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 [...]
Marine Day in Japan By Sharon Schweitzer Since 2003, Marine Day in Japan has been observed on the third Monday of July. Marine Day is a Japanese national holiday that aims to thank the ocean for its bounty. Considering that Japan is a maritime nation, the country and its people are heavily dependent [...]
Fourth of July Quiz By Sharon Schweitzer With more than half of our U.S. population vaccinated in the U.S. and restrictions lifting across the country, we are looking forward to the opportunity to safely watch fireworks where it isn’t a fire hazard. We are ready for celebrations, friendships, poolside fun, and to fire [...]
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 [...]
World Day of Music By Sharon Schweitzer From the oldest musical instrument in the world — the Neanderthal flute, made by Neanderthals 60,000 years ago — to present-day electronic instruments, music has become a significant part of our daily lives. Other than being pleasant to listen to, music is a form of expression [...]
Father’s Day By Sharon Schweitzer We hold an incredibly special place in our hearts for our fabulous fathers and we observe with intrigue as cultures worldwide celebrate father figures. U.S. Americans prepare to honor fathers, father-figures, and male role-models on Sunday, June 16th, 2024, and we share the unique traditions of ten countries [...]
Intergenerational Day By Sharon Schweitzer The idea for Intergenerational Day came to a teacher from British Columbia in Canada in 2009. The teacher was working with students on projects related to World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. Students were being taught about the respect, care, and love the elders in society deserve, and within [...]
Graduation Gift Giving By Sharon Schweitzer May and June are the months of college, high school, nursing, trade school and university commencements. A time filled with exams, finals, papers, and bells ringing freedom. Graduation parties and open houses are common as students celebrate meeting their goals, after years of challenging work, and begin [...]
Mother’s Day By Sharon Schweitzer In many countries and cultures, our love of our mothers crosses international borders. Depending on which part of the globe you call home, Mother’s Day is celebrated on different days and in different seasons. The history of this holiday in the U.S. began in the early 20th century [...]
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 [...]
