by Lindsay Shapka in Culture, People, Travel, Travel Tips
Nope, that web of wires you might notice above your head while wandering through Manhattan are not all for carrying electricity.
There are actually 18 miles(!) of translucent wire that run throughout the borough called an eruv. The eruv (or eruvin) is there because of the Jewish Sabbath. A day of rest in the Jewish tradition, people observing the Sabbath aren't permitted to do any sort of work in public places, which includes carrying things like groceries, laundry, or books.
Read Moreby Lindsay Shapka in Culture, People
Throughout history flowers of every type have held deep cultural and symbolic meaning for societies all over the world.
Read Moreby Lindsay Shapka in Culture, History, People, Travel, Travel Tips
Did you know that your clothing is sending a message?
When you are traveling and meeting new people, first impressions matter — we determine whether people are trustworthy, attractive, friendly, and even intelligent by the way that they look every single day.
Read Moreby Lindsay Shapka in Culture, People, Travel Tips
Have you seen those white and black wooden horses you can get at Ikea?
You know the ones — they are next to the vases and fake flowers, right before you hit the warehouse area.
Ya, those ones.
Read Moreby Lindsay Shapka in Culture, People
Did you know that Halloween is actually an Irish holiday? It comes from an ancient festival called Samhain that marks the day when the undead are thought to walk among the living. It also marks the end of long, sunny days and the beginning of the darker half of the year. The holiday was brought to North America by Irish immigrants in the 1840s.
Read Moreby Lindsay Shapka in Culture, People, Travel
The weekend had disappeared quickly, too quickly, and when I opened my eyes, I realized that the fluttering in my stomach meant that it was Monday and even if I wasn’t entirely prepared for it, my official first day as an English teacher had arrived.
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