National Rice Month By Sharon Schweitzer We celebrate National Rice Month throughout the entire month of September. With over 40,000 kinds that grow on every continent, except in Antarctica, what a way to discover as many varieties as possible! The history of National Rice Month dates back to 1991 when President George H.W. [...]
Back to School Tips By Sharon Schweitzer Going back to school after a break often brings with it a range of emotions, including feelings of excitement, stress, curiosity, and the like. Keep in mind that you are not alone in the onerous university process. Your professors are invaluable resources. Knowing how to effectively [...]
St. Stephen’s Day Hungary By Sharon Schweitzer St. Stephen’s Day holds a long and interesting history. It begins with Stephen the Grand Prince of the Hungarians who laid the foundations of the state. Until the end of the 10th century, the Hungarians were in conflict with other European countries. In 955 A.D., Hungarian [...]
South Korea on the World’s Stage By Polina Anastassieva, Sharon Schweitzer This past July, in partnership with the World Affairs Council of Austin, St. Edward’s University, Stratfor, and Neil-Cochran Museum, an event on South Korea was held. The two speakers, Dr. Jooyoun Lee, a professor at St. Edward’s University, and Roger Baker, an [...]
Sailor Moon Day By Sharon Schweitzer Sailor Moon Day, celebrated on August 6th every year, celebrates one of the most popular manga and anime series, Sailor Moon. The series starts with a small, very talkative black cat and a young girl, Usagi Tsukino. Usagi received a brooch that helped transform her into the [...]
Rational Harmony Day By Sharon Schweitzer Singapore’s identity as a cosmopolitan nation has evolved. The first of two racial riots in six weeks occurred in Singapore on July 21st, 1964, resulting in 36 deaths and over 500 injuries. Many racist events that have recently gone viral have elicited strong emotions and soul-searching about [...]
Anthony Bourdain Day By Sharon Schweitzer “Southeast Asia has a real grip on me. From the very first time I went there, it was a fulfillment of my childhood fantasies of the way travel should be.” -Anthony Bourdain Anthony Bourdain-chef and writer, traveled the world with humility, humanity, curiosity, humor, and with [...]
5 Tips for Sustainable Travel By Sharon Schweitzer The Global Sustainable Tourism Council and the United Nations emphasize numerous criteria for responsible travel. Many travelers have inquired about the Global Sustainable Tourism Council Criteria. The GSTC provides a set of minimum requirements that a tourism business or destination must aspire to for approval: environmentally friendly [...]
8 Cross Cultural Tips for Traveling to Costa Rica in 2024 By Sharon Schweitzer and Shannan Bloomstrand Costa Rica consumes only 0.03 percent of the globe's surface yet contains six percent of the world's biodiversity. Costa Rica reserves the highest percentage of its land for conservation and preserving national parks than any other [...]
International Customs Day By Sharon Schweitzer International Customs Day is celebrated on January 26th every year and was initiated by the World Customs Organization (W.C.O.) in 1983, which was the 30th anniversary of the inaugural session of the Customs Co-operation Council (CCC). The CCC was renamed the World Customs Organization (WCO) in 1994. The [...]
