Happy Memorial Day!

Memorial Day is known as a federal holiday to honor and remember the men and women who died while serving in the country's armed forces. This American culture holiday, which is celebrated every year on the last Monday of May, was formally known as Decoration Day and originated after the American Civil War to commemorate the Union and Confederate soldiers who died in the war. During the 20th century, Memorial Day was extended to honor all Americans who have died while in a military service. Memorial Day has also been known to mark the start of the American summer vacation season, while Labor Day marks the end. 

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Flags displayed to honor those who died in service at Arlington National Cemetary 

More importably Memorial Day is to honor those men and women who sacrificed their lives in defense for the United States. It is not to be confused with Veteran's Day, which specifically celebrates the service of all U.S. military veterans. In honor of Memorial Day, many people volunteer to visit cemeteries and memorials in order to place a flag on each soldier's grave to honor them. 

Countries around the world celebrate similar observances or holidays throughout the year that are similar to America's Memorial Day. Many of their practices commemorate honors specifically for World War I and World War II. 

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Poppies are used to honor those who have fallen in the United Kingdom, France, and Canada 

In the United Kingdom, they refer to it as Remembrance Sunday. They hold ceremonies across the country on the Sunday closest to November 11, the day Germany signed the armistice ending hostilities during World War I. In modern time, it memorializes all British fallen soldiers in all conflicts since the Great War. "Remembrance Poppies" are displayed and worn as per tradition inspired by Canadian poet John McCrae's "In Flanders Fields," and on November 11th at 11 a.m., the time of the signing of the armistice, the UK holds a two minute silence. Canada holds a similar ceremony and celebration also on November 11th. 

In France, Armistice Day is observed on November 11th, with poppy adornments, special church services, and ceremonies. Their holiday has come to recognize all the country's war dead, and the 1.4 million people killed in World War I. 

In New Zealand and Australia, it is known as Anzac Day. Anzac Day is on April 25th and commemorates their servicemen and women who have died. Anzac stands for "Australian and New Zealand Army Corps," and falls on the anniversary of the landing at Gallipoli. This was the first major military action by both forces in the first World War which lead to a campaign that would fuel the building of a national consciousness in both countries.

National Unity and Armed Forces day is celebrated in Italy on November 4th. This is the day that Austria-Hungary surrendered to the Italians in 1918. They hold ceremonies commemorating the armed forces killed in action. 

South Korea observes a Memorial Day on June 6th, which is in the same month the Korean War began. They hold a one minute silence at 10 a.m. to honor their servicemen and civilians who have died for their country. 

So from America, to the United Kingdom, to Australia and New Zealand, France, Italy, and South Korea, many countries hold ceremonies to offer those who sacrificed their lives in defense of their nation. These are just a few of the holidays, but one important message should come from this idea. 

On Memorial Day, remember those who fought for your freedom, fought for your country, and sacrificed their lives so that you could live a long and prosperous life. Near and far, all over the world, honor those and celebrate with your families in Memorial. 

What's Next?

First and foremost, a big thank you goes out to all of our fans and followers! Our site would not be what it is without all you awesome readers! As our semester here is coming to an end, many of you may be wondering what is next for Ready, Set, Roam? In a perfect world we would continue to keep blogging everyday, however, since we are all going our separate ways this summer it is easier said than done.

My next journey is jet setting to study abroad in Italy. Another fellow blogger, Summer and I will be going to Urbino, Italy with a JMU study abroad program for four weeks. Our goal is to post about once or twice a week updating you all on our experiences, stories and post some cool pictures. Currently, we are trying to figure out how to pack efficiently and effectively for our trip. If you or anyone you know is also embarking on a study abroad trip this summer, here is a useful site we have found to assist you in your packing:

http://www.collegefashion.net/fashion-tips/how-to-pack-for-study-abroad/

We hope you continue checking in with us this summer! Happy traveling!

Culture Shock: Morocco Edition

As I've mentioned before, I studied abroad through a program called Semester at Sea, in which we traveled around porting in various countries throughout the summer. It just so happened that our very first port was in Africa! Casablanca, Morocco, to be exact. Talk about culture shock!

Before going abroad, I was prepared to experience some level of culture shock because I had never been to Europe before. However, I don't think I was prepared for the culture shock that I stumbled upon during my time in Morocco. I would have to say, of all the countries we visited, Morocco was the most different, in comparison to anywhere I had been before. First of all, it was blazing hot (I should have expected that since we were in Africa, but I didn't). Not to mention, Morocco is a muslim country so the dress code is very strict. Therefore, I was forced to dress in long pants and long-sleeves everywhere I went. This was definitely a new concept to me and took some getting used to. 

The food was also extremely different than what you would find in the United States and water was hard to come by. My entire stay in Morocco felt like a quest for water because I had to be extremely careful about the water I drank and where it came from. We were instructed to only drink out of bottled water and to even be careful then because the seals are often broken. Brushing my teeth was a struggle as well because I needed to have bottled water on hand every time I wanted to brush my teeth. Culture shock seemed to be setting in fast and let's just say, my time in Morocco wasn't my most hygienic days. 

The culture shock I was experiencing doubled when I decided to take a walk through the local market in Casablanca. It was quite the sight. There were live chickens being beheaded and hung out in the open as I strolled through the market. At that point, I wasn't sure what I had gotten myself into, but I knew I wanted to get out. 

Additionally, I spent a few days in a Berber camp in the Sahara desert. As you can imagine, water was, once again, hard to come by and we were living in the stifling hot Sahara desert. Oh, and did I mention that our only mode of transportation was riding camels? Yeah, that was quite the surprise and only enhanced my culture shock. Although my time spent at the Berber camp was a once in a lifetime opportunity, I was certainly ready to leave by the last day.

Once we arrived back in Marrakech, I was so excited to finally be back in civilization. Our last night in Morocco was looking up as we had planned to stay in a hotel in the city and go out that night. However, like most travel plans, things didn't go according to plan. The first disappointment of the night came as we checked into our hotel and were informed there was no air condition or WiFi. Let me just tell you, those were the two things I was most excited about after spending three days in the Sahara.

Although I knew air conditioning was hard to come by in Europe and certainly Africa, I held hope we would be in for a treat. Unfortunately, we weren't. After accepting the no A/C or WiFi fact, we decided to make the most of the night and visit a local grocery store to pick up some alcohol before going out. And here's where disappointment number two comes in....

Unbeknownst to us, Ramadan was in full swing and there was no alcohol to be found anywhere. It's important to note that the only reason this was such a big deal was because it was our first opportunity to go out since we had been abroad. And there we were again, faced with just another element of culture shock, as it is unheard of for alcohol to be scarce in the United States. 

Looking back on my time abroad, Morocco wouldn't have been so bad if it hadn't been our very first port. If I had previous exposure to different cultures and customs before visiting Morocco, I think I would have experienced a much smaller level of culture shock.

Study Shock

Embrace the world, and you may grow. Edinburgh, Scotland. 

Excitement, anticipation, curiosity, happiness, thrill...culture shock? These are just some of the emotions a student feels when traveling abroad to study with their University. Studying abroad can be extremely rewarding and one of the most memorable moments of a lifetime, but it can also involve incidents or frustrations that will leave you longing to catch the next plane home.

When traveling a student may encounter many cultural differences which can lead to culture shock. In our own culture, there are many elements that surround us, and that influence who we are as people and how we perceive the world. This native culture is what shapes us as a person. 

Different cultures, different experiences. Lock on the love wherever you go. Paris, France. 

When this feeling of comfort or symbols of familiarity of the native culture are lost, a person falls into a state of culture shock. This culture shock is a psychological discomfort that is felt when faced with foreign situations. Culture shock is a natural logical reaction, and just one of many phases students will face when getting accustomed to their new culture and surroundings.

The phases a student will experience include: Being fascinated with all the new things you are experiencing, feeling uncomfortable because you feel as if you don't belong, rejecting and labeling the foreign culture and people as being strange, learning to decipher foreign behavior and customs, and accepting and enjoying the foreign culture. 

When studying abroad, throughout the phases, a student will experience a wide range of emotions. They will be fascinated and excited by their new surroundings, and may then take more notice to anything, "Un-American." This could lead to some hostility towards the new culture which is another form of culture shock. 

In order to prepare for this journey, before going abroad, students may read up on where they are traveling (i.e international newspapers, guidebooks, novels, etc.), talk with friends who have traveled to the same location or an international student, and/or ask their study abroad office for an advisor. 

Overall, it is simple to get past culture shock as long as one uses their mind. Make sure to always keep a positive attitude, be optimistic and open to new ideas. These mixed with some time will help people adapt to cultural differences. These differences may even become preferable to that which one is used to in the United States. The steady balance of new culture experience and the native culture, will help people to grow culturally and become more diverse in thinking. Before you know it, you won't want your study abroad trip to end. 

Prepare to Be Shocked

According to the Merriam- Webster dictionary, culture shock is defined as "a feeling of confusion, doubt, or nervousness caused by being in a place (such as a foreign country) that is very different from what you are used to."   

This can come in many different forms and originate from many different places; including language, customs, foods and general behaviors of the people who live in the country you are visiting.   This feeling can range from minimal to extreme depending on previous travel experiences as well as the home culture of the individual. 

Personally, I experienced intense culture shock when I traveled to China a couple of years ago.  There was an obvious language and culture barrier but I also had an intense feeling of uncomfort during the majority of my trip.  Being blonde and white, I stuck out immensely among the thousands of people in Beijing.  Where in America, the most shocking reaction to somebody who looks different than you would be a stare or slightly rude behavior, I was nowhere close to warned about what I would experience. 

Throughout my trip I was constantly touched, gaped at, taken pictures with and followed.  I came to learn that this was actually not uncommon at all and other people I was traveling with experienced the same behaviors.  Although I never really got used to random people running their fingers through my hair when they walked by, I tried my best to ignore it as the time went on.  There are certain things that they do not tell you in travel manuals and on the internet; this was definitely one of them. 

If I could offer one overarching piece of advice regarding culture shock, it would be to expect the unexpected.  And if something happens that you are not used to or seems odd to you, do not react negatively to it and use it as a chance to learn!  Every place has its quirks so appreciate them!

Reversing the Shock

Many of you have heard of the term "culture shock" meaning the feeling of confusion, doubt and nervousness in an unfamiliar place that is very different from what you are used to. Most people experience this when staying in a foreign country for an extended period of time, such as studying abroad. It can be a result of not being used to the time difference, weather, the social norms, laws and the way people are and how they interact on a daily basis. On the contrary, reverse culture shock is the feeling of returning to your home culture and country after growing accustomed to a new one. This happens because you get used to the place you have been living in and have difficulty settling back into every day life at home. You may feel like you have an idealized view of what home is like and there becomes an inconsistency between expectations and reality. Also, you may feel an expectation of total familiarity in that nothing has changed while you have been away. 

There are many ways to deal with reverse culture shock. First, share your experiences with others. You may feel like constantly sharing stories about your trip will bother your friends and family, but they are there to listen and want to hear about your many experiences and memories. One way is to show them your many pictures and what happened in each. Explain what you did in the picture, where you were and the feelings you had. Also, starting a blog to explain your trip abroad will help cope and you will soon receive an audience that will listen intently. 

Severe reverse culture shock usually occurs with people who have been sent off to war or who have moved away from their home country for an extended period of time such as a couple of years. For ones that study abroad for a couple of months to a year, they do not experience the same reverse culture shock that those other people that have been away for longer time. 

So, once you return home from an adventure of a lifetime, do not get overwhelmed with the reverse culture shock! It might be hard to ease back into the life you used to have in America, but your family, friends and familiar surroundings will definitely help the transition. 

What Not to Wear

When traveling abroad, it is extremely important to be aware of the culture of each country you will be visiting. In particular, make sure you have done some previous research about dress/attire etiquette of each country. 

Here is a list of five things NOT to wear traveling abroad!

1) Short shorts: It is important to remain modest in foreign countries because many countries have much stricter dress codes than the United States. Short shorts are often very revealing and can be seen as offensive to many people. So, bring out those cargo and bermuda shorts and rock them while you are abroad! 

2) Flashy jewelry: In foreign countries, flashy jewelry can be seen as a sign of wealth and may send locals the wrong message. As a result, flashy jewelry may make you more vulnerable to pick-pocketing or any other type of theft. Personally, I have two rings that I never take off and couldn't seem to part with while I was abroad. If you find yourself in this same predicament, a helpful tip is to turn your rings to the inside of your fingers so that they aren't as noticeable. 

3) Open-toe shoes: This is a serious no-no when traveling abroad, especially if you plan to do a lot of walking! Open-toed shoes are dangerous and leave you with a much greater risk of injury when pursuing around streets than may be foreign to you. Wearing closed-toes shoes is a much smarter option and will help prevent insect bites or cuts on your toes, which could potentially lead to infection if the conditions are unsanitary. 

4) Tight clothing: Similar to short shorts, tight clothing can be seen as a sign of sexuality and can be perceived as offensive in many cultures. While tight clothing may be popular in the United States, it is not worn frequently in other countries, as people typically remain modest with their clothing. Also, tight clothing can be uncomfortable and hot if you have a full day of activities ahead. So, stay on the safe and comfortable side and wear looser, more baggy clothes when abroad.

5) Tank- tops: Tank tops are also not nearly as popular around the world as they are in the United States. For most cultures, tank tops are too revealing, as many countries avoid exposing their arms and shoulders in public. As a sign of respect, leave those tank tops at home and resort to shirts that will, at the very least, cover your shoulders. 

Justin Bieber Needs to Brush Up on his Etiquette

It is no secret that Justin Bieber is no longer the innocent teen heart throb we fell in love with a few years ago. Recently, is seems Bieber has been getting only negative publicity between his alleged DUI and his bad temper tantrums. His most recent scandal took place just the other day when Bieber was in Toyko, Japan and decided to pull over and take a picture of himself with a shrine. Seems innocent right?

Well according to E News, this was not such an innocent stunt. "Toyko's Yasukuni Shrine is a controversial structure honoring Japanese criminals who committed horrific acts against China and other parts of Asia during World War II. The Biebs, seemingly unaware of its history, Instagrammed the photo of himself bowing before the shrine, writing, 'Thank you for your blessings.' When word got out to Bieber about the controversy of his photo, he quickly deleted it, took responsibility for his inernational faux pas and explained how it happened.'While in Japan I asked my driver to pull over for which I saw a beautiful shrine. I was mislead to think the Shrines were only a place of prayer,' he wrote. 'To anyone I have offended I am extremely sorry. I love you China and I love you Japan.'"

Just two hours after posting his apology, Justin still appeared to be upset by his mistake, Instagramming a solemn picture of himself, head bowed, staring at the floor sadly. Seems like Justin should have done his researched a little better before traveling to Japan. 

Justin Bieber's instagram photo is a reminder of how important etiquette is when traveling to new and unfamiliar places. We have to really research and think about our actions before we do anything in order to avoid offending a culture and causing any controversy. 

Here is the link to read the entire article and see the instagram pictures:

http://www.eonline.com/news/534739/justin-bieber-extremely-sorry-for-visiting-shrine-honoring-japanese-war-criminals

Make an Effort

As I discussed last week, I am not good at languages.  However, when you are traveling to a new place with a new culture and language, it is important to show respect to the people who live there.  Becoming fluent (or even quasi-fluent) in a language is not a possibility for those who do not learn languages well.  But that should not stop you from learning some small and common words and phrases in the language that you will be immersed in. 

When I traveled to China, I was nowhere close to being able to carry on a conversation.  But by learning a few phrases, even as simple as "Hello" or "How are you?", I found that my presence was much more accepted by the Chinese citizens.

 Making an effort to learn some of the native language will reflect a respect for the culture that you are experiencing and the people that you will meet. This will come to be very helpful if you find yourself lost or confused while on your travelers.  By you showing a respect for them, the citizens of the country will show a respect for you.   In popular travel destinations such as Paris, American tourists can often be met with hostility.  However, after opening conversations with French phrases, the respect level is significantly raised.  It is always a good idea to research the country you will be traveling to before you embark on your journey.  Make sure that a few phrases in the native language are learned before you leave!

A Guide to Casual European Conversation

Freedom is an American value and stepping stone. We also tend to transfer this value to how we interact with each other. You have the personal freedom to say whatever you want in conversation. People may roll their eyes at you if you are particularly rash but it is not uncommon for people to share too much information. Think of your average plane ride, by the end of the plane ride you could know the life story of the person sitting next to you.

Europe does not play that game. Although it varies from country to country, cultures rooted in tradition or influence from art or enlightenment acknowledge well thought out debates or mere cordiality. Keep your inconsequential feelings to yourself.

We will look at the five top countries to travel according to Euro Monitor 2013 which are England, France, Germany, Italy and Spain.

Great Britain

England has an eclectic mix of cultures beginning from the many takeovers from the Celtics, Romans, Vikings, Normans and finally Anglo-Saxons. Then from the expansion of the British Empire the island has grown into a unique mixture of cultures. Because of the many differing viewpoints, conversations are polite and consist of small talk usually about the weather. Unless you are particularly close with someone do you share private information, so dumping your whole life on a stranger would be out of place.

France

The French culture is influenced by the desire to live well and be seen living well. This is reflected in how they present themselves and their love of language. This also translates to the desire for intellectual debate. Northern Europe’s Logic and Latin culture’s emotion can be seen in French conversation. If you want to begin a lively conversation think out your arguments, do not make rash comments and, as always, begin and end your conversations with “Bonjour” and “Au Revoir”.

Germany

Germany has a long history of many cultures struggling to fit together whether that is from the many states fitting together to create Germany, the wars between Catholics and Protestants and clashes between East and West. Order is created by strict rules, formality and directness. Small talk is fine but look at the social cues around you and be tactful when you talk about history. Private information is not generally shared among strangers. Overall, be observant and respectful.

Hannah and I "in conversation" at the Lourve in an interactive art exhibit!

Italy

As the past epicenter of art and civilization the culture is vivacious.  Passionate debates are encouraged and happen simultaneously in a group of people. Jump in and talk about art, culture and other affairs in your own country! Emphasis is placed on living in the moment and enjoying family, tradition and putting on a good face.

Spain

In Spain social niceties and group approval are important with past utopian ideals. In a private relaxed setting feel free to talk about your travels, country, art, culture and your hosts’ children but avoid touchy historic issues.

When you engage in conversation in another country observe the natives and follow what they do. This information is just a snapshot of what is culturally acceptable in each place. Guide books and other websites are available to peruse.

Feel free to email me at readysetroamcontact@gmail.com or leave a comment if I left something out or if I pointed something out wrongly. Your feedback would be appreciated!

Foster, D. (2000). The global etiquette guide to Europe: everything you need to know for business and travel success. Canada: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Press.