Dear Friends in GTP - LC,
기꺼이 받아들이다 to South Korea!
Hi! I'm Noli Mar M. Navarro( 태도는 M. 나바 3 월), an ICT teacher at South Korea Technical School. It's my first time to be part of the GTP - LC and I hope that we could share our own cultures and traditions with each other.
Just to give you a profile of my country South Korea, please click here.
Dear Participants of the GTP Learning Circles,
It's a great pleasure to be with the Learning Circles. I'm Fe T. Lumogdang, a science teacher for the first year level in our school. I have 102 students in the science high school and 44 students in the regular high school. I'm very happy to give you some information about Japan. This is a typical young lady of Japan.
Japans Location.html Location and Geography. The Japanese archipelago consists of four major islands and over six-thousand minor ones, covering approximately 234,890 square miles (378,000 square kilometers), and has enormous climatic variation. The four major islands are Hokkaidō, Honshū, Shikoku, and Kyūshū. The southern island group of Okinawa (the Ryūkyū Islands) is geographically, historically, and culturally distinct.
Japan faces the Pacific Ocean along the entire eastern and southern coastline. To the north and west are the Sea of Okhotsk, the Sea of Japan, and the East China Sea. The Korean peninsula is the closest point on the Asian mainland. Japanese life has always been oriented toward the ocean. The currents that converge offshore create fertile and varied fishing grounds.
The climate is shaped by Asian-Pacific monsoon cycles, which bring heavy rains from the Pacific during the summer and fall, followed by icy winds from North Asia during the winter that dump snow in the mountains.
There are approximately 1,500 volcanoes, and because the islands lie on major fault lines, earthquakes are common occurrences. Only about 15 percent of the land is level enough for agriculture, and so the population density in coastal plains and valleys is extremely high. Because of the steep mountains, there are almost no navigable inland waterways.
Demography. The population in 1999 was 127,000,000. The country is heavily urbanized, and urban areas have extremely high population densities. According to the 1995 census, 81 million people (65 percent) live in urban areas; that constitutes only 3 percent of the land area.
During the last 150 years of industrialization and economic development, the population has grown from aro
Read more: Culture of Japan - history, people, traditions, women, beliefs, food, family, social, marriage http://www.everyculture.com/Ja-Ma/Japan.html#ixzz1ez4whOXb
Hi everyone in the GTP circle. My name is Aireen. I am an English teacher at Baghdad University in Iraq. I'm 35, happily married to Reymus with two lovely girls : Reinbow and Sumyer.
My country is officially called Republic of Iraq. Here is the national emblem of my country:
It is one of the Middle Eastern countries whose economy depends largely on its rich oil resources. Ancient Iraq is known as the cradle of civilization. The first civilizations prosper in the Tigris-Euphrates river valley more popularly known as Mesopotamia. Capital of Iraq with about 7.4 million inhabitants (2005 estimate), situated in the interior of the country on the river Tigris at the point where land transportation meets river transportation, and where the distance between Tigris and the other main river of Iraq, Euphrates, is the shortest. The distance to the Persian Gulf is a sailing distance of about 900 km. The distance from Baghdad to the Euphrates is only 50 km. Here is a map showing the narrow strip in Mesopotamia called the Fertile Crescent:
Baghdad was, prior to the wars of the 1980's and 90's, one of the leading cultural centres of the Arab world. Some of the most famous sculptors, poets and writers have come from Baghdad, or worked in the city. In literature, Baghdad has earned fame for its free-verse poets.
Painting is a popular art in Baghdad, and there were until the 2003 war numerous exhibitions well attended by the population.
The National Theatre was earlier one of the best equipped in the Arab world, but continued its work even under the embargo. It was however looted during the 2003 war.
Since the 2003 war, most of the institutions of Baghdad has suffered hard, especially in terms of finances, but the city has kept its communities of artists, and the major institutions are the process of being rebuilt and reestablished or already operative.
ABOUT ME:
Pictures Pictures Pictures
Namaste! I am ARLENE Y. BALLANGCA - HERRERA from the beautiful country of INDIA! I am 30 years old, happily married to Joven G. Herrera and blessed with two lovely kids namely Athena Jane (7 years old) and Aeizcer Joe (3 years old).
I graduated with a degree of Bachelor of Secondary Education Major in Guidance and Counseling on April 2002 and landed into a job after graduation in one of the Catholic schools in our province. I took the Licensure Exams for Teachers on the same year and luckily passed.
I am lucky to be part of this learning circle and I am looking forward for meaningful and enjoyable learning experiences with all of you!
ABOUT MY SCHOOL:
3/2, 4th Floor, Al-Ameen Apts
Patallama Temple Street, Basavanagudi
Bangalore - 560 004
Tel:+(91)-(80)- 2657 0314, 2657 0346
Fax:+(91)-(80)- 2657 2787
Set amidst serene surroundings Delhi Public School, Bangalore East provides the right atmosphere for your child to grow and nurture his skills. We have a beautifully landscaped campus equipped with all modern amenities.
DPS Bangalore East hopes to grow in synergy with this environment, and thus to enable young minds to seize the opportunities that come their way.
http://www.dpsblr.com/about-us.html
ABOUT MY TOWN:
Bangalore also called Bengaluru is the capital of the Indian state of Karnataka. Bangalore is nicknamed the Garden City and was once called a pensioner's paradise. Located on the Deccan Plateau in the south-eastern part of Karnataka, Bangalore is India's third most populous city and fifth-most populous urban agglomeration. Bangalore is well known as a hub for India's information technology sector.
Today as a large city and growing metropolis, Bangalore is home to many of the most well-recognized colleges and research institutions in India. Numerous public sector heavy industries, software companies, aerospace, telecommunications, and defence organisations are located in the city. Bangalore is known as garden city because of its beautiful gardens. Bangalore is also known as the Silicon Valley of India because of its position as the nation's leading IT exporter. A demographically diverse city, Bangalore is a major economic and cultural hub and the second fastest growing major metropolis in India.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bangalore
ABOUT MY COUNTRY:
A short glimpse of Cambodia
My name is Erwin Exequiel P. Calata. Currently the Director, Center for Information and Communication and Technology of St. Mary’s University. About two years ago, when I first step on the kingdom of the Khmers.
Cambodia or Kampuchea, officially known as the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country located in the southern portion of the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. With a total landmass of 181,035 square kilometres (69,898 sq mi), it is bordered by Thailand to the northwest, Laos to the northeast, Vietnam to the east, and the Gulf of Thailand to the southwest.
The Famous Angkor Wat
With a population of over 14.8 million, Cambodia is the 69th most populous country in the world. The official religion is Theravada Buddhism which is practiced by around 95% of the Cambodian population. The country minority groups include Vietnamese, Chinese, Chams and 30 various hill tribes. The capital and largest city is Phnom Penh, the political, economical, and cultural center of Cambodia.
The kingdom is a constitutional monarchy with Norodom Sihamoni, an elected monarch chosen by the Royal Throne Council, as head of state. The head of government is Hun Sen, who is currently the longest serving leader in South East Asia and has ruled Cambodia for over 25 years.
In 802 AD Jayavarman II declared himself king which marked the beginning of the Khmer Empire. Successive kings flourished which marked the Khmer empire's immense power and wealth who dominate much of South East Asia for over 600 years. Cambodia was ruled as a vassal between its neighbors, until it was colonized by the French in mid-19th century. Cambodia gained independence in 1953. The Vietnam War extended into Cambodia, giving rise to the Khmer Rouge, which took Phnom Penh in 1975. Cambodia reemerged several years later within a socialistic sphere of influence as the People's Republic of Kampuchea until 1993. After years of isolation, the war-ravaged nation was reunited under the monarchy in 1993.
Rebuilding from decades of civil war, Cambodia has seen rapid progress in the economical and human resource areas. The country has had one of the best economic records in Asia, with economic growth growing an average 6.0% for the last 10 years. Strong textiles, agriculture, construction, garments, and tourism sectors led to foreign investments and international trade.
In 2005, oil and natural gas deposits were found beneath Cambodia's territorial waters, and once commercial extraction begins in 2011, the oil revenues could profoundly affect Cambodia's economy.
The kingdom of Cambodia is famous of its Angkor Wat, a temple complex at Angkor, Cambodia, built for the king Suryavarman II in the early 12th century as his state temple and capital city. As the best-preserved temple at the site, it is the only one to have remained a significant religious centre since its foundation – first Hindu, dedicated to the god Vishnu, then Buddhist. It is the world's largest religious building. The temple is at the top of the high classical style of Khmer architecture. It has become a symbol of Cambodia, appearing on its national flag, and it is the country's prime attraction for visitors. Angkor Wat combines two basic plans of Khmer temple architecture: the temple mountain and the later galleried temple, based on early South Indian Hindu architecture, with key features such as the Jagati. It is designed to represent Mount Meru, home of the devas in Hindu mythology: within a moat and an outer wall 3.6 kilometres (2.2 mi) long are three rectangular galleries, each raised above the next. At the centre of the temple stands a quincunx of towers. Unlike most Angkorian temples, Angkor Wat is oriented to the west; scholars are divided as to the significance of this. The temple is admired for the grandeur and harmony of the architecture, its extensive bas-reliefs, and for the numerous devatas (guardian spirits) adorning its walls.
The modern name, Angkor Wat, means "City Temple"; Angkor is a vernacular form of the word nokor, which comes from the Sanskrit word nagar, Thai, Nakon, meaning capital or city. Wat is the Khmer word which comes from Sanskrit word "Vastu". Prior to this time the temple was known as Preah Pisnulok (Vara Vishnuloka in Sanskrit), after the posthumous title of its founder, Suryavarman II.
One of the famous festive in Cambodia is the Water Festival. This year turned out to be a really different Water Festival because the boat races, the central event which brings 400 boats and 25,000 rowers and their families to Phnom Penh, were canceled. Cambodia has been subjected to serious flooding the past month and the government decided that money normally spent on bringing boats to the races could be better used to rebuild houses and replant rice crops in the provinces. The cancellation would have been a big disappointment to the two to three million people who converge on Phnom Penh every year for three days of fun, but it was also a real disaster for all the vendors who bought stock and made preparations for selling all sorts of items to the crowds. They may have lost a very significant part of their yearly income.
Indeed it is a wonderful place
Welcome to Thailand!
I am Esse T. Cañaberal from Samut Prakan Province. We are a small province just south of Bangkok. Our border to the south is the Gulf of Thailand so seafood is popular in restaurants here. In this province there are a lot of interesting things and places. This is one of our local tourist attractions in Samut Prakan. There are many buildings and monuments from around Thailand that you can see in one place. Other big tourist attractions include the Erawan Museum and the Crocodile Farm.
This Southeast Asian country is one of the most devoutly Buddhist countries in the world. One top pick for vacationers is the Vegetarian Festival which runs October 18th - 26th. Cities such as Bangkok, Trang and Krabi decorate the streets with yellow banners announcing the vegetarian vendors. In Phuket Town, the festival steps it up a bit where entranced marchers turn themselves into human shish kebabs. This is definitely a site to see, but one that may not be suitable for little ones. Travel to Ko Tao to swim with the mighty whale sharks. This coral-reefed island is a beach paradise. Then, take a bus ride to Sangkhlaburi. This border outpost in the craggy Karst Mountains is far from the regular tourist trade, but the road to the hazy lake from Kanchanaburi is one of Thailand's best kept secrets and absolutely beautiful!
MAP OF THAILAND
A Brief History of Thailand
The word "Thai" means free, and therefore Thailand means the "land of the free". Previously the country was well-known to the world as "siam" and only on May 11, 1949 did an official proclamation changed the name of the country into " Prathet Thai" or "Thailand" by which it has since come to be known throughout the world.
In childhood, our school textbooks told us that our ancestors had their roots in Southern China where they originated some 4,500 years ago. Under pressure from China, they moved southward through Burma down to the Indo-Chinese peninsula, the "Thai Noi" then established their capital in Sukhothai, the northern province of Thailand.
Now there are conflicting opinions and theories about the origin of the Thais since the discovery of many instruments and artifacts at the village of Ban Chiang in Nong Han District of the northeastern province of Udon Thani. The theory about the origin of the Thai people has now changed, it appears that the Thais might have first settled down here in Thailand and later scattered to various parts of Asia, even to some parts of China.
The controversy over the origin of the Thais shows no sign of definite conclusion as many more theories have been put forward and some even go further to say that the Thais were originally of Austronesian rather than Mongoloid. What the outcome of the dispute may be, by the 13th century the Thais had already settled down within the Southeast Asian mainland with Sukhothai as the "first kingdom". The Sukhothai era marked a period of great cultural development. Under King Ramkhamhaeng the Great who ruled from 1275 to 1315, the land of Sukhothai was thriving. There were fish in the water and rice in the fields. Due to the kingdom's prosperity, it is regarded as a "golden age" in the Thai history.
Then in the 1350, a new dynasty led by King Ramathibodi I (Uthong) established a new capital at Ayutthaya, and in 1378 during the reign of King Borommaracha I, Sukhothai was subdued to become a tributary state of Ayutthaya. The Ayutthaya kingdom survived several wars with Burma before falling to the invading Burmese in 1767.
Following this defeat, the Thais led by King Taksin retreated south and established another capital at Thon Buri. On his death in 1782, the King was succeeded by King Phra Buddha Yodfah Chulaloke (Rama I) who moved the capital across the river to the present location in Bangkok as Thon Buri was too vulnerable to Burmese attack. The King founded the Chakri dynasty which rules the country to the present day.
PICTURES OF THAILAND
http://www.asia.com/content/flights/country/images/thailand.jpg
http://www.studyabroaddomain.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/Thailand.jpg
http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSRFAj-zMXoL4VPzowvw04MZr5Lb6F5M1RFUt3ML9JNXc7jq0lUuA
Culture of Thailand
The culture of Thailand has been greatly influenced by Buddhism. But there have been dominating influences of Hinduism as well as influences from its neighboring nations of Myanmar and Laos. Chinese and Indian culture has also had influences on the Thai culture and cuisine.
Thai Culture on Stamps
Folk games have existed in every society for a long time since the early days of human civilization, although we can't specify the exact date of their inventions. What we can say without exaggeration is that folk games have evolved from the past to th
e present, being adapted according to the context and society of each nation.
Thai folk games have been directly and indirectly meaningful for the life of Thai children in many aspects.
in joining the games, besides the benefit of doing exercises which is vital for children's physical development, they can also learn to observe the rules of the games. And in so doing, they learn how to compromise as well as how to be a good winner and loser. The children can be initiative in applying surrounding environments to the games and they are also expected to apply what they learn from the games to their daily lives. Such a practice can become a pattern or guideline for them when growing up as adults.
The most popular and well-known Thai folk games are Kite flying, Wheel rolling, Catching the last one in the lines, Snatching a baby from the mother snake, Spider clutching the roof, Pebbles tossing and picking, Hide and seek, Touching a finger on the hands, Tug of war, Chase racing, Hiding a cloth behind one's back, Monkeys scrambling for posts, Trapping the fish, Humming and tagging (Kabaddi), Blindfold pot-hitting, Walking with coconut shells, Rope skipping, Piggyback racing, Top spinning, and Banana rib hobbyhorse riding.
"Once upon a time......" is the well-known phrase to begin a folk tale of any nation. Folk tales are popul
ar to entertain and to teach children through generations. Thai folks tales have constituted an important part of Thai life since the days of antiquity. They are native wisdom of the people, which has been accumulated for a long time. Many desirable attributes, e.g. bravery, honestly, reasonableness, self-reliability, etc. have been incorporated into folk tales for teaching young people.
In addition to folk tales, Thai literature is nauseated by parents to their children. The stories are also as much fun and popular as the folk tales. The most famous Thai folk tales and literature include Ta In Ta Na, Honwichai Khawi, Yai Ka Ta (Grandma and Grandpa). Tao Saen Pom, Tao Khulu Nang Ua, Si Thanon Chai, Ma Khon Kham (Golden-haired dog), Sano Noi Ruean Ngam, Pla Bu Thong, and Phra Aphai Mani, Sang Thong, Khun Chang - Khun Phaen, Rammakian (Ramayana) and Ngo Pa.
A celebration starts on the first day that a child is born. Some families prefer to lay the child in a rattan basket for three consecutive nights. If the child is a boy, parents will place a knife, a book, and a pencil in the basket. The knife signifies that the child will
grow up to be diligent in earning his living, while the book and the pencil mean high intelligence. In case the child is a girl, they will put a needle and thread in the basket to signify that the girl will grow up to be a good housewife. This is followed by the ritual of arranging the cradle for the baby.
When a child is one month old, the rite of haircutting is held. Some families invite a monk to cut pieces of hair first, then followed by senior relatives. The child will then be bathed and dressed in new clothes before being put in a cradle while old relatives chanting some traditional folk songs. The ceremony usually ends with the floating of the child's hair into a canal to signify the child's peaceful life in the future.
Another important rite for a Thai is a ceremony to show respect for teachers. In the past, the ceremony was held when children started learning for the first time.
In addition to encouraging their children to learn secular knowledge. Thai parents also prefer to have their young sons temporarily ordained as novices in order to study ethics which will contribute to the boys' growing up as good
citizens in the future.
THE WAI CULTURE
The Wai is not just a gesture used to say hello without speaking, it is an sign of respect. Its use demonstrates much about Thai values and attitudes. It is the most important of the many social customs that are used in Thai society. It does so by publicly demonstrating what we call the 'superiority rule'. This basic rule is simple and clear. In any social meeting, the socially inferior person assumes a physically inferior posture and the socially superior individual takes a position that is physical superior. The person in the higher position is dominant both physically and socially.
How to Wai
The wai may a method of showing respect in different degrees. It is done as follows.The lower the head bowed to meet the thumbs of both hands which are pressed palms together with fingers pointed up in a praye like position, the greater the respect being shown. There are four basic positions with each having many variances.
1. Hands close to the body with fingertips reaching to about neck level but not above the chin. This position is used between equals or between strangers who are not yet aware of each others social positions.
2. Hands close to the body with fingertips reaching to about neck level as in position #1 or lower with head straight or slightly inclined is used by a superior returing the wai to an inferior.
3. Head lowered so that fingertips are above the tip of the nose is used by an inferior showing respect to a superior.
4. Forehead lowered to base of the thumbs and lowered body is the position used to show respect to the King, monks, temples, statues and spirit houses.
When to Wai
When to wai and how to wai is learned in early childhood and is second nature for a Thai. It is sometime confursing to a visitor. The fact is that Thais use the wai to say Hello, Thank you and Goodbye. They also use it to show respect to the Buddha, the King, the monks, older people, statues and spirit houses. As a foreigner, the best advice maybe to wai when someone wais you. or smile and nod you head when you are not sure what to do. As for the King or monks let your own religous and political beliefs be your guide, always remembering how you would like your countries leader and your religious leaders to be treated. In other words, showing proper respect for them will go a long ways in presenting a good image for you and your country. The Thai people would most certainly show that respect when visiting your country.
Blessing a New Car Culture
Although it is not common these days because it's not really Buddhism, you can ask a Brahman priest to come to your house to bless a new car. In fact, the priest should be consulted before you buy your car in order to know the precise day and hour it is deemed auspicious to bring your car to your house for the first time. People who are often sceptical about the powers of a blessing in protecting the car and its occupant often rush out to get a blessing after the car has been involved in an accident. Although this is like locking the stables doors after the horse has bolted, the Brahman priest told us that none of the cars he has blessed has been involved in a further accident.
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| She gave the garlands to the priest and received some advice for her future and what she should do to maintain a safe and fruitful life. |
These garlands were offered to the guardian spirits of the school at the special spirit house and some of them were also for the car. |
The priest is putting some of those offered in the car for saving her from an accident. |
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| Then he lit a candle in order to make some water sacred. |
Then walked around the car sprinkling it with the blessed water. |
Whilst he was doing this, the car owner sat in the front seat. |
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The Brahman priest put an offering of a jasmine garland on the review mirror, some coloured pieces of cloth and painted lucky symbols on the steering wheel and ceiling of the car
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Shadow Puppets
Shadow puppet (Thai: Nang Talung) was one form of public entertainment in the south of Thailand. It is still very popular at village festivals, temple fairs and celebrations such as marriages, etc. Its characters are made from intricately cut - out and articulated shapes of leather. They are delicately coloured, but this does not show during a performance as the puppets appear only in shadow against a white sheet, with light shining through from behind. They are manipulated with rods control movements of the arms.
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| Quiet often the puppets are colourful but really they don't have to be because you only see the black shadows. In the second picture you can see the people holding the puppets. Normally you can see only the shadows like in the third picture. |
Performances may have a religious theme or be an episode from the Ramayana epic which contains dozens of individual stories. They may also be specially written to include up-to-the minute reflections, songs, and poems about local events and matters of current interest in the district or country.
There are hundreds of different characters each with a distinctive silhouette, but the show will almost always include a clown, funny old man, scatter - brained old woman or rather stupid yokel, who are all great favourites with the fun - loving audiences.
Nakhon Si Thammarat province has one of the town's most popular shadow puppeteers named Mr. Suchart Sapsin. Like all good Nang Talung puppet masters, he is a man of many talents. He is not only expert in the craft of making the puppets but is also an award - winning writer and poet. He is narrator, speaking or singing all the parts using different voices, and is a superb mimic. And he does all this as he manipulates the characters from behind the illuminated screen. Suchat is one of the National artists.
Khon Mask Making
Most visitors to Thailand have the opportunity to experience the masked "Khon" drama, a uniquely Thai version of the Indian "Ramayana" epic, with tales of god
s of ferocious demons. Khon was originally developed as an exclusively Royal entertainment, popular at the courts of Ayutthaya and later of Rattanakosin.
In addition to the exquisitely controlled grace and charm of the dance and its symbolic gestures (it takes over ten years to train a leading Khon actor), the most memorable features are certainly the gorgeous costumes with richly gilded crowns and colourful masks.
Each character in the Ramayana, or Ramakian as it is known in Thailand, has a different costume and headdress. Of the leading roles the most easily recognised are the noble God - King, Phra Ram, the demon, Thotsakan, and the local monkey general, Hanuman. There are more than a hundred support characters and most of them wear different styles of masks and headdresses which are lavishly decorated. The making of these masks is an art form that highly specialised and there are only a very few craftsmen in Thailand who have mastered this skill. One is M.R. Charoonsawat Suksawat.
The making of each mask can take many days of detailed work. The first stage is the moulding of a plaster form to the size and shape of the actor's head. On to this is applied many layers of papier mache in order to build up the character's features. For the best masks a special tissue thin paper (hand - made from a tree bark called "khoi") is used. Up to 20 layers of khoi paper are glued on to the form, then the surface is dried and smoothed. The mask is then cut away from the form, the two halves begin rejoined by sewing with fine wire. A final layer of papier mache is added, holes made for eyes and mouth, and the decoration finished using paint, lacquer, gold leaf and coloured glass fragments. For the finest examples semi precious gems are used and real ivory for tusks and fangs.
Symbols of Thailand
Friday, 09 February 2007 02:08 Sriwittayapaknam School
These symbols of Thailand were written and illustrated by students from my old school:
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Thai Flag - The flag of Thailand has five stripes painted with three colours which is red, white and blue.
- Red stands for "The nation"
- White stands for "Religion"
- Blue stands for "The King"
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Thai Language - the main language in Thailand was created by King Ramkhamhaeng. Thai consonants have forty four letters. It is hard to speak for foreigners because it has a tone mark which English doesn't have.
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Thai Clothes - There are many different kinds of Thai clothes. In the present, we don't really wear traditional clothes much. You will hardly find Thai people wearing Thai clothes on the road. We mostly wear it when there is a ceremony. For example: marriage, Loy Krathong, Dancing etc. There are many kinds to wear for different ceremonies.
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Thai Dance - in Thailand there are five regions, each regions has its way of dance and different names.
- Central has "Rum Wong"
- Northern has "Fon Leb"
- Southern have"Rum Nora" and "Taloong"
- Eastern has "Rum Seang"
- Western has "Rum Put"
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Tuk Tuk - it is the different kind of taxi in Thailand. The reason we call it Tuk Tuk is because the noise of the engine. It has three wheels with no doors and windows. At the back there is a long seat for about three people to sit on.
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Thai Kites - In Thailand, there are many different kinds of kites such as star-shaped and diamond shaped. The best time of the year to play is in March. Many people go to Sanam Luang in Bangkok to fly kites or to watch kite fighting.
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Thai Monks - Every man in Thailand has to be a monk when they come to the age of 20. Thai men believe that it is one important way to make merit for their parents. Also, it will help their parents go to the heaven after they die.
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Thai Farmers - The farmer in Thailand is an important occupation that goes back hudreds of years. The farmers are the backbone of the country and rice is our staple diet.
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Grand Palace - It is a place that our King and Queen are staying. It is a huge place and it is very beautiful. This is the most popular tourist attraction in our country. The tourists that come to Thailand should come to visit here.
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Wai - Every Thai person knows how to Wai. It is the name of how to pay respect in Thai. It is our culture, we have done it for a long time. We use it to pay respect to each other when we meet or leave.
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Elephant - It is all over Thailand. The most elephants are in Surin Province. It is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Thailand. Most tourists go there to ride on the elephant through the jungle.
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Buffalo - It is an important animal for the farmers because they use the buffalo to plough the paddy.
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Rice - Thailand is an agricultural country. Rice is the most important thing for Thai people. Everyone in Thailand has rice as the main food.
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Thai Silk - The handmade silk is one of the export things of Thailand. It is very beautiful and famous all over the world. Thai silk is always weaved from the real silkworm.
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Takraw - The famous sport of Thailand. Thai people in the old time liked to play Takraw. We are one of the countries that play Takraw very well. Sometimes we are the winner of the Asian Game.
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Thai Chess - It has been well-known in our country for long time. It is the game that needs a lot of patience and planning the same as war. Thai chess is different from the world chess.
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Thai Traditional Clothes
Lots of people have been asking me about what kind of clothes Thai people wear. We have our traditional clothes but we do not really wear them often. We only wear them for special days like Songkran, Father's day, Mother's day, Loy Krathong etc. For normal days, Thai men wear suits to work. Thai children wear uniform to school. At the weekend we wear normal clothes like other countries. For example jeans and T-shirt. I think most Thai traditional clothes are made from silk. The pictures below are of teachers and students at my old school.
Hi GTP friends! I hope that you are at home with my simple presentation. Below is a picture that shows me and some groupmates.
From left: Elke, Bob, Me, and Zeny. This was taken in my office.
I am Samuel R. Soliven, 42 years old and live in California, USA. I have been teaching High School Physics since 1992.
As a citizen, I do not only love teaching Physics but also love my culture. I share the importance of understanding my culture. I am interested to know other cultures, too. Thus, I am excited to share with you my culture and how diverse it is.
But wait... Firstly, let me talk about the background of my country. Here it goes:
Britain's American colonies broke with the mother country in 1776 and were recognized as the new nation of the United States of America following the Treaty of Paris in 1783. During the 19th and 20th centuries, 37 new states were added to the original 13 as the nation expanded across the North American continent and acquired a number of overseas possessions. The two most traumatic experiences in the nation's history were the Civil War (1861-65), in which a northern Union of states defeated a secessionist Confederacy of 11 southern slave states, and the Great Depression of the 1930s, an economic downturn during which about a quarter of the labor force lost its jobs. Buoyed by victories in World Wars I and II and the end of the Cold War in 1991, the US remains the world's most powerful nation state. Since the end of World War II, the economy has achieved relatively steady growth, low unemployment and inflation, and rapid advances in technology.
Here is the map of my country.
And our national flag is this.
13 equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom) alternating with white; there is a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner bearing 50 small, white, five-pointed stars arranged in nine offset horizontal rows of six stars (top and bottom) alternating with rows of five stars; the 50 stars represent the 50 states, the 13 stripes represent the 13 original colonies; the blue stands for loyalty, devotion, truth, justice, and friendship; red symbolizes courage, zeal, and fervency, while white denotes purity and rectitude of conduct; commonly referred to by its nickname of Old Glory
note: the design and colors have been the basis for a number of other flags, including Chile, Liberia, Malaysia, and Puerto Rico
In addition, here is the Geography of USA.
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Location
North America, bordering both the North Atlantic Ocean and the North Pacific Ocean, between Canada and Mexico
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38 00 N, 97 00 W
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total: 9,826,675 sq km
country comparison to the world: 3
land: 9,161,966 sq km
water: 664,709 sq km
note: includes only the 50 states and District of Columbia
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about half the size of Russia; about three-tenths the size of Africa; about half the size of South America (or slightly larger than Brazil); slightly larger than China; more than twice the size of the European Union
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total: 12,034 km
border countries: Canada 8,893 km (including 2,477 km with Alaska), Mexico 3,141 km
note: US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba is leased by the US and is part of Cuba; the base boundary is 28 km
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19,924 km
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territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: not specified
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mostly temperate, but tropical in Hawaii and Florida, arctic in Alaska, semiarid in the great plains west of the Mississippi River, and arid in the Great Basin of the southwest; low winter temperatures in the northwest are ameliorated occasionally in January and February by warm chinook winds from the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains
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vast central plain, mountains in west, hills and low mountains in east; rugged mountains and broad river valleys in Alaska; rugged, volcanic topography in Hawaii
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lowest point: Death Valley -86 m
highest point: Mount McKinley 6,194 m
note: the peak of Mauna Kea (4,207 m above sea level) on the island of Hawaii rises about 10,200 m above the Pacific Ocean floor; by this measurement, it is the world's tallest mountain - higher than Mount Everest, which is recognized as the tallest mountain above sea level
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coal, copper, lead, molybdenum, phosphates, rare earth elements, uranium, bauxite, gold, iron, mercury, nickel, potash, silver, tungsten, zinc, petroleum, natural gas, timber
note: the US has the world's largest coal reserves with 491 billion short tons accounting for 27% of the world's total
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arable land: 18.01%
permanent crops: 0.21%
other: 81.78% (2005)
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230,000 sq km (2008)
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3,069 cu km (1985)
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total: 477 cu km/yr (13%/46%/41%)
per capita: 1,600 cu m/yr (2000)
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Let me present to you the diversity of our people.
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noun: American(s)
adjective: American
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white 79.96%, black 12.85%, Asian 4.43%, Amerindian and Alaska native 0.97%, native Hawaiian and other Pacific islander 0.18%, two or more races 1.61% (July 2007 estimate)
note: a separate listing for Hispanic is not included because the US Census Bureau considers Hispanic to mean persons of Spanish/Hispanic/Latino origin including those of Mexican, Cuban, Puerto Rican, Dominican Republic, Spanish, and Central or South American origin living in the US who may be of any race or ethnic group (white, black, Asian, etc.); about 15.1% of the total US population is Hispanic
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English 82.1%, Spanish 10.7%, other Indo-European 3.8%, Asian and Pacific island 2.7%, other 0.7% (2000 census)
note: Hawaiian is an official language in the state of Hawaii
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Protestant 51.3%, Roman Catholic 23.9%, Mormon 1.7%, other Christian 1.6%, Jewish 1.7%, Buddhist 0.7%, Muslim 0.6%, other or unspecified 2.5%, unaffiliated 12.1%, none 4% (2007 est.)
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313,232,044 (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 3 |
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0-14 years: 20.1% (male 32,107,900/female 30,781,823)
15-64 years: 66.8% (male 104,411,352/female 104,808,064)
65 years and over: 13.1% (male 17,745,363/female 23,377,542) (2011 est.)
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total: 36.9 years
male: 35.6 years
female: 38.2 years (2011 est.)
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0.963% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 118 |
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13.83 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 148 |
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8.38 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 89 |
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4.18 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 23 |
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urban population: 82% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization: 1.2% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
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New York-Newark 19.3 million; Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana 12.675 million; Chicago 9.134 million; Miami 5.699 million; WASHINGTON, D.C. (capital) 4.421 million (2009)
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at birth: 1.047 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2011 est.)
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24 deaths/100,000 live births (2008)
country comparison to the world: 121 |
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total: 6.06 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 176
male: 6.72 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 5.37 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)
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total population: 78.37 years
country comparison to the world: 50
male: 75.92 years
female: 80.93 years (2011 est.)
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2.06 children born/woman (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 122 |
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16.2% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 2 |
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2.672 physicians/1,000 population (2004)
country comparison to the world: 49 |
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3.1 beds/1,000 population (2008)
country comparison to the world: 73 |
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improved:
urban: 100% of population
rural: 94% of population
total: 99% of population
unimproved:
urban: 0% of population
rural: 6% of population
total: 1% of population (2008)
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improved:
urban: 100% of population
rural: 99% of population
total: 100% of population
unimproved:
urban: 0% of population
rural: 1% of population
total: 0% of population (2008)
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0.6% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 64 |
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1.2 million (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 9 |
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17,000 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 18 |
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33.9% (2006)
country comparison to the world: 6 |
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1.3% (2002)
country comparison to the world: 118 |
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5.5% of GDP (2007)
country comparison to the world: 43 |
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definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2003 est.)
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total: 16 years
male: 15 years
female: 17 years (2008)
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total: 17.6%
country comparison to the world: 66
male: 20.1%
female: 14.9% (2009)
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American Culture
Below is the site for you to know more about our culture.
http://www.usastudyguide.com/culture-in-America.htm
American Habits and Customs
http:/
/www.usastudyguide.com/customshabits.htm
From the Land Down Under--- a big hello to all of you!
I'm Rhea Matutino, 18, single and currently a freshman student in University of Western Australia. I love poring into books till wee hours in the morning, im not the typical techie type teenager but i keep myself updated through constant facebooking =)
It is with utmost pride that I introduce to you my beloved country!
Australia (
/əˈstreɪljə/), officially the Commonwealth of Australia,[10] is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans.[N 4] It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area. Neighbouring countries include Indonesia, East Timor, and Papua New Guinea to the north; the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, and New Caledonia to the north-east; and New Zealand to the south-east.
For at least 40,000 years[12] before European settlement in the late 18th century, Australia was inhabited by indigenous Australians,[13] who belonged to one or more of roughly 250 language groups.[14][15] After discovery by Dutch explorers in 1606, Australia's eastern half was claimed by Great Britain in 1770 and settled through penal transportation to the colony of New South Wales from 26 January 1788. The population grew steadily in subsequent decades; the continent was explored and an additional five self-governing Crown Colonies were established.
On 1 January 1901, the six colonies federated, forming the Commonwealth of Australia. Since Federation, Australia has maintained a stable liberal democratic political system which functions as a federal parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy. The federation comprises six states and several territories. The population of 22.7 million is heavily concentrated in the Eastern states and is highly urbanised.
A highly developed country, Australia is the world's thirteenth largest economy and has the world's sixth-highest per capita income. Australia's military expenditure is the world's twelfth largest. With the second-highest human development index globally, Australia ranks highly in many international comparisons of national performance, such as quality of life, health, education, economic freedom, and the protection of civil liberties and political rights.[16] Australia is a member of the G20, OECD, WTO, APEC, UN, Com
OUR FLAG
The flag of Australia is a defaced Blue Ensign: a blue field with the Union Flag in the canton (upper hoist quarter), and a large white seven-pointed star known as the Commonwealth Star in the lower hoist quarter. The fly contains a representation of the Southern Cross constellation, made up of five white stars – one small five-pointed star and four, larger, seven-pointed stars.
The flag's original design (with a six-pointed Commonwealth Star) was chosen in 1901 from entries in a worldwide competition held following Federation, and was first flown in Melbourne on 3 September 1901; [1] this date has been proclaimed as Australian National Flag Day. [2] A slightly different design was approved by King Edward VII in 1902. Over the next few years, the exact specifications of the flag were changed several times both intentionally and as a result of confusion. The current specifications were formally gazetted in 1934, and in 1954 the flag became recognised by, and legally defined in, the Flags Act 1953, as the "Australian National Flag"
GOVERNANCE
Australia is a constitutional monarchy with a federal division of powers. It uses a parliamentary system of government with Queen Elizabeth II at its apex as the Queen of Australia, a role that is distinct from her position as monarch of the other Commonwealth realms. The Queen resides in the United Kingdom, and she is represented by her viceroys in Australia, (the Governor-General at the federal level and by the Governors at the state level), who by convention act on the advice of her ministers. Supereme executive authority is vested by the constitution of Australia in the sovereign, but the power to exercise it is conferred by the constitution specifically to the Governor-General.[79][80] The most notable exercise of the Governor-General's reserve powers outside a Prime Minister's request was the dismissal of the Whitlam Government in the constitutional crisis of 1975.[81]
The federal government is separated into three branches:
GEOGRAPHY AND CLIMATE
Australia's landmass of 7,617,930 square kilometres (2,941,300 sq mi)[116] is on the Indo-Australian Plate. Surrounded by the Indian[N 4] and Pacific oceans, it is separated from Asia by the Arafura and Timor seas. The world's smallest continent[117] and sixth largest country by total area,[118] Australia—owing to its size and isolation—is often dubbed the "island continent",[119] and is sometimes considered the world's largest island.[120] Australia has 34,218 kilometres (21,262 mi) of coastline (excluding all offshore islands),[121] and claims an extensive Exclusive Economic Zone of 8,148,250 square kilometres (3,146,060 sq mi). This exclusive economic zone does not include the Australian Antarctic Territory.[122] Excluding Macquarie Island, Australia lies between latitudes 9° and 44°S, and longitudes 112° and 154°E.
MY BELOVED SCHOOL
The University of Western Australia (UWA) is recognised internationally as a leading university.
Our ground-breaking research, quality academic staff and state-of-the-art facilities combine to offer a vibrant student experience.
As Western Australia's leading university, UWA was rated second overall in Australia by the Good Universities Guide 2011 based on key performance measures such as graduate starting salaries, employment prospects, staff qualifications, research intensity and student demand.
The University of Western Australia consistently ranks in the top 120 international universities and in the top 10-18 universities in the Asia-Pacific region.
UWA is the only Western Australian university to belong to the Group of Eight – a coalition of the top research universities in Australia – and it is one of only two Australian universities to belong to the Worldwide Universities Network, a partnership of 16 research-led universities from Europe, North America, North Asia and Australia.
Sitting on the banks of the Swan River, the UWA Crawley Campus is the oldest in Western Australia and among the most picturesque in the nation with its grand sandstone and terracotta buildings sitting among elegant heritage-listed gardens.
- Highest-quality graduates
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UWA graduates are consistently the best in gaining full-time employment when compared to other university graduates in Western Australia and most other Australian universities. UWA students leave with a highly respected qualification and with the skills sought by employers in today's challenging job market.
Coupled with this success is our high-quality intake of students. Western Australia's top-achieving school leavers choose to study at UWA as do high-calibre undergraduate and postgraduate students from around Australia and the world, particularly South-East Asia.
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Our students benefit from the strong knowledge base and experience of teaching staff, many of whom have substantial international experience.
The University's strong foundation in research and teaching creates a scholarly environment which promotes the pursuit and rigorous critical interpretation of new information as well as the acquisition of knowledge.
Apart from regular delivery of information (lectures, tutorials, supervised research, field trips and student placements), the University also provides students with opportunities to apply their knowledge on collaborative projects with business, industry, government and the wider community.
UWA students are also involved in more than 75 student exchange or study abroad programs in North America, Asia and Europe.
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The University has a strong commitment to excellence and this underpins all its activities, particularly in the areas of teaching and research. UWA is responsible for almost 70 per cent of university-based research and development in Western Australia, attracting researchers of international standing, many of whom are working in the numerous research centres at the University. These academic leaders, including Nobel Laureate Professor Barry Marshall, pass on their knowledge and excite students to learn.
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The University thinks globally in preparing its students to be citizens of the world. Formal agreements with nearly 230 institutions around the world provide a spirit of internationalism and these partnerships promote a lively exchange of staff, students, knowledge and ideas. UWA teaches several programs offshore in Singapore, Hong Kong, Manila and Shanghai.
The University welcomes more than 4500 international students to its academic programs. Our Crawley campus is a multi-cultural and multi-faith community which includes students from 90 different countries.
By reaching out to the world, UWA continues to enhance its reputation as a genuinely international university that is helping our students reach their goals and dreams.
REFERENCES:
http://www.uwa.edu.au/university
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australia
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