Storyteller Carla | BlissfulGuro.com
Shaping Cultural Experiences
Travel has been an integral part of my life since I was a young child. I grew up in a multicultural, bilingual home in the Netherlands with a Polish mother and a Dutch father. My
Update & BBC News Link
A brief update: One interview video will be uploaded tomorrow evening. I believe the BBC News One-Minute World News provides well-balanced reporting of news, hence why I wanted to share it. Top stories on May
From Nigeria to Boston
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9VNkCazT_T4&feature=youtu.be
When you first meet Oluwagbeminiyi Osidipe, you encounter a very vibrant, friendly, and unique personality. Oluwagbeminiyi or Niyi – as she shortened her name for simplicity – was named by her mother, who had a “very personal experience” when she had her, Niyi explained. Niyi is a Yoruba Nigerian transplant who arrived in the U.S. in 2006. As one of the most densely populated (West) African countries, Nigeria derives its name from the river that spans its land. To the South, it borders the Gulf of Guinea to the Atlantic Ocean. Originally colonized by the British, Nigeria gained independence in 1960. Its main ethnic groups are the Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba, who speak English and their own respective languages, while major religions include Islam, Christianity and indigenous beliefs. Niyi shares her story, her views on politics, cultural differences she’s embraced with humor, and what we can learn from each other by expressing curiosity. Her message is simple: travel enriches us through its exposure to new cultures, and enables us to grow.
Mark Twain on Travel
“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one’s lifetime.” (American author Mark Twain, Innocents Abroad).
Have you had the opportunity to travel (extensively, within your country, or even once abroad)? Can you relate to Twain’s sentiments? How does travel enrich us?
Pleasing The Taste Palate
Food has the wonderful quality of uniting us no matter where we are. There is nothing partisan or narrow-minded about food. It simply invites us to indulge, create recipes, and share with others. Two of my favorite Polish dishes (included in collage) are pierogies and barszcz czerwony – a beetroot soup – served on Christmas Eve in Poland. How does food bring us together? What are some of your favorite dishes and why? Can food trigger memories?
Stereotypes: Truth or Fiction?
DEFINING STEREOTYPES: “An idea or statement about all of the members of a group or all the instances of a situation.” (Merriam-Webster). Stereotypes enable bias and preconceived notions to perpetuate, but can also reveal valid
Annual Human Rights Report
“The world changed immeasurably over the course of 2011. Across the Middle East, North Africa, and far beyond, citizens stood up to demand respect for human dignity, more promising economic opportunities, greater political liberties, and
Euro Crisis & Emerging Stereotypes
Brief Crisis Breakdown Since the onset of the global financial crisis, or Great Recession, in 2007, the Eurozone has feared impending growing global debt levels, as well as sovereign debt within European countries themselves. In
Remembering Tiananmen
Today marks the 23rd anniversary of Tiananmen Square pro-democracy protests in Beijing, China. Inflation, a lack of career prospects, the fall of Eastern European communism, and political corruption, are all said to have fueled anger
Coffee's Uniting Power
A cup of coffee can bridge cultural gaps. At least, that’s what Gizem Salgicil White, founder of Turkayfe.org, believes. Her organization aims to create awareness of Turkish culture, particularly within America. Gizem is a Turkish native,
Our Culture with Travel interview is with storyteller Carla of BlissfulGuro.com
Tell us a bit about yourself! Why do you love travel? How do you think travel unites us or teaches us more about the world?
I am Carla, and I’m based in Manila, Philippines. I have been in different fields of work but found happiness and freedom in teaching music and arts to high school students in a public school in the metro; keeping me sane for the past nine years now.
Traveling has always been my way of exploring the world outside my comfort zone. I’m always fascinated with Asia. It humbles me to get to experience the very diverse culture of our neighboring countries; relating with the similarities and understanding the differences with traditions I grew up with.
I started my website, www.blissfulguro.com, to chronicle my adventures as I try to change the world one kid at a time and as I explore the world one happy place at a time.
What surprising aspect of culture do you love about where you’re from (your specific town/city) that travelers may not be aware of?
Filipinos are known for their genuine hospitality regardless of any biases they have with people. You’d instantly feel the warmth from the smiles of each and every person you’d meet.
I live in the crazy capital of Manila and although people here are quite busy and life is fast-paced, asking for help for just about anything would never disappoint you. Plus, Filipinos are very familiar with the English language, so it’s easier to wander around here.
Which dish do you feel best represents where you’re specifically from? Share a picture and tell us why you love it!
Aside from the grilled skewered innards that are famous in every corner of Manila, halo-halo is definitely one of the must-try desserts that you could get almost anywhere in the Philippines.
What is special about this shaved ice dessert is that you can add any topping that is locally available. You can also adjust the sweetness level from the sugar and milk. Ranging from sweetened fruits and beans to jelly and tapioca, or even ice cream on top, the possibilities are endless.
Just like Filipinos in general, we may have our differences because of our various ethnicities (Philippines is an archipelago made up of 7,641 islands) but we practically thrive in any environment, we just have to find our suitable way of life and survive in any situation.
Share about a custom/tradition you observe, and talk about the role of family in your life. What does family mean to you?
Family is the core of Philippine culture. Almost every tradition or custom is reflective of our familial ties. Moving out for unmarried young adults is not the usual practice and extended families are not uncommon as living together with the parents even if you’re married is considered the right thing to do.
Home cares are close to nil as it is expected that the young generation would take care of the older ones. I could write a separate article about how important family is to Filipinos; it may not be true to all but family is the core of every Filipino’s existence.
Art and dance can tell a deeper story about local culture. Tell us the story of a specific artwork or dance that has a meaning for you. Share a photo, if you can.
Aside from family, Filipinos are very devoted to their religion. The Philippines is the 4th largest Christian country in the world with about 90% of the population. Almost every town has its own feast depending on the celebrated saint. There are festivals and merriment of all sorts because of Spain’s Catholic influence.
Languages not only give us the power to communicate but also can unite us across cultures. Share a favorite saying you have, or teach us something in your native language.
Respect is observed even in the way Filipinos speak (there are around 120 to 175 languages and dialects in the Philippines). In my native tongue, Tagalog, we have certain words that reflect the respect we have for elders.
Here are some of these words:
“po” – This Tagalog word is added to phrases or sentences to show respect.
Salamat = Thanks
Salamat po = Thank you
“ate” – Used to address an older sister.
“kuya” – Used to address an older brother.
“tiyo” / “tito” – Used to address an uncle.
“tiya” / “tita” – Used to address an auntie.
Have you ever met a stranger during your travels who made an impact on your life in a certain way, or maybe it was you who helped someone else? Share the story!
Every precious soul I’ve met throughout this journey had made a big impact on what I am today. I am not a devout follower of happily-ever-after stuff but surprisingly, I bumped into a person that became my soulmate in one of my trips.
Looking for the perfect travel buddy is challenging and I’m blessed to find the best one. And up to this day, I never get tired of exploring the world with my favorite travel buddy.
Follow Carla’s adventures on www.blissfulguro.com, and on Instagram, and Twitter.
Hi! I'm the founder of Culture With Travel and #CultureTrav. Please chat with us on social media and contribute in the comments! Follow @Nicolette_O
