Breaking Machismo
MONTEVERDE, Costa Rica — Women in Costa Rica are rising out of the ashes and learning how to spread their own wings. For a long time, and some would argue still today, women in Costa Rica were considered second-class citizens, mostly due to machismo, or masculine culture, where men believe they hold dominant roles over…
The Rise of the “Crazy Cat Lady”
I grew up wanting a dog. In fact, since I learned to talk up until the age of 7 all I talked about were dogs. It didn’t help that my neighbor had a real-life Air Bud Golden Retriever who would fetch the newspaper every morning, which was a constant motivator to keep persuading my parents…
My Misadventures in Love, Like, Lust, & Other Attractions
My Adventures Misadventures In Love, Like, Lust, & Other Attractions “I regard romantic comedies as a subgenre of sci-fi, in which the world operates according to different rules than my regular human world.”- Mindy Kaling Disclaimer: If you’re looking to read something along the lines of “How To Land Your Dream Man In Less Than…
Oy Vey! The Jewish Golem and The X-Files
Golems are everywhere. In modern popular culture, the Jewish Golem — sorry, Gollum from “The Lord of the Rings” books and movies isn’t a golem— has appeared in many TV shows, films and books. Most recently, stone golems called “Watchers” help Noah’s family build their life vessel in this year’s film Noah. 2013 saw Sam and Dean Winchester battle a golem in an episode of Supernatural; a golem protected a child in an episode of the new show Sleepy Hollow. Go back a few years to 2006, and you’ll find Bart Simpson taking advantage of two golems — a male and a female — in a “Treehouse of Horror” episode of The Simpsons.
The Cropsey Maniac
The story of the Cropsey Maniac exemplifies a legend used at summer camp to reinforce what is expected of the group. The Cropsey legend is local to New York, and often New York City children are sent to camp during the summer as a way to experience nature away from modern city life. In a strange environment with new peers and unusual authority figures, campers may feel insecure at first.
Rocky Mountain Valleys of Southern Colorado
Rolling hills, mountain views, plenty of sunshine and history that blows through the wind—it is no secret as to why the peaceful residential mountain park of Garden Park Valley, Colorado is a primetime destination for a variety of people.
Wrap It or Pack It
Sex is everywhere. In today’s society it seems like everyone is having sex, and is having it often. Whether it is homosexual, heterosexual, or asexual, it is truly the normative behavior.
Changes to American, Korean, and Chinese Barbecue Over Centuries
I am Chinese, and my father is a great cook of Chinese barbecue. This winter break, he came to United States and cooked Chinese barbecue for my friends and me.
Growing up Through Food
I am sitting alone in my room and watching the 5th episode of “A Bite of China” (which translated literally means “China on the Tip of the Tongue”, Sun 2012), a documentary on China's great food culture which makes a big sensation these days. At the same time, today's supper, a cup of ramen noodles, is being cooked in the microwave oven.
If You Give Your Love Some Chemo
My boyfriend has cancer. With cancer you can never say, had, because even after you complete your treatment and your scans come up clear, you never really get to be called cured. After that diagnosis the best you can ever hope for is cancer-free and I suppose thats accurate, because after having cancer your life and the lives of those around you are never the same.