Azriel

A long time ago I realized that I had ideas about people and places I only knew about through second hand sources.

I began to wonder if I had any wrong perceptions.

I could educate myself from afar, but all the material would be biased by the perception of the author/creator.

The other option was to have direct experiences.

So I found myself on an almost fifteen year quest (to almost 35 countries so far) to encounter not-yet-familiar humans, cultures, religions, animals, plants and landscapes.

I share the essence of my explorations through creativity – painting, photography, public speaking and writing.

In the backdrop always I’m conscious of being the eldest male in an unbroken lineage of rabbis reaching back a couple thousand years.

As I had almost no contact with anyone outside of the Orthodox Jewish community until my late 20’s, I am able to explore almost anything with the wonder-filled eyes of a child and the mind of a mature educated adult.

Connect With Azriel

Check out Azriel’s intriguing article about reconnecting to animals by exploring our primitive nature.

You can also get in touch with him by visiting his Matador profile or his homepage: www.azrielcohen.com.

Thai monks by Ryan Libre

The King Makes it Rain

The King of Thailand perfected and holds the patent on a form of cloud seeding. He has designed bridges and dams and holds an engineering degree from Switzerland.

The King also plays the sax and composed the Thai national anthem. He built his own sailboat and is a talented oil painter.

He is the longest reigning monarch in the world. The Thai people love him and with many good reasons.

It is Year 2552

Buddha statue by Ryan Libre

Thai people start counting from when the Buddha was born, who came along before Jesus. A few other Asian countries also count from Buddha’s birthday, but they are all a few years apart.

The Clock Starts Over Every 6 Hours

You know the 12 hour clock, you’ve heard of the 24 hour clock, but you didn’t know that most of Thailand runs on a 6 hour clock that resets 4 times a day.

Bangkok? Where’s Bangkok?

Bangkok was the temporary Thai capital after the Burmese sacked Ayutthaya. After 10 years or so the Thais moved across the river to start a new capital city called:

Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahinthara Ayuthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom Udomratchaniwet Mahasathan Amon Piman Awatan Sathit Sakkathattiya Witsanukam Prasit.

This is the longest place name in the world. Thais usually shorten it to just Krung Thep.

Destinations

Community Connection to Thailand

The original temporary capital city “Bangkok” was soon swallowed up by the rapidly expanding Krung Tep, so Bangkok is now just one of the many outlying neighborhoods.

If you ask most Thai people where Bangkok is they only have a very vague idea and wouldn’t know exactly how to get there.

The “Thai” in Thailand Means “Free”

Thailand is the only Southeast Asian country that was never colonized. This is a fact that they are very proud of and want ingrained in their national identity.

Even Thai Kings Often Misspell Words

The Thai alphabet has 6 more vowels than the entire English alphabet! All together, Thais have 32 vowels and 44 consonants.

All the Thai kings in the past several generations have been educated overseas. If you read their personal memos and writings there are many spelling errors.

The Chinese run Thailand

Chinese influence by Ryan Libre

Many generations ago there were no paid jobs in Thailand. Every man had to work for 3 months for free for the monarchy.

Sometimes that labor wasn’t enough and sometimes the kings didn’t trust their own subjects for accounting jobs, so they hired Chinese workers.

Their salaries may have been small, but they gave the Chinese the upper-hand in business, which paved the way to political success.

Thaksin (the highly polarizing former Thai Prime Minister), and a large majority of Thailand’s businessmen and politicians are the ancestors of these early Chinese workers.

Despite living in Thailand for many generations, many of these powerful individuals hold on to their Chinese heritage and often read the newspaper in Chinese.

Vegetarianism is NOT a Western Import to Thailand

The Chinese also brought vegetarianism with them hundreds of years ago.

Vegetarian Thai food by Ryan Libre

The Thais still use the Chinese word for vegetarianism, simply pronounced “J”. Eating vegetarian has been a major part of the Thai worldview for generations.

Despite the recent article in the New York Times about the “booming” vegetarian movement in Thailand, little has changed in the last 100 years and almost nothing has changed in the the last decade.

Going to Thailand?

Check out 10 Thai Customs to Know Before Visiting Thailand.

For a good laugh, read Matador Nights editor Tom Gates’ diary of an eating binge in Bangkok food-courts. Tom also has reviews of authentic Italian food in Bangkok and the coolest hostel in Bangkok.

Nomadic Matt lives in Bangkok. Matt is an expert on Bangkok nightlife but also knows how to get off the tourist trail in Southeast Asia.

Your very own Matador Abroad editor Tim Patterson thinks You Sabai is the best organic cooking school in Thailand.

Matador Trips editor Hal Amen shares a jungle adventure in his guide to Khao Sok National Park.

For up to date and comprehensive information about travel in Thailand, you can’t do better than the online Thailand travel guide on Travelfish.

Not a Matador member yet? Join our travel community.

Feature Photo: Ed Yourdon Photo: xiaojiecha

It’s inevitable. As a western woman in Egypt, you’re going to get stared at, even leered at sometimes.

As my fiancé and some of her female colleagues were fed-up with the nine months of long looks, catcalls and visual undressings they’d endured in Cairo, they decided to do something about it: they went veil shopping.

I came along to see to observe this retail therapy with a twist.

Our first whistle stop on this veil-shopping excursion was to the old Islamic quarter, otherwise known as Khan al Khalili.

The sliver-tongued touts at The Khan met the ladies’ inquires for veils first with curiosity (“You are Muslim?”) and then, once the girls had donned the veils, with delight: “Very beautiful. You want Egyptian husband too?”

Becky and Kristina laughed and opted for the standard hejab, which revealed only their faces. Jamie took the more liberal Spanish style option, leaving her neck, chin, and ear lobes exposed. Katherine and Mariette, on the other hand, held out for more conservative veils we’d end up finding elsewhere.

Walking through the medieval souq, half the group veiled and half unveiled, the girls chatted and giggled about the novelty of being a Muslim girl for the day.

Photo: emi faulk

The touts were undaunted and continued to court them religiously. In fact, the ladies in the hejabs actually seemed to get more attention than those without it.

Maybe it was because their ankles and arms weren’t covered-up like those of good Muslim girls. Next stop, Midan Ataba.

Midan Ataba is as popular with locals for shopping as Khan al Khalili is with tourists for souvenir hunting.

Thrown haphazardly under a freeway overpass not far from the City of the Dead, this flea market of flea markets seemed a likely place to find the khimar and niqab the unveiled girls wanted.

Slipping on the khimar, a bell shaped drape with a hole cut out for the face, Katherine suddenly became shapeless, her eyes that much more striking. Collectively, we ‘oooed.’

When Mariette pulled the niqab (an all black gown and veil combo) over her lithe frame, she too was transformed.

With only her blue eyes in sight, we stared at her transformation in wonder – she was one of them now. Only her bare sandalled feet gave her away.

Surveying the ring of veils around me, from the liberal Spanish style to the most conservative niqab, I realized that I was to the group what Mariette’s bare feet were to her ensemble – the giveaway. I excused myself and talked to them after the veil experiment, eager to hear what they had to say.

“The Spanish style veil wasn’t actually much of a stretch for me,” admitted Jamie. “Next time though, I’ll cover my arms, ankles and feet too ‘cause I think that’s why we got more attention with the veil than without it – gotta get some of those cute ‘toe gloves’ too, I guess.”

Becky observed:

“At first, it felt funny wearing the hejab but I was having a bad hair day anyway so it was kinda nice to not have to fuss over it.”

Kristina concurred with a nod of her hejab.

“The bell shaped khimar was not my style, too old-fashioned, really. But I’m sure if I wore it, Osama wouldn’t mind,” Katherine said with a wink. “If I were to veil regularly though, I’d go for the Spanish style, I think.”

“The niqab felt strangely liberating,” Mariette said, somewhat astonished.

Photo: turkairo

“I could see and not be seen. It was really exciting to be anonymous for a change and more people spoke to me in Arabic today than probably my whole time in Egypt. Although, it was pretty hot under all that black polyester.”

So if your travel philosophy is ‘to do as the Romans do, when in Rome’ here are some places that will help you do as the Egyptians do when in Egypt:

1. Khan al Khalili

Refine your bargaining skills in the city’s most ancient quarter, ‘The Khan.’ From pashmina to silk and everything in between, they’ll mix and match your hejab to fit that favorite lip-gloss of yours perfectly.

For fun, tally-up the marriage proposals at the end of the day at Naguib Mafouz’s old haunt, Fishawi’s Coffeehouse.

2. Midan Ataba

Rummage under the bridge with the locals through the myriad of colors, patterns and vendors for that special veil that just screams Sofia Loren circa 1950. Score the khimar and niqab here for a fraction of what they go for elsewhere and, oh yeah, don’t forget to breathe.

3. City Stars

Photo: Please Don’t Smile

Escape the heat in Cairo’s answer to Dubai’s Mall of the Emirates. Rub elbows with the Cairene elite and window-shop for the latest in finely stitched niqabs, straight from the runways of the Persian Gulf.

4. Grand Mall

The humble cousin to City Stars, this small shopping center in the middle of affluently green and westernized Ma’adi has more veils than expats – and that’s a lot!

English speaking clerks plus all the accessories you’ll ever need (custom pins & headbands included) make a trip to Ma’adi de rigueur.

5. Al-Ghouriyya

Not far from the Crusader’s Wall of Saladin on Sharia al Muizz li-Din Allah, this is yet another hot spot to ‘veil-up.’

Vibrant hejab shops (staffed mostly by men for some odd reason) plus Thai-made Gucci and Prada knock-offs in the streets make for a strange mix of the local and the international.

Video Link

To see some of the girls in action at ‘The Khan’ check out this video from Lonely Planet TV:

Feature Photo: uib Photo: juanflauta

The decision to study abroad didn’t always seem like an obvious choice. In fact, there are several reasons it didn’t make any sense.

I delayed my graduation by six months. It took a four-page persuasive essay to change my dad’s opinion on the matter. I put my ever-ambitious career on hold. Most of all, I broke the bank… and then some.

In spite of these deterrents, my semester of international study was still the best investment I’ve ever made. We’ve all heard the classic excuses not to study abroad; I had some of them too. But they simply don’t offer compelling reasons to miss out.

1. It’s too much work to apply.

You applied to college, didn’t you? Study abroad applications are a far less arduous process. While some more competitive programs may require recommendations and essays, they’re generally not even close to as time-consuming. If your school has a study abroad office, have an adviser walk you through the entire process.

2. I can’t graduate on time.

Got history or art requirements? Language classes you need to take care of? Almost every international university will offer equivalent classes. If you take courses for your major early on, you can hold off on general ed requirements and take them abroad instead.

Photo: naixn

If all else fails, embrace the extra semester. Who’s rushing to graduate in this jobless economy anyway?

3. My parents / friends / significant other don’t want me to.

Going abroad is an incredible opportunity that builds maturity, worldliness, and independence. The people who want the best for you will encourage you to take the opportunity to go, and there’s nothing that can test the strength of a relationship like a couple of months apart.

4. I’ll get homesick.

You’ll undeniably have to give up certain things for a couple of months: heaven on earth in the form of your multiple down comforters, those bangin’ banana pancakes from the diner across the street, cuddle sessions with your chinchilla…

Photo: nuomi

However, you’ll be able keep up with your friends’ and family’s lives via Facebook, probably down to what your roommate had for breakfast. And hey, cuddling might be out, but you can still blow your chinchilla kisses over Skype video chat.

5. I can’t afford it.

Plenty of college students don’t have the means to drop several grand over the course of a few months, especially when most are just scraping by on a college budget.

However, studying abroad really doesn’t have to be as expensive as you think, especially if you’re not adamant about studying in a major European city. Sometimes you’ll find that the cost of a semester at an international university is comparable to the cost of a semester at your home university.

Moreover, many study abroad programs allow you to use your financial aid, and there are scholarships galore available for students who need a little help.

6. I can always travel after I graduate.

Photo:powi

Of course you can always travel later, but studying abroad is a rare opportunity to immerse yourself in another culture for several months and experience an entirely fresh educational system (while experiencing an equally fresh nightlife, should you so desire).

Let’s be honest; most people only have the stamina for the globetrotting lifestyle when they’re young. Once you’re tied down with real-life bills and obligations, it won’t be so easy to drop everything and go.

Which all means that your excuses simply don’t measure up. Liberate yourself from them, and hit the road.

Community Connection

Not interested in the conventional study abroad semester in Paris or Seville? Why not try Cyprus, Chile, or China?

Need more motivation? Ask yourself: What am I waiting for?

Or have a look at what Pico Iyer, one of travel’s foremost advocates,, has to say about why we travel.

Feature Photo: torres21Photo: chloerae

So you’ve decided to go teach overseas, you’ve read up on different countries, and maybe you’ve even taken a TESL course.

Foreign TESL jobs can open the door to travel and adventure, but no matter how lovely the country may be, it’s the job that will make or break your experience. And arranging a job from halfway around the globe makes it tough to tell whether it’s quality or not.

Some teachers walk unknowingly into poorly-run schools and have to spend months struggling with few resources, crowded classrooms, and dodgy pay schedules. Others make the mistake of assuming workplace practices are similar to those in their home countries, and are then hit with cultural barriers when issues like overtime and sick days come up.

Below are five tips to help you ensure that the job you’re about to take is credible and (hopefully) hassle-free.

1. Go over the details.

Most contracts will cover the policies for vacation time, overtime pay, and grounds for dismissal; all good rules to know, especially in a foreign culture whose work ethic may differ from yours.

If you’re signing up with a larger chain of language schools, your contract might simply say that these important details are administered “as per the policies of [Language School X].” Before you sign, find out what those policies are, and get them in writing. This can mean the difference between two days and two weeks of vacation time in a 12-month contract.

2. Ask about resources.

There are nightmarish ESL stories floating around involving untrained teachers being chucked into a classroom with no book, no materials, and forty pairs of expectant eyes starting at them.

Photo: bionicteaching

Before you sign anything, ask about the materials used in your school. Public schools might have a set-in-stone curriculum, whereas private schools sometimes ask teachers to prepare all of their own lessons. A simple inquiry might save you the trouble of spending each day designing whole lesson plans from scratch.

3. Discuss the visa

Some schools will help you arrange a work visa in advance, while others will ask you to enter the country on a tourist visa and process the paperwork on their side. In the latter case, this can involve long unpaid days in bureaucratic waiting rooms, or “border runs” where you travel to a neighboring country and back in order to legitimize the new visa.

In any case, your employer should tell you what to expect in the visa process, whether the school will pay the fees, and how much work you might have to miss while this processing occurs.

4. Contact your predecessor.

Ask your potential employer if you can have the email address of the teacher whose job you’ll be filling. Write this teacher a simple inquiry about their experience, and why they’re leaving the position.

Photo: rivard

You’ll get a fellow foreigner’s perspective, and he/she can give you more general tips about living overseas, like what to pack or which Western items are rare/expensive in the place you’re interested in. Know that if you’re being hired by a new language school or through a recruitment agency, they might not have contacts to give you. If that’s the case…

5. Google

Try searching the name of the school online, and read the results with a grain of salt. There are discussion boards and forums aplenty in the ESL world, from Dave’s ESL Cafe to employer blacklist sites such as tefl blacklist.

Bear in mind a few things while you’re searching. First, people usually take to the message boards when they’re angry. For every teacher writing slanderous posts, there might be dozens of employees at the same school who are thrilled with their jobs, but keeping those thoughts off the Internet.

Second, try to get a sense of the person behind the complaints.

Photo: desheffer

A lot of people enter the ESL field with more interest in travel than in education. Of course they’ll have trouble with the jobs, as they would with any teaching position, because it’s not the job for them. Private message or email people and ask them what they search for in a position, and why they did or didn’t like their previous job.

An overseas teaching position is one of the best ways to get inside of another culture, but like any experience of cultural exchange, it can be tricky, complicated, and frustrating as well as exhilarating. Do your research beforehand to ensure you’ll be off to a smooth start in the classroom.

Community Connection

Hey, all you teachers out there! Help those who’re thinking of making the plunge into teaching navigate the labyrinth of possibilities! Sound off about your experiences with different schools, contracts, and countries.

Thinking about teaching in Asia? Check out Matador’s guide to teaching in China, Korea or Japan.

If you’re just beginning to explore the thought of heading abroad to teach, look over these 8 hidden benefits of teaching English abroad to motivate yourself.

Feature Photo: dan4th Photo: steffenz

As one of millions of people around the world with a life-threatening nut allergy I know all too well the trials of eating abroad. I’ve spent an evening in Paris hooked up to an adrenaline ventilator, been in hospital in Peru and starved myself on a Sahara Desert trek thanks to my inability to pronounce ‘cashew nut’ in Arabic.

The risk of travelling with a nut allergy is very real but I’ve learnt the hard way, a few precautions and preventions can make the ride a lot smoother.

1. Know Your Emergency Procedure

Foreign hospitals often do not understand the severity of a reaction or how to treat it so ensure you are aware of what you need. Emphasize that you need to be seen immediately.

Ask your doctor to write down the medication and dosage to be administrated in case of an attack. Note the pharmaceutical names, as brand names can be different abroad.

If you carry an Epi-pen ensure you know when and how to dispense it and are able to do so yourself. Inform your travel partners of their duties should you become unable to help yourself.

2. Remember: You Can Never Carry Enough Drugs!

It goes without saying that you need to carry your prescribed medication, but make sure you have spares and store them in different places in case you lose your luggage.

Modern adrenaline dispensers such as Epi-pens are not available in some parts of the world so take enough for your journey and leave a repeat prescription at home.

Check the use-by dates of all medication if you are on the road for long periods- even recently purchased prescriptions can have short expiration dates.

Keep your prescription on hand when you fly or you’re going anywhere where your luggage might be inspected- taking a syringe into a nightclub can look suspicious to foreign security!

3. Don’t Eat Like A Local

Food trading standards vary drastically between countries and labeling is often done according to different standards. Be extra diligent when trying foreign delicacies as even common foods may contain unlabeled ingredients.

In Brazil, nut traces (especially cashew nuts) are commonly found in chocolate even if it doesn’t state it on the packet. They also serve a cashew nut juice. In France and Italy, almonds and pistachios are common in all cakes and pastries even if staff tell you they are nut-free. Indian and Chinese food is full of peanut oils and kitchens often use the same pans for cooking different dishes so cross-contamination is likely. Mediterranean dishes are often sprinkled with pine nuts.

Exercise caution of ‘home brands’ abroad- Cadbury’s chocolate in South America is actually made in Panama and does not contain the exact ingredients of the British variety.

Be wary of ingredients like sesame, poppy seeds and coconut that can provoke reactions in nut-allergy sufferers. If you’re not sure, this is not the time to find out!

4. Make Yourself Clear

Even if you can’t speak the native language, look up a few words before you go and carry a small dictionary to check food labels. Keep a card with you to show to waiters or shop-owners if you are not sure of pronunciation.

A literal translation may not suffice- in some languages the word ‘nuts’ refers to one type of nut and frequently nuts such as cashews, almonds and pine nuts, as well as items such as peanut butter, are referred to separately. ‘Dried fruits’ is a good catch-all term but try to memorize as many different names as possible.

Sometimes it is best to be dramatic: ‘I will die if I eat this’ avoids the common scenario of the nuts being scraped off and the meal being returned to you. Severe allergies are extremely rare in some parts of the world so the average waiter is likely to put you down as another ‘fussy tourist’ unless you state your case very clearly (and with a smile).

Photo: zonagirl

5. Plan Ahead

Problems arise when you entrust your food intake to strangers but it’s difficult to avoid these situations on holiday. Many hotels, hostels and tour operators will accommodate your requests if you explain the situation but always double check. Ask to see the packets wherever possible or to speak to the person preparing the food. Take a packed lunch if you are worried.

Contact airlines and bus companies before traveling with them and confirm that a nut-free option is available. Many airlines (British Airways, American Airlines) have banned nut products on-board but consider buying some sandwiches before you board the plane just in case.

Ensure your allergy is covered by your travel insurance- always declare it and shop around for a company that provides full cover. Many companies will cover you if you haven’t been in the hospital in the past year.

6. Eating Out

Experimenting with local cuisine is a vital part of experiencing a new culture so don’t let your allergies put you off eating out. However, it’s best to accept that you will never be able to have a carefree ‘try-anything’ approach to food.

Ask before you eat, even when pressured by locals to ‘just try it’.

Request to speak to the chef if the waiter seems less than knowledgeable about food content- calmly explain the importance that you know exactly what is in it.

Pass on spicy food as this can mask the tingling sensations of a reaction and it’s a good idea not to drink a lot whilst you are eating too- save the wine till you are safely past dessert!

7. Be Paranoid

Different symptoms to what you have previously experienced can occur so monitor any changes and if you experience any of the following, seek medical attention:

Tingling/ itching in the mouth or lips.

An itchy, blotchy rash

Swelling, particularly around the face and throat.

Wheezing/ difficulty breathing

Vomiting/ Diarreaoh

Stomach aches/ cramps

Faintness/ dizziness

There’s no reason to let a nut allergy put an end to your travel fantasies. You need to be warier than other travelers, but don’t let that force you into giving up and staying home.

Community Connection

Even if you don’t have to worry about something as serious as a nut allergy, it’s still important to stay healthy on the road. Try these five useful remedies from easily found ingredients when you’re really far out there. And it can’t hurt to pack these medical books for the road, or to brush up on some tips for staying healthy abroad.

Feature photo: Sashawolff Photo: respres

Not a day goes by without an expert of some sort telling you who you must follow on Twitter. We even did it ourselves in 23 of the Most Relevant Travel Twitterers.

But we figured you must know at least as much as us, so we asked our Twitter followers which expats on Twitter they recommend.

The response was fantastic! Thanks to everyone who reached out with a suggestion: this article belongs to you.

So here’s a list – not the list – of 20 interesting expats to follow on Twitter.

1. Ladyexpat – South Korea

“A transplanted Canadian (Halifax Nova Scotia), working, traveling and taking photos in Asia.”

Mixture of tweets, mainly travel / expat focused. Some great photos.

2. Thandelike – Istanbul, Turkey

“Expat Harem cultural author/editor/producer/salonista, Berkeley expat. Spark Summit cofounder.”

A mine of information, especially on Turkey.

3. tokyotopia – Tokyo, Japan

“A self professed UK Tokyoite with a goal – Tokyo Made Simple.”

All things Japan.

4. ExpatCoachMegan – Rome, Italy

“Help expats and international development pros worldwide build personal brands w/ social media for career and biz success AND a better world ♥ travel, espresso.”

Very engaging twitterer; author of “career by choice” blog.

5. barmadu – Caceres, Spain

“TEFL hack by day, writer when I can, gardener, drinker, walker, cyclist, traveler, reader, twanger and many more –ers.”

Colourful snippets of life in Spain.

6. emmanuelle_a – Vancouver, BC

“French expat living in Canada, helping fellow wanderers enjoy their lives abroad to the fullest. Lover of visual arts, tea drinker, cat person and language geek.”

Very interactive twittterer, with lots of general expat advice.

7. MissExpatria – Montpellier, France / Rome, Italy

“The Internet’s leading enabler of travel addiction splits her time between Italy and France.”

Prolific twitterer and blogger.

8. MyMarrakesh – Marrakech, Morocco

“A girl building a boutique hotel in a Marrakech olive grove, while penning a book on Moroccan interior design for a US publisher.”

Exotic Morocco in 140 character chunks.

9. vickybaker – Buenos Aires, Argentina

“I’m a travel writer from London, living in Argentina. I specialise in South America and travel networking. Working for the Guardian, Time Out and others.”

Author of “Going local” blog, for “travellers looking to break off track”.

10. KyleHepp– Santiago, Chile

“Kick Ass Photographer in Chile ”

Housewife and blogger … as well as kick ass photographer!

11. cburell – Seoul, South Korea

“Humanities/writing teacher. Education editor/writer. Radio newswriter/announcer. Apple Distinguished Educator. www.beyond-school.org . Geek.”

Passionate advocate of educational reform.

12. expatsguide – Israel

“Over the past 12 years I’ve moved with my family between 5 houses across three continents. You could say I’m a veteran expat.”

Tweets great advice and links for expats.

13. lori1329 – Southern Brazil

“Writer, Nutritionist, wellness advocate, traveler, dog lover, US expat living in Brazil.”

Author of “Fake Food Free” nutrition and wellness blog.

14. michellefabio – Calabria, Italy

“American freelance writer & attorney in southern Italy. Proud doggie and kid (baby goat) mamma. About.com Guide to Law School.”

Tweets about her life in Italy with a dog and a goat.

15. thewritingwell – The Netherlands

“A Brit living in the Netherlands, an expat writer, mother of a toddler, WAHM, amateur photographer.”

Mix of informative and personal tweets about the Netherlands.

16. coqui2008 – Puerto Rico

“Travel Blogger – Spreading the word about the beautiful island of Puerto Rico in the Caribbean.”

Author of informative blog on Puerto Rico.

17. emilyinchile – Santiago, Chile

“20-something Californian Brit living in Santiago.”

A personal take on living in Santiago.

18. jeffcaylor – Hong Kong

“[singer-songwriter] When I dream of flying I try to imagine what I might learn from what birds dream.”

Life of a musician in Hong Kong.

19. pittkethley – Cartagena, Spain

“Author of 21 books.I live with my chess GM husband and son in Spain. My hobbies: snorkelling, minerals, karate, music, cycling, fishing, hill-walks, food, film, cats.”

Personable, family oriented tweets about life in Spain.

20. AmiExpat – Regensburg, Germany

“American, expatriate, half-Asian, statistician, wife, mom, and blogger, living it up in Germany.”

Food and photography.

We’re bound to have missed out some of your favourites, so please help this list to grow by leaving a comment below!

Community Connection

Thinking of becoming an expat yourself sometime soon? Check out some of our picks for the best places to live overseas. Have expat fantasies about hammering away at a spy novel or whittling away the days drinking tea overseas? Have a glimpse at these potential expat paradises. If you’re already overseas and thinking of starting a family, Niamh Griffin has some great advice on how to raise successful kids while living overseas.

Photo above and feature photo by glen bowman

Even after my return from a semester in Cyprus, my friends still ask me how Greece was.

“Cyprus,” I correct them.

Spending four months on a tiny and obscure island in the middle of the Mediterranean wasn’t anything I expected it to be — but it was still the best. Experience. Ever.

Here are seven reasons I recommend studying abroad in Cyprus.

Photo by greenacre8

1. Nobody really knows where or what it is.

How many people do you know who have studied in Madrid? Beijing? London?

Then ask yourself how many people you know who have studied in Cyprus. Probably none, right? It’s truly a one-of-a-kind experience — you’ll have stories to tell for life.

2. The price of living in Cyprus is incredibly reasonable.

Unless you’re heading to fine dining and scuba diving lessons on the regular — which you totally can do in Cyprus! — you’ll spend a lot less than you would have spent studying in a major European city.

It’s easy to eat cheaply, taxis charge fairly, and once you start getting to know the locals you’ll barely pay a dime for the nightlife.

You literally have the world at your fingertips.

Europe’s to the west, Asia’s to the east, and Africa’s to the south. During my time abroad, I traveled to all three continents — a trip to Israel, a trip to Egypt, and a trip through Europe during my spring break.

Others in my program took individual trips to everywhere from Turkey to Malta. Even though we often booked flights last minute, they by no means broke the bank.

Photo by aiace

3. You’ll get to experience more of one country than you could anywhere else.

Because Cyprus is so small (seriously, check it out on a map — you may have to squint), not only will you be able to experience all the touristy things, you’ll become very familiar with your surroundings and get to know the locals quickly.

After a semester in Cyprus, it’ll really start to feel like your home away from home.

4. The weather is gorgeous year-round.

I’m a California native and certified weather wimp; European winters would not have been my thing. Cyprus didn’t dip below 55 at any point during my stay, which suited me perfectly.

My east coast friends were practically crying with joy because they could work on their tans in February.

Photo by aiace

5. There’s a reason Cyprus is a vacation destination.

It’s home to some amazing beaches, and there’s something magical about that Mediterranean water. Ocean swimming, jet-skiing, banana boating, cliff diving – there are lots of ways to play in the sea.

(I spent so many weekends on the beach that back home they now call me “The Bronze Goddess.” With Capital Letters.)

6. Cypriots know how to party.

It’s safe to say that they inherited the celebratory nature of the Greeks. That’s right — Cypriots hit the club on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.

Not that there’s any shortage of people at the bars on Monday and Tuesday.

If you happen to go abroad during the summer, just imagine your first semester of college all over again… with Greek music, beautiful people, and large bodies of water.

Photo by greenacre8

7. You’ll meet people from all over the world.

I had professors from France, Egypt, and England as well as classmates from literally everywhere.

My Facebook friends list became remarkably multicultural this past semester, and should I ever find myself in Lebanon, United Arab Emirates, Nigeria, or Syria, I now allegedly have a place to stay!

Interested in studying abroad in Cyprus? Here’s a comprehensive list of programs that are offered. If you’re primarily looking to brush up on your Greek or Turkish, try spending a summer studying at the language school in Limassol.

The most popular program for American students is with Global Learning Semesters, which offers studies at the University of Nicosia, Cyprus with the option of additional multi-country travel throughout Europe or Asia.

Community Connection

Matador community member Denise has lived in Cyprus for about 3 years. Member SierraKiloEcho is currently traveling in Cyprus, Turkey and France.

Connect with them and the author of this article – Teresa Wu – through the Matador travel community.

Photo by jdl deleon

Madonna doesn’t do things by halves and has rarely been known to take no for an answer.

When Madonna flew to Malawi recently to adopt a second child, who could have foreseen the problems she would face?

Madonna’s case has once again reminded childless people that there are millions of children in the world today who are looking for homes.

In spite of her wealth and the fact that she set up a children’s charity in Malawi, Madonna’s adoption application didn’t cut it with the judge.

Photo by fffriendly

So what did she do wrong, and what should you do if you’re considering welcoming a child from another culture into your life?

1. Stop and think.

The first step in the long journey towards adopting a child from another country or indeed adopting or fostering any child is to stop and think.

The Jolie-Pitts of this world may make adoption look easy, but integrating a new human being into your world is a challenge.

Think about your emotional commitment to a child for the next twenty years and how the rest of your family will feel; in other words, evaluate all of the factors that most prospective birth parents consider.

You should also think about your commitment to the child’s home country – you should be ready to keep the child aware of their heritage.

2. Check home-country regulations.

Photo by peasap

It’s a good idea to look into the regulations in your home country before you start the process.

Adopting a child is not as simple as signing their name into your passport.

For example Canadians need to sign up for a home study by a government representative, which can take up to a year to complete.

There’s no point getting indignant about this paperwork; the rules are in place to protect the kids from even more trauma than they might already have suffered.

3. Prepare to pay the fees.

When there’s paperwork, there are fees to be paid. Adoption of foreign children isn’t a cheap process; the US Office of Children’s Issues talk about costs of $30,000 just for the adoption agency fees.

Not that a child’s life can be measured in dollars, but you should be prepared for the financial commitment.

Groups like Help Us Adopt exist to help you find that initial funding, but you’ll also need money for education and all the other costs of raising a child.

Photo by lepiaf.geo

Remember that the adoption process is only the beginning of your commitment to the child.

4. Avail yourself of help from agencies.

But even though the agencies are expensive, you’ll find the process a lot easier with their help and going through an agency mandatory in some countries.

Each year in the USA, about 20,000 foreign children are taken into homes along with about 2,000 in Canada, so adopting a foreign child is not an impossible task.

It’s important for you and the child to check that the agency is fully accredited – American agencies should be accredited by the Council on Accreditation (COA).

5. Check foreign regulations.

With the help of the agency, you’ll need to carefully check out the regulations of the child’s country.

Madonna wasn’t aware that she had to live in Malawi for 18 months before adopting a child – probably because she had managed to get around that law once before.

This U.S. state department website gives you detailed information on which countries have signed up to The Hague Adoption Convention and also allows you to track changes in national adoption laws.

This kind of information will make your journey to finding a child smoother and more successful.

6. Familiarize yourself with the Hague Convention.

Photo by nyki m

Read up on The Hague Adoption Convention.

This agreement between 75 countries was set in place to stop trafficking or other abuse of children. It means more paperwork for you if you adopt from one of these countries, but you and the child will feel a lot more secure in your relationship.

After all a child takes a huge leap of faith getting on a plane with you, so the more safeguards there are for them the better.

7. Think beyond logistics.

Of course it’s not all about paperwork. Try to get as much information as you can about the emotional effects of adoption.

Books like Twenty Things Adopted Kids Wish Their Adoptive Parents Knew or The Complete Book of International Adoption will give you a good idea of what’s going to happen.

Use the internet – once you know which country your child is from, you can join online support groups to help you though the adoption process and to make friends who can support you in your new life.

8. Think about the child!

Photo by Tom@HK

Depending on how old your child is, the adoption process can be quite difficult for them.

Older children will have to learn a new language, new culture and come to terms with being far away from familiar life. We talk a lot about culture shock but imagine what it’s like being 7 or 8 years old and thousands of miles away from home with no return ticket?

You’ll need to be patient and remember that no matter how much you love this child, it will take time to create that perfect family you’ve been dreaming about.

But given time and oodles of love, adopting a foreign child will be the most rewarding journey you can imagine.

Photo by rednuht

Lights spiral up a tall building, making it sparkle like a jewel in the dark. It is the tower of one of South America’s largest cell phone carriers.

I scan the burnished windows and imagine the CEO sitting comfortably at his desk, not wondering where his next meal will come from.

I despise this person because the amount of money I need to get home is pocket change to him, and the least he could do is share.

Photo by James Preston

Then I look again at the streets of Lima, and see a blind man holding out a tin can for money.

Next to him a woman carries an infant over her shoulder and two more children circle her legs as she vends small bags of candy. In the 25 minute bus ride, I pass dozens of poor men and women trying to feed families and simply stay alive, and guilt overruns me.

I left an apartment in southern Brazil to traverse the continent of South America and landed in its geographical armpit: Lima, Peru. I have reached a controversial point in my trip, a point I was pretty sure would come but am in no way prepared for.

I am broke.

And what a place to have chosen! I am walking the streets of a city where a quarter of the population lives in poverty, and I am dreaming of handouts. Lima is the fifth largest city in Latin America, yet with empty pockets, it feels tiny and suffocating.

I took a combi bus downtown (26 cents) and stopped at Church of the Nazarene. Not being a religious person, praying for help seems a last resort.

A man with no legs sits on a grate outside the church and shakes a plate of loose change. The grate emits a hideous odor and passersby walk more quickly to avoid it, ignoring the legless man.

The buildings and streets around us are sad: their greens and reds have dulled with a thick coat of vehicle exhaust, and the gutters overflow with plastic bags.

Photo by adpowers

There is not a breath of fresh air in this part of town; I haven’t had one since I arrived.

It is so noisy that I almost don’t hear the moans of a lady sitting by the cross walk. She has snow white hair, starkly contrasting her reddish brown skin, which is wrinkled like a discarded blanket from her years of apparent suffering.

She doesn’t look up or even hold out a hand; she just sits and moans.

Roughly ten years ago marked the end of Peru’s worst internal conflict of modern times.

Due to increased terrorist bombings and resistance effort violence, along with a severe national economic crisis, civilians fled from the valleys and mountains to the coastal city to look for jobs, food and shelter.

Unfortunately, Lima was not equipped to accept some two million new inhabitants, and this led to the development of poor shanty towns on the perimeter of the city, and a lot of mouths to feed.

Photo above and feature photo by antifluor

This is all too apparent if you’ve spent five minutes in Lima.

The slums that circumscribe the desert metropolis lack running water and electricity. The shelters are made of wood planks and makeshift adobe, and sanitation is practically non-existent.

The life expectancy of a child born in this area of Lima is ten years less than those living in the developed world.

On top of this, unemployment in Lima is roughly ten percent, and 50 percent of people are said to be underemployed.

And the gringa needs a job.

One guy offered me work as his pastry girl to humbly take his cakes to the streets of Lima. He pays “average,” which amounts to less than $200 USD for a month of full-time work.

My plane ticket will cost $800 and panic starts to set in. I decide to take a breather in a park in the nice area of the city.

Photo by visualpanic

There is a man in a business suit reading the paper beside me, drinking Starbucks. A woman on a Bluetooth drives by in her Mercedes. Groups of well-dressed students sit down at a classy restaurant.

Other people’s wealth is starting to make me crazy.

I suddenly understand the desire to steal, and all of the worries I had protecting my things while I’ve been backpacking immediately come full circle and slap me in the face.

Lima is certainly not without its wealth.

In fact, even with the global economic downturn, the Peruvian economy is on the rise. All across the city, the streets are being torn up and repaved, new buildings are replacing crumbling ones and parks worthy of a New England suburb are plopped down in the most dangerous areas of the urban center.

The government is using the improving economy to bring changes to Lima’s exterior, yet it still doesn’t have a plan for the four million impoverished peasants seeking a better life.

I take another combi to a different part of town. At a traffic stop, a young boy juggles sticks of fire between the green lights. He is no more than ten and has the talent of a circus performer. Quickly, he runs from car to car and knocks on windows, hoping for anything he can get. On this light, he gets nothing.

Image by circo_de_invierno

I found a volunteer job that houses and feeds me for a small fee, and the noose loosens slightly.

One day the group of volunteers decides to explore Lima. We visit the historical sites and museums, eat its inexpensive food and browse its markets.

Throughout it all I am consumed with thoughts of money. I find myself scorning flagrant tourists who spend unabashedly. I painfully envy individuals who seem to have disposable income, or who have any income for that matter.

Destinations

Community Connection to Peru

My workmates want to eat at the place recommended by Lonely Planet, and I am the only one who can’t afford it.

Still the couple dollars in my bank account is more than the boy outside the restaurant has. His clothing is tattered and face marked with dirt, and he squats with his head between his legs.

From my apartment in Central Lima, I think about that boy while I watch my bank account dwindle.

I realize what a fortunate hand fate has dealt me in that I am able to find shelter and food in a strange city, while a native Peruvian may be hard pressed to keep a roof over their head.

As I observe a busy street of people earning their daily bread, I have three wishes: I hope to help the kind people of Peru, I hope to learn from these lessons of life, and I hope to do it all with a happy ending.

Have You Heard About The Bloodshed In Peru?

On June 6th, 2009, dozens of people were killed over controversial oil fields in the Peruvian Amazon. We’ve got the story right here on the Matador Network.

“Peaceful Protesters In Peru Attacked, Killed”

For another traveler’s perspective on Lima, check out “Arrival In Lima”, part of the journal pages series at the traveler’s notebook.