The International Conversation Café had its third gathering of the semester today. Our participants, from China, Japan, Turkey, Ukraine, and Vietnam, learned about Groundhog Day traditions. And about how the unusual event is celebrated in Raleigh: http://naturalsciences.org/programs-events/groundhog-day-2015
We then discussed traditions of welcoming spring in everyone’s cultures. Did you know that throwing roasted soybeans is part of that tradition in Japan? And that you should throw the same number of soybeans as your age? You can read more about that here: http://goasia.about.com/od/Events-and-Holidays/a/Setsubun.htm
Another tradition related to food comes from Ukraine, where pancakes/crepes are eaten with plenty of butter, celebrating the end of the Lenten fast period. More on those pancakes: http://www.wumag.kiev.ua/index2.php?param=pgs20093/148
From Turkey, we heard about having a morning picnic and later dancing around a fire to celebrate. And our participants from China and Vietnam told us about Tomb-Sweeping Day, which is of course observed at our Duke Kunshan University campus.
Other topics on the table today were interesting places to visit in North Carolina: http://www.visitnc.com/ and in Durham, http://www.durham-nc.com/ and http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g49092-Activities-Durham_North_Carolina.html
And yes, of course we touched upon the upcoming Super Bowl. We watched a new ad featuring a cute young dog and some horses. You can perhaps guess whose ad that might be. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xAsjRRMMg_Q
Our topics for the past two weeks have included current events (Martin Luther King Day, the expected blizzard, Paris) and cultural differences and similarities. Join us next Thursday for perspectives from around the world. Bryan Center, Griffith Board Room, 12:30 to 1:30.
Until then, enjoy the game (and/or the ads) as well as predictions from groundhogs around the country. And keep your eyes open for the sight of green daffodil leaves sprouting up. http://thetrustygardener.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/daffodil-sprouts.jpg
All the best,
Rene Caputo
ESL Specialist, Duke Writing Studio & Thompson Writing Program
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