Category Archives: Worldly Events

Finds posts on international holidays, festivals, traditions, and other fun events with a global theme.

Friday’s Olympian to Watch: Yun Ok-Hee

Ever since I read the Hunger Games, I’ve become mildly obsessed with archery. I even bought a Groupon to take classes (I still haven’t used it yet!). So this week’s Olympian to watch is a straight shooting lady who everyone is trying to beat. Yun Ok-Hee (Yun is her surname) hails from South Korea where she began her career in archery at the young age of 11. In an interview she said it was watching the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta that really inspired her. She won two medals (gold and bronze) in Beijing and according to all of the archery world, she has a strong chance of sweeping this year’s games.

In her spare time Yun enjoys reading and listening to music, but also is an advocate for promoting the historical legacy of Korean archery and has helped several Korean filmmakers accurately portray the sport. She gives a great deal of credit to her heritage for her success. In an interview with New Korean Cinema, she said, “Our sensitive fingertips handed down from our ancestors and our spiritual strength and willingness to fight to the very end are our secrets.” This in combination with her training (which includes bungee jumping and platform diving) have definitely made her an Olympian to watch in 2012.

Olympic Sport: Archery

Hometown: Seongnam, South Korea

Birthdate: March 1, 1985 (age 27)

Height: 5’3″ (this gives me hope that I can still become a master archer; she’s only 4 inches taller than me)

Weight: 139 lbs

It was tough to find a lot of detail about Yun Ok-Hee, but check these out if you would like to learn more.

Friday’s Olympian to Watch: David Rudisha

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Yesterday Hubby and I flew to Oklahoma City (house hunting weekend) via United Airlines. All I had with me was my Kindle so while all electronics had to be stored away, I started reading through their magazine, Hemisphere. It had a nice spread about the olympics and highlighted several Americans to watch. Reading about the athletes of my own country, it made me realize that I am completely uneducated about the Olympians from anywhere else. So I started researching other Olympians to watch and plan to highlight a new one every Friday from now until the end of the Olympics.

This week’s Olympian to watch is David Rudisha

Olympic Sport: 800 Meter

Hometown: Kilgoris, Kenya

Birthdate: December 17, 1988 (age 23)

Height: 6’3″ (that is 14 inches taller than me)

Weight: 157 lbs.

His story: In the past three years, Rudisha has only lost 1 race. Yep, just 1. Pretty incredible, right? He grew up as a member of the Maasai tribe in the Trans Mara region, a tribe known for a tradition of fearsome warriors and cattle-herders. In fact, when David went home in 2010 to celebrate setting the world record, there were 5,000 people and 1.000 cattle in attendance. The Olympics are in Rudisha’s blood – his father won a silver medal at the 1968 games and David states that his dad’s achievements have encouraged his own success. Overall, David is loved by his country. Known by the nickname of King David, he makes his people proud and is definitely one to watch during the London Games.

Want to read more? Check out these articles about David.

Birthday Traditions Around the Globe

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This weekend my adorable niece turns two-years-old. Needing some creative stimulants to help select her birthday gift, I decided to research birthday traditions around the globe for some inspiration. The trouble was that I found plenty of traditions but very few images. And since I’m a visual person, I thought it might be nice see the traditions in addition to just reading abut them. Some of these were not easy to find, but here are 11 different global birthday traditions to try out:

Argentina
Earlobe Tugs. Children receive a pull on their earlobe for each year.

Courtesy of White Coat

China
Noodles for Lunch. Friends and relatives are invited to lunch; noodles are served to wish the child a long life. In addition, the child receives money from both parents.

Chinese birthday noodles courtesy of Learning Chinese with Iris

Denmark
Flying Flags. A flag is flown outside a window to designate that someone inside is enjoying a birthday. Presents are placed around children’s beds while sleeping.

Danish birthday flag courtesy of Copenhagen

Ecuador
Pink Dresses. When a girl turns 15, there’s a great celebration. She puts on a pink dress and her first pair of high heels and dances the waltz with her father. Fourteen girls and fourteen boys pair up and dance the waltz alongside them.

Quinceanera celebration courtesy of Being Latino

England
Fortune Telling Cakes. Certain symbolic objects are mixed into the birthday cake as it’s being prepared. If you uncover a coin in your cake, it’s foretelling of future riches.

Fortune Telling Cake Charms courtesy of Woof Nanny

Holland
Crown Years. Even (2, 4, 6, etc.) birthday years are called “crown years.” The child receives an especially large gift on the special crown year birthdays. In addition, the family decorates the child’s chair with flowers.

Birthday Chair courtesy of Snowy Bliss

Ireland
Birthday Bumps. The birthday child is lifted upside down and “bumped” on the floor for good luck. The child receives a bump for every year—and one extra for good luck.

Birthday Bump courtesy of Miss Zoot

Israel
Chair Raising. The child sits in a chair while the family raises and lowers it, corresponding to the child’s age, with one extra for good luck.

A birthday chair raise courtesy of Art House

Mexico
Pinatas and Mass. A pinata is filled with goodies and hung from the ceiling. While blindfolded, children take turns hitting it until it’s cracked open. Also, when a girl turns 15 in Mexico, a special mass is held to honor her.

Mexican birthday pinatas courtesy of Alice Q. Foodie

Philippines
Cakes and Noodles. Birthday cakes are baked in various shapes and sizes. The celebration includes noodles — representing a long life — balloon decorations, and pinatas.

Filipino birthday pinata courtesy of Life, Love, & Why

Russia
Birthday Pies. Instead of a birthday cake, the child receives a birthday pie with a birthday greeting carved into the crust.

Russian birthday pie courtesy of Send Great Flowers

What other birthday traditions did I miss?

This post is adapted from FTD’s website.

My Jubilee Hat

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I have to say that I have thoroughly enjoyed all of the hype for Queen Elizabeth’s Diamond Jubilee. The Brits have truly gone over the top with the parade of boats, Union Jacks covering streets, pubs, and faces, and all kinds of Queen paraphernalia. Although many tout that the monarchy is old fashion and unneeded, I actually believe that it provides consistency, tradition, and unity. It was only a year ago that the entire world turned their heads to London for the wedding of the century (yes, I did get up to watch it at like 5 a.m.) and now once again Britain draws our attention with the extravagant four-day celebration of the Queen’s 60-year rule. The Jubilee truly has been everywhere – People did a spread on her diamonds, Traditional Home’s whole June issue was dedicated to British design, and Sunday Morning interviewed a gentleman who had been in the choir at Elizabeth’s coronation.

In the Queen’s address today, she said that she hoped these events would “brighten our lives.” From the thousands of pictures, blogs, and Facebook posts, I’m pretty sure her hope has come true for many.

As the Jubilee celebration came to an end, I celebrated by donning an audacious hat, drinking a cup of Earl Grey, and wearing my Dorothy Perkins skinny jeans. Long live the Queen!

Check out these wordpress blogs with posts and pictures from the Jubilee:

The Islington Blog – Diamond Jubilee weekend in tweet pics

The Pretty Things Project – Uey Loves: Jubilee Fever

Partie du Champagne – [London] Jubilee River Pageant

The Grio – How do black Britons feel about Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee?

The National Post – Britons rediscover their love for the dutiful Queeen

Ethnic Food Fair at Balboa Park

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If you ever visit San Diego on a Sunday, Balboa Park is a must. Each Sunday afternoon from 12pm to 4pm, the House of Pacific Relations International Cottages showcase national traditions from around the world. This Sunday hubby and I headed to the International Cottages for the annual Ethnic Food Fair. Each house was open for viewing and had a variety of traditional foods for sale. There was also great (FREE!) entertainment representing various countries. Here are some pictures from our ethnic outing:

Dragons danced through the streets courtesy of the House of China.

The House of Argentina served grilled sausages – delicious!

Each house decorates both the inside and the outside to represent their home country.

When the Moon Hits Your Eye…