In April 30th, we celebrate Dia del nino. We give them toys, candy, or things that they love. In school must of the children make performance t show their parents that they are happy. Must of their parents show their love to their childrens by doing a big party just for him/her. In the party people can find many food such as tamales, mole, posole, tostadas, ice cream, ect. Must of the food is the favorite child's food. We try to make our children feel special in the day. We try to make the best to show our love to them.

The Orthodox Christianity

(Temple of saint Sava. Location: Belgrade)


I will try to explain the differences between Orthodox Christianity and Catholicism. I will discuss the historical and today’s aspects. I will discuss the religious practices, the liturgy and even the differences in architecture. Although the faiths have the same common beliefs, we believe in the same God, we do have differences that I will try to explain.
History of Christianity is very complicated; it started when the Roman Empire broke apart. The East part of Roman Empire took the Orthodox view of religion, while the West part of Roman Empire embraced the Catholicism. Under rule of Emperor Constantine the Roman Empire broke apart, and that was a geographic separation between the two religions. The Catholics integrated closely with government. They wanted to bring religious change among the people using the power of the government; this is why even to this day the Vatican has such strong religious and political influence. The Orthodox leaders worked within the framework of the people and their culture, forging strong alliance among their people. Even to this day many of the Orthodox religion are strongly devoted people; they have strong ties to the Church and have much of their personal identity rapped up in the Orthodox faith. Most of the Orthodox countries today are still viable, such as Russia, Greece, Serbia, Bulgaria, Republic of Serbia, Bosnia, and Macedonia, etc.







(Altar of the orthodox church)

Some of the differences are found in the building structures. The Orthodox building does not have pews in the middle of the church; the parishioners stand during the service. There are chairs off to side built into the wall for those who special needs. The doors into the church are built on the east side of the church. The people enter through the east doors, represents the division that took place back in past the division of the Roman Empire. The Crosses are different in both faiths. Both faiths have a lot of beautiful art inside their churches, these arts are called frescoes. Also, Orthodox churches’ altar is usually made from beautiful hand crafted wood.
















(Orthodox cross)


The liturgy is different in both faiths, the lengths of the services are different, and the Orthodox service is about 2-4 hours. The Catholics have what is known today as a “Mass” which usually last about 30-40 minutes. The people cross themselves differently, the Catholics are taught to cross themselves with 5 fingers, and their motion is representative of their cross. The Orthodox believers cross themselves with 3 fingers. The 3 fingers represent the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, the Holy Trinity! The biggest difference in the faiths is the strong leadership of the Pope on the Catholic people, when he speaks is as if God Himself is speaking. The Orthodox faith teaches that God speaks through His Word, The Bible.
In conclusions, the hearts of both religions are the same. However, there are differences in the traditions of each church. We serve the same God with common interest.

April 30th

In my culture we have special days for parents and even the children. April 30th is day of the children "dia del niño". We learned to celebrate it as a birthday party either they do a special celebration or my parents take us somewere to eat or to have fun. We ha learn to celebrate it becaue it has become one of our traditions lately.

Traffic In Iran

Unlike the driving rules in the US. In Iran there are no rules for driving, people do whatever they can to get to their destination. Many drivers cut other cars from any direction. For example making U - turns where they desire. Also they park where they want, which causes many of the traffics in Iran. It is very hard for a pedestrain to cross an intersection because many drivers don't stop, they just keep going. Many drivers run red lights which causes many of the accidents in Iran and its very hard for the police to stop drivers because of the traffic.

Japanese decorated goods

You will be so surprised when you see this Japanese so unique culture. Do you see what is this?  This kinds of cellphone are called "decorated phone". Nowadays, Japanese young girls love this kinds of "decorated" stuffs (of course, me too!!). And this trend is being so big industry all over the world. Almost all girls have some decorated stuffs like a cellphone, and pens, an ipod....and sometimes it can be too much. There are many schools to learn to make these decorated goods, and many girls makthose goods by theirselves. Of course we can order it to professionals and it costs about $200 for this design of cellphone (in picture#1). It is not so cheap but it's so cute so we can't stop decorating!!!

How they dress

Most Mexicans when they go to a party and are most likely will dance usually wear boots and a suit. Its not a common like people where to go to a job. its a different type of suit. They also wear a cowboy hat and a big belt. The color can come in many way depending on your preference. Some girls are the same. Some wear almost the same but not all wear it. Some just dress casual.

Japanese Fasion

If you have ever been to Japan, everyone may say Japanese fasion is so unique. Yes, Japanese fasion go beyond your thoughts about fasion because it's so unique and crazy. There are so many types of fasion styles, such as "gal style" "Urahara style" and "Gossic Rolita style." Every types of fasion has own characteristics, and the trend of fasion change rapidly. Basically, Japanese people are very sensitive to the beauty, and people have a sense of beauty in their mind. It reflects the fasion in Japan and each person try to be creative what they wear and how to show them. For me, fasion is my life because it's one of the ways that I can express myself without physical appearence. Maybe, I belong to "Japanese casual style??"haha

Tortas Ahogadas!!

If you want to come to Jalisco, I will recommend you to eat "Tortas Ahogadas." Tortas Ahogadas is the most popular food in Jalisco. 

The Tortas are very spicy and delicious. Tortas Ahogadas have pork meat, bread called bolillo, onions, spicy salsa, and tomato salsa. Also, you can only eat Tortas Ahogadas in Jalisco, because the bread is special. People try to do the bread, but they can't do it. The ingredients are not the same as Jalisco, so the bread is different. When you put the bread in the salsa, the bread begins to undo.Also, the salsas have a secret ingredient, so if you like to eat spicy and you want to visit Jalisco try to eat Tortas Ahogadas, it is delicious. 

Oaxaca food

Oaxaca,Mexico is the state with more variable food in the country of Mexico. If you want to go to Oaxaca,Mexico is there many plates of food that you can enjoy. For example, to open the appetite how about a glass of mezcal, and here the saying para todo mal, mezcal y para todo bien, también (for all ill, mezcal, and for all good too.) Now you can enjoy some appettizer like Chapulines (toasted grasshoppers), empanadas de amarillo (turnover filled with yellow sauce.) totopos (oven toasted corn chips), quesillo (string cheese), chorizo bien frito (well fried spicy sausage) or memela con asiento (thick tortillas with lard sediment). Other traditional food is the mole or tamales in banana leaves. Now if you want something to drink you can enjoy a cup of tejate or chocolate with sweet bread. After a good lunch don't forget the dessert like nieves ( ice cream.) :}

The Day of the Dead is celebrated on octuber 31st and ends in November 2nd .The day of the death time for the dead to return home and visit loved ones, feast on their favorite foods and listen to their favorite music. Mexicans usually decored altars to honor the death ones by offering them their favorite food they used to like when they were alive.In the homes, family members honor the ones who are death with ofrendas or offerings which consist of photographs, bread, other foods, flowers, toys and other symbolic offerings especially personal belongings. During the day of the death celebration Mexicans tend to make fun of the death.However, they still fear death but celebrating these days bring to them happiness and joy

The Vietnamese Leaf Hat

The Leaf Hat is adequately appropriate for hot weather, so it is popular and convenient in Vietnam. The hat has the name Leaf hat" because it is creatively made from leaves, the simple materials of nature. These young leaves are brought from the softest trees and are exposed to the dew for one night so when dried, it is still soft enough to be flattened. The hat usually consists of 16 to 18 rims made from a special kind of bamboo. These rims are shaped thinly into conical-form, so the hat is also called the cone hat because of its shape. The leaves are sewn into all rims solely by hand. Finally, the hat is trimmed and painted with a coat of attar old to keep it clean, smooth, and water-proof. The hat has been around almost as long as the country and is worn by men and women everywhere. The leaf hat not only fits the festival air with the long dress but also is fairly convenient when working on the farms under the sun. People may use it as a basket if they turn it up-side-down, or sometimes they may wave it like a fan when the weather is too hot. In Hue especially, the hat makers insert poems into the weaves and the poem can only be seen when the hat is held up to the sunshine making it even more special. The more lighter the hat is, the more elegant the look. Vietnamese girls wear thin leaf hat like a little umbrella to protect themselves from sun or rain. Foreign travelers like wearing the leaf hat in their tours. The leaf hats are familar and close to Vietnamese, so they have the missing feeling when they they go aboard as if missing their relatives. Nowsaday, the leaf hat is not only a symbol of Vietnamese girls but also has become a part of the spirit of Vietnam, the nation.

Dia de los Muertos

On november 1st dia de los angeles (Day of the angels) is when we people make altars to the kids that past away. On november 2nd day of the dead (Dia de loa muertos) is celebrated by making altars and putting flowers of "cimpasuchil" is an orange flower we also put sugar skeletons with names on their forehead. After that people eat the sugar skeleton. Offerings are placed on the altar, things that the past away people liked like their favorite food or drinks that they kiked when they were alive. It it supposed that they come to share with us.
Some people spend the entire day in the cementary on the side of their relatives or their loved ones that ore in the tombs. Lots of people make a verse called "calaberitas" is like a form of joke so they are not sad about their dead. In my town the church priest goes to the cementery and offers a ceremony to all tha dead in the cementery. Lots of people assist to this ceremony an after it they stay there and spend their day with their people.

The Leyend of Zirahuen's Lake

Michoacan has many leyends, but one of the most popular is The Zirahuen's Lake. This leyend talks about a beatiful princess named Zirahuen. She was the daughter of one of the most powerful chieftains of Michoacan. She fall in love with the leader of an enemy army. When her father knew she was in love with one of his enemies, he told the warrior that he must to fight againts other warlords enemies in order to be with his daughter. The warrior accepted the challenge without hesitation. He fought againts them and he won. When the warrior when to see Zirahuen's father to prove him that he won, the father did not accepted his winning. Zirahuen's father did not want him to be Zirahuen's husband, so he told him that he must to figh with him. They were ready to figh, but Zirahuen stood between them and said. "I do not want to be the cause of death of either. If my father wins, I will lose you forever. If you win, I do not marry you. " The young warrior understood and he left. After that, Zirahuen climbed a hill to cry. Her gaze was lost in the distance with the hope to see him back, but he never did. Her tears were so heavy that made a hole that went beyond the passing days, drowning the princess and flooding the town. That is why now it is called Lake of Zirahuén. People that live there, say that in the early hours of the morning, she appears on the surface of the lake drowing men that she confuses with her love. They blame her for the deaths of many fishermen whose bodies can only find after several days of being drowned.

Japanese "Gals"

Japanese culture can be changed rapidly. Especially among young girls, the fashion culture is always different. It is hard for us to wear the cloths which we bought last year now. I guess the most characteristic culture for the people who are not from Japan is one of the girls' culture called "gal." This gal's culture has also been changed so quickly.

What do you think about them? They are called "Yamanba gals," and you used to be able to see so many people like that throughout Japan in a couple years ago. Their makeup is very unique, isn't it? I'd like you to see this picture.

Wow! Can you imagine? These two girls are the same parson. The girl on the top can become the girl on the bottom after about 1hour.

However, if you come to Japan now, it is hard to find them now because this gal's culture has almost gone out.

These are kind of the latest gals. Don't you think they are much more natural than before? There is a big similarity between them. Can you guess what? It is the makeup for showing their eyes bigger. I think you can show there is kind of dark black color around the eyes. They use a lot of kinds of makeup for their eyes: eye shadow, eyeliner, mascada, and false eyelashes. Also, some gals put on color-contact lenses. Not only gals but also almost all of Japanese girls always try to do our best to show our eyes bigger everyday.

El Día Del Niño

El Día del Niño is a especial day were we celebrate our children every year. This especial day happens on the 30th of April. This is a day that children spend their time waiting for this day to happen. We celebrate them with a little party and we play games with them. We also give them toys or take them to eat what they want, we make them feel great on this day. I really like this day because I like to see them happy and I love to see their faces when they opened their presents.