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RWANDA: THE LAND AND THE PEOPLE
If you were at least a teenager during the 1990s, it’s hard not to escape the Rwanda of that decade. The horrific images dominated the news just as Syria does now. (I wonder what Syria will look like...
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RWANDA: ART AND LITERATURE
Traditional arts mostly consist of crafts, and especially functional ones. Many of their arts are similar to other cultures in this area. Weaving is one of the key crafts and is seen in woven baskets...
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RWANDA: MUSIC AND DANCE
The traditional music in Rwanda spans a number of origins. Of the traditions that resonate most with Rwandans is the ikinimba. This musical style is accompanied by a dance of the same name and centered...
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RWANDA: THE FOOD
Well, it’s getting closer to Christmas, and I’m almost done with my shopping. I’ve just got a couple of other things to grab, then I’ll be done. I’m not a huge fan of Christmas, but seeing other people...
View ArticleWorldly Rise Year End Stats 2017 Edition
I’ve done these for the past few years. I think of it as a way to measure my growth and how much I’ve covered. It’s a long project, so it’s nice to know where I’ve been around the world so far. We’re...
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SAINT KITTS & NEVIS: THE LAND AND THE PEOPLE
A few years ago, I was introduced to the musical Hamilton. I listened to the soundtrack many, many times in a row. For those who may not fully be aware of it, Hamilton is a hip-hop/sung musical by...
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SAINT KITTS & NEVIS: ART AND LITERATURE
Art traditions here are a combination of native Caribbean influences as well as African origins. Many of the motifs are centered around island life. As far as handicrafts go, you’ll find weaving...
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SAINT KITTS & NEVIS: MUSIC AND DANCE
Much of the music from Saint Kitts & Nevis has its origins from Africa mixed together with various types of Caribbean music along with some British, French, and American styles. Vocal music is an...
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SAINT KITTS & NEVIS: THE FOOD
Well, the new year is upon us, and January has proven to be a total jerk when it comes to weather. It’s been super cold and snowed, then it warmed up to almost 60 degrees, only to be followed by...
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ST. LUCIA: THE LAND AND THE PEOPLE
Ah, it’s good to be back. And yes, I found a new job. What’s funny was that at my interview, I was talking to a woman about the blog. However, as I was trying to remember what exactly was next off the...
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ST. LUCIA: ART AND LITERATURE
The island provides an incredible backdrop of inspiration for artists. The colors, senses, and textures make for a great area to work on your next pièce de résistance. Traditional arts include a number...
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ST LUCIA: MUSIC AND DANCE
The music of St Lucia is a mix of African musical traditions, European styles, and native Caribbean music. Children learn music from an early age and often use music throughout their lives. Some of the...
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ST LUCIA: THE FOOD
So, after what seems like a long couple of months off, I met my goal of finding a job in a marketing department. And I really like this job and the company I work for. However, it’s been decades since...
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ST VINCENT & THE GRENADINES: THE LAND AND THE PEOPLE
Of all the countries in the world, St Vincent and the Grenadines rounds out my top three “Countries That Sound Like Band Names.” I’m not even sure what the other two would be. But that doesn't matter...
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ST VINCENT & THE GRENADINES: ART AND LITERATURE
Visual arts in St Vincent and the Grenadines are not something that is expressly promoted very much, although it’s not because there isn’t art. There are some self-taught artists who promote their...
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SAINT VINCENT & THE GRENADINES: MUSIC AND DANCE
Like many Caribbean countries, the music of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines shares roots with the Caribbean, African, and European countries. There are three main styles heard here: calypso, soca, and...
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ST VINCENT & THE GRENADINES: THE FOOD
Well, we made it through another week. We survived Easter, and a bunch of other stupid snow this week, too. Doesn’t the weather know it’s spring? It can really stop with the snow already. Oh, and...
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SAMOA: THE LAND AND THE PEOPLE
When I was trying to find recipes for Samoa, I was surprised to find a ton of recipes for desserts based on the Girl Scouts cookie called Samoas. And that was entirely NOT what I was going for,...
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SAMOA: ART AND LITERATURE
In Samoa, there is a ritual exchange of goods and traditional arts. Women typically give a finely woven mat called an ‘ie toga. They also give a type of bark cloth called siapo, which is decorated...
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SAMOA: MUSIC AND DANCE
While much of their traditional music is similar to other South Pacific musical styles, Samoan music has some key differences. One of the most noticeable parts of their music is the use of percussion...
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