FATHERS DAY HISTORY

Last Sunday, in many Spanish speaking countries, Father’s Day was celebrated, commemorating this man, the head of the family who gives support to the wife and children. Today’s blog is about all the traditions about what “Dad” means, what this man means to family and to society in these countries.

“Father’s Day” celebration is getting more and more important in Latin America, though it is not as important as Mother’s Day.  Some countries celebrate on March 19^th St Joseph’s day (Jesus Christ’s father). This tradition comes from European catholic traditions. Many Ibero - Americans adopted the date they celebrate in the United States, that is on the third Sunday in June. But this year is an exception, because June has been busy with other events. We had presidential elections on June 17^th, so we moved it to June 24^th.

Now, the United States Father’s Day tradition, it started on June 19^th, 1909, when a woman called “Sonora Smart Dodd” wished to make a tribute to his widower father, who worked very very hard to raise five or six children of his own, and he dedicated his life to them. Because of him, we celebrate every year our fathers who work to raise and nurture us, to help or society to be moral and with values, and to set an example.

Our celebration of Father’s Day is somewhat equal everywhere, but Mother’s Day is different in Spanish Speaking countries. If you want to go deeper, you can read the article : “MOTHERS: CELEBRATION DAY, ICONIC THINGS, NICKNAMES, PROVERB AND SAYINGS IN THE LATINAMERICAN  WAY OF THINKING” ( 18 May).

Now, following with Father’s Day celebration, we take him out for lunch or dinner to pamper them, knowing what they like and enjoy eating. With dinner come the gifts. The little ones give him his gifts that can be chocolate candy, or handmade cards, poems. The older ones give Father gifts like a book, a tie, handmaid things, a perfume, clothes, or anything else. This day we celebrate also grandfathers and uncles. The important thing is being reunited, a big one happy family. Some schools have a party to tribute dads, they make like a bazaar and each classroom prepares something. Handmade gifts, a song, a play. It isn’t very common yet.

NICKNAMES

The Word “father” is too formal. It is used in books, in England, and for greeting cards, no further than that. We use these words or nicknames:

Papá (Dad) it is the most used. Viejo (old man) for a father getting on in years, it is used in Argentina, mostly. Viejito (Little Old Man) it is a very sweet way to call a very old dad. Pa is very used in Mexico. Papi/Papito (daddy) are the ways children refer to their dad when they are going to ask him something. Padre (Father) sounds distant, a bit cold. Taita, tata, yaya is a fun way to call dad or grandpa, although Taita is the tribe mang who knows about yagé or Ayahuasca (a decoction of the leaves of the Ayahuasca plant with a long history of its entheogenic use and its status as a "plant teacher" among the indigenous peoples of the Amazon rainforest.)

Taita, tata or yaya come from two aspects: Quechuan Language (Incan Language), and the other one, from Mixtecan Languages (Mexico and Nicaragua). We also have (Cucho) (old man) a funny nickname for a dad. Apa or Pai come from Arahuacan Languages. We also use Jefe (Boss) very used in Mexico, papito, agüelo, yayo (in Spain), abu nono (Argentina), “Pa-pa” in Mexico, and “abue”, “abuelo”, “bueli”, “tata”.

SOME PROVERBS OR SAYINGS 

  1. “Amor de padre, que todo lo demás es aire” (Fatherly love, that everything else is air). The same saying goes to Mothers. It means “Fatherly love is eternal and you can trust him always. This saying comes from Spain.

   2. “El padre para castigar y la madre para tapar” (Father grounds, mother to hide). It means Father is the one to penalize the children, and mother protects them and excuses them. Nowadays both take care of reprimand their children.

    3. “ De tal palo, tal astilla” (Chip off the old block): Our parents have to mold us, and we get to be a lot like them.

   4.  “ Padre diestro, el mejor maestro” (Skilled father, best teacher): All your father does right, you learn it and you apply it in your life every day. 

The proverbs commonly used about the Father, the presence of the father in the family implies discipline, hard work, and the nagging allow us to remember some of his stories and some memories. And makes us remember some of their typical phrases he used to reprimand us, makes us laugh with them or cry remembering his memory if he passed away.  

FOUR TYPICAL PHRASES FROM OUR DADS

1) “Pregúntale a tu madre” (Ask your Mother): Some difficult question or permission and he prefers Mom decide about it. Or maybe he doesn’t want to answer some complicated or silly questions. 

2)  “ Esta es una democracia dictatorial en la que se hace lo que yo digo” (This is a dictatorial democracy because I say so. Period). It means that if you live with your parents you do what they say is right. You don’t make the rules.  

3) “Si alguien te pega, le pegas tú más fuerte” (If someone hits you, you hit them harder): that’s father saying: “come on, don’t let anyone hurt you or bully you”.   

2)  “ (Da igual que música se esté escuchandoquieres dejar de escuchar a los endrogados esos?” (It doesn’t matter what music are you listening, Would you stop listening to those “junkie”?) That’s a name for nowadays music, because according to our parents that’s not music, it’s noise and the lyrics say nothing.  

In the next video we will watch some memes for Father’s Day:

💖I hope you liked it! Happy week! 💖

WRITTEN BY ADRIANA MARTINEZ

  

MOTHERS: CELEBRATION DAY, ICONIC THINGS, NICKNAMES, PROVERBS AND SAYINGS IN THE LATIN AMERICAN WAY OF THINKING.

Last Weekend we celebrated Mother’s Day. This celebration is very common in all around the world in different dates. We honor our mothers, because they gave us life. For this matter I decided to write this post. You may think of a great diversity of origins, some cultural events we Latin Americans prepare for this day. Mom’s iconic things, the different ways to call her, her endless complaining, mom’s usual sayings, and some details from childhood. And I’ll finish this article with some proverbs either used by them, or alluding them. 

                  HISTORY  AND CELEBRATION  MOTHER´S DAY

Some of the History of Mother’s Day: The first celebrations were by the Greek to the Goddess “Rhea”. This is not directly related to the many traditional celebrations of mothers and motherhood that have existed throughout the world over thousands of years, such as the Greek cult to Cybele. But Greeks weren’t the only ones. In Latin America, Aztecs celebrated to Goddess “Coatlicue”, Mayans to Goddess “Ixchel” and the Incans to Goddess “Pachamama”. Only Incans descendant who live at the Cono Sur celebrate Mother’s Day on august 1^st in commemoration of Mother Goddess Pachamama.

In the Actuality  “Mother’s Day” comes from England. Then the United States establishes it and it expands to Latin America. Although, in some countries, because of historical or religious events, they celebrate this day on another date. In Bolivia they celebrate on May 27^th because that is the date when the Battle of Coronilla took place in Cochabamba. The date commemorates the Battle of La Coronilla, which took place on May 27^th, 1812, during the Bolivian War of Independence, in what is now the city of Cochabamba. In this battle, women fighting for the country's independence were slaughtered by the Spanish army. It is not a public holiday, but all schools hold activities and festivities throughout the day.

The feast for celebrating Mothers, Grandmothers and Aunts may change in every country. Usual things as take them to dinner, gifts, Mariachi serenade, music groups like Bolero, Andean or marimba, are common in most Spanish Speaking countries. Every region has its own traditions. In Guatemalan schools they make handmade crafts and activities to celebrate Mothers. They are Catholic, so they offer masses, blessings, prayers, etc. In Cuba they deliver Moher’s Day postcards. Many grew up seeing how their family made a list of known Mothers: aunts, cousins, neighbors and Friends, so they could sum how many postcards to choose the prettier ones and add a loving message. In Colombia its very common to give Mothers red flowers (roses, petunias, chrysanthemum, etc.), and go out on a road trip. If she deceased, we visit her grave and we put white or pastel colored flower arrangements and we offer a mass in her memory. 

NICKNAMES

The love to our Mothers is also expressed in how we call her: Madrecita (mummy), jefecita/jefa (boss) in Mexico, vieja (old lady) in Argentina, Cucha (old lady for low status people or joking), ma, mami (mummy), mamasaurius (joking with elder moms), La ley  "the law" (when mom is a little too bossy). We also have sweet names for our grandmas: Mama grande (Big mama), abebita (like in baby language), lita, or mama and her name (mamá Juana), baba, nona, abue, momo, nonita, tita, abuelinda (grandma-pretty), mita, buela, buelita, ita, mima or like in Cuba, mamuma.

In Latin America, the term “Mother”, either mine or someone else´s, usually has more value than “Father” because she always there for us, educate us, and teach us.The violence and wars in our countries made women widows or orphans and they became homes's heads, and they provide food and teach their children. They fight to mantain their families. There's a saying for this: Thank God for Mothers!. It's pejorative for men.

 ICONIC THINGS

With time, there are three things that identify a Mother: “la Chancla”  or “ Chancleta” ( The sandal), El cinturon, la correa o el cinto  (The belt)  and  " La cantaleta" ( Mom’s nagging).  These bring us memories about education, and Latin American Mother’s temper. There are a lot of posts where we joke about them.

1. The chancleta or chancla:   It’s a sandal made of rubber that holds the foot with a piece of cloth or a lace that grabs the big toe. “Chancleta” is more like a diminutive of “chancla”, and the cloth or lace work as a sash to hold the foot.  The may differ in the shape, both are used for the same thing: hit kids, adolescents and adults who don’t obey their parents or make something silly. The hitting is mostly on the legs and buttocks either with or without clothes. Some times in other body parts, if Mother has a good aim. There are three types of maternal hitting: 

Flying chancleta (sandal): This is when mom is far from her child, and she has a good aim, she will hit the child hardly and right on target.

3000 chancleta (sandal): A sandal trained to Dodge any obstacle between Mother and the child’s back or buttocks. Hits the target most of the time. 

Common chancletazo (sandal hitting): This is when our beloved Mother takes her sandal off and hit us wherever she can and she isn’t going to reason in any way.

2. The Cinturon, correa or cinto (the belt):  A band made of cloth, leather, rope or any flexible material you wear to hold your pants or a skirt. In one end it has a buckle (it’s usually metallic) and in the other it has holes to close the belt. Many of us were educated with a belt hit for saying bad words, swearing or cursing, being impolite to our parents or relatives, mocking people, being goofy, and so on, so we could become good-mannered and polite people.  

3.   The"Cantaleta":  Mom’s nagging (kind of a verbal diarrhea) where she expresses her anger to her children/husband/any human being. She may say something like: 

           OTHER EXAMPLES 

While I’m in this house, you will do as I say. 
  (Everyone in the house shall do what they are told to do, and they must obey Mother’s rules, if you disagree, you may leave).

·You are not the boss here, when you get a job and have your own house we’ll see. 

     (When we live   with our parents we shall obey their rules).

·Don’t look at me like that and you lower your voice!!

      (It’s used in a discussion when they are   shouting and moving their hands quickly or opening widely the eyes). 

·What do you think this is, a hotel? 

     (Mom says that when everyone goes to eat and sleep but there’s no family time).    

·If you keep crying I’ll hit  you so you have a motive. 

     (When mother finds out her children have done something bad and they know it was wrong and they start to cry before Mother says anything, so she throws this menace to stop the crying).

·If you keep talking back to me I’ll put your mouth front to back. 

     (We shouldn’t talk back, and if we do, she’ll slap us so hard on the cheek).  


                 PROVERBS AND SAYINGS IN THE LATIN AMERICAN WAY OF THINKING.  

Finishing this edition, I’ll leave some proverbs mostly used by our mothers, and some that come from them. 

1. MOTHER’S PROVERBS:

    ¡Al que madruga Dios le ayuda! is similar to "The early bird catches the worm":We should seize the day and grab the opportunities on time. Also, we must be cautious so we can make our goals. Always remember life is moving fast, so we shall move with it. 

     ¡Camarón que se duerme se lo lleva la corriente! is similar to “You snooze, you lose”: Don’t be lazy, it brings consequences. Life will not stop, so seize it.

     ¡ Más sabe el diablo por viejo que por diablo! is similar to “There’s no substitute for experience”: We get a lot of experience and knowledge through the years. 

2. PROVERBS AND SAYINGS ABOUT THE MOTHER:

-  "Casa sin madre, río sin cause" is  House with no Mother, Boat in river with no paddle: Mothers are the base of the family. 

- "La madre y el delantal tapan mucho mal" is Mother and Apron cover lots of bad: it’s of great concern in view of the fact that a mother's level of education has a great influence on her children's education and the well-being of the household.

-" Madre holgazana cría hija cortesana" is Lazy Mother breeds prostitute daughter: It regards the bad ways of a Mother and how it shows on the daughters.

   SOME MEMES  ABOUT  " LA CHANCLA": 

     

WRITTEN BY ADRIANA MARTINEZ

     

LA MADRE: CELEBRACIÓN, MOTES, OBJETOS ICÓNICOS, FRASES Y PROVERBIOS DENTRO DEL PENSAMIENTO LATINOAMERICANO

El pasado fin de semana en algunos de los países de América Latina y el mundo, se llevó a cabo la celebración  del día de la madre.  Se  Exaltó a esta maravillosa mujer que nos dio la vida. Es pues, éste el motivo que me impulsó a escribir la presente publicación.

Los objetivos son variados, desde un superficial origen, como algunas  prácticas  culturales que realizamos los latinoamericanos en torno a  esta festividad,  los objetos iconos de “la Mamá”, sus mil nombres,  cantaleta y  frases más utilizadas por ellas, nostalgia de nuestra infancia y sí,  terminaré este artículo con algunos refranes bien sea usados  o relacionados con ellas. 

De forma  superficial,  diré que  el nacimiento de este día viene de la celebración griega en honor a la Diosa “Rhea”. Pero los griegos no fueron los únicos en celebrar a la madre. En su momento, las grandes civilizaciones de América Latina también lo hicieron: Los Aztecas a la Diosa  “Coatlicue”, los Mayas a la Diosa “Ixchel” y los Incas a la “Pachamama”. De estos tres, sólo los descendientes de los pueblos  incaicos   establecidos en el Cono sur, cada primero de agosto, conmemoran la celebración a la Diosa madre. 

Como sabemos “El día de la madre” en la actualidad proviene en un primer momento, de Inglaterra, se afianza en Estados Unidos y se expande a América Latina y el mundo. Lo interesante de la situación, se debe a que pese a   la influencia Norteamericana, no en todos los países de habla hispana la celebración parte de la práctica estadounidense. Por ejemplo: En  Bolivia,  se celebra el 27 de mayo, día en el que se conmemora la batalla de Cochabamba. En esta fecha,  se honra tanto a  madres como a abuelas y también se  recuerda el valor de las mujeres de Cochabamba en la Batalla de la Coronilla. En países muy religiosos como México y Costa Rica, la conmemoración tiene  relación con prácticas católicas.  En el caso de los  primeros,  la celebración se da,  al ser el mes de mayo, el mes de la Virgen María, para los segundos,   siguen el calendario Litúrgico romano por ello,  celebran  a sus progenitoras  en el mes de agosto. 

El ágape para  mamás, abuelas y tías  cambia un poco de país a país. Aunque actividades como invitarlas a cenar, dar regalos y serenatas con Mariachi,  tríos de bolero, música andina o de marimba, suelen ser  comunes en la mayoría de naciones de habla hispana. Pero también, cada región tiene su celebración particular, por ejemplo: En los colegios guatemaltecos acostumbran a preparar actividades culturales y manualidades en torno a la madre. También al ser un país católico, las iglesias para este día realizan servicios religiosos  (misas, oraciones de gracia, bendiciones etc.).  En Cuba se tiene una amplia tradición en la entrega de tarjetas postales por el "Día de las Madres". Muchos cubanos crecieron viendo cómo en sus casas se hacían incluso una pequeña lista con las madres conocidas: tías, primas, vecinas o amigas, con el fin de calcular el número de postales que debían comprarse, para luego escoger los diseños más bonitos y escribir un mensaje cariñoso.  En Colombia se acostumbra que las familias se reúnan en torno a su progenitora para darle  un  arreglo floral de color rojo y  salir de paseo. Si ha fallecido, se visita su tumba, se le lleva un ramo de rosas blancas o de colores claros y se brinda una misa en su honor. 

Las expresiones de cariño hacia ellas no sólo se presentan de forma consumista,  también en la manera en cómo nos referimos a nuestra madre: Madrecita, jefecita/ jefa (México),  vieja (Argentina), cucha (algunas regiones de Colombia), ma, mami, mamita , mamasaurio ( se usa de forma jocosa para las mamás ancianas), la ley ( Cuando la madre es un poco dictatorial). Pero también existe algunos motes o nombres de cariño para nuestras abuelas como lo son:  abuelita, mamá grande, abebita, lita, mamá + nombre ( mamá Juana), baba, nona,  abue,  momo, nonita, tita,  abuelinda, buela, nonina, buelita, ita, mima o mamuma (Cuba).

Se puede decir que para el pensamiento Latinoamericano la figura de  “La  Madre”  propia o ajena, tiene más valor que la del padre, porque es ella quien nos acompaña, educa, apoya, cuida y brinda conocimiento. En torno a esto y a lo largo de los años, han surgido dos objetos que de forma jocosa identifican a una madre: “La chancla y el cinto” dos artefactos que de una u otra manera  traen a nuestra memoria la educación, y el temperamento de la madre latinoamericana.  De hecho hay bastantes memes circulando en la red que hacen apología a esto:

1. La chancleta o chancla:   Tipo de sandalia hecha de una suela que se sostiene al pie por medio de una tira o cordón que separa el dedo gordo de los dedos restantes. «Chancleta» es un diminutivo de «chancla», su diferencia radica en  tener una  tira o cordón como medio de contención al pie en vez de una banda que cubre todo el empeine del pie. Aunque se diferencian un poco en su forma, ambas sirven para lo mismo, dar chancletazos a los niños, adolescentes y adultos que no obedecen a sus padres o cometen alguna falta. Estas muestras de corrección casi siempre son recibidas en las nalgas con o sin ropa y las piernas, algunas veces en otras partes del cuerpo, todo dependiendo de qué tan buena pueda ser la  puntería de nuestra madre.  La práctica hace al maestro, por ello se han sacado cuatro tipologías del  chancletazo materno:

-          La chancleta voladora: Cuando la distancia entre madre e hijo es bastante amplia, pero la madre de buena puntería arroja la chancla que sigue una trayectoria lineal para terminar su trayecto justo golpeando de manera brutal y exacta el objetivo.

-      La chancleta 3000: Chancleta especializada en esquivar  los obstáculos  que pueda haber en la trayectoria,  finalizando en el blanco del objetivo. Casi siempre la espalda o las nalgas.

-        El chancletazo común: cuando nuestra adorada madre se quita la chancla y nos da por donde nos caiga sin escuchar excusa o razón alguna. 

  2. El cinturón, correa o  cinto: prenda en forma de banda flexible fabricada de cuero u otro material resistente que se coloca alrededor de la cintura o cadera para sostener  un pantalón o una falda. En un extremo del cinturón se encuentra la hebilla generalmente metálica por la que se introduce el otro extremo de la correa.  La corrección  con el cinturonazo,  educó a más de uno de nosotros para  no decir groserías o malas palabras, respetar a los padres, no hacer cosas indebidas, no burlarse  de la gente y demás hechos ejemplares que nos convierten en personas de buen vivir.

    Pero fuera de éstos objetos de castigo tan populares en nuestra infancia,  también  encontramos la cantaleta materna (verborrea   de tono monótono que  lanza improperios enojosos contra hijos, marido o ser humano que se le atraviese). Dentro de tales frases encontramos las siguientes, que al parecer suelen ser las de todo uso: 

       ·   ¡Levántese! Mire que hora es. 

·     No me conteste ¡Carajo! Ni me refunfuñe.

·     Ese amigo suyo no me gusta, es como raro el muchacho, me da mala espina.

·     ¡Cómo ahí tiene la sirvienta!

·     ¡ Salió igualito a su papá! 

·     ¡Mientras yo esté en esta casa, se hace lo que yo diga!. 

·    Usted no se manda solo, cuando trabaje y se mantenga, hablamos. 

·   ¡A mí no me abra los ojos y  me le baja a ese tonito!

·   ¡Coma y no pregunte qué es!  ¡yo no le voy a dar caca! 

·    ¡Que rico es el hotel mamá! O ustedes qué creen ¿que esto es un hotel? 

·    ¡Si no se lo  come, se lo embuto! 

·    Si no en tiende ¿Por qué? es porque yo soy su mamá y ¡Punto! 

·    Le voy a dar razones para llorar de verdad  -   Si sigue llorando le pego para que tenga porque  llorar.

·    Si me sigue discutiendo le volteo el mascadero.

Ya para terminar esta publicación dejaré algunos de los refranes más utilizados por nuestras mamás y otros que proceden de ellas.   

REFRANES DE LAS MAMÁS PARA SUS HIJOS 

A quien madruga, Dios lo ayuda:  Recomienda ser diligente para para tener éxito en las pretensiones, en el trabajo. Hay que ser previsor y actuar siempre con anticipación ya que esto favorecerá la ejecución de nuestros propósitos. No hay que esperar hasta el último momento para hacer las cosas que tenemos pendientes, ni ser perezosos.  Siempre tenemos que tomar la iniciativa y aventurarnos a hacer las cosas pronto.

Camarón que se duerme se lo lleva la corriente:  se refiere originalmente a las consecuencias negativas de la pereza. ... Si te quedas dormido como el camarón, o sea, tienes pereza de moverte o no haces algo, serás arrastrado por la corriente de la vida.

Más sabe el diablo por viejo que por diablo:  Se refiere a que el paso de los años, aporta un gran número de conocimientos y experiencias. 

                 PROVERBIOS Y REFRANES RELACIONADOS CON LA MADRE:

* Casa sin madre, río sin cause: las madres son un pilar básico de la familia.

* La madre y el delantal tapan mucho mal: las madres esconden los errores de los hijos.

* Madre holgazana, cría hija cortesana: expresa las perniciosas consecuencias que a la crianza de las hijas trae el mal ejemplo de la madre.

      

    Adriana M. Martinez Castro . Profesional en estudios literarios. Profesora de español como lengua extranjera nivel intermedio y avanzado. Fundadora de “ESPAÑOL VIVO”.  Apasionada por la enseñanza del español. Amante de la literatura en general.  Curiosa por antonomasia. Adicta al café y al chocolate blanco. 

30 CULTURAL DIFFERENCES BETWEEN LATIN AMERICA AND SOME ASIAN COUNTRIES (PART 2)

This is the second part of the article I wrote on April 14th on some cultural differences between Latin America and some Asian Countries. Today I present to you 15 other differences.

I hope you like it!

1. WRITING WITH RED INK: 

In Latin America it is very common to see handwritten cards or papers written in red with some hearts on our beloved’s name and ours because red means passion, love, or just being practical when there aren’t other pens in the bin. But for countries like China, Taiwan, Korea, and Philippines, it’s forbidden. Writing “with red ink” can be taken as “bad luck”, “an omen” or something negative. Red ink is associated with death because: 1^st The names in the graves are written in red, and 2^nd because the names of the deceased are written in red in every document. 

2. PERMANENT VISUAL CONTACT BETWEEN TWO SPEAKERS: This is a sign of respect and courtesy In Latin America with the person you are talking to, for the exchange of information and with the one who is giving it. When we speak with someone and we don’t get visual contact, we may think this person isn’t trustworthy and/or is hiding something. In some Asian countries the visual contact can be impolite. They prefer to look another way so they don’t intimidate the other person.

3. FLATTERING COMMENTS  (Compliments): 

It is very common for Latin Americans to give some compliments to a nice person, someone handsome or pretty, maybe he or she whistles. These compliments can be very innovative or rude. It also depends on the social status. In recent years with the empowerment of women in society, it may happen (for a woman to compliment a handsome guy), but this doesn’t happen in Asian Countries. Asians are shy compared to us. This is why they get surprised with these things. 

4. SOCIAL INTERACTION: (Dancing and Liquor):  Latin Americans are very social, affectionate, extrovert, talkative, and we express our opinions and feelings openly. Dancing is a way of socializing and takes us to choose our mate, at least in our early years. Dancing is determined by different cultures and traditions. It is a moment to chat, share with the family, friends, acquaintances (in parties like christenings, birthday parties, weddings, degrees, etc.). In other words, we are born and die dancing. It’s simply, a way to keep in touch with the universe, society and family with the music, dancing and dialogue. Some Oriental cultures are the opposite way. They are more private. This is a consequence of Confucianism and its world view, based on concepts such as authority, duty, hierarchy, and in certain way, inequality (no one is equal to any other, everyone has its own position in social hierarchy). For this reason, they maintain distances, that can be seen in gestures, they way they reach an elder, a superior, an equal or a subordinate, etc. These social parameters establish a distant relationship and it usually attenuates with liquor. Alcohol for Orientals is a way to get to know a person, it’s a channel for confidence, for getting opportunities to know someone, to fraternize.  For this matter, business dinners, and encounters are accomplished with drinks. 

5.  MALE PHISICAL CONTACT: Both, Latin America and some Oriental Countries are strongly sexist, although it is very common to see men touching, having physical contact (between close friends, young men) hugging, taking hands, etc. It´s a way to show affection. On the contrary, in Latin America this behavior is seen mostly between women, people of different sex, and homosexuals.

6. AFFECTIONATE WORDS: When you arrive to any Latin American country, you will see that the people attending a store, a supermarket, street commerce, taxi drivers, etc. will address you with affectionate words like “my heart” ( Mi corazón), “my love” ( Mi amor), “princess/prince” ( Pricesa/ principe) , “darling” ( querida/ querido), etc.  This doesn’t mean they want to flirt with you or your couple. It doesn’t mean flirting, it’s a way to talk to the costumer, a way to show kindness. This is the same way for locals. This kind of treatment is between women, or men and women. It isn’t acceptable between men. In Asia, this isn’t possible. They offer their products very kindly. They salute you and say good-bye either in their own language or in English, and they thank you for your shopping. 

7.NON-VERBAL OFFENSIVE LANGUAGE: In some Oriental countries is offensive to pat someone in the head or in the shoulder when you are talking to someone. Something equally offensive for Latin Americans could be slapping your hands in the air (vertically, many times). 

8. BLOOD TYPE: Looking for a couple and their characteristics (more and less desired). For some Western women and men study the western zodiac (Capricorn, Aquarius, Pisces, Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Libra, Virgo, Scorpio and Sagittarius). Meanwhile, Orientals look for the blood type (A, B, O, and AB). This is very common in Japan and surroundings. For westerns, blood type is important only if you need a blood transfusion, otherwise, it will sound crazy or sick if you ask around. On the contrary, for Asians this is very common. Every blood type has its own characteristics, for example:

 A Type: They tend to be perfectionist, shy and good team workers.

B Type: Happy, Impulsive, Passionate, Eccentric, Optimistic, Self-Centered. 

O Type: Creative, active and they like to be the center of attention

AB Type: Mysterious and unpredictable.  

9. MALE MAKE-UP: Western people associate make-up to women. Although, fashion is changing and people are more open minded, more products of skin care and make-up are being used by men actors, for “Metrosexual” moments, and even though they get mocked by other men. Otherwise, in Asia male make-up is very popular and it isn’t associated with femininity, in fact, they have their own products and brands different from the women’s products. Why do they do this? Because in oriental Asia, the physical appearance is of great importance in daily life, at work, and outside. 

10. SKIN COLORS: Some Asian countries like India (for a Bollywood effect in Indian movies), China and others, love the very white skin. For this, they use different type of creams, spray soaps, and sun blockers so they don’t tan. On the contrary, in Latin America we love tanned skins, caramel color or very tanned. For this, both, men and women, use tanning lotions so they become more attractive.  

11. ABOUT SENSUALITY: In western Countries a woman’s sensuality is in her curves (Breast, hips, and back) but of these three, the breast is the more important. This Is why its usual to see ladies in with a neckline in the breast zone. In the other hand, “sexiness” changes according to the Country and its traditions. In Japan, China, Philippines, Taiwan, for example, sensuality is in the legs, for this reason, girls wear miniskirts or very short pants. And in India they wear Bedleh, Beledi Dresses to show their belly.  Some wear Saris.

12. INFIDELITY: In the whole wide world people are cheaters. In many Asian Countries there are more men than women, like in China where they have an only child law. This made uneven the scale of the genders. And this happens in the surrounding countries too. For this, we may suppose men are more loyal because the competition level is high and marriage and children are very important for society. For Latin America this is quite different, because there are more women than men (according to the Economics Commission for Latin America and Caribbean countries – CEPAL). In 2016 they said population limits surpassed in 625 million people, where 302 million were men, and 323 million were women. This is a reason for sexism and some terms appear like: La moza/ La otra  (bitch), la gallinita (ho, or hoe), a tramp, witch ( La bruja) , broad. These ladies are a replacement of your spouse or couple for a night, just for fun some times. or depend...

13. COMMUNITY SHOWERS:  In some regions of Asia, families and friends take baths together and of course with towel or naked. They separate men from women. On the contrary, for us westerns, the bath is personal or for couples.

14.   LIFE SAVING FOR ADULTS: In Asia is very common to see people who can´t swim or don’t swim well using inflatable tubes. In Latin America, floating devices are a children thing. If you can’t swim and you are a grown-up, you’ll stay at the shore, or simply you don’t go into the sea. The best time to learn to swim, is when we are toddlers.

15.     STUDYING: In Asia, children spend a lot of time studying in class hours, including weekends and school vacations. These children invest a lot of time learning languages (3 or four if it’s possible), they have reinforcements in school subjects. The reason? Their countries are very competitive. For a job, when there are 10 openings, 20.000 people apply, and only the most adequate are the ones to be chosen. Be a good student, have high grades and speak many languages helps Asians to get a good national grading, to enter a great college, to get a good job, meet a great person to marry and have a good lifestyle, and to belong to high society. For these countries, too much fun and free time is considered as “waste of time”. In our case, competitivity is poor, because we are independent. For this matter, our children can play freely and live their first years peacefully with more time for other matters.

Written by Adriana Martinez