What Is Killing the Dead Sea?

August 2, 2023

Industrialization and restricted water flow have led the Dead Sea to shrink, throwing its survival into question.

Dead Sea Shoreline. Jan Helebrant. CC0 1.0

As a landmark of the ancient world, the Dead Sea, which lies between East Jordan and the West Bank, has long been a staple for international travel. Every year, more than 800,000 people travel to the Dead Sea where they can experience the lowest point on earth and the salt lake’s extremely high salinity levels, which allow travelers to float easily on the surface while looking out on the desert’s beauty. While many travelers make the journey for the unique and thrilling experience of floating in the Dead Sea, others journey with the hope that the water will cure health ailments, including chronic skin diseases such as psoriasis and eczema.

The area surrounding the Dead Sea is a place of cultural and religious importance, and has been featured as a sacred site in Islamic, Christian, and Jewish stories. Some Muslims believe that Moses is buried at Nabi Musa, a hilltop mosque off the main road of Jerusalem overlooking the northern edge of the Dead Sea. In Christianity, Jesus’ baptism in the Jordan River was believed to have occurred after he traveled from Galilee down through the Dead Sea. And in the Judean Desert, on a peak overlooking the Dead Sea, sits fortress Masada, a spot in which a community of nearly 1,000 Jewish Israelites committed suicide in A.D. 73 in order to avoid surrender to the Romans.

The Dead Sea is not only an important cultural and historical site, but an environmental one as well. Some 500 million birds, representing about 300 different species, fly through the area during a biannual migration moving from Africa to Europe. And nearby desert mountains serve as home to ibexes and hyraxes.

In recent decades, the Dead Sea has been facing serious environmental dangers that threaten to make it, and the cultural and historic importance it carries, disappear forever. Within the past fifty years, the Dead Sea has shrunk by over a third of its original size, a rate that experts believe may lead it to completely disappear by the year 2050. The changes are already being felt on an annual level in the area, with the sea receding by more than a meter each year.

Increased Industrialization

Dead Sea Sinkhole. Ziva & Amir. CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

For generations, the Dead Sea was maintained by a careful equilibrium in which evaporation was offset by fresh water coming in from nearby streams and rivers. However, in the 1960s, a massive pumping station built by Israel on the banks of the Sea of Galilee re-directed the flow of water. Fresh water from the upper part of Jordan that had been feeding into the Dead Sea was moved into a pipeline to supply water across Israel. It and other industrial projects have led the Dead Sea to receive only about 5% of its original water inflow.

With these fresh water lines being redirected, the Dead Sea has been unable to make up for its high evaporation rates. Today, it receives only about 10% of the 160 billion gallons of water it would need annually to maintain its current size.

Sinkholes

Erosion of the land surrounding the Dead Sea and limited water flow has led to the creation of dangerous sinkholes in the surrounding area.

When underground salt deposits caused by receding salt water combine with fresh water from flash floods, the salt deposits dissolve, and form a kind of cavern that eventually causes the ground to collapse. Reaching depths of over 30 feet, sinkholes surrounding the Dead Sea pose a danger to surrounding communities and farmlands. Today, locals of communities must avoid the over 3000 sinkholes on the western side of the Dead Sea.

Cosmetics

Another potential major source of harm to the Dead Sea lies with the cosmetic industry and beauty products that have been built around the Dead Sea’s mineral supply. The Dead Sea cosmetics market has grown to a massive industry, valued by Allied Market Research at $723.00 million in 2021, with predicted growth to $2.6 billion by 2031.

Al-Haq, a Palestinian human rights organization, is seeking to combat the exploitation of the Dead Sea’s natural resources. In their 2012 report labeled, “Pillage of the Dead Sea”, al-Haq brought attention to the exploitation of Palestinian land and natural resources by the Israeli government and the resulting environmental damage.

A major player in the Dead Sea cosmetics industry is Ahava Dead Sea Laboratories. The company, which began in 1988, has annual sales at almost $150 million.

In its report, al-Haq advocates for the restrictions from the European Union on Israeli products from Israeli settlements in Palestine as well as for the Israeli government to withdraw the mud mining permission that was granted to Ahava Dead Sea Laboratories in 2004. The group also demands that private cosmetic companies provide more information about the origins of their products and their environmental impact in order to allow consumers to make better informed decisions.

Get Involved

In the wake of an ecological crisis, environmental organizations are working to bring awareness and protection to the issues facing the Dead Sea. Founded in 1994, EcoPeace Middle East brings together Jordanian, Palestinian, and Israeli environmentalists in order to coordinate their activism. The organization is working to protect the Dead Sea with a three step plan of action: inclusion of the Dead Sea as a UNESCO World Heritage site, creating a rehabilitation plan to replace the water flow that has been diverted from the Jordan River, and ensuring that the Israeli government places a public trust obligation on companies that receive concessions to extract Dead Sea minerals.

Jessica Blatt graduated from Barnard College with a degree in English. Along with journalism, she is passionate about creative writing and storytelling that inspires readers to engage with the world around them. She hopes to share her love for travel and learning about new cultures through her work.

The Game of Activism: The Impact of 6 FIFA Women’s World Cup Players

August 2, 2023

From record-breaking seasons and legendary careers to equal pay activism and supporting girls in sport, these six women are proof that you really can do it all.

Players from the Norwegian and Dutch women’s football teams battle it out on the pitch. Ailura. CC BY-SA 2.0

By far the world’s most popular sport, soccer is enjoyed by over a billion players and spectators. International events such as the Europa League Championship and of course the quadrennial FIFA World Cup draw incredible crowds both in person and digitally, uniting the world in patriotic pride and love for a beautiful game. This year, soccer fans have once again been drawn together by the 9th edition of the FIFA Women’s World Cup, considered to be the biggest women’s sporting event in the world, with more than 30 nations competing during July and August in stadiums across Australia and New Zealand. The importance of this event for advancing and promoting professional female athletes and tournaments, both in soccer and otherwise, can not be understated, especially with equal pay and female representation being such hot button issues in today’s social discourse. As such, in addition to achieving the celebrity of household name status, many of the athletes playing in this year’s tournament are also avid activists when not on the pitch. Here are six Renaissance women to keep an eye out for during the game.

1. Marta, Brazil

Soccer legend Marta taking a penalty against South Korea at the World Cup in 2015. Phillippe Bouchard. CC BY-NC 2.0

This mononymous veteran of the game is playing in her sixth Women’s World Cup this year at 37 years of age. Marta is widely considered to be among the greatest female footballers of all time, as a two-time Olympic medallist, six-time recipient of the FIFA World Player of the Year award and record holder for the most goals in any men’s or women’s World Cup with 17 to her name. In addition to her role as a star player in Brazilian national women’s team, Marta plies her trade for the Orlando Pirates in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL). When not scoring goals, she is a strong proponent for increasing female participation in sport and champions equal opportunities for girls to get active from a young age. In July 2018, she was appointed UN Women Goodwill Ambassador for women and girls in sport and has continued to further gender equality and female empowerment, encouraging girls to pursue their dreams and overcome barriers in sport. She was also appointed Sustainable Development Goals Advocate to the UN in May of 2019 and has since worked to raise awareness and call for greater global commitment to achieving the project’s targets by 2030. All of this goes to show that Marta’s footballer status as the GOAT applies to her activism as well.

2. Sam Kerr, Australia

Sam Kerr is considered Australia’s greatest hope at a World Cup title this year. Adam Davy. CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

You might know her for her iconic backflip goal celebration, but Australia’s Sam Kerr has accrued an impressive number of accolades since debuting internationally at the age of 15. She was named Australian Sports Personality of the Year in 2017, and won the NWSL’s Golden Boot award both that year and the following one. Kerr was also nominated for FIFA’s Best Player Award in 2018, and has been nominated for the Ballon d’Or Féminin four times. In short, fans have big expectations for the Australian captain, especially since the World Cup is on her home turf. As determined as she is to cinch the gold, she has also been equally dogged with her support of LGBTQ+ rights, and has been a role model to countless young women and girls as an openly gay athlete, spearheading The Matildas’ partnership with Sydney WorldPride just earlier this year. She spoke publicly for the first time about her new relationship with fellow Sky Blue FC player Nikki Stanton in a pre-World Cup sponsorship video for Nike, and pushed back against the incredible number of hateful comments she received in the aftermath. Kerr continues to speak publicly about her sexuality and the importance of being proud and passionate about who she is in an effort to inspire a sense of community among LGBTQ+ athletes.

3. Asisat Oshoala, Nigeria

Asisat Oshoala playing at the Champions League tournament in 2019 for FC Barcelona. Steffen Prößdorf. CC BY-SA 2.0

Asisat Oshoala is definitively the most successful African female footballer in history, and she is only 28 years old. Aside from being the first African woman to both score in and win the UEFA Women’s Champions League, she is also a two-time nominee for the Ballon d’Or and five-time winner of the African Women’s Footballer of the Year award. After playing at a club level in England, China and Spain, Oshoala joined FC Barcelona in 2019 and has quickly risen the ranks to become a key player on the team. As such, the star forward is acutely aware of how her story has inspired many girls that share her ethnic and religious background. In 2015, Oshoala created her namesake foundation in partnership with Women Win of Germany and Nike that runs a number of sport, humanitarian and educational initiatives for girls across Africa. The most prominent is the Asisat Oshoala Academy, which provides tri-weekly football training sessions for young girls in marginalized communities across Africa. As an ambassador for Nike, Oshoala also founded the Football4girls tournament in Lagos, Nigeria, an annual occurrence which brings together teams from schools across the country to compete for a significant cash prize. Oshoala’s talent and passion for her sport is undeniable, rivaled only by her dedication to social work.

4. Ada Hegerberg, Norway

Ada Hegerberg celebrates on the pitch with her Lyon club team. Steffen Prößdorf. CC BY-SA 2.0

When on the pitch, Norwegian soccer legend Ada Hegerberg plays for both Olympique Lyon in France’s Division 1 Féminine league and Norway’s national team. At just 28 years old, Hegerberg is the all-time highest scorer in the UEFA Women’s Champions League with 59 goals to her name and is also the current record holder for the most goals scored in a UEFA Women’s Champions League season. In 2018, she was the inaugural recipient of the Ballon d’Or Féminin and has been named as BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year twice. Off the pitch, however, Hegerberg is most well known for taking a five year hiatus from the Norwegian national team in protest of the lack of equal pay between the men’s and women’s teams, and the Norwegian Football Federation’s (NFF) poor treatment of female players. Her absence was a huge blow to Norway’s chances of victory, and is recognized as being a significant factor in the NFF’s 2022 decision to give the women’s team equal pay. Hegerberg has also been a vocal supporter of LGBTQ+ rights and raised a rainbow band during a match against New Zealand in June 2022 in solidarity with victims of a shooting at a gay nightclub in the Norwegian capital of Oslo earlier that year. With the rest of the Grasshoppers by her side, Hegerberg will be spearheading Norway’s attack at the World Cup this year.

5. Khadija “Bunny” Shaw, Jamaica

Khadija Shaw is captaining the Reggae Girlz at this year’s World Cup. Jorge Martinez, Mexsport. CC BY-NC 2.0

Khadija Shaw went to her first World Cup at only 21 years of age as part of the first Caribbean team to qualify for a Women’s World Cup, and has returned this year as captain of Jamaica’s national team at the same competition. Khadija, or Bunny as she is affectionately known by her fans, made a smashing debut in Bordeaux back in 2019 tallying a whopping 32 goals in 35 games. She has since continued to build her lead as Jamaica’s all-time leading goal scorer among both the men’s and women’s teams after moving to Manchester City in 2021 where she has also broken the record for most goals scored in a single season. Soon after that fateful World Cup qualification in 2019, however, Shaw took to social media to express her discontentment with the Jamaican Football Federation over not being paid to compete, joining the movement for equal pay rights. She is also a big proponent of encouraging girls to participate in sports, and has been very vocal about the lack of opportunities and role models for young girls in Jamaica and the Caribbean, having faced plenty of challenges in trying to pursue her passion while at home. Shaw and Jamaica’s Reggae Girlz, as the team is fondly known, will be appearing for their second World Cup this year in the hopes of inspiring even more funding and investment in grassroots soccer initiatives in Jamaica.

6. Megan Rapinoe, USA

Megan Rapinoe on the victory tour with the US Women’s National Team in 2019. Lorie Shaull. CC BY-SA 2.0

No list of women soccer players is complete without the iconic colorful-haired Megan Rapinoe. At 38 years of age, Rapinoe is a two-time World Cup champion, an Olympic gold medallist and has also won both the Best FIFA Women’s Player award and the coveted Ballon d’Or Féminin in 2019. She first made headlines in activism when she joined fellow athlete Colin Kaepernick in kneeling during the American National Anthem, which she followed up soon after in her role as an extremely outspoken proponent of the successful fight for equal pay in American soccer led by the US Women’s National Team. Rapinoe has also been a notable critic of the overturning of Roe v. Wade last year, and has publicly called on the Supreme Court to support abortion rights. As one of, if not the most, popular American women’s soccer players of our time, many will be showing their support for Rapinoe after her announcing that this World Cup will be her last, as she plans to retire at the end of the NWSL season. Given her extensive involvement in a variety of activist movements, however, there is no doubt that she will continue to remain involved in the sport even after she leaves the pitch.

Tanaya Vohra

Tanaya is an undergraduate student pursuing a major in Public Health at the University of Chicago. She's lived in Asia, Europe and North America and wants to share her love of travel and exploring new cultures through her writing.

Escape the Heat with Cold Foods from Around the World

August 2, 2023

See how diverse culinary traditions have responded to scorching weather.

As summer enters its dog days, it is not uncommon for people to seek sanctuary within the cool confines of air conditioned rooms. Another strategy trades atmospheric meddling for culinary delights — beating the heat through the sheer pleasure of cool, refreshing dishes. While the temptation of piping hot meals, freshly baked and steaming, is undeniable, the relentless heat can dampen our enthusiasm to partake in such feasts. This is precisely where the enchanting world of chilled cuisine steps in, ready to satiate our taste buds when summer overwhelms the northern hemisphere. Join us as we delve into this captivating culinary realm of cold delights.

1. Gelato—Italy

When it comes to chilly delights, there's a particular taste that's impossible to miss — sweetness. Picture yourself relishing an assortment of ice cream flavors, skillfully combined with frozen fruits, cream, and sugar, once you've completed an exciting adventure at a theme park that leaves your T-shirt saturated with sweat. Scientifically, it has been established that the consumption of sweetness amplifies dopamine levels, thus it's only logical for people around the world to use frozen confections to conquer the scorching heat.

The origins of relishing icy delights on sweltering summer days can be attributed to ancient times, when Arabians devised a method of combining snow with syrups to combat the scalding temperatures. It was through the travels of an Arab trader that this innovative recipe found its way to Italy, where it underwent further refinement with the addition of dairy, fruit juice, and sugar. This culinary transformation ultimately led to the creation of Gelato, a frozen delight that has become a firm favorite among Italians, its name simply meaning “frozen” in Italian.

Gelato with multiple flavors. Bruce Stokes. CC BY-NC-SA 2.0.

While Gelato has a long history, dating back to the 16th century when an Italian inventor first served it at the table of the Spanish King, its global recognition came about during the industrialization of food production, including ice cream, during World War II. It was during this time that Gelato gained widespread popularity. In 1940, a breakthrough occurred with the invention of a new gelato machine by technician and designer Bruto Carpigiani. This innovation transformed gelato from a homemade, artisanal treat to one of the most beloved deserts worldwide.

To truly experience the authentic taste of Gelato, it is important to appreciate the differences between it and similar frozen delicacies you may be more familiar with. In contrast to American ice cream, good Gelato contains less milk fat and incorporates less air, resulting in a denser and creamier texture. Additionally, although the desert is known for its vibrant colors, it is worth mentioning that Gelato made with fresh fruit tends to have a more natural hue. For instance, a pistachio Gelato should have a delicate brown shade instead of a bright green color.

2. Kakigori—Japan

Matcha Awayuki Kakigori. City Foodsters. CC BY 2.0.

In Japan, frozen sweet desserts take on a unique form in the dish known as Kakigori. These towering mounds of shaved ice, generously adorned with a variety of fruit syrups like strawberry, melon and lemon, and garnishes that can be whole deserts in themselves such as mochi and sweetened red beans, offer a delightful crunchiness that sets them apart from Western ice cream. Resembling freshly fallen snow in texture, Kakigori has become an essential part of the Japanese summer dinner table.

The history of Kakigori can be traced back a thousand years, as it finds mention in classic Japanese literature. According to the renowned author Sei Shonagon, in a time before refrigeration, people would diligently gather fresh snow and ice during the winter season, carefully preserving it in specially designed storehouses. They would then transform this frozen treasure into delightful icy treats during the scorching summer months. What was once a highly valued luxury has in modern times become a spoonful of joy accessible to the masses. Today, Kakigori is commonly served in bowls, allowing for a generous amount of toppings and syrups to be piled high, eagerly savored with a spoon.

3. Air Mata Kucing—Malaysia

Longan Drink. Insatiablemunch. CC BY 2.0.

Alongside enjoying delectable, frozen treats, why not uplift your spirits on a summer day with a refreshing cup of frozen drink? Drinks like Tinto de Verano and Aguas Frescas offer a delightful twist to beat the heat. Take, for example, Air Mata Kucing in Malaysia, a beverage that has gained acclaim as the planet’s sixth most delicious drink according to CNN.

This drink becomes an absolute must-try when the scorching weather increases the risk of infectious diseases. What makes it even more appealing is its combination of fantastic taste and nutritional value. Air Mata Kucing is prepared using dried monk fruit as a natural sweetener, fresh winter melon that is peeled and grated, rinsed dried longan pulp, dried snow fungus/white fungus, sugar, and water.

The ingredients used in Air Mata Kucing, namely monk fruit and longan, offer a multitude of health benefits due to their anti-inflammatory and antibiotic properties. When the winter melon is grated, it lends a smooth and refreshing sensation as the ice melts tantalizingly on your tongue. This unique combination of flavors, coupled with the drink's mild sweetness and cooling effect, has propelled Air Mata Kucing to become one of the top-selling drinks in Malaysia.

Stall selling Air Mata Kucing situated in Petaling Street. Neoluap. CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

In particular, a bustling stall situated in Petaling Street, Kuala Lumpur, has gained a reputation for serving this beloved drink, attracting eager patrons who happily queue up for a chance to savor its refreshing taste.

4. Lassi—India

For those who hold a deep appreciation for dairy-based delicacies, Lassi from India presents itself as an unmissable experience — an age-old smoothie that has stood the test of time. Among its various renditions, Mango Lassi takes center stage as a traditional Indian drink hailing from the regions of Punjab and Multan.

The roots of Lassi stretch back to ancient Indian texts dating as far as 1000 BC, where its blended yogurt concoction was celebrated for its gentle effect on the stomach and its digestive benefits. The recipe for lassi remains elegantly simple: a silky, chilled fusion of yogurt, combined with water, fruit, sugar, and a blend of spices tailored to your taste. While lassi has found its way into the menus of Indian and Pakistani restaurants worldwide, it remains an invigorating remedy for those toiling under the sweltering North Indian sun, where the mercury can surge above 100 degrees.

5. Gazpacho—Spain

Gazpacho in summer. Marco Verch Professional photographer. CC BY 2.0.

Not in the mood for something sweet? Don't worry, the world also offers a variety of delectable savory options to keep you cool and satisfied! During hot summer days when appetite may be diminished, traditional hot meals can be replaced with an array of dishes that are best enjoyed cold. Imagine indulging in a refreshing cold soup packed with juicy vegetables and crisp flavors — an appetizing treat for your taste buds.

Gazpacho, widely known as the “Spanish chilling soup,” stands as an iconic cold dish that perfectly embodies the essence of summer. Originating from the Andalusian region, an autonomous community in Spain, Gazpacho is traditionally enjoyed chilled, featuring a blend of olive oil, peppers, vinegar, onions, garlic, bread, and water. This refreshing soup, often adorned with diced vegetables or croutons, and occasionally accompanied by hard-boiled eggs or delectable morsels of Spanish serrano ham, provides a satisfyingly cool respite during the scorching summer months. With its diverse range of regional flavors, Gazpacho's true essence lies in its key ingredient—ripe, juicy tomatoes that are readily available to the public. Serving as a culinary symbol of Spanish gastronomy, this beloved dish not only tantalizes the taste buds but also offers a much-needed source of hydration under the blazing Mediterranean sun.

6. Naengmyeon—Korea

Mul-naengmyeon, Chilled Buckwheat Noodle Soup. KOREA.NET. CC BY-SA 2.0.

On hot days, it is worth noting that many hot dishes also have a refreshing cold variant. One such example is Naengmyeon, a chilled noodle dish that is served with actual ice to make sure it stays cool. Tangy, spicy and delightfully chewy, this noodle dish originated as a delicacy in northern Korea, before the country’s twentieth century division. Naengmyeon comes in different forms, including a version served in a watery radish kimchi broth with ice, another featuring savory buckwheat noodles submerged in a cold and clean-tasting broth and a third made with chewy noodles overlaid with a spicy sauce. The noodles are typically garnished with sliced cucumbers, Korean pears, pickled radishes, boiled beef and boiled eggs, adding a burst of flavors and textures. Interestingly, while one may crave cold dishes during the summer, the ancient belief in “Food being medicine and medicine being food” led to the creation of cold noodles, originally consumed during winter. These noodles had a cooling effect, which in turn was thought to stimulate the body's own heat generation.

7. Poke Bowl—Hawaii

Poke Bowl at The Baron, Castle Hill. Surtr. CC BY-SA 2.0.

Finally, for city dwellers and those seeking to maintain a healthy lifestyle, the Poke bowl needs no introduction — a beloved and straightforward dish featuring diced seafood, typically tuna, marinated in a delightful mixture of soy sauce and sesame oil, then tossed with onions. With roots in Hawaii, the term “poke” is simply the Hawaiian verb for cutting something into cubes,” reflecting the traditional technique used to prepare this culinary delight. Freshly chopped tuna and various other fish have long been cherished by Hawaiian fishermen, providing nourishment for themselves and their community. Given the islands’ location in the middle of the Pacific Ocean and the vast distances separating them from other substantial land masses, seafood represents an indispensable source of protein for the Hawaiian community. As Poke has gained immense popularity beyond its native islands, the number of Hawaiian restaurants listed on Foursquare, including those offering poke, doubled between 2014 and mid-2016. The subject of rapid evolution, the Poke bowl has seen delightful variations emerge. Creamy avocado, tangy ponzu sauce, savory teriyaki sauce, earthy mushrooms with a kick, zesty sriracha sauce, aromatic cilantro, and refreshing pineapple or cucumber — all these additions contribute to the savory diversity of this increasingly popular dish.

Whether it is the refreshing feel of ice or the savory delights of gazpacho soup, the invention of cold food remains a testament to human creativity. Using these culinary marvels to conquer the heat demonstrates our ability to transform even the most scorching weather, which lies beyond our control, into occasions of pure delight in which people can gather and revel in the pleasure of shared food experiences. Moreover, the preservation and spread of cold food exemplifies how technological progress has allowed us to pursue food not only as a means of nourishment, but also as a source of pleasure and culinary artistry.

Hope is a Chinese international student at Wake Forest University in North Carolina studying sociology, statistics, and journalism. She dreams of traveling around the globe as a freelance reporter while touching on a wide range of social issues from education inequality to cultural diversity. Passionate about environmental issues and learning about other cultures, she is eager to explore the globe. In her free time, she enjoys cooking Asian cuisine, reading, and theater.

Why You Should Visit the Makah Tribe on the Coast of Washington State

August 2, 2023

Visiting this region offers a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in a rich Indigenous culture that dates back thousands of years.

View from Cape Flattery Bluff. Manuel Bahamondez H. CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

The Makah Tribe's reservation, resting on the extreme northwest tip of Washington State, boasts an ethereal landscape and thriving cultural practices. The land and the Tribe's community inspire and nurture ongoing engagement with nature and rich family connections. Despite its remote location, accessible by a single, winding route, the rich culture and natural beauty of this community offer a magical experience for curious travelers.

The reservation sits at the farthest point north and west in the continental United States, cradled between gentle hills covered by tall Douglas Fir, Sitka Spruce, and Western Red Cedar trees on one side and the rugged Pacific coastline on the other. In the wake of a century-long fight against colonization the Makah continue to protect their sovereignty through the teaching of their Indigenous language, the celebration of cultural rituals and artifacts in their local museum and schools, and the preservation of the tribe’s traditional and sustainable reliance on native plants and animal species. The Tribe welcomes visitors from near and far to reflect on the reservations’ deep culture and lush natural landscapes. Hiking, surfing, and other outdoor activities are easily accessible from this scenic location and cultural hub. Visiting the Makah Tribe offers a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in a rich Native American culture that dates back thousands of years. The stunning natural beauty surrounding the Makah Tribe, including picturesque beaches and rugged cliffs, provides a breathtaking backdrop for your visit.

Sunset on First Beach. Jaisril. CC-BY-NC-ND 2.0

Generation after generation, the fabric of the Tribe’s community is woven through its cultivation of the natural world and artistic endeavors. Today, a significant number of Makah individuals thrive as artists, making a living through the sale of intricately crafted goods which are sold to galleries, shops, and collectors across the globe. A major source of income comes from the exportation of these artistic goods and is a key element of the Tribe’s livelihood. Carvings and masks in particular are a distinct feature of Makah art and have garnered the attention of tourists and art sellers alike for generations. The pieces often feature animals that hold deep cultural importance to the Makah. Whales, salmon, halibut, ravens, eagles, otters, herons, and wolves are commonly depicted in these designs. Each carving tells a story, chronicling the rich narratives of the origins and struggles which are passed down through generations within the community and amongst families.

The Makah are highly skilled woodworkers, capable of fashioning a wide array of items from the trees that thrive in their surrounding forests. While western red cedar is most frequently used, you can also find artists working with alder, yew, and spruce. Carvings range in size, from intricate jewelry to grand ocean-worthy canoes and towering totems. The incorporation of nature imagery and the sourcing of natural materials reinforces and honors the Makah’s reverence for their lands and waters.

Example of Makah style art. A. Davey. CC-BY-NC-ND 2.0

Long before the advent of written language, the tribe used dance, song, and storytelling to receive and retain intergenerational knowledge. These melodic traditions are shared and reinforced on various occasions, including weddings, naming ceremonies, memorials, and other family or community celebrations. The Makah reservation museum hosts a compelling collection of artifacts, information guides, as well as a garden with plants labeled with the native language and traditional uses.

For instance, the tribe once maintained five, thriving and permanent villages: Waatch, Sooes, Deah, Ozette and Bahaada. Their ancient way of life began to shift in the late 1770s, when Spanish explorers first settled in and around Neah Bay in 1779. The Spanish and other European groups were eager to exploit the natural resources of the Makah's land and brought in non-Indigenous modes of technology, among the most important of which were guns. The exploitation of the land's natural resources resulted in extinction of native plants and animals (e.g., otters and whales). Not only did the Europeans bring new technologies, they brought diseases, such as smallpox and measles, which plagued the less resistant indigenous communities. The Tribe's traditional ways of life were disrupted, and its inter-generational familial and domestic structures were gravely impacted as a result of death and the loss of land ownership. In the winter of 1855, Makah leaders and the American government signed theTreaty of Neah Bay, which stipulated that the Tribe give up ownership of much of its land, with the exception of rights for certain Indigenous practices, such as whaling, seal hunting, and fishing. The Makah were forced to cope with changes and shift to a more European lifestyle. In exchange, the United States government promised to provide public education and health care. To this day much of the tribe’s coastlines and forests are still under shared jurisdiction with the National Parks Service and the United States Government.

Makah Whale Hunting Ceremony. U.S. Forest Service- Pacific Northwest Region. CC0

As with so many Indigenous tribes across the country, the Makah have resisted the pull of corporate behemoths endeavoring to exploit the natural resources and cultural traditions that rightfully belong to the tribes. These tribes have fought to ensure their histories are not just archived but are alive and flourishing. One of the best ways to protect the ongoing strength of these communities is to visit these places and engage respectfully with the work and lifestyles of the Indigenous peoples, and to listen to and learn their histories.

A rising junior at Vassar College in New York State, Avery is a Media Studies and French double major. She is an avid reader, writer, and traveler. She loves to immerse herself in new cultures and is an avid explorer who loves being in nature. She is passionate about climate and social justice and hopes to use her love of writing as a catalyst for positive change.

How Malaria Might Make a Comeback in the US

July 28, 2023

In order to prevent another pandemic so soon after the last one, US authorities need to stop this new malaria outbreak in its tracks.

The female Anopheles mosquito plays host to the disease’s parasite. CC BY-SA 2.0

Over the past two months, seven cases of locally acquired malaria have been identified in the US. These cases, six of which appeared in Florida and one in Texas, have drawn significant attention as the first time in 20 years the disease has been transmitted domestically. At present, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported that all five patients have received medical treatment and are recovering positively, and that the risk of malaria reappearing in a more widespread epidemic across the U.S. is extremely low. That being said, this is a good reminder for those in charge of American public health infrastructure to reflect on how best to shore up national defenses, especially in the wake of the recent Covid-19 pandemic.

Malaria is caused by parasites, which commonly infect Anopheles mosquitoes, and who in turn transfer the disease to humans when they inject their proboscises into our bloodstreams. There are several species of the malaria parasite, collectively known as Plasmodium, some of which cause more serious cases than others, but all of which require tropical climates to thrive. Regardless of the species, malaria is still extremely serious and symptoms such as high fevers, chills, and nausea begin to manifest in a few weeks. Most worryingly is that malaria, if left untreated, is fatal. As of 2021, the World Health Organization (WHO) believed that a grand total of 247 million cases of malaria occurred around the world, of which 619,000 were fatal. The majority of these deaths were children in various countries in Africa, where malaria is a constant present threat and contributes to a vicious cycle of social and economic poverty, taking a massive toll on countries in already precarious situations.

Malaria awareness in the US during the 1950s. Library of Congress. CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

At the beginning of the 20th century, malaria was considered an extremely serious issue in the US; the CDC was actually founded in 1946 to eliminate the disease. Over the next six years, various public health measures such as insecticide use and window screens were implemented to reduce the 15,000 cases reported in 1947, and in 1951, the CDC finally announced that malaria was in the US no longer. This remained the case for decades, until an incident in 2003 when eight locally acquired cases in Palm Beach, Florida were identified. Fortunately, the outbreak was quickly quashed thanks to an immediate response campaign that completely rid the area of mosquitoes to prevent transmission. Since then, malaria has remained fairly absent from the American healthcare landscape.

It is important to note, however, that malaria has never been completely extinct in the US; prior to the recent COVID-19 pandemic, roughly 2,000 cases of the disease were identified and reported annually in patients who had traveled to countries with high incidences of malaria in Southeast Asia and Africa. Additionally, once infected individuals return to the US, local mosquitos who feed on them can pick up the parasite and spread it further. Every so often, this may result in a small reintroduction of the disease and potentially even some limited transmission, but there has never been any worry of it resulting in a much widespread epidemic.

The malaria parasite pictured under a microscope. Joseph Takahashi Lab. CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

The reason these recent cases received so much attention were that all five were acquired locally within the US, which likely indicates that the parasitic mosquito population has made a resurgence as well. Thankfully, the species of parasite identified to have caused this small outbreak is known to transmit one of the milder forms of the disease, but that in no way detracts from the gravity of the situation. Matters of public health have become much more salient in regular discourse since the COVID-19 pandemic, and with it, some extreme opinions about containing and treating transmissible diseases. While America’s healthcare infrastructure continues to operate in largely the same way as it did during the 2003 outbreak, experts have agreed that public cooperation is now more important than ever if this re-appearance is to be nipped in the bud.

The RTS,S malaria vaccine. TheScientist. CC BY-SA 2.0

One particular area in which this agreement would go a long way, is that surrounding the efficacy of vaccines. In October of 2021, the WHO officially recommended the use of the RTS,S malaria vaccine developed by GlaxoSmithKline to prevent transmission in regions with high incidences of the disease. In addition to being logistically simple to store and administer, trials proved that the vaccine was beneficial to 90% of those treated, a staggering figure in the world of pharmaceutical development. Introducing the vaccine to the U.S. seems like an obvious step to take in the wake of these recent malaria cases, especially given the low price of a single dose at $9.30.

Vaccines have been a hotspot of controversy over the past few years, with many people denouncing both their safety and efficacy as a preventative treatment. Government authorities and healthcare professionals and academics around the world continue to release studies and evidence to show that vaccines are essential to build up individual and population-wide resistance to a variety of diseases, but large groups of the public still remain unconvinced. Among the many lessons and important takeaways from the COVID-19 pandemic, the importance of vaccinations is among the most important, especially in the face of a potential re-emergence of a disease as deadly as malaria.

Tanaya Vohra

On Top of the World: A View From Mount Everest

July 28, 2023

Every year, hundreds brave frost, cliff and hypoxia to ascend the world’s tallest peak.

Climbers going up Mount Everest, Nepal. Sam Levin. CC BY 2.0

In 1953, Sir Edmund Hillary made history by being the first to ascend Mount Everest. His journey was a significant departure from the origins of rock climbing, the earliest evidence of which is found in the remains of cliffside dwellings by Native Americans and archaeological burial caves in Mustang, Nepal.

Today, mountaineering has become a popular competitive sport and means of exploring the natural world, with about 800 people attempting the dramatic climb to Everest’s summit each year. Expeditions are reliant on Nepal’s weather, with the best season typically occurring in April and May, before the monsoon, when avalanches are less common. September can also be a good month, but by October the onset of winter storms restricts climbing once again.

The ascent up Mount Everest utilizes a technique called siege climbing, in which climbers establish a series of camps along their route and sleep at the camp just below them, a technique that helps climber’s bodies more easily acclimate to the elevation.

Sherpas on Everest

Sir Edmund Hillary was not alone in his groundbreaking climb. In a fact often ignored in the histories, he was accompanied the whole way by Tenzing Norgay, a Nepali Sherpa mountaineer. As a mountain dwelling people of Nepal, Sherpa’s are known for their knowledge of the mountainous region, and have a long history of maintaining and cultivating the land. In a pattern that dates back to Norgay’s first ascent with Hillary, Sherpas today serve as guides to climbers on Mount Everest, while also working to maintain and safeguard the path.

In addition to acting as guides, Sherpa often provide life-saving assistance to straying climbers. In June 2023, a Nepali sherpa guided a Malaysian climber to safety after discovering the mountaineer in the thick of the “death zone”, facing temperatures dipping below -30 degrees Celsius.

The feats and history of Nepali climbers were extolled in the documentary 14 Peaks, which followed Nepali mountaineer Nimsdai Purja on his journey to summit all 14 of the world's 8,000-meter peaks in just seven months. Purja champions the Sherpa’s bravery and the irreplaceable role they play in maintaining Everest’s safety and accessibility for climbers, as well as their knowledge of and connection to the land.

The Costs of Ascension

The price of climbing Everest has grown steadily with its increasing popularity, and prices in 2023 range between $30,000 to $160,000. The staggering cost includes gear, food, supplemental oxygen, and base camp tents. The support of Sherpa’s is also an important consideration, with the cost of assistance ranging from $2,000 to $5,000.

The financial toll of ascending Mount Everest is commensurate with its physical brutality. The climb up is marked by harsh conditions. Altitudes above 25,000 feet (7,600 meters) are known in the climbing community as the “death zone”, and at 29,029 feet (8,848 meters) high, Mount Everest puts climbers in the thick of life-threatening danger. Some of the greatest threats at such altitudes relate to a lack of oxygen, or hypoxia, which leads to rapid breathing and an increased heart rate. High-altitude cerebral edema, or HACE, can also threaten climbers as the body responds to hypoxia with increased blood flow to the brain, leading to swelling that can bring on hallucinations, a loss of coordination, and the potential of a coma or death induced by brain herniation.

The cost of climbing Everest extends beyond the financial and physical impacts into ecological catastrophe. The world’s tallest summit is now derisively known as the “world’s highest garbage dump.” During the peak season, nearly 500 people make the hike to Base Camp on a daily basis, a physical toll that adds to the erosion of the natural land. Additionally, in the weeks during which they embark to the mountain’s summit, each climber creates roughly 18 pounds or eight kilograms of trash, which include tenting supplies, oxygen containers, and feces.

Mount Everest. Frank Kehren. CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Clean Climbing

The Nepali government, alongside environmental agencies, has been working to preserve and clean up the mountain. In 1976, the Sagarmatha National Park was created as a means of protecting the mountain’s natural terrain and wildlife. It received recognition and protection as a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage site in 1979.

In 2019, the Nepali government launched a campaign to clean up 22,000 pounds or 10,000 kilograms of waste from Everest. Local authorities now require that each climber pays a deposit of $4,000, which is refunded after the individual returns back from their climb with an equal amount of waste as they are predicted to generate during their climb, approximately 18 pounds of garbage per person.

Along with local authorities, third party organizations are also working to preserve the future environmental health of Mount Everest. Launched in 201, the Mount Everest Biogas Project aims to create a solar powered system that turns human waste into fuel.

While irresponsible expeditions can lead to increased pollution, the action of climbing is in itself a kind of homage to the environment. Ascending Everest forces climbers to come face to face with the potential harm that human disruption can have on the environment, while reinforcing the importance of environmental protections and regulations.

With the future environmental health of natural wonders such as Mount Everest at risk, climbing and engaging with nature in an ethical, responsible, and sustainable way can create an important connection between people and the environment. An ascent to the world’s tallest peak can be not only personally enriching, but vital to public perceptions of and future investment in the environment.

A Sustainable Guide to the U.S. Virgin Islands

July 28, 2023

The U.S. Virgin Islands offer a gateway into a world of rich marine life, lush vegetation, and a complicated global history.

It’s Time to Decolonize Healthcare

July 27, 2023

Medicine has a long history of reinforcing colonial stereotypes.

Medical students at their induction ceremony at the University of Minnesota. Anthony Souffle. CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Have you heard that women are 73% more likely to experience serious injuries in a car crash than men? If you are curious as to why, it’s because when designing airbags and other safety features, auto manufacturers use crash-test dummies based on measurements of the average male. These so-called safety precautions are engineered to protect only half of the world’s population. The scariest part, however, is that car manufacturing is not the only industry in which such blatant exclusion and discrimination occur. The practice of medicine, whose sole purpose is to treat and cure people, has recently come under fire for having a foundation rife with antiquated and colonial ideas, upholding social hierarchies that alienate not just women, but people of non-European heritage. The term “decolonizing” here refers to efforts to eliminate these racist, sexist and homophobic ideals that existed during the initial development of the Western Medicine, in favor of methods that recognize and successfully treat the whole, diverse range of patients. This need for a decolonization of healthcare became especially apparent during the COVID-19 pandemic, as African Americans and Hispanic people were twice as likely to have severe cases of the disease as white Americans. Unfortunately, there is no equivalent of the average male crash-test dummy in this case. Western medicine as it is known and applied in many countries around the world has existed for hundreds of years, continuously cementing its elitist and exclusionary ideals.

Protestors in Portland, Oregon during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Spencer Platt. CC BY-SA 2.0

As with most disciplines, medicine is practiced the way it is taught. Exclusionary principles date all the way back to the very origins of the field: even Aristotle described the female body as a mutilated version of the male one. These and other, similar beliefs have trickled down through the years, resulting in the white, heterosexual, able-bodied man being considered the “average” patient, while everyone else is forced to fit the cookie cutter treatments and medical services designed for a fraction of the population. This results in huge gaps in specific medical knowledge about women, people of color and people with disabilities that are often either ignored by the medical community or, more dangerously, are filled by blaming other, unrelated causes.

A prime example of this appears in the controversial condition termed “female hysteria” which, for hundreds of years, has been used by doctors (especially male ones) to label any women’s symptoms or behaviors they did not recognize. Far from being a historical phenomenon, psychology is still used today to brush aside the symptoms of female patients. Dr. Kate Young, a public health researcher from Monash University in Australia, is one of many medical professionals who has published research on how female patients suffering from endometriosis are often referred to as “reproductive bodies with hysterical tendencies,” furthering the harmful idea that women are oversensitive to pain and therefore are more inclined to exaggerate their discomfort.

Improving access to health education is crucial to help female patients deal with medical gaslighting. American Association of Nurse Practitioners. CC BY-SA 2.0

Of course, women are just one of many groups who stand at a systemic disadvantage when receiving medical care and advice, and the effects of racism on the health of people of color and minority populations have been studied extensively for years. In 1992, Professor Arline Geronimus of the University of Michigan proposed a concept called “weathering,” which describes the pattern of early health deterioration among African Americans as the consequences of constant and repeated experiences with socio-political marginalization and discrimination. Almost three decades later, doctors are finally starting to make the connection between this more or less forgotten idea and the disproportionately high incidences for African Americans of high blood pressure, strokes and even colon cancer, along with a host of other conditions.

While contemporary racism, both structural and otherwise, is definitely to blame, we cannot ignore medicine’s long history of excluding Black and Brown bodies in science and research, not to mention medical textbooks, illustrations and even case studies. Historically, the main use of people of color for medical study was as test subjects in unethical experiments, with no intention of using the results to better the medical conditions of these minorities. The Tuskegee Experiments are often the first such example that comes to mind: a study in which American researchers deliberately infected African American men with syphilis under false pretenses, and proceeded to withhold care in order to track the natural progression of the disease. However, other similar “studies” have occurred time and time again, with The Aversion Project singling out LGBTQ+ members of the South African military between 1971 and 1989, or the US government-run Guatemalan syphilis experiments of 1947 which duplicated the Tuskegee study on Guatemalan immigrants to the US. Like female hysteria, the perception that certain people are less deserving of treatment and are therefore more expendable has leached into the modern medical landscape. Fixing such deep-rooted issues will not only require a huge increase in diversity within the medical profession, but also a serious push towards increasing our understanding of how medicine and disease is experienced by a wide range of people.

Nurses in New York advocating for healthcare justice. New York State Nurses Association. CC BY-NC 2.0

Ridding healthcare systems of their colonial foundations will not happen overnight, but there are many individuals and organizations who are working to foster change. Here are a few that you can learn about and support in their efforts to increase diversity and inclusivity in the medical community:

Dr. Annabel Sowemimo: In addition to being a noted doctor and academic, Dr Sowemimo is a prolific activist and writer, especially in regards to reproductive health. She founded the Reproductive Justice Initiative which focuses on reducing health inequalities and also published her first book earlier this year about racism in medicine titled “Divided: Racism, Healthcare, and Why We Need to Decolonize Healthcare.”
Mind The Gap: Founded in late 2019, this project culminated in medical student Malone Mukwende publishing a handbook with staff at St George’s University of London that highlights how a variety of medical conditions present on patients with darker complexions.
Dr. Nadine Caron: As the first female general surgeon of First Nations descent in Canada, Dr. Caron has long been an outspoken advocate for Indigenous people’s rights in both medical practice and research. In 2014, she co-founded the Center for Excellence in Indigenous Health at the University of British Columbia, her alma mater, which focuses on supporting research on Indigenous health.
Advancing Health Equity: Founded in 2019 by Dr Uché Blackstock, an internationally recognized doctor, advocate and speaker, this organization partners with medical institutions and gives professional training on how to provide racially equitable healthcare and medical services.

Tanaya Vohra

Chad is the Country Most Vulnerable to Climate Change

July 27, 2023

In Chad, climate change creates new challenges for an already disadvantaged population.

Humanitarian aid in Chad. EU Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid. CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.

Due to its geography, Chad has experienced a temperature increase of 1.5 times higher than other places in the world. With additional disadvantages of poverty and political conflict, Chad has been ranked as the country most vulnerable to climate change. Here are some of the ways Chad is currently being affected by climate change, as well as current action against this crisis and ways you can help.

Lake Chad

With a surface area of 2.3 million square kilometers, Lake Chad is the country’s reservoir. Climate degradation has taken a toll on this freshwater inland sea over the decades, resulting in its shrinkage of 90 percent within the past 60 years. Not only does this affect the country of Chad itself, but also surrounding nations that rely on Lake Chad, such as Nigeria, Niger, and Cameroon. The increasing lack of this water source reduces the availability of drinking water for both humans and animals, and also impacts irrigation and fishing. Access to clean water is an existing issue in Chad, with only 43 percent of the population able to obtain clean drinking water, forcing many to consume unsafe water that exposes them to diseases like cholera.

Flooding

In sharp contrast to the drought affecting Lake Chad, the rest of this Sahelian Republic has suffered flood damage over the past year, caused by its heaviest rain season in 30 years. In October of 2022, both the Chari and Logone rivers overflowed, causing 18 out of 23 Chadian provinces to flood. This flooding has affected more than 340,000 people, destroying thousands of homes and farmland. Though climate change has caused much drought in Chad, it is also a contributing factor to this flooding. As climate change causes temperatures to rise, it allows for more evaporation from the ground and water sources, leading to extended periods of drought and punctuated by bursts of extreme rainfall.

Illness

Medicine in Faya-Largeau, Chad. Gerhard Holub. CC BY-SA 4.0.

Another way climate change endangers Chadians is by increasing the probability of illness transmission. As mosquitoes are attracted to water, increased flooding could create a greater risk of malaria contraction. In 2022, there were 1.8 million cases of malaria in Chad, with over 2,500 fatalities. Though malaria cases have decreased over the last 20 years due to an increase in treatment and preventative measures, they have been rising within the last decade, with 190 cases per 1,000 at risk in 2014 versus 206 cases per 1,000 in 2021. An uptick in temperatures can also cause a greater risk of meningitis, an illness that is common in Southern Chad, which is part of a region known as the “Meningitis Belt.” Heatstroke is also a danger to Chadian people, as well as malnutrition, as crops are destroyed by drought and flooding. With only 1 in 17 children having access to soap and water to wash their hands with, there is already a public health crisis in Chad, and rising temperatures only exacerbate the problem.

Resolutions

World Food Programme. Anjeli Mendoza. CC BY-SA 4.0.

Chad National Adaptation Plan Advancement Project (NAP)

Launched in 2018, the NAP was created as part of Chad’s national contribution to the Paris Climate Agreement. With this plan, eight areas are prioritized, including environmental subjects such as agriculture, forests, sanitation, water resources, and more. National planning and budgeting are being developed on these fronts, all aiming to improve conditions for the Chadian population.

United Nations (UN)

In April, the United Nations appealed for $674 million for a humanitarian response plan, in order to address climate, health, and food crises in Chad. The Sustainable Development Group of the UN also aims to aid the country in its struggles by helping the government enact national security, humanitarian and economic policies.

World Food Programme (WFP)

The WFP provides nutritional support to infants, young children, and pregnant women in order to combat malnutrition in Chad, helping 458,000 children and 235,400 nursing and pregnant women in 2021. WFP has also provided meals to schoolchildren and helped restore degraded land.

To Get Involved

Click here to donate to the World Food Programme.

Click here to donate to the International Committee of the Red Cross.

Click here to donate to UNICEF.

Alexandra Copeland is a student at The College of New Jersey studying psychology and journalism. She is a lover of coffee, dancing, and visiting new places. Being raised with her Greek culture has inspired her interest in cultural customs around the world. She is a passionate writer and hopes that her work will make an impact in the future.

Uncharted Catwalks: Exploring Up and Coming Fashion Weeks

July 27, 2023

From Dubai to Shanghai, here are a handful of lesser known fashion events making waves in the industry.

Prabal Gurung shows his Fall/Winter collection at New York Fashion Week 2022. IMAXtree. CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

When the first official fashion week took place in 1943 in New York, the event captured countless imaginations and drew the most luxurious crowds. The circumstances of World War II had made it impossible for the American fashion media to travel to Paris and cover the shows happening there, but it just so happened that American fashion was beginning to make a name for itself on the global stage; this was its chance to make a splash. The top American designers were invited to put on shows during “Press Week” in Bryant Park, and thus began the tradition of seven small days jam packed with art, celebrity, models, and of course, fashion. Every year, prestigious brands showcase their upcoming collections for either the spring and summer, or fall and winter seasons in September and February respectively (collections are always shown a season ahead of time). During the month, fashion week events take place consecutively in the “Big Four” capitals of fashion — Milan, Paris, New York, and London — resulting in what industry insiders refer to as fashion month. As the international fashion industry continues to take the world by storm, however, fashion weeks are now taking shape all over the world, no longer limited to the traditional four cities. From Tokyo to Vancouver, Dakar to Bogota, over 100 such events occur every single year, showcasing design and fashion talent unique to each region and culture.

Berlin

Berlin Fashion Week has recently gained a reputation for hosting some of the most underrated fashion shows in the world, given the fame and repute of many of the designers who show during the event. Marc Cain and Laurèl aside, even musical celebrities like Lady Gaga have performed sets on Berlin’s runways. Originating in July 2007, the event takes place annually in front of the city’s iconic Brandenburg Gate and has become critically acclaimed for its ability to showcase up and coming designers. Additionally, Berlin’s fashion weeks tend to have themes such as “Fashion and Technology” or “Fashion and Sustainability” which promote social responsibility and introduce a sense of connectivity between fashion and other industries. This year, Berlin Fashion Week will take place from July 10 to 15, with certain shows and events available to the general public without invitation.

Shanghai

Having emerged as a rising fashion capital in the east, China’s best and brightest designers are all on show at Shanghai Fashion Week. Seeing clothing and outfits that combine haute couture with grunge is common here, as styles from different eras, genres, and genders are mixed seamlessly to produce an almost ethereal collage of textures and materials. While world famous designers like Alexander Wang and Kenzo are mainstays at the event, a barrage of new names like SHUSHU/TONG and Di Du have been carving out a space for themselves as well. In addition to runway shows, this fashion week also hosts a trade fair, in which audiences can get a closer look at some of the designs, amongst other events to round out its offerings. The Fall/Winter shows at Shanghai Fashion Week are scheduled for late September and, as of now, are taking place in person despite the strict COVID-19 measures still in place.

São Paulo

Fashion week events have started popping up all over South America, but São Paulo Fashion Week is by far the most popular. First taking place in 1995, the event has grown to become a focal point of prestige and style outside of the Big Four. Although not global names just yet, many local Brazilian designers, of which Vitorino Campos and Patricia Bonaldi are just two examples, have taken the event by storm and received considerable positive attention from the fashion community. Notably, all of the runway shows that take place during the week are mandated to have at least 10% of their models come from Black or Indigenous backgrounds, thanks to a quota introduced in 2009. While definitely a step in the right direction, many have been calling for an increase in the quota to better reflect the 50% of Brazil’s population with African heritage. Although São Paulo Fashion Week has already come and gone this year, the 2024 offerings promise to be some of the most exciting yet.

Dubai

Given that Dubai is the birthplace of many of the Middle East’s biggest brands and labels, it should come as no surprise that newcomer Dubai Fashion Week is gaining impressive traction. First launched just earlier this year with its first iteration taking place in February, Dubai Fashion Week evolved out of the preexisting Arab Fashion Week, which has been around since 2015. Local designers like Hussein Bazaza and Dima Ayad impress celebrity audiences and critics alike, while internationally renowned brands like Jean Paul Gaultier and Moschino put on shows as guest designers. Because of its recent inception, Dubai Fashion Week is actively accepting applications from brands who would like to show their work, and is uniquely open to hosting designers from all over the world. This year, designers will show their Spring/Summer collections for 2024 between October 10 and 15 (the events are always a season ahead) in the city’s Design District, an area known for its eccentric zeitgeist and unique architecture.

Copenhagen

An undeniable cult favorite, Copenhagen Fashion Week is the biggest such event in Northern Europe and is widely dubbed “the fifth global fashion week.” The very first fashion week in Copenhagen took place in 2006 when two pre-existing Danish clothing fairs, Dansk Modeuge and Dansk Herremodeuge, merged to create this edgy and colorful celebration of style. Uniquely, this event has always held sustainability in the fashion industry as its main focus, as its organizers look for ways to encourage fashion houses and manufacturers to keep the environment in mind during the design and creation processes. In fact, January of 2020 saw the event introduce a three-year Sustainability Action Plan which listed a number of sustainability benchmarks which brands had to achieve. This means brands as established as Ganni and as fresh as Latimmier will have to update their practices in line with the plan to host their shows during the week. The Spring/Summer 2024 iteration of Copenhagen Fashion Week is scheduled to take place from August 7 to 11 this year, with a total of 31 runway shows in addition to other events and presentations.

Tokyo

Tokyo Fashion Week has become synonymous with the epitome of street style, given the eclectic and oftentimes outrageous outfits featured both on and off the runways. While high fashion is certainly on the schedule during the Week, this fashion event is equally famous for the incredible streetwear fashion worn by audience members. With catwalks taking place in a number of equally picturesque and grungy locations around the city, acclaimed designers like Issey Miyake and Junya Watanabe showcase their designs alongside emerging local talent like Chika Kisada and Jotaro Saito. In fact, the Japan Fashion Week Organization launched a Brand Support Program just this past year to encourage and provide economic support for new talent in line with its goal of “being the gateway to global success for new designers.” Tokyo Fashion Week is returning for its Spring/Summer 2024 showings between August 28 and September 2 this year with a variety of shows and art installations for both invited audiences and the public.

Tanaya Vohra

Finding Adventure in Ecuador

July 27, 2023

A country of volcanoes and valleys, Ecuador offers travelers innumerable ways to push their limits and get their hearts racing.

Swing Jumping in Baños, Ecuador. Courtesy of Jeremy Giles.

The above picture is of me jumping into a 100 meter drop from a bridge in Baños, a city bordering the Ecuadorian Amazon. It took me three tries to actually jump; the first two times I stood on the platform, I got scared and had to come down. I probably only ended up jumping because I saw two people go before me and not die. On the third try, I took a deep breath, knowing that if I didn’t jump then I never would, and leaped off. The adrenaline pumped furiously for one of the longest, most terrifying seconds of my life. Then, of course, the line pulled taut and swung me under the bridge, stopping my fall.

Canopy, Baños, Ecuador, Rinaldo Wurglitsch, CC BY 2.0

Baños, however, is more than just a city I jumped off a bridge in. It has the Andes in the West and the Amazon in the East, making it a beautiful space to see the transition between the two, home to both forests and mountains. Even more, it is the Ecuadorian hub for extreme sports. The entire town center is filled with restaurants and travel agencies, each of the latter offering what felt like hundreds of different extreme sports. Later, on the same day I bungee jumped, I went on a beautiful 6 part zipline system called the canopy, where they let you zipline upside down and even hold hands with another rider. I did it with my friend, but I imagine that if you went with a partner it would be quite romantic.

Paragliding in Ecuador, Jsan92, CC BY-SA 4.0

While Baños may be the center of extreme sports in Ecuador, it's hardly the only locale. During my first month in Ecuador I lived in Cumbaya, a suburb outside of the country’s capital Quito. One of the very first things I noticed was the steady stream of paragliders coming from a mountain behind my house. Almost every day over the next month, I’d see a few paragliders in the sky above me. Eventually I got so curious that my host dad walked me to the paragliders’ landing spot. There we learned two important things. First, while this location is good, it is also possible to paraglide on a mountain next to Quito, which is the prime location for the sport and on my bucket list of things to do when I return to Ecuador. Secondly, we saw on the ground below the paragliders a hopeful fiance-to-be had written a marriage proposal. We didn’t stay to see if the proposal was accepted, but I wish them the best of luck.

Chimborazo, Ecuador, André Hübner, CC BY-SA 3.0.

In Ecuador, a country smaller than Colorado, there are 47 volcanoes, 32 of which are on its mainland. The tallest volcano (and mountain) in Ecuador is Chimborazo, whose summit is a 6-9 hour climb, but provides such beautiful vistas as to make the trip well worth the effort. The peak of the volcano, due to the bulge of the Earth around the equator, is the farthest point from the center of the Earth on the planet’s surface. While Chimborazo was thought to be extinct, it has recently been found to be a still-active volcano.

Cotopaxi from Iliniza, Jo Simon, CC BY 2.0.

With that said, there has never been a doubt the Cotopaxi volcano, Ecuador’s second-tallest mountain, is active. Cotopaxi has erupted at least 50 times in the last 300 years. It is perhaps the most popular climbing destination in Ecuador, and towers over Quito, making its amazing views easily accessible.

If you’re interested in these experiences, offers for them can readily be found both on-site and online. Bungee jumping and zip lining in Baños costs about $20-40 per person and the paragliding near my home in Cumbaya was approximately $60-75, although I imagine it would be a bit more in Quito itself. Mountain climbing depends on the mountain and your individual plans.

Jeremy is a Writing Seminars and International Studies major at Johns Hopkins University. He is an avid writer and the Co-Founder of Writers’ Warehouse, Johns Hopkins’ first creative writing group. He is an advocate for Indigenous rights, and studies how Indigenous philosophies can be used to help prevent climate change. Using his writing, he hopes to bring attention to underrepresented voices in today’s world.

Cultural Fusion Around the World

July 27, 2023

From food to music, the mixing of different cultures has influenced some of the world’s most widely enjoyed products and experiences.

5 Easiest Digital Nomad Visas To Qualify For

July 26, 2023

For a lifestyle of working while traveling the world, you will need to qualify for a visa and here are the best countries to do so.

Tropical drink and laptop. Samer Daboul. CC BY 2.0.

Picture this: you’re hustling hard in front of your laptop, but are surrounded by the serene music of waves crashing against the shore, the laughter of strangers and the quiet squawking of birds from a distance. Now wouldn’t that be the kind of life anyone would aspire to achieve?

Thanks to technology and the increasingly connected world, this ideal life is possible! If this is the kind of working situation that you’re envisioning, then becoming a digital nomad may be the perfect solution for you.

Of course, to achieve this lifestyle, you’ll need to first have the right visas in place to legally work in the countries you visit. In this article, we’ll share the five easiest digital nomad visas to qualify for, so you can start planning your next adventure.

Before we get into that, though, let’s first take a deeper dive into the intricacies of digital nomad visas.

What is a digital nomad visa?

A digital nomad visa is a type of visa that allows you to live and work in a foreign country for an extended period of time. These visas are specifically designed for remote workers, freelancers and entrepreneurs who want to work from anywhere.

What’s the difference between a visa and a resident permit?

A visa is a temporary permission to enter and stay in a country, whereas a resident permit is a long-term permission to reside in a country. Visas for digital nomads usually fall under the former category, as they are designed for relatively short-term stays.

Who can be a digital nomad?

Anyone who has a job that can be done remotely can become a digital nomad! Some of the most popular digital nomad jobs include software development, writing, graphic design and online teaching. If location doesn’t matter in your line of work and you’re hungry for adventure, it may be time to look into the digital nomad lifestyle!

How can you stay covered on the road?

Of course, traveling full-time comes with its own set of challenges—like making sure you’re covered when the unexpected happens. That’s where SafetyWing comes in. Their flexible, borderless insurance is designed for digital nomads, covering everything from emergency medical care to travel mishaps. Whether you're navigating Tokyo’s bustling streets or kicking back on a beach in Bali, you can focus on the experience, knowing you’re covered.

What are the easiest digital nomad visas to qualify for?

If you’re itching to work while experiencing a brand new culture or discovering places that will etch themselves into your heart, here are five countries where you can easily be a digital nomad:

The Bahamas

The Bahamas offers a one-year digital nomad visa that is easy to qualify for. To be eligible, you need to prove that you have a job that can be done remotely and that you earn at least $50,000 per year. The application process is straightforward and you can expect to receive your visa within a few weeks.

The average cost of living in the Bahamas can vary depending on your location, but in general, you can expect monthly expenses to range from $2,000 to $3,000. Renting a one-bedroom apartment in a desirable area typically costs around $1,500 to $2,500 per month.

Groceries and dining out can be slightly higher compared to other countries, with a monthly food budget averaging around $400 to $600. However, the stunning natural beauty, warm climate and vibrant culture make the Bahamas an enchanting place to call home while pursuing your digital nomad lifestyle.

For applications, visit Bahamas BEATS.

Malta

Malta’s digital nomad visa is valid for up to one year and is available to remote workers who can earn a minimum monthly income of 2,700 euros (about $3,000) or more. Malta is a popular destination for digital nomads because of its warm climate, beautiful beaches and high standard of living.

The cost of living in Malta can vary depending on your lifestyle and location, but on average, monthly expenses range from $1,350 to $2,000. Renting a one-bedroom apartment in a desirable area typically costs around $900 to $1,350 per month. Groceries and dining out are reasonably priced, with a monthly food budget averaging around $225 to $450.

Visit the Malta Immigration website for more information.

Colombia

Colombia’s digital nomad visa is valid for up to two years and is available to remote U.S. workers for $177. Applicants must earn at least a minimum of $684 per month in order to qualify. The good news is that the application process is relatively simple, and you can expect to receive your visa within a few weeks.

Colombia is relatively affordable, making it an attractive destination for digital nomads. Monthly expenses can range from $700 to $1,200, depending on your location and lifestyle. Renting a one-bedroom apartment in popular cities like Bogota or Medellin typically costs around $400 to $700 per month. Groceries and dining out are reasonably priced, with a monthly food budget averaging around $150 to $300.

If you want to apply for a Colombian digital nomad visa, visit the country’s Cancilleria.

Is Colombia dangerous for digital nomads?

While Colombia has a reputation for being dangerous, the country’s situation has significantly improved in recent years. As long as you take the necessary precautions, such as staying in safe neighborhoods and avoiding certain areas at night, you should be able to enjoy your time in Colombia as a digital nomad.

Malaysia

Malaysia’s digital nomad visa is valid for three to 12 months and is renewable for another 12 months. This visa is available to remote workers who can earn at least 10,000 ringgit (roughly $2,400) per month. Malaysia is a popular destination for digital nomads because of its low cost of living, excellent infrastructure and diverse culture.

Monthly expenses can range from $600 to $1,200, depending on your location and lifestyle choices. Renting a one-bedroom apartment in major cities like Kuala Lumpur or Penang typically costs around $360 to $600 per month.

For applications, visit MDEC.

Hungary

Hungary’s digital nomad visa is valid for up to one year and is available to remote workers who can earn at least $2,000 per month. What draws digital nomads to this country is its beautiful architecture, rich history and low cost of living.

The average cost of living in Hungary can vary depending on the location but generally falls between $800 and $1,500 per month. Renting a one-bedroom apartment in cities like the capital Budapest typically costs around $500 to $900 per month. Groceries and dining out are affordable, with a monthly food budget averaging around $200 to $400.

To apply, you’ll need to get your White Card.

What are the best jobs for a digital nomad to have?

The key to being a digital nomad is having a job that you can do remotely from anywhere in the world, and all you’ll need is a stable internet connection. Some of the most popular and well-paying jobs for digital nomads are freelance writer, content creator, web developer, online teacher or tutor, digital marketer and virtual assistant.

While these are popular, there are many other jobs well-suited for aspiring digital nomads like you. Just remember to find a job that matches your skills and interests and build a strong network and reputation in your field to ensure a steady stream of work.

U.S. Taxes and Digital Nomads

It’s important to note that, as a United States citizen, you’re still liable for U.S. taxes even if you’re living and working abroad. This means that you must file a tax return every year and report your foreign income. Failure to do so can result in some hefty fines and penalties.

It’s also worth noting that there are certain tax benefits available to U.S. citizens who live and work abroad, such as the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion and the Foreign Tax Credit. To ensure that you file your taxes correctly and take advantage of any available tax benefits, it is recommended that you work with an expat tax professional.

If you’re worried about accessing your funds while abroad, there are several options available to you! A popular one is to use digital currency like USD Coin, a cryptocurrency pegged to the U.S. dollar, which can be easily transferred and converted into local currencies. To get started, simply send USD Coin from your U.S. account to your digital wallet, and you’ll be ready to make transactions in no time!

Becoming a digital nomad sounds exciting and fulfilling, but finding the right digital nomad visa for you takes research, planning and effort. But if you equip yourself with the right mindset and resources, you can make your dreams of traveling to different places and experiencing various cultures while working a reality.

Just remember that it is your responsibility to acquaint yourself with the tax laws and responsibilities of your home country. By being well-informed and prepared, you can embark on your new adventures with peace of mind, knowing that you have taken the necessary steps to handle any tax-related matters that may arise.

Myrtle Bautista

Myrtle is a journalism major, a social media marketer and is now exploring freelance writing. She's fond of anything related to health and wellness, and when she's not writing, you'll find her doing long-distance cycling, ultramarathons, hiking, or in a local cafe enjoying a good cold brew.

Photo Essay: The Maasai Spirit

July 19, 2023

This series of images was taken while on assignment in the Maasai Mara Game Reserve in Kenya. As we were leaving the reserve one day our driver suggested we stop at a nearby Maasai village. I thought it would be just a quick stop and a chance to pickup some handmade souvenirs.

Knowing that the Maasai depend on tourists to supplement their subsistence farming, I didn't expect the warmth of our welcome and the genuine dialogue I would have with the chief. He introduced us to the village, showing every aspect of their daily life. Speaking passionately about the realities confronting the Maasai people and the hard choices they must make in order to preserve their cultural identity - from environmental issues threatening their homes and grazing lands, exposure to tourists and the lure of modern life.

He was an erudite speaker, having mastered English and more than 6 African languages. This worldliness empowered him to make mindful decisions governing the collective future of his tribe. All the while recognizing the hypocrisies of a first world existence. In his village no one went hungry, loneliness and depression did not exist and the elders were a revered and integral part of the social dynamic.

He encouraged me to take photos, wanting to share their simple but dignified life, beautiful aesthetic and overt happiness. I hope these images honor the chief's wishes and convey some of the Maasai spirit.

PHOTO + TEXT: JULIEN CAPMEIL

Julien Capmeil is an Australian born photographer living in New York. His work has appeared in many publications worldwide including Vogue, GQ and Conde Nast Traveler.

You can view more of his work online at: www.juliencapmeil.com

For print purchases Email: info@juliencapmeil.com

PHOTO ESSAY CURATED BY NELIDA MORTENSEN

Filming "Beyond the Surface" in India

July 19, 2023

“Unite those with positive minds and compassionate hearts and good things happen…” I thought to myself, after meeting Emi Koch in San Diego and chatting with Crystal Thornburg-Homcy about her idea to make a unique surf film in India.

She’s beautiful, confident, unphased by the blazing asphalt on her bare feet…striding gracefully across the busy road. I followed closely, sensing this veteran knew what she was doing…

Despite what seems like complete chaos amongst the mix of often overloaded trucks, cars, buses, motorcycles, push carts, scooters, bicycles, farm animals, pedestrians, and whatever else you can imagine…somehow it all flows…It took a while to get used to the cacophony of blaring horns, as the rule is to honk before AND after overtaking, and whenever else the driver feels like it, really. One hand on the wheel the other on the horn!

Young boy watches over early morning harbor scene…

Spirituality knows no boundaries in India… Hindu deities displayed amongst tools in the hardware store.

Elephants are sacred, as they symbolize the Hindu god, Ganesh, Remover of Obstacles… now if he could only remove those chains!!

Angel in Manapad.

Morning duties: chai and paratha, respectively.

There comes a moment when we are called to connect to something Greater than ourselves…

Swell needs a cutie pie boat face like this!!

I AM COCONUT MAN.

Wild, strong, beautiful, bold Swami woman.

The Beyond the Surface film crew, blessed to be together…Lauren, Erik, Dave, me, Kate, Emi, Ishita, Tushar, and Crystal!

For the last 50 years, the women of Manapad have been making livelihoods, building community, and empowering themselves economically by weaving coconut leaves into sustainable arts and crafts. Go girls! Davey capturing them in action…

Emi, Lauren, Kate…catching sunrise over the lake.

A fisherman teaching me some Indian resourcefulness. We’re adding coconut leaves at short intervals along the rope to make it float!

Making films is hard work! Just ask Dave and Crystal! Ishita, Lauren, & Emi, tree pose queens.

What have we here? Morning surf check…

All smiles after a morning in the sea…

Ishita means ‘Godess of Godesses’ in Hindu. Her grandmother chose her name. Was she ever spot on! Ishita is not only India’s first female surfer, she is an inherently bold, beautiful, and fearless leader for gender equality in India today.

Tushar Pathiyan–Ishita’s partner–supports Ishita to be the greatest she can be, and epitomizes Aloha and positivity at every turn. We were so lucky to have him with us, and India is equally as lucky to have him as a leader of India’s young surf culture.

Crystal Thornburg-Homcy, the visionary and backbone behind this special project…with Emi Koch, the founder of the non-profit organization Beyond the Surface International,which was the original inspiration behind the film.

Master Yogini, Kate Baldwin, constantly inspired us with the vast breadth of her yogic wisdom, both physically and spiritually.

Lauren Lindsay Hill is surfing’s favorite eco-feminist. Smart as a whip, stoked as a grom, and lovely as butterfly. Author and founder of The Sea Kin.

Dave Homcy. He makes magic with film while always leading with his big, open heart. Chivalry is alive with Dave around!

Miraculously, a swell appeared when we least expected and we weren’t going to miss a second of it! Sunrise at the point.

My Mizu stainless steel waterbottle made thousands of miles with me and reduced lots of plastic waste!

India’s trash problem was often overwhelming…

The local catches in Varkala were frighteningly insignificant. Most fishermen I spoke with said catches had been even lower than the last few years. With fish stocks plummeting worldwide, small fishing villages like this one will be the first and hardest impacted. A contributing factor into my recent turn to eating vegan.

Yours truly, toting all my right point utensils!

It’s good to be revered…Sacred cow gazing over morning harbor scene.

There was plenty of roadside inspiration for the long bus trips…

Ganesh in the flesh.

Street art in Kochi.

Deepak was one of the people I knew I was ‘supposed to’ meet in India…

After my short time in this amazing country, I am hopeful that the spirits, opportunities, and freedoms of the next generation of Indian women will continue to soar higher and higher…

A magical trip, thanks to the beautiful people of India and my extraordinary travel companions! Thank you all!

She and her husband, renowned filmmaker, Dave Homcy, planned to document Emi’s work in India under her NGO, Beyond the Surface International, and other inspiring cases of youth and women’s empowerment through surfing, yoga, and ecological creativity.

On a scouting mission, they serendipitously met Ishita Malaviya, India’s first female surfer and a powerful voice for Indian women, who happily agreed to accompany us on the adventure. Shortly after, Damian Handisides of Free Theo Productions joined the team and the project’s momentum became unstoppable. I was honored to be a participant, along with Lauren Hill who is the founder of The Sea Kin, and Kate Baldwin, yogini extraordinaire.

We all met in India from our various points on the globe this past April with the hope of exchanging light and love with the people we met along the way, especially those facing poverty, gender inequality, and social disparity. At the same time, the adventure would be a platform of growth for our own individual paths of self-realization. Our three unforgettable weeks were abound with surprises, beauty, surf, and new friendships while touring and filming in southern India. We explored together in search of a deeper connection to our fellow humans and Mother Nature.

Learn more about Beyond the Surface here.

Liz is a professional free surfer, writer, environmental activist and adventurer who has captained her 40ft sailboat, Swell, over 18,000 miles on a surfing expedition in the Pacific since 2005. Through her website/blog, she shares her journey with the world in an effort of inspire people to live out their passions, spend more time in nature, engage in self-awareness and personal growth, and develop a consciousness of their everyday planetary impact.

An Ethiopian’s Path to From Refugee Camp to College Campus

July 13, 2023

How a refugee survived genocide and rebuilt a life in the United States.

Omot retelling his journey coming to the U.S. during our interview. Image courtesy of Ojullu Omit.

This semester, I had the privilege of connecting with Ojullu Omot, whose life was forever altered by tragedy. On December 13, 2003, when he was just 14 years old, Omot experienced a massacre at his hometown in south-west Ethiopia. As part of a Wake Forest University project to raise awareness about the challenges faced by refugees, a team made up of me and my classmates produced a 10-minute advocacy film that aims to shed light on the often-overlooked struggles refugees encounter while adapting to life in the United States. Omot’s story is a testament to the blend of heartbreak and perseverance that characterizes the ongoing global refugee crisis, capturing the resilience and fortitude of those seeking haven away from home.

Omot’s story began with displacement, as he fled the 2003 massacre in the remote Gambella region of southwestern Ethiopia. From December 13-15, in a reprisal against a small ambush against Ethiopian federal government officials, ethnically Amhara, Oromo, and Tigrayan soldiers and rioters murdered hundreds of minority Anuak civilians. Human Rights Watch’s report suggests that these atrocities should be considered crimes against humanity. . The Ethiopian government claimed that only 57 were killed and that the violence resulted from ethnic tensions between rival Anuak and Nuer groups, in contrast to the claims of international human rights groups and the Anuak themselves. Human rights NGOs have called for a thorough investigation into the incident, with concerns that others like it could occur. Despite facing deadly tragedy along with the immense challenges of settling into a new society as a refugee, Omot has found a new home in the United States, where he serves as a living witness to the egregious human rights abuses of his homeland. He remains committed to starting a new chapter in life.

By now Omot has gotten used to retelling the story of how he left his home in Ethiopia in the midst of genocidal violence, and his journey from there to become an international politics student in the United States. The three-day-long massacre in Gambella town of southwestern Ethiopia was an outburst of ethnic conflict between the indigenous Anuak group and members of the Ethiopian military. As the situation in Ethiopia deteriorated, Omot moved to Sudan when he was a teenager, with the hope that things would get better in a year or two.

But they didn’t. The military confrontation neither started, nor ended with the massacre. More than 10,000 Anuak people were forced to leave Ethiopia in 2004, the year after the massacre took place.

Omot left Sudan for Kenya after two years of waiting. The unrest had separated him from his family, and he lacked many colorful memories about his childhood in Ethiopia, Sudan and Kenya. What he remembered is playing football with his friends in refugee camps everyday; many of those eventually being sent to Canada, Australia and other developed nations. Omot remembers planes from the United Nation hovered above their heads in refugee camps, dropping food and supplies and people hurrying to grab them. “We were dependent on the refugee program,” Omot said, “Resettlement in the United States was not a typical solution for refugees living in the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees(UNHCR) camp.”

Omot never dreamed about coming to the United States then. He was invested in the idea that everything will go back to normal in Ethiopia, and that he could then return home. Yet Omot’s life took a major turn in the year 2016. He was called for an interview, which he later found out was part of the application process by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services employees concerning whether he is eligible for resettlement in the United States as a refugee. The approval rate for a refugee status in the United States is 27%, according to World Data.

Omot waited for roughly six months until he was called for a series of security checks, examinations and orientation. In February 2016, International Organization for Migration contacted Omot, telling him that his case is ready. He then boarded a plane to the United States on April 4th, 2016, his first ever flight. When he landed in Miami, Florida, it was like landing on a new planet- the shock of the novel language and lifestyle almost dazzled the then 28 year old.

“There was something change, [such as] the day became longer, I was not even comfortable, and I cannot see where I come from, ” Omot recalled his initial exposure to the United States, “The first question I asked myself [was], is this the U.S. [as] I expected it?”

And the first few months continued to affirm to him that starting anew wasn’t easy. Omot often found himself alone in his house assigned by the government, since his roommates busied themselves working in the daytime, and went straight to sleep not long after walking in the door at night. Comparing the situation to the community life in Ethiopia, where everyone would sit down and share stories after a day’s work, filled Omot with homesickness at night.

Language is also a major challenge to Omot. Going to a university was at the top of his wish list when he came to the United States, but he couldn’t even understand people’s accents when he asked for directions on his way to school. He had no idea how to open emails during his first semester at a community college. When one of his classmates finally taught him how to view the inbox, he found emails from professors flooded in there. In winter, the temperature dropped so low that Omot, who used to live near the equator, had to drop his English as Second language (ESL) classes to avoid traveling in freezing weather.

But Omot is determined to realize his dream. Instead of “wasting time” in ESL classes, he decided to push himself, taking the General Educational Development (GED) tests directly. He works as a hospital janitor in the daytime for living; in the evening and before dawn, he dives into his study. Whenever he had free time, Omot would peruse his textbooks, went up to the library of the community college he attended everyday, asking every librarian what GED looks like, and tips and tricks to score higher.

The global refugee population has reached crisis proportions, with more than 30 million refugees displaced in 2022, signaling a significant surge from the previous year's level. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has reported a staggering total of 103 million people forcibly displaced as of mid-2022. In response, President Joe Biden has committed to revamping America’s current “inhumane” immigration policy. However, the administration's effort to admit refugees has fallen significantly short of its goal, with only 25,465 individuals granted admission by the end of the previous fiscal year on September 30, 2022, a mere 20% of the objective. The number of refugees received by the United States still remains one of the lowest among all nations, and the number continues to decrease.

Refugees face a plethora of challenges when they resettle in a foreign country, with attaining secure housing among the most pressing. Asylum seekers in particular struggle to obtain temporary housing due to a lack of government support and unfamiliarity with the US housing system. Non-profit organizations and shelters provide vital assistance to these individuals. Despite this aid, refugee and asylum seekers are disproportionately at risk for health problems, both physical and mental. They are more susceptible to severe mental health conditions like PTSD and depression, while chronic illnesses like diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease exacerbate their already challenging circumstances.

In 2017, Omot took the GED for the first time. And hard work pays off — he passed the test.

“It [passing the test] gives me hope that I could continue to do all of them,” said Omot, breaking into a smile. And he did. After he finished with GED, Omot is currently pursuing a bachelor degree in international politics at University of North Carolina Greensboro. When asked why he could recall his story in astonishingly clear detail, Omot answered, “I think my story is important because if other people, other refugees heard about it, they would think, oh, this guy did that and starting his new life. Maybe I could do the same.”

To Get Involved:

While Omot is navigating through his new life in the United States, it is not without support from various refugee organizations, such as Every Campus a Refugee (ECAR), an organization aiming to mobilize colleges and universities to host refugees on campus grounds and support them in their resettlement. ECAR provided nearly 4 years free housing and accessories to Omot, and provides several other services to refugees in the North Carolina region. Learn more about ECAR here.

10 Coffee Recipes From Different Cultures

July 13, 2023

From Vietnamese egg yolk coffee to Italian chocolate espresso, discover how people around the world like their cup o’ Joe.

Different types of coffee. Rawpixel. CC0 1.0.

From lattés to cappuccinos to the standard grocery store roast, there is great variation in how individuals enjoy their coffee. To really see what’s out there, however, you will need to look beyond sovereign borders to the great international coffee traditions, some of which combine unlikely flavors. For example, Vietnamese “Cà Phê Trứng” combines eggs and coffee, while Scandinavian “kaffeost” is a mix of coffee and cheese. Here is a list of 10 different ways of making coffee from different cultures, along with recipes so you can enjoy them yourself, without hopping on a plane.

Frappé—Greece

Greek frappé. Paweł Marynowski. CC BY 2.0.

Originating in Thessaloniki, the Greek “frappé” is an iced coffee that is shaken to produce a foamy texture. The drink was created when Nestlé employee Dimitris Vakondios was unable to find hot water to make instant coffee during his break, so he decided to make it with cold water and shake it. Frappés are often consumed without extra flavorings, or “Skétos,” but can incorporate milk and sugar according to individual preferences.

How to make a frappé:

Add 2 teaspoons of instant coffee and 2-3 cups of cold water to a shaker, blender or frother. If you are looking for a sweeter flavor, also add 2 teaspoons of sugar. If using a shaker, shake for 30 seconds. If using a blender or frother, mix for 15 seconds.
Add the blend to a glass with ice. You can stir in milk at this point if you would like to do so.

Yuanyang—China

Yuanyang coffee. Mx.Granger. CC BY-SA 2.0.

Translating to “Lovebirds Tea,” this Chinese beverage is a mix of two common drinks: Coffee and milk tea. The exact origin of Yuanyang is unknown, but the beverage is believed to have been created by a street vendor in Hong Kong, and it continues to be a popular drink in that city today.

How to make Yuanyang:

Brew black tea in 4.5 cups of water. While your tea is steeping, brew 4.5 cups of coffee. There should be a one-to-one ratio between the coffee and tea.
When the tea and coffee are finished brewing, pour them in a large bowl or carafe.
Add ¾ cups of half and half milk to the mix, and add sugar if desired. Stir everything together.
Serve.

Buna Tetu—Ethiopia

Buna Tetu ceremony. BryanBot. CC BY 2.0.

Coffee is believed to have originated in Ethiopia, and it continues to play a large role in the country’s culture. Buna Tetu is a coffee ceremony to celebrate important events and milestones. To ensure the coffee is available to guests at all times, it is typically served in three rounds, Abol, Tona and Buna. The coffee is served the strongest in Abol, and it loses strength every serving after.

How to make Ethiopian coffee:

Wash ⅛ cups of unroasted green Ethiopian coffee beans. Put the beans in a pan and roast them over a source of fire, moving the pan left and right by the handle to avoid burning the beans. Let cool once roasted.
Use a grinder to grind the beans to a powder.
Pour 2 cups of water into an Ethiopian coffee pot, or “Jebena.” Add coffee to Jebena.
Let coffee cool, then enjoy with sugar, honey, salt or even butter.

Cà Phê Trứng—Vietnam

Cà Phê Trứng, or Egg Coffee, was created by bartender Nguyen Giang in 1947 during a milk shortage in Vietnam. In place of milk, Giang used whipped egg yolks to create an airy consistency to the coffee. The beverage continues to be a popular drink in Hanoi, the city of its creation.

How to make Cà Phê Trứng:

Put 2 egg yolks, ½ cup of sweetened condensed milk, and 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract into a mixing bowl. Whisk for 10 minutes to create a cake batter like consistency.
Brew 2 ounces of ground French roast coffee in your desired method.
Put half a cup of the coffee aside, and distribute the rest of the coffee into however many cups are served.
Put 1 to 2 tablespoons of the whipped egg into each cup.
Pour the remaining half cup of coffee into each of the cups. You can also add cocoa powder to the top of the beverage for extra flavor.

Café Touba—Senegal

Café Touba cart. George D. Manta. CC BY-SA 4.0.

Originating in the holy city of Touba, this way of making coffee was created as a peaceful protest against French rule, as the Senegalese declared that they would make more use of the drink that was claimed to energize the colonizer. This coffee combines spices such as ginger and nutmeg to create a unique flavor.

How to make Café Touba:

Gather a mix of spices, such as selim pepper, nutmeg, ginger, coriander seeds, cardamom, and black pepper.
Coat the bottom of your pan with avocado oil and heat on medium. Lightly roast the selim pepper.
Add the roasted selim pepper to a bowl or food processor with the cardamom (removed from its pods). Add the coriander seeds, ginger, and nutmeg to mix and grind.
Add more oil to your pan and toast ground spices.
Brew your coffee in your desired method and add ½ teaspoon of the ground spices. Stir and brew for 30 seconds.

Kaffeost—Scandinavia

Leipäjuusto cheese. Veikk0.ma. CC BY 2.5.

Everyone knows about wine and cheese pairing, but have you ever thought about combining coffee with cheese? This recipe originated in northern Scandinavia, and is widely enjoyed in the Nordic countries today. This simple mix of ingredients creates a unique beverage that combines the bitterness of coffee and the saltiness of cheese.

How to make Kaffeost:

Cut pieces of Leipäjuusto cheese into cubes and place at the bottom of a cup.
Pour freshly brewed coffee into the cup immediately after.

Café de Olla—Mexico

Café de Olla. Protoplasmakid. CC BY-SA 4.0.

This Mexican coffee recipe translates to “Coffee in a pot,” as it traditionally would be made in a clay or enamel pot. This beverage is often consumed in the winter, and combines coffee, cinnamon and raw, dark sugar.

How to make Café de Olla:

Place 4 cups of water, ⅓ cup of dark brown sugar (Piloncillo), and ½ a stick of cinnamon into a pot. Simmer until the sugar dissolves.
Add brewed coffee and stir.
Cover the pot and let steep for 5 minutes.

Kopi Joss—Indonesia

Originating in Yogyakarta, this Indonesian beverage is made with charcoal to help balance the natural acidity of coffee. Some describe the charcoal’s effect as giving a burnt-sugar caramel flavor to the coffee.

How to make Kopi Joss:

Burn a piece of charcoal until it is red in color.
Put 2 tablespoons of ground coffee and 2 tablespoons of sugar into a glass.
Add hot water to the glass.
Add the piece of charcoal to the beverage.

Flat White—Australia and New Zealand

Now a popular drink in North America, the flat white was originally served in either Australia or New Zealand; some think it may have evolved in both. The beverage resembles a latté, however it lacks a foam layer on top to embolden the flavor.

How to make a flat white:

Brew 2 shots of espresso into a cup.
Steam milk in a pitcher at 131-154° F.
Swirl milk in pitcher to create smoother consistency.
Pour steamed milk into a cup of espresso in a circular motion.

Marocchino—Italy

Invented in Alessandria, Italy, Marocchino coffee combines the flavors of espresso and cocoa. It was influenced by a similar variety called “bicerin coffee,” which was common in Turin. “Marocchino” means “Moroccan” in Italian, and this word is typically used to describe leather used to make fedoras, which are popular in Alessandria. The layer of cocoa in the coffee resembles this leather, giving the drink its name.

How to make marocchino coffee:

Brew a shot of espresso into a cup.
Froth 3-4 oz. of milk to create a light consistency.
Sprinkle a layer of cocoa over the espresso.
Spoon a layer of the frothed milk on top of the cocoa layer.
Sprinkle cocoa powder on top of the milk.
This beverage is meant to be layered, but you can stir at the end to combine flavors.

Affirmative Action: An International Perspective

July 13, 2023

The US Supreme Court struck down affirmative action in college admissions, but across the world other countries maintain programs to diversify higher education.

Harvard campus. Anne Helmond. CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

On June 29, 2023, the U.S. Supreme Court, led by a conservative majority, struck down the use of affirmative action in college admissions. The ruling prevents colleges from considering race as a factor when deciding whether to admit applicants. The Supreme Court ruled in favor of The Students For Fair Admission, which sued Harvard and University of North Carolina on the claim that the schools' affirmative action policies discriminate against Asian Americans. The case was seen by supporters of affirmative action as an example of using Asian Americans as a wedge group for a conservative agenda, and a poor representation of the wide spectrum of Asian Americans’ views on affirmative action.

The story of affirmative action in the U.S. is a fraught one, emerging from generations of racial inequality and discrimination. However, it is not a story that exists in a vacuum. About 25% of all countries have some form of affirmative action with the goal of opening up higher education to students from different backgrounds.

History of Affirmative Action in The U.S.

Affirmative action encompasses any program that actively improves job and educational opportunities for minorities or women. The belief was adopted by president Kennedy in 1961 through Executive Order 10925, which sought to use "affirmative action to ensure that applicants are treated equally without regard to race, color, religion, sex, or national origin,” and established the Committee on Equal Employment Opportunity. President Johnson’s 1965 Executive Order 11246 helped cement affirmative action by requiring government and contractors and subcontractors to expand opportunities to minorities.

During the Civil Rights movement, and following the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., student groups and advocates implored universities to make education more accessible, and to establish class demographics that were indicative of American society. In the weeks following Dr. King’s death, the Dean of Admissions at Harvard announced his commitment to enroll more Black students, a decision that led to a 76% increase in black students enrolled at Harvard between 1968 and 1969. Harvard’s stance was soon followed by other elite institutions including Princeton, Yale and Columbia.

While universities individually pledged to embrace student diversity and increase enrollment among racial minorities, it wasn’t until a 2003 Supreme Court case that affirmative action became established as a national precedent. The 2003 case of Grutter v. Bollinger determined that affirmative action did not violate the Constitution’s Equal Protection Clause, and created a precedent in which a desire for increasing diversity could be used as a means of using racial preferences within admissions.

India

One of the earliest examples of affirmative action was adopted in India during British colonial rule in the 19th century. Under the programs, reservations were created as a means of establishing educational opportunities for the Dalit, commonly (and offensively) known as the “untouchables.” India’s modern affirmative action program seeks to expand opportunity by reserving 22.5% of all spots in educational institutions for lower caste youth. In 2005 the program was expanded to include private higher education institutions as well. These programs have led enrollment by targeted low caste disadvantaged groups to increase by three times.

India’s affirmative action system has contributed to a national increase in Dalit’s social and economic standing. In 1965, only 1.6% of the most senior service positions were held by Dalits, a number that rose to 11% by 2019, making it more representative of India’s demographics as 25% of the country is Dalit.

France

Garden at the Sciences Po. that ambitious girl. CC BY-NC 2.0

In France, affirmative action measures target specific neighborhoods as priority education areas, or Zones d’Education Prioritaires, which are often characterized by low income, many residents of immigrant background, and a high percentage of the population for whom French is a second language. In place of quotas some elite institutions, including Sciences Po, have sought to reach out directly to students coming from these disadvantaged neighborhoods, asking secondary schools in these areas to send over their best applicants, with the university providing necessary financial aid. The program seems to have had limited effects, and since its establishment in the early 2000s only 860 students have been admitted in through this specific channel. However, the number of students on financial aid has increased by roughly 20% in recent years.

Brazil

In 2012, the Brazilian government adopted a bill to reserve half of the spots in elite federal education institutions for students from state schools. The bill, supported by President Dilma Rousseff, also set up racial quotas for universities to allocate spots for black, mixed race, and indigenous populations according to the demographics of each state. The bill was proposed with the aim of combatting education and economic inequalities, as only about 10% of Brazilian students graduate from the elite private schools that act as feeders for the country’s top universities; the majority of private school students are White, despite the country’s racial diversity.

The use of such affirmative action policies in Brazil have been met with criticism, in part because the country’s demographics are racially mixed, with many seeing themselves unreflected in Black and White binary. Despite this, racial inequality is widespread, and a 2021 survey found that White Brazilians earned an average of 75% more than Black Brazilians and 70% more than Brown Brazilian workers.

In 2023, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva signed a decree that reserves 30% of federal government positions for candidates who are Black or of mixed race.

From Ocean Voyage to Space Travel

July 13, 2023

Reid Stowe has done a 1000+ day sea voyage, and now he’s focused on opening new possibilities for humans in space.

Reid Stowe. Desmond K. Shaw. CC BY-SA 4.0

A lover of the ocean and all types of art, Reid Stowe is an American craftsman, sailor and adventurer, who completed a more than three year ocean voyage without stopping on land aboard the Anne, a gaff-rigged schooner Stowe built himself.

The iconic journey began on April 21, 2007 from the 12th St. Pier, Hoboken, New Jersey. One thousand one hundred and fifty-two days later, on June 17, 2010,Reid sailed his schooner up the Hudson River and docked at Pier 81 in Manhattan, New York — a potential record for the longest continuous sea voyage without resupply or stepping on land.

With all the experience Reid has built up on the ocean, the renowned sailor has started a new program, meant to help astronauts who are looking to go on a mission to Mars in the 2030s. As Reid has put it, “the deep models of today could provide a role model for space bearers tomorrow,” and plans to use his journey at sea as a blueprint of sorts to help guide these future astronauts.

Reid Stowe working on Anne. @reid_stowe_art. Instagram.

Because those going on the Mars mission will be finding themselves on the ship for almost three years, it brings the concept of “isolation” into perspective. What will they do to cope, being in an enclosed area for such a long period of time? Reid knows what that’s like. He never needed coping mechanisms to prepare himself for his sea journey. There was nothing to “cope” with, and he was always able to love what he was doing. Reid’s new program will tackle these issues and answer the question: “What kind of person will it take to survive a trip to Mars?”

But this training initiative represents more than just valuable lessons for Reid. It didn’t matter that he was on his boat and “being turned upside down by storms,” because knowing that this journey would be worth it for everyone was more than enough.

One of Reid’s recent artworks. @reidstowepaintings.com

“How did I keep myself happy and healthy?” Reid said. “Believing that what I was doing was good for all of creation. Because I was showing that humans could live in a place where I never imagined before and by opening new doors of perception for what we’re capable of.”

But sailing isn’t the only thing Reid finds passion and purpose in. His Instagram features many of his artworks in great detail. Ever since he was young, he would paint or draw boats or mariners, even before he knew he wanted to be a sailor. And as he grew up, his art became more and more integrated into his sailing — to the point where his artistic drive encouraged him to embark on the longest sea voyage in history.

Schooner Starship Anne. @reid_stowe_art. Instagram.

Each of Stowe’s paintings has layers of meaning and connection. Many of the artworks he made while at sea empowered his voyage, the same way the voyage empowered the artwork. Much more can be found on his own website.

A more than 3 year adventure at sea is an effectively unique accomplishment. But Reid Stowe was able to use his incredible feat to offer guidance, spread awareness and most importantly — tell his own unique stories to the rest of the world.

Michelle is a senior at Boston University, majoring in journalism and minoring in philosophy. Her parents are first-generation immigrants from China, so her love for different cultures and traveling came naturally at a young age. After graduation, she hopes to continue sharing important messages through her work.

The Four Worlds of Ecuador

July 11, 2023

In a country smaller than Colorado, there are four distinct geographical regions from the coast to the Amazon, each representing its own culture.

Per square mile, Ecuador is the most biodiverse country in the world. In the east lies the Amazon Rainforest, known in Ecuador as “el oriente,” or “the orient” in English. The Andes rise like a spine through the middle of the country , and are known in Ecuador as “la sierra.” It is here that Ecuador’s Capital Quito is located, making it the second highest capital in the world. Bordering the ocean is the country’s coast, known as “la costa,” home to Guayaquil, Ecuador’s largest city. Finally, about 600 miles off the coast of Ecuador is the biological treasure of the Galapagos Islands, home of the Galapagos Tortoises, the biggest tortoises in the world.

I have spent the past 3 and a half months studying in Ecuador. During that time I visited three of the four major regions, and lived in both the Amazon and the Andes. Beyond the geographical differences, each region has its own cultures unique to itself. Based on my research and experiences, this article will discuss what makes each region special.

“La Sierra” - The Andes

Quito, the capital of Ecuador and its most famous city, is located in the Andes at the center of not only Ecuador but also the world, positioned almost exactly on the Equator line, a fact that appeals to tourist so much that there are not one but two “centers of the world” in and around Quito. The “center of the world” is supposed to be the exact 0.0 line of Ecuador, so having two is very much not possible. Although only one of them is real, both are constantly crowded and attract plenty of visitors every year. In my opinion, the fake one, built up to the point it seems like its own little town, is actually nicer than the real site.

Fake Center of the Earth, Maros M r a z (Maros), CC BY-SA 3.0

If you drive away from Quito in almost any direction, you will run into a volcano. There are 17 volcanoes surrounding the city. Two of the most famous of the volcanoes, Pinchicha and Cotopaxi, are both very much active and occasionally release smoke. The volcanic mountains can be seen throughout most of Quito, creating beautiful vistas wherever you care to look.

A picture from on top of the Basilica del Voto Nacional. Jeremy Giles

Within the city itself, the star is “el centro historico,” the historic and colonial center of Quito. Here the buildings are hundreds of years old, all built in a Spanish style in a wondrous variety of pastel colors, all on top of slanting roads curving with the mountains underneath it. This branch of the city is home to the Presidential Palace and many other beautiful government buildings and churches. My favorite of all is the Basilica de Voto Nacional, a huge building with two beautiful towers looming over the city, and unlike any other Church I’ve been to, you are actually able to climb up it, giving you spectacular views of the capital. Beyond this, if you look up at the Basilica from the ground, you can see that instead of Gargoyles lining it like a typical Basilica there are famous animals from all different parts of Ecuador.

While Quito is by far the biggest city in La Sierra, it is not the region’s only attraction. About a two hour drive from Quito is the city of Otavalo, one of the two largest Kichwa areas of Ecuador. The Kichwa peoples were part of the Inca Empire and have been in Ecuador for thousands of years. Today, their culture and language is still very much living. Otavalo is famous for its Kichwa market, where beautiful handmade blankets, sweaters, hammocks and more are created from incredibly soft alpaca wool. The prices are amazing; when I was last there I bought a beautiful alpaca wool blanket for only 20 dollars.

Cuenca, Ecuador, Bernard Gagnon, CC BY-SA 3.0

While I never had the opportunity to visit it, maybe the most beautiful city in La Sierra is Ecuador’s third largest city, Cuenca. This andean city is known for its thriving culinary scene, often serving some of Ecuador’s best traditional dishes. It has an incredibly charming appeal and is home to the beautiful El Cajas National park. When I next return to Ecuador Cuenca is for sure one of the top destinations on my list.

“El Oriente” - The Amazon Rainforest

To reiterate, Ecuador is known as the most biodiverse country in the world per square mile. The Ecuadorian Amazon is the center of that biodiversity. The Amazon in Ecuador has 300 different species of mammals, 350 of reptiles, 800 of fish, and 1,600 of birds. These species are some of the centerpoints of Amazonian culture in Ecuador. Per indigenous Kichwa beliefs, the Pachamama created the Earth, and the Amazon for its people. When shamans, traditional healers, die, they become a “boa” or “tigre,” general words in the Ecuadorian Amazon for a very large snake or a big cat. The latter is a false friend for English speakers; although “tigre” translates directly to “tiger,” there aren’t actually any tigers in the Amazon.

While visiting the Amazon I lived in the Pastaza province, the largest province in Ecuador, and an area almost entirely covered by the Rainforest. Somehow, Pastaza manages to be just as diverse culturally as it is biologically. In Pastaza alone, there are seven different independent Indigenous groups, each with its own separate language, culture, and customs. There are significant efforts in the region to make sure these languages survive, and in schools students learn both Spanish and their Indigenous language.

For the month I was in Pastaza, I stayed in its capital Puyo, an incredibly diverse multi-ethnic city of about 40,000 people. There, I felt as welcomed as I’ve ever felt anywhere. Through the generosity of my host families I got to experience many of the special things about Puyo. Here, I will share with you one of my favorites: the food. The Amazon river provides the families of Puyo with an amazing abundance of fresh fish, particularly tilapia, at prices even cheaper than Ecuadorian norm. Once, my host family bought nine individual portion sized live tilapia for 12 dollars.

After buying the fish, the typical method of preparation is to make a dish called “Maito.” When cooking Maito the family will cut down a really big leaf. They will then put the fish in the leaf and wrap it up. They put this over the fire and let the fish cook. Then they will open the leaf and serve with fish, often accompanied with grilled plantains and a potato-like root vegetable called yucca that is native to the region. Traditionally, the family does not filet fish or remove the skin and eats everything but the bones. I did this while I was there and while it is often avoided in the west, I found the skin quite rich.

“La Costa” - The Coast

An Aerial View of Guayaquil, JorgeAlejanDroo, CC BY-SA 4.0

It's impossible to talk about the Ecuadorian coast without discussing the biggest city in all of Ecuador, Guayaquil. While Guayaquil lacks the aesthetic beauty of Quito in the Andes, it is impressive in its own right. Quito is an old city that is sprawled over many many miles, with hardly any tall buildings. Because of this, Guayaquil, a city working hard to modernize, is the home to Ecuador’s tallest building. Along with this is “la perla” or “The Pearl,” which, during its opening in 2015, was the largest ferris wheel in South America.

Ferris Wheel in Guayaquil, Sebastian Reategui, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Although the star of Guayaquil, and home to said ferris wheel, is “El Malecon 2000.” El Malecon 2000, named after the year it was opened, is a gorgeous 2.5 kilometer riverfront promenade. Located along the path are plenty of attractions, including a museum of anthropology, an Imax theater and a garden, adorned with its own koi ponds.

Malecon 2000, Guayaquil, Padaguan, CC BY-SA 3.0

It should be noted, however I was in Ecuador as part of a study abroad program. During the program, in our last month, we were allowed to select almost anywhere in Ecuador to conduct an independent study. The two places we were not allowed to study were Ecuador’s border with Colombia, and Guayaquil. Ecuador as a whole has a problem with theft and crime. During my time living in and around Quito and Puyo that was always manageable. If you take common sense precautions and are careful, generally speaking, you’ll be okay, just like in a large city in the United States. The same cannot always be said for Guayaquil, especially for foreigners, who may become more of a target because of their manner of speaking and the color of their skin. Guayaquil is a beautiful city that locals frequent often for its climate, culture, and the amazing beaches of Ecuador’s coast. Foreigners can visit too, but they must exercise a considerable amount of caution.

The Galapagos Islands

Galapagos Tortoise, Mike's Birds from Riverside, CA, US, CC BY-SA 2.0

The Galapagos Islands are famous for their finches, which Darwin used to prove the existence of evolution. These birds, ironically, while perhaps the most famous species of the islands, are also one of their least impressive, looking just like small sparrows. The Galapagos’ namesake species however, the Galapagos tortoise, is a different story. These gentle behemoths are the biggest tortoises in the world, and one of the few creatures on Earth with a longer lifespan than humans, frequently living over 120 years old.

Sea Lions laying on a beach, Jeremy Giles

To add to the tortoises, the Galapagos has a slew of amazing native species, many of which can only be found on the islands. There are native penguins and flamingos, frigate birds with huge red pouches under their throats that can blow up like balloons and a bevy of sea lions loitering across the beaches. My personal favorite is the marine iguana, the only marine lizard species in the world and one that, while swimming, looks almost like a snake with legs.

Puerto Ayora Harbor, Santa Cruz Island, Galapagos, David Broad, CC BY 3.0

In addition to the animal species, the Galapagos also has a significant population of people. Four of the 13 major islands are home to around 30,000 permanent residents. While the islands are in the same region, each one has its own individual culture and way of seeing the world. These cultures, due to the interests of foreign countries in protecting the Galapagos, are often very diverse, creating a very interesting dining scene. The biggest town in the Galapagos is Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz Islands, with a population of more than 10,000.