사이에서

폴카만의 색깔을 드러내고 있습니다. 폴카의 문화적 포용성은 놀라운 수준입니다. 간단한 형식을 통해 여러 문화와 접합이 가능하다는

특징은 전 세계 여러 사람이 자국의 문화를 융합하여 새로운 폴카를 탄생시켰습니다. 폴카의 특징은 체코의 정신과 많이 닮았습니다. 이

러한 문화적 활발함이 체코가 가진 강점이라고 생각합니다.

References

Admin. “Czech out the Ennis Polka Festival.” My Curly Adventures, 28 May 2019, https://mycurlyadventures.com/2019/05/28/ennis-polkafestival/.

Bakka, Egil, et al. Waltzing through Europe: Attitudes towards Couple Dances in the Long Nineteenth Century. Open Book Publishers, 2020. Blatter, Alfred. Revisiting Music Theory: A Guide to the Practice. Taylor and Francis, 2012.

Dutkova-Cope, Lida. “Texas Czech Ethnic Identity: So How Czech Are You, Really?” The Slavic and East European Journal, vol. 47, no. 4, 2003, p. 648., https://doi.org/10.2307/3220250.

Dutkova-Cope, Lida. “Texas Czech Folk Music and Ethnic Identity.” Pragmatics. Quarterly Publication of the International Pragmatics Association (IPrA), 2022, pp. 7–37., https://doi.org/10.1075/prag.10.1.05dut.

“Polka Dance Guide: How to Dance Polka - 2022.” MasterClass, https://www.masterclass.com/articles/polka-dance-guide.

“Wisconsin Polka - Smithsonian Institution.” SMITHSONIAN FOLKLIFE FESTIVAL, https://folklife-media.si.edu/docs/festival/program-bookarticles/FESTBK1998_11.pdf.

Zíbrt Čeněk. Jak SE KDY V čechách Tancovalo: Dějiny Tance v čechách, Na Moravě, Ve Slezsku a Na Slovensku Od nejstarší Doby až Do Konce 19. století Se zvláštním zřetelem K dějinám Tance v°Ubec. Státní Nakl. krásné Literatury, Hudby a umění, 1960.

Image Sources

(Czech out the Ennis Polka Festival - My Curly Adventures, https://mycurlyadventures.com/2019/05/28/ennis-polka-festival/)

Ecuador: and its Incredible Biodiversity

by Yejoo Cha

Ecuador is one of the most biodiverse countries in the world. Its environment ranges from the cool heights of the Andean Mountains to the humid Amazon rainforest, along with the Galapagos Islands. Not only is the country megadiverse, but it is also quite ecocentric. In 2008, Ecuador became the first country to recognize the rights of “Pachamama” (Mother Earth) in its constitution. The environment of Ecuador is grouped into 26 different habitat types, each with its unique vegetation adapted to the habitat’s atmospheric conditions. Ecuador’s forests cover about 42% of the nation’s whole surface area, measuring 11.6 million hectares.

The Andean Condor is Ecuador’s official national animal and is on the country’s flag and coat of arms. It is the largest flying animal on Earth, with wing spans as wide as nearly 11 feet. Ecuador is also home to other animals, such as poison dart frogs, snakes, jaguars, crocodiles, parrots, bats, alpacas, tortoises, and so much more.

Ecuador has the most remarkable rainforest flower diversity in the world, with botanists having identified over 400,000 native plants from the Amazon. The national flower of Ecuador is the Chuquiraga, a plant with vibrant orange flowers that can be found in the Chimborazo Fauna Reserve.

This vast amount of animal and plant life is conserved in national parks like El Cajas National Park, Llanganates National Park, and Cayambe-Coca National Park, reserves like Arenillas Ecological Reserve and El Quimi Biological Reserve, and refuges like El Zarza Wildlife Refuges and Pacoche Wildlife Refuges.

Resource

AZ Animals Staff. “Wildlife in Ecuador - Types of Ecuadorian Animals - AZ Animals.” AZ Animals, https://www.facebook.com/azanimalscom/, 27 May 2021, https://a-z-animals.com/animals/location/south-america/ecuador/.

“Ecuador - Main Details.” Home | Convention on Biological Diversity, https://www.cbd.int/countries/profile/?country=ec. Accessed 22 Dec. 2022.

“NATIONAL FLOWER ECUADOR, NATIVE PLANTS, RAINFOREST FLOWERS.” ECUADOR TOURS ECOTOURISM TO BEST NATIONAL PARKS, https://www.parks-and-tribes.com/amazon-rainforest/amazon-forest-plants/amazon-forest-plants. htm. Accessed 22 Dec. 2022.

Surma, Katie. “Ecuador’s High Court Affirms Constitutional Protections for the Rights of Nature in a Landmark Decision - Inside Climate News.” Inside Climate News, 3 Dec. 2021, https://insideclimatenews.org/news/03122021/ecuador-rights-of-nature/.

“The Nature Conservancy in Ecuador.” The Nature Conservancy, https://www.nature.org/en-us/about-us/where-we-work/latin-america/ ecuador/. Accessed 22 Dec. 2022.

Image Source

Marco Marques Source: Unsplash, Image: Elizabeth Domínguez Source: Pixabay

Old city street in Baku, the capital city of Azerbaijan

Image credit: Adobe Photo Stock (free image)

Global Youth Goodwill Ambassador for Foreign Embassies in the Republic of Korea

Sports in Nicaragua Pt. 1

by Brendan Lee Seo

Baseball is the most popular sport in Nicaragua, and boxing is the second most popular sport. Other famous sports in Nicaragua include soccer, weightlifting, yoga, and swimming. Every town in Nicaragua has a baseball field and some small-league games.

Children play soccer in the street with friends very often. Additionally, surfing, thanks to Nicaragua’s geography, is quite popular, with many visiting surfers stopping at Nicaragua’s Pacific coast and beaches. There are many popular surf camps in San Juan del Sur, near the Costa Rican border, and the surfing culture is very well developed in most of the regions in Nicaragua. Travelers can also go diving and snorkeling near the Corn Islands and other beaches.

Baseball

Many Latin and Central American countries choose soccer as their nation’s sport, but Nicaragua’s most celebrated sport is baseball. In the 1880s, an American businessman, Albert Addlesberg, introduced the baseball culture to Nicaraguans, and baseball teams rapidly formed. Many Nicaraguans had several opportunities to participate in games, so the passion for baseball in Nicaragua continued to grow.

The Nicaraguan Professional Baseball League (La Liga Nicaragüense de Beisbol Professional - Spanish) is the professional baseball league in Nicaragua, where four major teams compete against each other to get the trophies, the Indios del Boer, the Tigres del Chinandega, the Leones de Leon, and the Orientales de Granada. In February 2020, Nicaragua U-23 National Baseball Team won the Americas Qualifier for the WBSC U-23 Baseball World Cup. “The International Sports Press Association (AIPS) America recognized the Nicaragua U-23 National Baseball Team with the ‘Team of the Year” in the continent, as part of the AlPS America Awards 2020.” (WBSC).

Boxing

Boxing is Nicaragua’s second most popular sport, and many boxers promote Nicaraguan boxing. One of the significant reasons why Nicaraguans are good at boxing is that many organizations have created boxing programs that directly teach teenagers who need some support from adults. Sports Development 4 Impact (SD4I) organized this program based on getting kids off the street and giving them a safe environment where they can learn and study about self-defense, nutrition, health, well-being, taking care of their bodies, and living a clean lifestyle.

Another reason for Nicaragua’s advancement in boxing is Alexis Arguello, one of boxing’s most classic brawls, who competed from 1968 to 1995. Many people in Central America consider him The greatest boxer of his era. He held the lineal featherweight titles from 1975 to 1977, and in his later career, he was challenged twice for light-welterweight world titles.

Resource

https://www.roughguides.com/nicaragua/sports-outdoor-activities/ https://www.britannica.com/place/Nicaragua/Cultural-institutions

https://www.topendsports.com/world/countries/nicaragua.htm

https://journeys.dartmouth.edu/shaw-lacs20fa16/sample-page/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_baseball_in_Nicaragua

https://www.wbsc.org/en/news/nicaragua-u-23-national-baseball-team-named-team-of-the-year-2020-by-aipsamerica#:~:text=In%20February%202020%2C%20Nicaragua%20won,the%20AIPS%20America%20Awards%202020.

https://www.globalgiving.org/projects/boxing-for-impoverished-communities-in-nicaragua/#:~:text=Boxing%20is%20a%20 highly%20popular,image%2C%20discipline%20and%20leadership%20skills.

https://www.espn.com/sports/boxing/news/story?id=4299144

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexis_Arg%C3%BCello

Image Source

https://www.mlb.com/news/nicaragua-advances-to-world-baseball-classic

https://www.ringtv.com/646790-on-this-day-alexis-arguello-stops-ruben-olivares-to-pick-up-his-first-title-belt/,

GETTY IMAGES

PHOTO BY THE RING/

Sports in Nicaragua Pt. 2

by Brendan Lee Seo

Many Latin and Central American countries choose soccer as their nation’s sport, but Nicaragua’s most celebrated sport is baseball. In the 1880s, an American businessman, Albert Addlesberg, introduced the baseball culture to Nicaraguans, and baseball teams rapidly formed. Many Nicaraguans had many opportunities to participate in the games, and the passion for baseball in Nicaragua continued to grow. The Nicaraguan Professional Baseball League (La Liga Nicaragüense de Beisbol Professional - Spanish) is the professional baseball league in Nicaragua, and four major teams compete against each other to get the trophies, the Indios del Boer, the Tigres del Chinandega, the Leones de León, and the Orientales de Granada. In February 2020, Nicaragua U-23 National Baseball Team won the Americas Qualifier for the WBSC U-23 Baseball World Cup. “The International Sports Press Association (AIPS) America recognized the Nicaragua U-23 National Baseball Team with the “Team of the Year’’ in the continent, as part of the AlPS America Awards 2020” (WBSC).

He has been considered the most famous Nicaraguan baseball player by baseball fans in Nicaragua for a couple of generations, and he went 245-193 in his 23-year major league career. He was the first Nicaraguan baseball player who played in MLB and was a four-time MLB All-Star. He retired in 1996 because of glaucoma in his right eye, a severe problem unrelated to Martinez’s pitch. “He was also the first foreign-born player in MLB history to throw a perfect game on July 28, 1991”

Resource https://notanotherbaseballblog.wordpress. com/2017/12/25/the-ten-best-nicaraguanplayers-in-mlb-history/ https://shorturl.at/oxyI7

Image Sources http://t1.gstatic.com/licensed-image? q=tbn:ANd9GcQMePgUG8_7XK4iXO_Lw_ QSyYDpsSewcqNhfzZi_ckH4oqgwQijb9UEF KQLzUvhwA8qwI6gqGTFpC2SGbg

He was a famous right-handed baseball player like Dennis Martinez, and he finished his major league career 108-91. Before his 21st birthday, he signed his first contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks (Baseball team) a month, which is old for a Latin American prospect, after working with Dennis Martinez in Nicaragua to improve his change-up. “He led the AL (American League) in HBP (hit-by-pitch) with 17 in 2006, and he plunked at least 15 in a season three other times.” (Bruly). He is the 67th-best in hitting batters (109), and Dennis Martinez is tied for 50th all-time (122) in more games and innings pitched.

Image Sources

By dbking on Flickr - Originally posted to Flickr as "_MG_9615", CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index. php?curid=10380361

He was the top starter on three Minnesota Twins’ teams from 1981-1983 and started the Twins’ season opener in 1984. Initially, he was signed by the Pirates’ organization in 1975, and he played for two years in the low minors in their system. However, he couldn’t get a visa from the Nicaraguan government to play in the US major league in 1977, so he had to stay in Nicaragua. He then joined the Sandinistas and fought against the Somoza dictatorship for 16 months. Then he played for the Panama franchise in the Inter-American League in its sole season of 1979.

He signed with the Twins organization, and he also pitched sixwinters in theVenezuelanWinter League, including the 1983 Caribbean Series for the Tiburones de La Guaira. Unfortunately, he ended his career with an arm injury, based on the fact that he last pitched in the MLB system in 1985 at the age of 31 after a rapid descent.

Image Sources

By Bob Watson / Minnesota TwinsMinnesota Twins via tradingcarddb.com, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia. org/w/index.php?curid=87464417

2) Vicente Padilla (1999-2012)

1) Dennis Martinez (1976-1998)

3) Albert Williams (De Sousa) (1980-1984)

Fintech In Vietnam

by Jinwook Kim

Vietnam has a population of 97.34 million as of 2020, and its GDP per capita was measured at 2,785.72 USD per person in 2020. The global economy is currently in a slump, but Vietnam is showing growth. We would like to introduce Fintech, the strength of Vietnam’s IT sector.

Fintech is a combination of Finance and Technology which is being used in many fields, including digital-only banking, blockchain, RPA, and biometric security systems. Vietnam is introducing fintech technology together with other countries around the world.

Currently, 58% of Vietnamese digital consumers use fintech technologies such as online banking, e-wallets, money transfer applications, and omnipotent digital banking. Due to the growth of the young population and the increase in Internet use, the Fintech business is attracting attention, and the number of users is increasing every year.

There are MoMo and Moca, operated by Zalo Pay, which are popular mobile payment applications in modern Vietnam. In addition, Peer-to-Peer (P2P) is also becoming increasingly popular with the public. Not only that but blockchain and cryptocurrencies are gaining traction in this industry.

Representatively, companies such as TomoChin and Kyber Network are working to make cryptocurrency transactions faster, safer, and cheaper.

In 2018, Vietnam held the first international conference on blockchain and national development potential, and we sincerely wish for Vietnam’s limitless growth and development of Fintech technology through many such conferences in the future.

References

(Patel, Rahul. “Fintech in 2022: Top Predictions and Trends.” Digital Wallet Solutions, Mobile Wallet Platform, EWallet App Development, https://www.digipay.guru/blog/top-fintech-predictions-trends/)

(Vna. “Nearly 60% of Digital Consumers in Vietnam Use Fintech Solutions: Videos: Vietnam+ (Vietnamplus).” VietnamPlus, VietnamPlus, 29 Oct. 2022, https://en.vietnamplus.vn/nearly-60-of-digital-consumers-in-vietnam-use-fintech-solutions/242909.vnp)

(“Vietnam’s IT Sector: 5 Industries to Watch.” Vietnam Briefing News, November 6, 2019. )

Image Sources

<ahref=”https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/global-networking-technology-background-digital-communication_16406291. htm#query=Fintech&position=9&from_view=search&track=sph”>Image by rawpixel.com</a> on Freepik

Article based on personal research by Jinwook Kim

Mexican Films

by Minchae Kang

Mexico seems not to be a country that is famous for its cinemas in Korea; however, it turned out we were already familiar with Mexican movies. So today, I would like to introduce two famous Mexican movie directors and their films.

Alfonso Cuarón Orozco

Known for his incredible movies, Alfonso Cuarón Orozco is one of the greatest movie directors. He is Mexican, born in Mexico City. His famous works are < A Little Princess>, <Great Expectations>, <Children of Man>, <Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban>, <El Laberinto del Fauno>, <Gravity>, etc.

Alfonso Cuarón Orozco is well known for his long shots; he often uses this technique. For example, his long shot in <Children of Man> is often mentioned as one of the most incredible long-shot scenes ever.

Guillermo del Toro Gómez

Guillermo del Toro Gómez is also a famous movie director. He is Mexican; he was born in Guadalajara, a big city on the western side of Mexico. Guillermo del Toro Gómez is known for his distinct style; grotesque elements frequently appear in his films. Also, he is a big fan of horror movies. Guillermo recently directed the new film, <Pinocchio>.

References

IMDb Guillermo del Toro: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0868219/

- IMDb Alfonso Cuarón Orozco: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0190859/

Image Sources

https://successstory.com/people/alfonso-cuaron-orozco-2127

https://successstory.com/people/guillermo-del-toro-gomez

Chaemin Hwang

Religion and Celebrations by

Subin Lee

Like any other country, the country’s religion plays a huge role in Nicaraguan society. As it should be, Nicaragua pursues religious freedom for its citizens. Many religious ceremonies take place throughout the country, often including the enthusiastic and active involvement of the local members. Everyone on our planet can truly enjoy these celebrations.

Santo Patrono

The special part of the Nicaraguan local religion is that each city or town has its own “Saint,” called ‘Santo Patrono’ in their language. The villages have been choosing their saint ever since colonial times, which immediately shows the significance of this culture.

Chicheros

Music cannot be left out of a fiesta! The ‘Fiestas Patronales” highlights the event with amazing bands called ‘chicheros,’ which are composed of different instruments such as clarinets, drums, and more! These instruments come together and produce a special harmony that touches the audience’s hearts.

Fiestas Patronales

To honor these Saints in exchange for their blessings, Nicaraguans hold celebrations called “Fiestas Patronales.” These remarkable and heartwarming celebrations last for several days and are filled with colorful and vivid events.

Resource https://www.visitnicaragua.us/

Image Source

https://www.visitanicaragua.com/2019/05/08/fiestas-patronales-de-mayo-en- nicaragua/nicaragua-santo-patrono/ https://www.visitanicaragua.com/2022/01/26/fiestas-patronales-de-enero-en- nicaragua/ https://www.facebook.com/visitnicaragua/photos/pcb.10166588145155554/10166588145060554/?type=3&theater

Ecuador Music & Dance

by Changyong Hwang

Ecuador has a rich musical tradition that encompasses a wide range of styles and genres, reflecting the country’s diverse cultural heritage.

One of the most popular forms of music in Ecuador is the Andean music, which originated in the highlands of the Andes mountains and is characterized by the use of traditional instruments such as panpipes, charangos, and guitars. The music often tells stories of life in the Andean highlands and expresses the country’s deep connection to nature.

Another popular genre in Ecuador is “Pasillo,” which is a slow, romantic dance that originated in the early 20th century.

The pasillo is characterized by its use of stringed instruments such as the guitar and the requinto and often features themes of love and heartbreak. One of the most famous Pasillo songs is “Mi Lindo Ecuador,” which has become a sort of unofficial national anthem of the country.

Ecuadorian salsa is also famous, and many of the country’s top salsa artists have achieved international success. Salsa is a popular dance form in Ecuador, and many towns and cities have salsa clubs where locals and tourists alike can dance the night away.

References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andean_music

https://www.jstor.org/stable/780185

Image Sources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andean_music

https://ich.unesco.org/en/RL/pasillo-song-and-poetry-01702

National Martyrs' Memorial in Savar, Bangladesh

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Aerial_photographs_of_Jatiyo_Smriti_Soudho_DJI_0065-1.jpg

Image credit:

The Language of Czech by

Sojung Ohk

The Czech language, formerly known as Bohemian, is a West Slavic tongue related to eastern German Sorbian, Polish, and Slovak. It is the official language of the former Czech Republic’s Bohemia, Moravia, and southwest Silesia.

Roman letters are used to write Czech (Latin). Czech glosses discovered in Latin and German literature from the 12th century serve as the first instances of the language. Although there was no standardized Czech language throughout the Old Czech period, the literary language became more regular during the Middle Czech period (15th–16th century), partly because of modifications in Czech spelling introduced by the religious reformer Jan Hus (11th–14th century).

In Czech, the initial syllable of a word or prepositional phrase is stressed, as in Slovak, and pure vowels have taken the place of the previous Slavic nasalized vowel sounds.

In the modern language, there are two numbers, three persons in the verb (present, past, and future tenses), two voices, and three moods in addition to the perfective (an action that has already been completed) and imperfective (an action that is still in progress or hasn’t yet been completed) aspects of verbs (indicative, imperative, and conditional or subjunctive).

The traditional written form of Czech is based on the Prague dialect of the 16th–17th centuries; there are several dialects, including those from Moravia and Silesia, although there are few distinctions between them.

Resource Czech language | West Slavic language. (n.d.). Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Czech-language

Image Source

https://www.lingvozone.com/Czech

The Advantages of Cote D’Ivoire’s Education

by Bonjoon Gu

Côte d’Ivoire has made significant progress in expanding access to education in recent years. Some of the advantages of education in Côte d’Ivoire include Increased enrollment, Improved quality of education, Greater access to higher education, Empowerment of women, and Improved employability.

The government has made a significant effort to increase enrollment in primary and secondary schools, resulting in more children attending school. This has helped to reduce the number of children who are not enrolled in school and has also improved gender parity in education. Education has also been seen as a tool to empower women, and the government has been working to promote gender equality in education.

Additionally, the government has been working to improve the quality of education in Côte d’Ivoire by providing training for teachers and investing in new educational materials. As a result, students gain better skills and knowledge, increasing their chances of success in later life.

Furthermore, Côte d’Ivoire has a number of universities and other higher education institutions that provide more opportunities for students to continue their education after finishing secondary school. Education has also been seen as a tool to empower women, and the government has been working to promote gender equality in education.

This has helped to increase the number of women attending school and has also improved their chances of success in later life. Finally, education can help to improve employability and increase economic opportunities, which can help to reduce poverty and improve the overall quality of life.

References

OECD. (2017). Youth issues in Côte d’lvoire. OECD.,https://www.oecd.org/countries/cotedivoire/youth-issues-in-cote-ivoire. htm

Social Institutions and Gender Index (SIGI). (n.d.). Côte d’lvoire. Genderindex.org, https://www.genderindex.org/sigi-cotedivoire/ Oxford Business Group. (2018). Access granted: Increased interest from the private sector and continued efforts to improve infrastructure are boosting Côte d’lvoire’s connectivity. In Côte d’lvoire 2018 (pp. 15-16). Oxford Business Group.,https:// oxfordbusinessgroup.com/sites/default/files/2018-11/ivory_coast_2018_cs_web.pdf

Image Sources

Photo by Pixabay: https://www.pexels.com/photo/black-and-white-books-education-facts-433333/

The Flag of Azerbaijan

by Bohyun Park

Blue means the Turks, red symbolizes modernity and democracy, and green is the color of Islam. The crescent, the permanence, and the star represent secularity, which means a Muslim nation where the Turks stayed.

Population: 1011 (ten thousand - 2020 Year Criteria)

The Sea of Caspian borders the Russian Republic of Dagestan to the east, Georgia and Armenia to the west, and Iran to the south, and the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Republic within Azerbaijani territory has been virtually independent since the war with Armenia.

Administrative Region and Recall Unit:

Baku is the country’s capital and largest city, with a population of 1,163,000 people. It is mainly the center of the oil industry.

Azerbaijan consists of 59 districts, 11 cities, and one autonomous republic, and the Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic is divided into seven districts and one city.

Geographical features

The southern part of the Caucasus is centered on mountains and plains and is a connecting area between Europe and Western Asia. There are three geographical features: the Caspian Sea to the east, the Bolshoi Caucasus Mountains to the north, and a plain in the center of the country. The entire country is about 86,600 square kilometers. It has the largest territory among Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Georgia, the three Baltic states. Azerbaijan is a war-independent country with Armenia.

The currency unit is the manat ($1 = 1.7 azn)

Therefore, there is still a conflict between the two countries; the border town of Nahtsban Autonomous Republic within Armenian territory and the Archach Republic, which declared independence between the two countries, are also in conflict, like the Nagorno-Karabakh War in 2020. The Republic of Armenia borders Azerbaijan to the west by Armenia and the Caspian Sea to the east.

Simply Culture characteristic

Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, is a three-nation Caucasus country rich in stories of gods, myths, and humans.

In Korea, there is no direct route to Azerbaijan, one of the three Caucasus countries. You have to go via Moscow, Istanbul, Qatar, or Almaty International Airport in Kazakhstan. It is impossible to cross the border of Armenia, a hostile country.

Since it is a country at the western end of the Silk Road, romantic travel is possible by taking a sleeper train that has been running since the Russian Empire. The most attractive attraction is located west of European culture, starting in the middle of Eastern and Western cultures, and is even listed as a UNESCO heritage site.

Resource

Azerbaijan Overview and Brief History, Ministry of Foreign department, https://mofa.go.kr/www/index.do

Azerbaijan Becomes a Hub for Eurasian Transportation, Seoul National University’s Asia Research Institute,2022.09, https://snuac.snu. ac.kr/

Ha Woo beom, Oil money in the Caspian Sea transformed the City of Wind into the City of Fire, the monthly Chosun newsroom,2018.08, http://monthly.chosun.com/client/news/viw.asp?ctcd=&nNewsNumb=201808100040

Caucasus Oil Rush, Azerbaijan Baku Oil Field, and Nobel Family, Seoul National University’s Asia Research Institute,2022.09, https:// diverseasia.snu.ac.kr/?p=3533

Historic Centre of Sheki with the Khan’s Palace in Azerbaijan, https://heritage.unesco.or.kr/ Image Sources

SKopp and others, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Flag_of_Azerbaijan.svg https://ati.az/blog-2/azerbaijani-manat-and-foreign-currency/

By Elnur Hajiyev

- File:Artsakh Occupation Map.png, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=92938382

By Urek Meniashvili

- Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=28310779

By Urek Meniashvili -

Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=25731094

National palace of Nicaragua in Managua, the capital of Nicaragua

Image credit: Adobe Photo Stock (free image)

The Road to Stand on the Podium

by Seoyeong Lee

Ice hockey originated in Canada and gained popularity in the Czech Republic from the 20th century until today. Now the Czech Republic is one of the best countries in the world of ice hockey.

In early 1900, W.H. Anderson spread a hockey-styled game to the Czech Republic. It was tough at the beginning of ice hockey’s history in the Czech Republic. They were invited to their first international competition in France but lost their games. One of the players stated, “I didn’t even know the rules of the game.” This shows the hard condition they started while becoming the top nations playing ice hockey. They did not give up after their failure, but they worked hard to be in the place where they are today. In 1947, Czechoslovakia won the gold medal at the World Championships, proving its dominance.

Keeping its place in the World Championships was more challenging for the Czech Republic.

Czechoslovakia players flew to London to attend exhibition games while preparing for the 1949 World Hockey Championships. However, on the way to London, the plane carrying six Czechoslovakian players crashed, resulting in a significant loss for the Czechoslovakia team. Surprisingly, Czechoslovakia won the 1949 World Hockey Championships.

After the break-up of Czechoslovakia, the Czech Republic won the world championship, opening the first three years of the golden era in the history of ice hockey. The Czech Republic won the gold medal in the 1998 Olympics after defeating Canada in the semi-finals and Russia in the finals, proving that the Czech Republic had risen to become one of the best countries in the world of ice hockey.

As of today, the Czech Republic is still keeping its place in the world of hockey. Team Czechia

References

https://www.czechcenter.org/blog/2020/10/2/ice-hockey-one-of-the-czech-republics-most-popular-sports https://nationalteamsoficehockey.com/czechia/ https://kafkadesk.org/2022/02/18/on-this-day-in-1998-the-czech-ice-hockey-team-beat-russia-to-win-its-first-olympic-gold/ https://www.hockeycanada.ca/en-ca/news/world-juniors-recap-january-4-2023-wjc https://www.nhl.com/news/canada-defeats-czechia-to-win-gold-at-the-world-junior-championship/c-339582824 http://www.czehockey.cz/

https://nhl.nbcsports.com/2022/02/03/jaromir-jagr-on-why-he-still-plays-when-you-love-something-its-tough-to-give-up/ https://sport360.com/article/other/winter-olympics/268531/czech-republic-knock-usa-out-of-winter-olympics-ice-hockey-to-reachsemi-finals

When you love something, it’s tough to give up.

- Jaromir Jagr

Artificial Intelligence in Vietnam

by Jinwook Kim

There are three types of pearls: natural, cultured, and artificial. Artificial pearls are manufactured chemically These days, AI is used in many parts of our industry, including entertainment, banking, and marketing. This technology started in 1957, and after much trial and error and research, the current AI was born.

Vietnam has enormous potential in AI technology. Vietnam is showing a tremendous rise in terms of economy and technology by grafting AI technology into human resources, education, healthcare, agriculture, transportation, and e-commerce. The use of these AI technologies can reduce the workforce, making it possible to produce products and provide services more effectively.

For example, Vietnam FPT Corporation, which focuses on providing and deploying consulting, technology, and telecom services and solutions, adopted AI for smart traffic in Ho Chi Minh City. Also, a Mobile company called Viettel used AI to combat cyberattacks and assists organizations with internal IT security.

Furthermore, the Vietnamese government has further issued Resolution No.50-NQ-TW to encourage FDI by increasing the number of high-tech and Industry 4.0 enterprises to 50% by 2025 to help advance AI. Our age changes and develops at an incredibly fast pace day by day. This is important to keep open to possibilities in many directions so people can grow effectively at this pace.

based on personal research by Jinwook Kim

Resource “Vietnam’s IT Sector: 5 Industries to Watch.” Vietnam Briefing News, 6 Nov. 2019, www.vietnam-briefing.com/news/vietnams-it-sector-5industries-to-watch.html/.

Vietnam Flag National - Free Vector Graphic on Pixabay. https://pixabay.com/vectors/vietnam-flag-national-flag-nation-162460/.

Thelwell, Kim. “Artificial Intelligence in Vietnam: A Tool for Development.” The Borgen Project, Kim Thelwell Hitps://Borgenproject.org/WpContent/Uploads/Logo.jpg, 14 May 2021, borgenproject.org/artificial-intelligence-in-Vietnam/ SITNFlash. “The History of Artificial Intelligence.” Science in the News, 23 Apr. 2020, sitn.hms.harvard.edu/flash/2017/history-artificialintelligence/.

Image Source

<a

href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/robot-hand-finger-ai-background-technology-graphics_17851034. htm#query=Artificial%20Intelligence&position=11&from_view=search&track=ais”>Image by rawpixel.com</a> on Freepik

Article

Moon Dai won Created a History of Taekwondo in Mexico

by Keonhee Ahn

Taekwondo history in Mexico is full of glory. In Mexico, about 3 million Mexicans train Taekwondo, and about 4,000 taekwondo centers are in operation. Taekwondo spread to Mexico for the first time in 1969, and the world’s first professional league was launched in 2012. In addition, since Taekwondo became an official Olympic sport, Mexican athletes have won medals in all competitions. Taekwondo has brought Mexico the biggest joy in the Olympics. The athletes showed off their great skills by winning five gold medals at the World Taekwondo Championships. La historia del taekwondo en México está llena de gloria. En México, cerca de 3 millones de mexicanos entrenan taekwondo y funcionan unos 4.000 centros de taekwondo. El taekwondo se extendió a México por primera vez en 1969, y en 2012 se lanzó la primera liga profesional del mundo. Además, desde que el taekwondo se convirtió en deporte olímpico oficial, los atletas mexicanos han ganado medallas en todas las competiciones. El taekwondo ha dado a los mexicanos las mayores alegrías en los Juegos Olímpicos. Los atletas demostraron sus grandes habilidades al ganar cinco medallas de oro en los Campeonatos Mundiales de Taekwondo.

Mexico participated in the 2000 Sydney Olympics when Taekwondo was first adopted as an Olympic sport. Athletes such as Soraya Jiménez, Noé Hernández, Fernando Platas, and Víctor Estrada participated, and Víctor Garibay, who won the bronze medal at the first Olympics in the 21st century, is remembered as a player who opened the door to Mexican taekwondo. Víctor Estrada, who gained massive popularity, entered politics and served as governor. México participó en los Juegos Olímpicos de Sydney 2000, cuando se adoptó por primera vez el taekwondo como deporte olímpico. Participaron atletas como Soraya Jiménez, Noé Hernández, Fernando Platas y Víctor Estrada, y Víctor Garibay, que ganó la medalla de bronce en los primeros Juegos Olímpicos del siglo XXI, es recordado como el que abrió las puertas al taekwondo mexicano. Víctor Estrada, que ganó popularidad masiva, entró en política y fue gobernador.

The reason why Taekwondo became so popular in Mexico is thanks to María del Rosario Espinoza and Guillermo Pérez, who won two gold medals at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. María del Rosario Espinoza, who won the gold medal at the 2007 World Championships, became Mexico’s national hero by adding a bronze medal at the 2012 London Olympics. Guillermo Pérez gave Mexico its 11th gold medal in Olympic history at the time, and it was the first time in 24 years that a Mexican man was on the podium. Mexico is also doing well at the World Taekwondo Championships.

La razón por la que el taekwondo se hizo tan popular en México es gracias a María del Rosario Espinoza y Guillermo Pérez, quienes ganaron dos medallas de oro en los Juegos Olímpicos de Pekín 2008. María del Rosario Espinoza, que ganó la medalla de oro en los Campeonatos del Mundo de 2007, se convirtió en la heroína nacional de México al sumar una medalla de bronce en los Juegos Olímpicos de Londres 2012. Guillermo Pérez dio entonces a México su undécima medalla de oro en la historia olímpica, y fue la primera vez en 24 años que un mexicano subía al podio. A México también le va bien en los Campeonatos Mundiales de Taekwondo.

In November 2022, the World Taekwondo Championships were held in Guadalajara, Mexico, where Mexican taekwondo shone again, and Leslie Soltero won the gold medal for the fifth time. The heroes who won gold medals at the World Taekwondo Championships include Óscar Mendiola Cruz in Germany in 1979, Edna Díaz Acevedo in Spain in 2005, María del and Rosario Espinoza in China in 2007, and Uriel Adriano Avigdor in Mexico in 2013.

En noviembre de 2022 se llevaron a cabo los Campeonatos Mundiales de Taekwondo en Guadalajara, México, donde el taekwondo mexicano volvió a brillar y Leslie Soltero ganó la medalla de oro por quinta ocasión. Entre los héroes que ganaron medallas de oro en los Mundiales de Taekwondo se encuentran Óscar Mendiola Cruz en Alemania en 1979, Edna Díaz Acevedo en España en 2005, María del y Rosario Espinoza en China en 2007, y Uriel Adriano Avigdor en México en 2013.

At the center of training these players is Korean Grand Master Moon Dai-won. After winning three consecutive U.S. Martial Arts Championships while studying in the U.S., he was invited to Mexico in 1969 and started distributing Taekwondo to Mexicans to properly inform them of Taekwondo, known as “Korean Karate.” Mexico ranked third at the World Taekwondo World Championships (19731975), which was well received by Mexicans, and Moon founded the Mexican Taekwondo Association in 1976.

En el centro del entrenamiento de estos jugadores se encuentra el Gran Maestro coreano Moon Dai-won. Después de ganar tres Campeonatos de Artes Marciales consecutivos mientras estudiaba en EE.UU., fue invitado a México en 1969 y comenzó a distribuir Taekwondo a los mexicanos para informarles adecuadamente sobre el Taekwondo, conocido como “Karate Coreano”. México ocupó el tercer lugar en los Campeonatos Mundiales de Taekwondo (1973-1975), lo que fue bien recibido por los mexicanos, y Moon fundó la Asociación Mexicana de Taekwondo en 1976.

Since then, Mexico has become a Taekwondo powerhouse thanks to Grand Master Moon Dai-won, who pursues practical and strong Taekwondo. Grand Master Moon Dai-won was interested in Taekwondo education for children and women. Children and women could not enter the karate school when he arrived in Mexico. So Grandmaster Moon Dae-won started teaching them Taekwondo. There is the Chalco Girl’s House, a free boarding school founded by the Catholic Sister Mary’s Society in 1990 in south-central Mexico. About 3,400 girls from all over Mexico combine vocational training and study, with about 1,000 students taking regular Taekwondo classes. Grand Master Moon Dai-won has been supporting Taekwondo at the school for 24 years. Girls started dreaming through Taekwondo, and there are many girls who actually became leaders. The results were also very good, with the Olympic champion and world medalist in Mexican women’s taekwondo. Desde entonces, México se ha convertido en una potencia del taekwondo gracias al Gran Maestro Moon Dai-won, que persigue un taekwondo práctico y fuerte. El Gran Maestro Moon Dai-won estaba interesado en la educación del Taekwondo para niños y mujeres. Cuando llegó a México, los niños y las mujeres no podían entrar en la escuela de karate. Así que el Gran Maestro Moon Dae-won empezó a enseñarles Taekwondo. Existe la Casa de la Niña de Chalco, un internado gratuito fundado por la Sociedad de la Hermana María Católica en 1990 en el centro-sur de México. Alrededor de 3.400 niñas de todo México combinan la formación profesional y el estudio, y unas 1.000 alumnas reciben clases regulares de taekwondo. El Gran Maestro Moon Dai-won lleva 24 años apoyando el taekwondo en la escuela. Las chicas empezaron a soñar a través del Taekwondo, y hay muchas que se convirtieron en líderes. Los resultados también fueron muy buenos, con campeona olímpica y medallista mundial en taekwondo femenil mexicano.

Taekwondo became the center of cultural exchange between Korea and Mexico. When I see many Mexicans practicing Taekwondo to learn Korean traditional martial arts, I feel that Taekwondo is connected to the meaning and value of life like Koreans. Seeing many Mexicans practicing Taekwondo according to the Korean command to learn Korean traditional martial arts, I feel that they are connected to the same meaning and value of life as Koreans through Taekwondo. There are no different races, languages, religions, or ideologies here. The efforts of Korean Taekwondo people and Taekwondo-loving Mexicans who went to Mexico 55 years ago have created a great culture that connects Korea and Mexico.

El Taekwondo se convirtió en el centro del intercambio cultural entre Corea y México. Cuando veo a muchos mexicanos practicando Taekwondo para aprender las artes marciales tradicionales coreanas, siento que el Taekwondo está conectado con el significado y el valor de la vida como los coreanos. Al ver a muchos mexicanos practicando Taekwondo de acuerdo al mandato coreano de aprender artes marciales tradicionales coreanas, siento que están conectados con el mismo significado y valor de la vida como los coreanos a través del Taekwondo. Aquí no hay diferentes razas, idiomas, religiones e ideologías. Los esfuerzos de la gente coreana de Taekwondo y los mexicanos amantes del Taekwondo que fueron a México hace 55 años han creado una gran cultura que conecta a Corea y México.

Resource

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pearling_in_Bangladesh#cite_note-2%20fao.org/3/s2622e/S2622E05.htm%20Istock%20-%20pink%20 pearl

Por Redacción, “Leslie Soltero gana medalla de oro para México en el Campeonato Mundial de Taekwondo”, EL FINANCIARO, noviembre 15, 2022, https://www.elfinanciero.com.mx/deportes/2022/11/15/leslie-soltero-gana-medalla-de-oro-para-mexico-en-el-campeonatomundial-de-taekwondo/

ANTONIO ROCHA,”Víctor Estrada: Pionero del taekwondo en México y medallista en Sídney 2000“, lospleyers.com, 15 DE JULIO DE 2021, https://lospleyers.com/noticias/deportes/victor-estrada-pionero-del-taekwondo-en-mexico-y-medallista-en-sidney-2000/

Por Redacción Política, “Poblana Marcela Barranco participa en Campeonato Nacional de taekwondo en Pachuca”, Mente Política, DIC 5, 2022, https://mentepolitica.mx/2022/12/05/poblana-marcela-barranco-participa-en-campeonato-nacional-de-taekwondo-en-pachuca/

https://www.korea.net/NewsFocus/policies/view?articleId=134783

https://latinus.us/2021/07/12/mexico-medalla-taekwondo-juegos-olimpicos/ http://enter.etoday.co.kr/news/view/172235

Global Youth Goodwill Ambassador for Foreign Embassies in the Republic of Korea

체코의 큐비즘

글: 이성민 (Sungmin Lee)

체코의 문화는 주로 새로운 문화를 체코 전통과 접목해 발전됩니다. 그 중 대표적인 갈래는 단연 미술입니다. 체코는 유럽 문화의

중심지로서 고딕, 바로크 등의 장르를 소화해 내고 꽃 피웠습니다. 폴 세잔을 기원으로 하는 큐비즘 또한 예외가 아닙니다.

큐비즘이 체코에 본격적으로 전파된 시기는 1918년 체코슬로바키아의 독립 이후입니다. 체코의 민족성이 부흥될 때 다양한 문화 갈래가

체코 전통과 융합되었고 그중 하나가 큐비즘입니다. 체코의 큐비즘은 크게 2가지 시기로 나뉩니다. 큐비즘 이해의 초기 단계로 분류되는 큐보 표현주의 시기 (1911~1917)과 체코 민족주의 큐비즘으로 여겨지는 론도 큐비즘 (1918~1925)입니다.

큐보 표현주의 시기에는 프랑스의 영향을 강하게 받아 프랑스계 큐비즘이 당시 주목했던 아프리카의 초기 문화에 주목합니다. 인류

본연의 심미성에 집중하여 이를 큐비즘에 접목하는 것입니다. 그래서 근원적 형태를 큐비즘 특유의 형태 분할로 표현합니다. 체코 초기

큐비즘 건축은 또한 이슬람 사원들의 기둥에 집중합니다. 그 기둥 속에서 찾는 입체 도형들, 특히 크리스탈 형태의 사면체를 건축 양식에 집중으로 활용하였습니다. 초기 큐비즘을 접목한 건축물 중 제일 대표적인 작품은 블랙 마돈나라 불리는 건물입니다. 건물 이름의 유래는 리모델링 이전 건물에 붙어있던 동상 이름에서

론도 큐비즘은 초기에 들어온 큐비즘에서 체코적 향토인 물결 모양과 융합된 양식입니다. 이전의 직선적인 기하학 형태에서 나아가 물결의 표현을 덧붙였습니다. 다이아몬드 볼트라 불리는, 고딕 시대부터 체코의 전통 패턴도 론도 큐비즘 건축에 큰 영향을 미쳤습니다. 천장 문양에 다이아몬드 볼트를 적극적으로 기용하여 공간의 입체미를 부각하였습니다. 색상의 사용도 론도 큐비즘 시기부터 다양하게 사용되었습니다. 다양한 색채의 허용부터 사용되는 색감의 범위 또한 늘어났습니다.

론도 큐비즘 시기에 재밌는 일화가 있습니다. 큐비즘 양식이 점차 다른 건물들과 눈에 띄게 달라졌기 때문에 체코 건축법에 위배되어 사용하기 어려워졌습니다. 그래서 당대 건축가들이 상당히 고생했다고 합니다.

(photos © Adrian Welch, 초기 큐비즘의 기둥 양식을 보임)

체코의 큐비즘은 이후 실용주의에 밀려 점차 사라졌습니다. 체코의 실용주의는

후술하겠으나, 체코의 민족성 자체를

보여주는 다른 갈래이기도 합니다. 달라지지

않는 점은 체코의 예술 분야가 지속해서 체코

민족성과 전통을 드러냈다는 것입니다. 자국

문화에 자긍심을 느낄 수 있는 대목입니다.

고전부터 현대까지 체코의 예술은 여러

방면으로 드러나 있습니다. 재밌는 점은

프라하의 거리 하나만 걸어도 이를 모두 느낄 수 있다는 점입니다.

Resource Cloud, S. (n.d.). Cubism and rondocubism. Prague Stay. Retrieved December 25, 2022, from https://www.prague-stay. com/lifestyle/category/36-praguearchitecture/46-cubism-and-rondocubism

CROWLEY, D. (1993). Czech cubism: Architecture, furniture and Decorative Arts 1910 1925. Journal of Design History, 6(3), 222–224. https://doi.org/10.1093/jdh/6.3.222

( L e gio B ank Bu il d ing, 1923, Pr ag ue )

(Black Madonna, 1912, Prague)

(diamond vault in the church of St George in Kętrzyn, Poland, photo. L Schneider, 다이아몬드 볼트 패턴)

Resource

Diamond Vault. Ancient and medieval architecture. (n.d.). Retrieved December 25, 2022, from https://medievalheritage.eu/ en/main-page/dictionary/diamond-vault/

Welch, A. (2021, January 9). Prague Cubist buildings, Czech cubist architecturee-architect. e. Retrieved December 25, 2022, from https://www.e-architect.com/ prague/prague-cubist-architecture

(2005): 165-172.

따온 거라고 합니다. 블랙 마돈나는 체코 큐비즘 박물관도 겸하고 있으니 프라하에 들르시면 추천해 드리는 관광지 중 하나입니다.

Diplomacy in Czech by Sojung

Ohk

From 1948 until 1989, Czechoslovakia’s foreign policy was a carbon copy of the Soviet Union’s. Since attaining independence, the Czech Republic has made assimilating into Western institutions a primary goal of its foreign policy. The Czech Republic became a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) on March 12, 1999, together with Poland and Hungary. NATO continues to enjoy significant popular support. The Czech Republic joined the European Union as a full member on May 1, 2004. These two events signify a shift in the country’s security and foreign policy objectives. The Czech Republic finished its first-ever EU Presidency in the first half of 2009.

The Czech Republic is a member of the United Nations and participates in its specialized agencies. In addition, it engages in trade organizations. It has resident embassies in 93 countries. In addition, 82 countries have permanent representation in Prague. Millions of Americans have Bohemian and Moravian ancestry, and the Czech Republic is a vital cultural and familial neighbor. The first Czechoslovak state was established on October 28, 1918, with the assistance of the United States and President Woodrow Wilson. The 14 Points of President Wilson, which included the right of ethnic groups to fund their governments, served as the foundation for the union of the Czech and Slovak Republics.

In June 1992, former Czechoslovakia and several other countries participating in the Rio Conference signed the relevant agreements, including Agenda 21. The present-day Czech Republic, one of the two successor states following the division of Czechoslovakia (1992–1993), recognizes the majority of the laws, international commitments, conventions, protocols, and other agreements and decisions related to environmental protection signed and ratified by the former nation, both between 1990 and 1992 and before that period as well. Concerning the development that the UNCSD has sparked, it is essential to note that the Czech Republic fully accepts this activity and takes part in it to the best of its ability.

Resource Country Profile - Czech Republic. (n.d.). Www.un.org. Retrieved November 13, 2022, from https://www.un.org/esa/earthsummit/czech-cp. htm

Czech Republic - Foreign Relations. (n.d.). Www.globalsecurity.org. https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/europe/cz-forrel.htm

Image Source ©NVM Design/Shutterstock.com, https://a-z-animals.com/blog/the-flag-of-czech-republic-history-meaning-and-symbolism/

Image credit: Adobe Photo Stock (free image)

Prague

Capital of the Czech Republic

Diplomacy is listening to what the other guy needs. Preserving your own position, but listening to the other guy. You have to develop relationships with other people so when the tough times come, you can work together.

Colin Powell, 65th United States Secretary of State

Reflections on offline activities

Anniversary of the Independence and National Day of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh

행사 참석

지난 3월 27일 주한 방글라데시 대사관 주최로 롯데호텔 서울에서 “Anniversary of the Independence and National Day of the People ’ s Republic of Bangladesh” 기념 행사가 열렸습니다.

각국의 주한 외국대사와 대사 부인, 외교관들을 비롯해 각계각층의 많은 내외귀빈들이 참석하여 행사를 함께 지켜보았습니다.

“Anniversary of the Independence and National Day of the People ’ s Republic of Bangladesh” 행사는 긴 투쟁 끝에 방글라데시의 독립을 성공적으로 이끌었던 ‘봉고본두 셰이크 무지부르 라흐만’ (শেখ মুজিবুর

রহমান | Sheikh Mujibur Rahman) 국부와, 자유를 위해 용맹하게 투쟁한 분들 그리고 방글라데시 독립을

위해 고귀하게 희생된 3백만 순교자들께도 깊은 경의를 표하고 또한, 독립전쟁 중에 소중한 지지와 공감을

보내주었던 전세계 우방국들을 깊은 감사의 마음을 담은 자리로, 호비한국본부 또한 주한 방글라데시 대사관의

초청으로 함께 자리를 할 수 있었습니다.

행사는 델왈 호세인 (H.E. Md. Delwar HOSSAIN) 주한 방글라데시 대사님과 이경아 외교부 공공문화외교국장님의 Welcoming Speech와 함께 시작하였습니다.

대사님께서는 “대한민국은 이제 방글라데시의 핵심 경제개발 파트너가 되었고 양국 교역 총액은 2021 년 처음으로 20억 달러를 돌파한 데 이어 2022년에는 30억 달러를 돌파했습니다.” 는 말씀을 전하시며

방글라데시 인프라 사업에 상당한 한국 기업들의 참여가 증가되고 있음을 강조하셨습니다.

뿐만 아니라, 국장님께서도 “한국 기업들을 위한 독점수출가공지구로, 한국은 현재 방글라데시 투자국 중에서

최상위 5개국에 속합니다. 그리고, 방글라데시는 이미 한국의 ODA 수혜 최대 3개국에 속해 있습니다.”

라 하시며 수많은 방글라데시 근로자들이 한국에 와서 한국 기업들을 위해 일하고 있으며, 이는 양국의 경제발전에 보탬이 되고 있음을 전달하셨습니다.

호비한국본부 역시 대한민국과 방글라데시, 양국간 협력이 더욱 발전할 것으로 확신하고 있다는 말씀을 전해 들으며, 대한민국 공공외교에 기여하고자 2018년부터 주한 방글라데시 대사관과 함께 한국 청소년들을 위해 지속해온 홍보대사 프로젝트를 떠올리며 양국의 협력이 더욱 기쁘게 느껴졌습니다.

THE 52ND ANNIVERSARY OF THE INDEPENDENCE AND NATIONAL DAY OF THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF BANGLADESH

Global Youth Goodwill Ambassador for Foreign Embassies in the Republic of Korea

한국과 방글라데시의 국기가 장식되어 있던 케이크 커팅 후 대사님들의 사진 촬영이 이어졌습니다.

이 날 준비된 뷔페 음식뿐만 아니라 다양한 방글라데시 대표적인 전통 음식도 함께 마련이 되어 있었는데요, 평소 접하지 못하는 맛있는 방글라데시의 전통 음식과 디저트 등을 맛볼 수 있어 좋은 경험을 해 볼 수 있어 좋았습니다.

THE 52ND ANNIVERSARY OF THE INDEPENDENCE AND NATIONAL DAY OF THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF BANGLADESH

식사시간 동안 동시에 방글라데시 전통 음악과 춤 공연, 또 뿐만 아니라 성악, 마임 공연이 있었는데요, 감탄을 자아내는 무대가 이어지며 한국의 아티스트도 함께하여 양국의 전통예술을 함께 즐길 수 있는 즐거운 시간이었습니다.

주한 방글라데시 대사관 홍보대사로 임명되어 활동중인 우리 홍보대사 학생들도 앞으로 방글라데시에 더욱 관심을 가지고 활발한 활동을 통해 양국의 교류에 많은 기여할 수 있기를 바랍니다.

다시 한 번 뜻 깊은 행사에 초대해 주신 주한 방글라데시 대사관에 깊은 감사를 드립니다.

THE 52ND ANNIVERSARY OF THE INDEPENDENCE AND NATIONAL DAY OF THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF BANGLADESH

In Celebration of 60 years of Diplomatic Relations 2022 Nicaragua - Korea Fashion Show 행사

참석

지난 11월 15일 서울 강서구민회관에서 “한-니카라과 수교 60주년 기념 2022 대한민국-니카라과 전통의상

패션쇼” 기념 행사가 주한 니카라과 대사관 주최로 열렸습니다.

호비한국본부도 초청을 받아 감사히 함께 자리를 하게 되었습니다.

각국의 주한 외국대사와 외교관들을 비롯해 대한민국의 외교에 힘쓰시는 다양한 주요 내빈들이 참석하셨고, 패션쇼에 걸맞게 한국전통 한복을 입은 사회자님의 진행과 함께 행사는 시작하였습니다.

H E Rodrigo Coronel Kinloc, 주한 니카라과 대사님께서도 멋진 한국 전통의상 한복을 입고 인사말을 전해 주셨습니다.

“이 행사를 통해 니카라과의 전통, 또 한국 전통 의상; 두 국가의 전통의상을 함께 선보임으로써 문화, 인종을 초월한 멋진 유대를 표현할 수 있었다, 멋진 문화를

교류하는 우리는 전부 하나다”

이에 호비한국본부도 한국 청소년들을 위한 홍보대사 프로젝트 등 주한 니카라과 대사관과 함께 대한민국 외교를 위한 프로젝트를 지속해오면서 양국의 협력이 더욱 기쁘게 느껴졌습니다.

니카라과 대통령실에서 직접 준비해주신 니카라과 전통 의상들은 형형색색 아름다운 색깔을 지니고 있었고, 나라의 정교하고 풍요로운 관습과 전통이 묻어나는 것 같아 쇼가 진행되는 내내 감탄을 자아 냈습니다.

1부로 니카라과 전통 의상 패션쇼가 끝난 후 틀어주신 다양한 니카라과 관련 영상들 또한 나라만의 멋진 특색이 드러나 멋있었습니다.

2부는 대한민국 한복외교사절단 최숙헌, 강영숙, 이은진, 박은혜 한복디자이너님들이 제작해주신

작품 한복들로 준비되었습니다.

니카라과, 대한민국 간의 문화공감대 증진을 위해 특별하게 [대한민국 한복모델 선발대회] 출신 수상자들이 쇼에 함께했고, 역시나 한복 답게 우아함과 단아함, 그리고 화려함까지 겸비한 아름다움이 펼쳐진 것을 볼 수 있었습니다.

마지막으로는 니카라과와 한국 패션쇼를 빛낸 모델들과 그 의상들이 한 자리에 모여 함께 하는 대단한 조화를 보여주었습니다.

쇼가 모두 끝나고 세계 각국 대사와 외교사절, 내빈들과 다 함께 무대에 올라가 사진 촬영 후 행사는 마무리 되었습니다.

주한 니카라과 대사관 홍보대사로 임명되어 활동중인 우리 홍보대사 학생들도 앞으로 니카라과에 더욱 관심을 가지고 활발한 활동을 통해 양국의 교류에 많은 기여할 수 있기를 바랍니다.

My experience in the Embassy of Egypt - Keonhee Andrew Ahn

My experience in (the Embassy of Egypt in Korea) was a straightforward yet unique journey toward learning about yet another unfamiliar country. When I entered the embassy building, I could feel Egyptian nature with the pharaoh statues, hidden doors, and Egyptian wall carvings.

Our session began with presentations by two of our Egyptian student ambassadors. The presentations were flawless and impressive, providing a great introduction to the history of Egypt. However, Egyptian Ambassador Khaled Abdel Rahman's reaction to the presentations caught my attention more than anything. He was smiling, proud of the student ambassadors' great interest in his home country. I hope to present my knowledge at the Embassy of Mexico.

After the presentation, a series of two great videos visualized Egypt's beautiful culture. The videos introduced us to famous monuments and landmarks in Egypt. The narrator speaking in Arabic and the typical Arabic soundtrack added a solid Egyptian color to the videos, which made them more engaging and realistic as if we were in Egypt. Time flew extremely fast with the stunning depictions of Egypt's beauty: we were already near the end of our embassy visit. We quickly moved on to the question session, where the student ambassadors asked their prepared questions to Mr. Rahman.

Mr. Rahman took an extremely long time to answer every question sincerely. From the questions, I learned quite a lot of things. I knew that Egypt and Korea were on a similar pathway. Both countries are learning from each other's development: Egypt is learning from Korea's technological advancements, and Korea is learning from Egypt's mesmerizing cultural developments. According to Mr. Rahman, Egypt imports a wide range of advanced Korean technology, including cars, electronics, and nuclear power. Korean companies have also settled in Egyptian land with multiple factories and workplaces. Egypt's economic relationship with Korea, or any other country, relies on tourism and its fruitful culture.

However, only some things could be optimistic: Mr. Rahman also revealed a crucial problem regarding Egypt's birth rate. While Korea is suffering with the lowest birth rate in the world, Egypt has 3.24 births per woman, which may be too overwhelming considering the average household income of families in Egypt. To tackle this problem, the Egyptian government plans to form a new capitol for the state legislature to provide efficient and feasible solutions.

But before students could dive deeper into Egypt's culture, we were presented with Egyptian dishes: phyllo meat pie and fresh orange juice on the side. The food was terrific; the phyllo meat pie was incredibly delicious with its heavenly combination of various spices, chicken, and bread. During the meal, Mr. Rahman turned on a video that showed a grand, splendid parade. I assumed it was some celebration to entertain the Egyptians. Contrary to expectations, it was the royal mummies parading through the streets of Cario to the Grand Egyptian Museum, expected to open in 2023.

Through my experience in the Embassy of Egypt, I grasped the significance of culture and art through Egypt's landmarks and sculptures and the Egyptian citizens' efforts to preserve and endorse their culture. From just two hours of listening to Mr. Rahman, I could spot their eagerness to strengthen the bond between South Korea and Egypt and his efforts to spread awareness of Ancient Egypt and its artifacts and Egypt's current status as a rapidly developing nation.

관은 우리나라에 위치하지만 해당 국가의 문화와 사람들, 언어를 접할 수 있는 공간이기에 매우 기대가 되었다. 매우 추운 날씨에 도착한 한남동 대사관 거리는 늘 그랬듯이

깨끗하고 정리되어 있었다. 두근거리는 마음으로 이집트대사관에 도착하자, 신비로운

이집트 상형문자와 오브제, 동상들이 장식되어 있었다. 더 구경하고 싶었지만 친절한 직원

분들이 우리가 들어가야할 곳을 안내해 주셨고, 빠르게 위층으로 올라가 마련된 자리에

앉았다.

다른 이집트 대사관 홍보대사분들과 주변을

둘러보며 어색한 기다림이 끝난 뒤, 드디어

대사님이 오셨다. 이집트 대사관에서 준비한

홍보영상들을 보니 TV 속 이집트 문화의

거대함과 웅장함에 압도되었고, 이집트

사람들이 이러한 자국의 역사를 얼마나

소중히 여기는지 느껴져 마음이 따뜻해졌다.

물론 그 당시 피라미드와 스핑크스를 건설한

당시 사람들이 대단하다는 생각이 들기도 했다. 이만큼의 문화와 유적, 유물을 자국에 소유하고 있다면 누구나 자랑스러워할

것이고, 대사님께서도 그것들에 대해 자세히 설명해주셨다.

대사님께서는 아주 친절하시고 즐거운 분이셨다. 그 분에게 임명장과 이집트 관련 기념품을 받고, 질의응답시간과 간식 시간을

가졌다. 질의응답시간에 대사님께서 매우

정성스레 홍보대사분들의 질문을 받아

주셨고, 그것들이 아주 흥미로운 내용이었기

때문에 아직도 기억에 남는다.

과거 문화와 유물에 대한 이야기부터 현재

이집트의 상황과 경제, 한국과의 외교 관계에

대해 차근차근 설명해주셔서 예상했던

것보다 질문에 대한 대답 시간이 훨씬 많이 소요된 느낌이었다.

가장 기억에 남았던 것 중 하나는 바로 간식 시간이었다. 이집트 대사관답게 굴리쉬라는 파이를 주셨고, 이집트 대사관 셰프님께서 직접 만들어주신 것이라고 하셨다. 단순히 맛있는 것을 먹고 긴장을 푸는 시간 속에서도 이집트 문화를 접할 수 있도록 배려해주신 것 같아 정말 감사했고, 실제로 음식도 아주 맛있었다. 그리고 간식 시간에

대사님, 영사님과 나눈 스몰톡들도 너무 행복했고 좋은 기억이었다. 사실 이집트뿐만

아니라 서아시아, 아프리카 쪽 나라는 우리나라에서 쉽게 접할 수 없는 문화로 가득하다. 이집트의 피라미드 등이 아무리 유명하다고 해도, 우리가 그 나라에 대해 아는 것은 그리 많지 않다. 하지만 이번 기회를 통해 대사님도 뵙고 그 나라의 문화를 접할 수 있어 아주 좋은 시간이었다고 생각한다.

사실 나는 예전부터 신혼여행으로 이집트에 가고싶다는

간단한

이야기를 나눈 후 근처에 맛있는 식당도 소개시켜 주셨다. 대사님을 비롯하여 대사관에서 뵀던 모든 분들이 국가와 국가의 외교를 담당하고 이에 대한 업무를 소화하고 있다고

생각하니 매우 신기했다. 나도 국제관계에 관심이 많은데 부디 훗날 나도 어떤 방식으로든

전세계에 선한 영향력을 끼치는 사람으로 성장할 수 있다면 좋겠다.

Korean traditional eaves and roof in Seoul

Image credit: Adobe Photo Stock (free image)

Names of Goodlwill Ambassadors

Aaron Junung Kim

Aiden Chaemin Sohn

Alyn Kim

Andrew Gunhee Kim

Andrew J Park

Andrew Seungwoo Youn

Ashley Park

BoHyun Park

Bonjun Gu

Brandon Joonsik Kim

Brandon Jungwoo Han

Brandon Shin

Brendan Lee Seo

Chaemin Hwang

Chaen Yoon

Chaeyoon Kang

Changyong Hwang

Chanwoo Kim

Daeyoung Kim

Daniel Sungmin Lee

Dayeon Kim

Doeun Kim

Dohyeok Kim

Donghyun Han

Dongjin Lee

Dongmin Choi

Dongwon Lim

Ellie Nalin Pyo

Ellie Sohn

Euijung Park

Eunbin Park

Eunhwan Chung

Eunhyoung Lee

Eunjung Kim

Eunwoo Song

Geonhwi Cho

Grace Jiyoon Lee

Gyuhong Lee

Gyurin Kim

HaeDeun Ryu

Hanjoo Lee

Hannah June Lee

Haryeong Lee

Hayoon Kim

Heemang Kim

Heiryung Na

Hyeongyu Jeong

Hyewon Kim

Hyungkyu Nam

IO Kim

Irene Su Yeon Shin

Jaehyo Sul

Jaewon Choi

Jaeyoon Eom

Jeongheum Na

Jeonghurn Lee

Jessica Choi

Jian Hong

Jian Jang

Jihyun Kim

Jihyun Sung

Jinwoo Oh

Jinwook Kim

Jisu Kwak

Jooah Choi

Joshua Geonmin Kim

Jua Lee

JungHyun Clair Park

Junseo Baek

Junseo Kim

Kain Chai

Keonhee Ahn

Koeun Kwak

Kyusun Kim

Maeji Son

Michelle Jung

Mina Kim

Minchae Kang

Minha Oh

Minjae Chun

Minjae Sung

Minjoo Song

Minkyung Song

Minseo Kim

Minwoo Kim

Moojin Kim

Olivia Chaeri Sohn

Peter SJ Kim

Philgyu Shin

Sarah Gieun Yoon

Sean Woo Kang

Sehwan Chung

Selice Jung

Seohyon Lee

Seojin Jeon

Seojun Cho

Seokhyun Chin

Seonung Yu

Seoyeon Choi

Seoyeon Yu

Seoyeong Lee

Seoyoon Son

Seoyun Kim

Seungjoo Ko

Seungmin Jung

Sierra Kim

Songyeon Han

Sooan Kim

Soyul Ahn

Steven Chanoh Bang

Subin Lee

Sungbin Yoon

SungHa Kim

Sungmin Lee

TaeJoo Lee

Wonsang Choi

Woojin Kawk

Wujin Kwon

Yeasol Baek

Yechan Kim

Yehwan Chung

Yejin Kim

Yejoo Cha

Yeju Seol

Yena Kong

Yeongjun Kwak

Yeonwoo Cha

Yeoram Kang

Yijun Kim

Yoon Ha Ram

Yoong Kim

Yoonsuh Song

Youngsung Sim

Yumi Kwak

Yunwoo Cha

YOU ARE THE CHANGE TO MAKE THE WORLD MORE COLORFUL

Copyright © 2023

All rights Reserved

Date of Publication: May 2023

Published by HOBY Korea Youth Activities Association (which is run by Education Association for Software Empowerment)

Address: 2F Myeongdong B/D Teheran-ro 83gil 44 Gangnam-gu, Seoul, 06166, Republic of Korea

Articles reviewed and edited by Yena Kong, Junseo Kim, Brandon Shin, Woojin Kawk, Yejoo Cha, and Brendan Lee Seo

Cover designed by Sean Woo Kang

Divider page designed by Gyurin Kim

The images in this magazine are sourced from various platforms, including Wikipedia, Wikimedia Commons, Pixabay, Flickr, Pikist, and Adobe Stock. These images are either obtained under a Creative Commons license or purchased from Adobe Stock.