by Lindsay Shapka in Culture, People
Ever wonder what the difference is between someone who is agnostic and someone who calls themselves an atheist?
I don't know about you, but because I don't personally identify with either of these terms, the meaning of each of them can get a bit confusing.
Read Moreby Lindsay Shapka in Culture, People
I was recently invited to an intimate dinner with special guest Mike Benziger, the founder of the Benziger Family Winery in California. Though he is now the head of an incredibly successful wine business, and a world-wide example of the farming philosophy Biodynamics (I'll get to that soon, don't worry!), Mike started his career in wine as a bagger in a local liquor shop in Sonoma.
Read Moreby Lindsay Shapka in Culture, People
If you think learning a second language as a native English speaker is hard, be grateful that it isn't English that you have to learn! I never realized how complicated my own language was until I started teaching ESL in South Korea.
Read Moreby Lindsay Shapka in People, Culture, History, Travel, Travel Tips
The first time that I ever saw a macaron was 14 years ago in Paris and I wasn't really sure what I was looking at.
Why?
Well, these tasty treats (which hadn't made it into the cafes and bakeries at home yet) are very brightly colored, often neon green, pink, yellow, and even blue.
Read Moreby Lindsay Shapka in Book List, Culture, People
If you read one book this year, make it this one.
Published in 2013, Beyond Belief: My Secret Life Inside Scientology and My Harrowing Escape is an absolutely fascinating first-hand account of what life inside the little-known world of Scientology is really like.
Read Moreby Lindsay Shapka in Culture, People, History
In 2013, the world lost an incredible man who united a nation and created groundbreaking change in his country.
It would take years to write about everything that this man did in his life, but here are six things that are interesting to know — and important to never forget — about Nelson Mandela.
Read Moreby Lindsay Shapka in Culture, People, History
1. This Jewish holiday always runs for eight days starting on the 25th day of the Jewish month of Kislev.
2. It began during the rule of Antiochus IV who desecrated a Jewish temple by sacrificing pigs on the altar (check out my post What Does Kosher Mean Anyway? to find out why this was a big deal). The Jewish people banded together and revolted, taking the temple back. At the time of rededication there was almost no oil left that had not been desecrated, and oil was needed for the menorah that was supposed to burn through the night. Though there was only enough for one day, it burned for eight and as a result, an eight-day festival was declared to celebrate the miracle.
3. The only religious observance related to this holiday is the lighting of candles arranged in the candelabrum (menorah). They are lit from right to left (like how the Hebrew language is read) and can be lit anytime after dark before midnight. The candles can be blown out 1/2 an hour after they are lit or can be left to burn out on their own.
4. Giving small gifts on each day of Hanukkah is not a part of the religious ritual, but is an influence from the Christian tradition of gift-giving at this time of year. Because of its close proximity to Christmas, Hanukkah is often called the Jewish Christmas.
5. Fried food is eaten during this time of year because of the significance of oil to the holiday.
6. The game played with a dreidel at this time of year is actually a gambling game — it is not just a child's toy!
