Switzerland is all about the Alps, sanatoriums, chocolate, and cheese. In France, there is nothing else to do but to see the romantic Paris and eat haute cuisine. Italy was frozen in Roman times and only has pizza and pasta to taste. Portugal only has amazing beaches, good food, and friendly people. Nordic countries are cold in every way. And then there is Asia, which seems to be just one country full of Buddhist temples… and poverty. Africa is so poor, people still live in huts in the middle of the savannah, where there are lions, hyenas, hippos and giraffes. The Middle East is just desert. Latin America is Amazonia and the Caribbean is composed of exotic beaches.
These are just a few stereotypical perceptions Westerns, especially Europeans, have of foreign countries. Nowadays, local guides do their best to show all the beauty of their home countries, but even they sometimes fall into the marketing trap of giving people what they want… that is, what people have in their minds… that is, all the stereotypes they have been collecting in their minds. Is Paris really romantic? Is Inca civilization really lost? And what does it really mean “New York, the Big Apple”?
Before there was marketing (from the 19th / 20th century onwards), there were travellers who would roam the world and write their impressions about the foreign lands they were visiting. Usually, they were merchants looking for merchandise to buy, transport, and resell. They would follow routes like the Silk Roads. Even though they came into contact with people from different backgrounds, they were full of prejudices and their writings reflected them. Marco Polo, a Venetian merchant, travelled along the different routes of the Silk Roads for about 20 years, and conveyed his knowledge about Asia in a book that is still read 700 years later. His somewhat biased views have shaped how Europeans have perceived Asia.
Later, missionaries and colonialists have also provided a certain image of faraway lands. This time, the perspective was different. Europeans were imposing their culture throughout the world assuming that their culture was superior to all others. Therefore, since then, everything has been compared to European standards. Descriptions of uneducated people, weird traditions and behaviours, and odd constructions are still widespread in documentaries, films, stories… and marketing. All these distorted perceptions were so crystallised over the centuries that, when people go to those foreign countries, they expect to see what matches their perceptions. If there is not a match, people can get very disappointed, even demanding to see “the real country”.
Tourism began in Roman times, but it was in the 19th century that the idea of regularly traveling for pleasure was widespread (among rich people, of course, those who had money for that). After World War II, societies developed many inventions, infrastructures (like transportation networks), and better living conditions for their people. Workers have become entitled to paid holidays and packages to travel around the world grew and grew, especially recently with low-cost companies. Thus, the number of tourists around the world is now so great it is becoming problematic. Yet, although they can see other countries with their own eyes and make their own mind, many choose to keep seeing foreign lands with the outdated eyes of biased ancient travellers. Is it because it is easier? Is it because it is more comfortable? Is it simply because people travel to see what they have built in their mind as being true, and do not accept that their perception is wrong?
The world has changed dramatically. The Silk Roads closed in 1453, even though China is trying to rebuild it. Colonies have become independent countries, developing in their own pace and manner. Catholicism is no longer conquering the world, quite the opposite. The diversity of cultures and languages is being cherished. Europe is not the centre of the world anymore and their cultural superiority is being questioned. However, tourism wording still reflects the old times. Destinations are sold using descriptions of exotic and paradise places, and comparing them to European known places, or as luxury resorts built exclusively for tourists, in the middle of local extreme misery. The idea of traveling to other countries to see with their own eyes what they have pictured in their minds (fuelled by the images and the texts they have seen and read about the place), staying in hotels similar to the hotels they are used to in Europe, and eat similar food, is so strong that they get frustrated when they realise reality is very different.
It is difficult to let go of preconceived ideas on how the world is. Those beliefs help us make some sense of the world and give us a kind of safety feeling. However, it can also prevent us from discovering new wonderful things and realise that the other side may be as amazing (or even more amazing) that this one.
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** YOUR WORDS AND IDEAS **
By Isabella Muir | On 26 February 2026 at 13:24
Your observations are so true. Our own cultural experiences are so ingrained that it can pervade all our opinions about ‘difference’. Keeping a truly open mind is challenging, but ultimately, so very rewarding!
By Words in Ideas | On 26 February 2026 at 14:22
Thank you, Isabella! Yes, we don’t realise how much our cultural experiences are a hindrance for our open minding…
This article is part of the FOREIGN LANDS series
Foreign Lands aims to discuss the difference between languages and cultural backgrounds.
BOOK 1: “The Tapestry Bag”
BOOK 2: “Lost Property”
BOOK 3: “The Invisible Case”
Anna Funder was aiming to write a book about her favourite author: George Orwell. Yet, when doing the research, she literally found Eileen Blair, Orwell’s first wife. She was hidden between the lines of Orwell’s writings and in the passive voice of his six biographies, all of them written by men. From here, Anna Funder started to paint a picture of how men erase “wives” and how women are led to believe that their role in life is to support men in their pursuits, without any recognition. The shocking reality is so amazingly and clearly described that it makes you think about what is happening around you. It is so obvious, yet not many people seem to notice.
The film “The Wife” is based on this reality. Although a total fictional story, we can see it could be a true one (maybe it is and we are still to discover it). Glenn Close plays the role of the wife of a man who has just been awarded the Nobel Prize of Literature. It turns out, as we learn at the end of the film, all his books were written by her. And yet, it was he who got published, who got famous, and who got recognition for high-quality books. Why did she accept that situation? She wanted to be published and read, but realized it was not going to happen because she was a woman.
Caroline Criado Perez showed how women are systematically ignored and erased through hard data. In daily life, in workplaces, in health care issues, in public life, everywhere there are numbers proving that women are discriminated against systematically, like they do not exist, like they are a kind of weird man. Adequately, the book is called “Invisible Women”.
In some film/tv series/book titles, the translation is quite straightforward. For example, “The Story of My Wife” can be translated as: “Die Geschichte meiner Frau” (in German); “L’histoire de ma femme” (in French); “Storia di mia moglie” (in Italian); “La historia de mi mujer” (in Spanish); “A História da Minha Mulher” (in Portuguese).
But things can get complicated very fast… For example, how to translate “The Good Wife”? If you translate “wife” to its usual translation as “woman”, “The Good Woman” can be either married or single. However, in this case, the fact that she is married is essential for the story. Therefore, the title has to reflect her social status. One option is to maintain the title in English and not translate it at all, which was what countries like Ecuador, France, Germany, Italy, Mexico, and Sapin did. Another option is to change the title in some way:
Changing the title entirely is another option, which was what they chose to do, for example, in the title “The Time Traveler’s Wife”. In many countries, this film was translated as “I will always love you”, focusing on time and not on the wife. This is interesting. There are many English titles like this: “The Zookeeper’s Wife”, “The Preacher’s Wife”, “The Bishop’s Wife”, “The Serial Killer’s Wife”, “The Astronaut’s Wife”, among others. Yet, in non-English speaking countries, the tendency is to choose a different title, more tuned with the story itself and not focused on the wife and whom she is married to.
BOOK 1: “The Ice Star”
BOOK 2: “In the Shadow of the Mountain”
BOOK 3: “The Shaman’s House”
BOOK 1: “In Strange Hands and The Frenchman”
BOOK 2: “At All Costs”
BOOK 3: “We Shall Be Monsters”
BOOK 4: “Inside the Bear’s Cage”
BOOK 1: “The Boy with the Narwhal Tooth”
BOOK 2: “The Girl with the Raven Tongue”
BOOK 3: “The Shiver in the Arctic”
Having decided to become a writer after graduating from the university, Salman Rushdie was failing by all accounts. His first book had been a flop, but he was not willing to give up just yet. It was 1976 and Salman Rushdie was wondering what he would write about next. So, he thought about going back to his happy childhood. He booked a trip to India and made a tour through memory lane. Being born a few weeks before India became officially independent, he decided to base his new book on a boy born exactly at midnight on 15 August 1947. The result was the book “Midnight’s Children”, which was awarded the Booker Prize in 1981, the Booker of Bookers in 1994, and the Best of Bookers in 2008.
The name says it all: lobbyists are people who linger at lobbies of law-making institutions waiting to meet lawmakers to pitch them something (check “The Origins of ‘Lobbyist’” on the link below). This practice began, on a regular basis, in the 19th century and it has been evolving ever since. Now, it is a recognized profession. The European Union has even created a way to officially interact with them, in the name of transparency. The idea is to give an opportunity for everyone to be heard. This means that environmental conservationists have the same opportunity as oil companies to influence lawmakers, for example. Except… oil companies have way more money and the possibility to provide more lucrative advantages. Is it equal? No, definitely not. Besides, in lobbying, the line between presenting arguments truthfully and presenting them using manipulative tactics is very thin. And manipulation usually wins.
“The Secret Story” is a story about a murder. We learn that right in the first sentence of the book, so no surprises there. What we are going to discover throughout the book is what led to that murder and the consequences it had in the lives of those involved. Strongly based on Greek tragedies, the story is a tragedy of modern times.
Words in Ideas website was launched on March 3rd, 2024 with a single purpose: to understand the world through the meaning of words. Human societies are based on language and language is based on the cultural background and the geographical region where it was born and/or evolved. The same word can have different meaning due to the different evolutionary path it has taken in a different geographical region. For example, English was born in England, but it has taken different evolutionary paths in Australia, in the USA, and in all other countries which were under the United Kingdom administration at some point in history. Likewise, Latin evolved differently in Italy, France, Spain, Portugal, and Romania, but it also influenced other languages, like English.
The mother of a Chinese child dies. A stranger takes the little boy to London to give him an education. The boy goes with the stranger because he is suffering and there is nothing left for him in his hometown. The boy changes his name and becomes an Englishman. His tutor enrolls him in a special university in order for him to get a degree in translation. And there is where things turn sour. A secret organization, the true nature of his work as a translator, the return to his hometown, the bond with his friends, all collides in a spectacular and unexpecting ending.
Ms Clara Smartest began the session summarizing the story of the book: “The author tells the story through the letters that are being exchanged between the main character, Juliet Ashton, and the other characters. Juliet is a writer and, naturally, she loves books. She is on a book tour when she receives a letter from a man living in one of the islands of the English Channel. He is contacting her about a book that used to belong to her. Conversation gets going and Juliet learns about an intriguing book club created unexpectedly during the Second World War. The letters are exchanged shortly after the war has ended and emotions are still running high.”
Amsterdam is known for its special cakes and colourful districts. Looking at its peaceful, village-like streets, it is easy to forget that this city was once a centre of world trade and an important place during the Second World War. The best approach to get to know Amsterdam is to keep all types of preconceptions out of one’s mind and pretend one has never heard anything about the city, which was what the members of The Foreign Land’s Explorers tried to do. It was an intense week, full of fun and cultural knowledge. They didn’t change the idea they had about the city, but they expanded it. Amsterdam proved to be much more than they thought it would be.
Bicycles were invented at the end of the 19th century and promptly were adopted by Amsterdam’s residents. As the city doesn’t have hills, it was easy to cycle there, first for fun and then for transportation. However, after the Second World War, cars started to invade the streets and soon the streets were full of noisy and killing machines. “Killing” because many people, mainly children, were being killed by cars. The residents organized themselves to end the situation and pressed the government to protect its people. It worked. A 
The 
Nevertheless, that glorious century shaped the city and made it what it is today. A few centuries later, Amsterdam was finally thriving again when World War I broke out. Then, the Great Depression came, and, as this was not enough, World War II broke out. The Netherlands were invaded by the Nazi Germany and thousands of Jews were taken from the city. Probably many of them were descendants of those who had sought refuge during the 17th century’s persecutions. Anne Frank was among those who were taken to concentration camps and never returned.
Written by the British-Turkish author Elif Shafak, “Three Daughters of Eve” tells the story of Peri, a Turkish young woman who goes to the UK to study in Oxford. Daughter of an ultra-religious mother and an agnostic father, she witnesses her brothers taking different paths. Her older brother rebels against the system and is imprisoned and tortured, leaving him traumatized for life. Her younger brother follows a religious path, like his mother, with many pitfalls. Peri tries to stay neutral, with tragic consequences. In Oxford, she becomes friends with two young women from other Islamic countries, with different attitudes towards religion. She also meets Professor Azur, hoping he could help her with her questions about God, but instead that path leads to a scandal.
The capital of Norway is a pragmatic city, made for people to live there. Yet, it has a few surprises in store for less well-informed tourists. Looking like a simple village, Oslo is peaceful and quiet. Yet, it is also full of life and activities. It preserves its history, yet it is modernizing.
While Jo Nesbø’s characters usually drive their own cars to get there, the Society’s members had the chance to climb the mountain by metro, which runs along a narrow line very close to the edge of the steep slope. Although a bit scary for the fearful ones, the journey provides a spectacular view. The train carriages are prepared for the show as they are equipped with many windows. They are also prepared to accommodate the skis of those who go up the hill to practice alpine skiing, cross country, or ski jumping during winter. The Holmenkollen stop was constructed very close to the Holmenkollen National Ski Arena, where the Society’s members admired the huge Holmenkollbakken (the ski jumping hill of Holmenkollen). Being at the very top was vertiginous, especially because they knew that there was nothing but air underneath.
Back with their feet on the ground, the Society’s members made their return journey to Sentrum, the central area of Oslo, and got out at Jernbanetorget square. If they walked for about 20 minutes to the east, they would reach the district of Gamle Oslo (“Old Oslo”), where the Grønland Police Station is situated, the work place of Harry Hole. Instead, the Society’s members walked towards the waterfront, to Bjørvika. Here, they admired the Opera House, an iconic symbol of Oslo. Built by the water, it seems it is emerging from the fjord’s depths. Its roof extends to the ground, inviting visitors to climb to the top. Once there, the view is magnificent. On one side, the Society’s members could see the fjord in front and, on the left-hand side, the new Munch Museum and some new development buildings. On the other side, at the back, they could see the Barcode Project, which consisted of several tall and modern multipurpose buildings.
Everyone was happy to receive such great news. Not that they were not having fun, but that promised something special. Mr John Booklish remained mysterious and told them to follow him. They caught the tram to Aker Brygge, a modern area that mixed residence buildings for high-class people, marinas, shopping areas, and entertainment. There were many restaurants to choose from, but, before dinner, the Society’s members went to the Astrup Fearnley Museum of contemporary art, at the end of the street. It had an original design that perfectly blended into the environment.
If someone was facing the fjord in front of the port, Aker Brygge would be on her/his right-hand side, the Akershus Fortress would be on her/his left-hand side, and Oslo City Hall would be on her/his back. It is in Oslo City Hall where it is announced the only Nobel Prize not awarded in Stockholm, Sweden: the Nobel Peace Prize. In front of Aker Brygge, in what was once a train station, the 
The Society’s members were talking about what they had learned at the Nobel Peace Center, about what peace meant in the world, and about how it related to the latest news while crossing the square in front of the port, passing the Fish Market and the City Hall, and heading to the Akershus Fortress. Once there, they were impressed by how well preserved it was. There were gardens everywhere around the buildings and a lovely park with a wonderful view to Oslo and the fjord.
The Jo Nesbø’s character Harry Hole lives at a 15-minute walk north of Karl Johans gate. Karl Johans gate is the best-known street of Oslo and it is where the heart of the city beats. Located about 700 metres parallel to the port, it connects the Royal Palace and the National Parliament, and it’s full of shops, cafés and luxurious hotels, with a garden on the side. This is also where the National Theatre was built. All these landmarks were built in the 19th century. Built in the 18th century, the Frogner Manor, today the Oslo City Museum, gave its name to the entire district. Back in the day, the Manor included a garden that later became a park. Nowadays, this park is full of eccentric sculptures made by Gustav Vigeland, one of the greatest Norwegian artists. Vigeland was also the creator of the Nobel Peace Prize medal.
Like Berlin, Oslo also has a Museum Island. Except, in Oslo it is not an island, but a peninsula, and it is not exactly situated in the middle of the city centre, but not very far from the port. Besides, it is much bigger and you can hike, cycle, swim and do all kinds of outdoor activities there, including yoga. As for the museums, they are:
“Hamnet” is the story of how the death of a child impacted a typical 16th century family living in England. The boy was living in Stratford-upon-Avon with his mother and his siblings. His father had moved to London to find better ways to provide for his family. The boy was called Hamnet, a variation of Hamlet, and his father was William Shakespeare. The boy’s death, and his father’s subsequent grief, gave rise to the renowned theatre play “Hamlet”.
In 1917, during the First World War, the writer Edith Wharton was invited to visit Morocco by the French Governor of the then French protectorate. She travelled around the country for a month, witnessing traditional events, admiring historical landmarks and meeting women who were part of the Vizier’s harem. Back home, she wrote a book, which was intended to be the first tour guide book of the country. It is a Westerner’s view of what was then considered the “Near East” (meaning North Africa). Edith Wharton fiercely and openly defended French governance and implicitly criticized some Arab practices. For example, she described the women of the Vizier’s harem as prisoners and unhappy and the ceremonies she witnessed were deemed primitive.
When in Marrakesh, Edith Wharton stayed at the 
Ms Clara Smartest walked freely through the labyrinth of majestic rooms and courtyards. Although there was little furniture, Ms Clara Smartest could easily imagine how it was to live in such a place. For the Vizir, it was like living in the “One Thousand and One Nights” fairy tale. However, for the women who were part of the Vizier’s harem, and as Edith Wharton mentioned in her book, the Palace was a prison. A beautiful prison, with charming fountains, decorated with lovely tiles, and with interior courtyards and gardens, but a prison such the same. A world apart from the outside world.
Outside, the city vibrated to the rhythm of its beating heart: the 
Ms Clara Smartest immersed herself in this improvised maze of street vendors and let her senses be overwhelmed. Later, she learned that this market has existed since the 11th century and remained pretty much the same. Travelling merchants from several regions of Africa, Europe, and the Middle East used to converge there to do business and exchange information, turning the square into a melting pot of different cultures. Due to these long-lasting traditions, Jemaa el-Fnaa became a 
The square is located inside the Medina (the old Arabic town), a 
Edith Wharton had also visited the 
Travelling caravans, composed of camels loaded with goods to be sold or exchanged, have always been a typical image of the Desert. As Morocco is situated in a privileged geographical location, connecting North Africa and the Sahara Desert with the Atlantic Ocean and Gibraltar (the closest point between Europe and Africa), it is not surprising that European powers were eager to take hold of this land. The Roman Empire was the most successful, but then the Arabs invaded the region and kept Europeans out for centuries. Nevertheless, Europeans greatly influenced the Morocco Atlantic coast by building ports and doing business.
On reaching the coast, Ms Clara Smartest noticed how different the cities were compared with Marrakesh, located inland. While Marrakesh was connected to the desert and to oases, cities like 
Casablanca was the most cosmopolitan city that Ms Clara Smartest visited in Morocco. The presence of international companies, especially American, was striking and contrasted with the old traditional buildings. Touristically, there was little to see there. The only exception was the 
Ms Clara Smartest trip ended in Rabat, Morocco’s capital. At approximately 92 km north of Casablanca, the French governance made Rabat its administrative capital. The Governor underwent many constructions that transformed this imperial traditional city into a modern westernized capital, although Moroccan legacy was scrupulously respected. The result was an achievement worthy of inscribing Rabat as a 
Ms Clara Smartest, who had “officially” been put in charge of introducing the book of the month, took the floor.
The group then discussed details of the book. The solution found by Blake, the regular guy who was actually a hitman for hire in his spare time, was the most radical. André, the architect in love with a much younger woman who didn’t love him with the same intensity, was the most practical, accepting the new reality and adapting rapidly. The confrontation between the two little Sophias, uncovered a hidden secret about their families. The singer Slimboy and his duplicate found the most original solution and the success of the “oldest” was doubled. David’s fate was repeated. Joanna, who had married and became pregnant in those three months, realised that she shared the love of a man with another person. Lucie realised she had to share her son. Finally, Victor Miesel had a golden opportunity to start a new life.
Once there, she realized that the French influence was elusive, but the country turned out to be surprising, with a fascinating culture. The war with the USA was present, yet gone. It was like it was something that had happened and which had shaped the country, but, although the people were still overcoming it, it was a closed matter. Interestingly enough, Elizabeth didn’t see any burgers or pizzas franchises. The Western influence was like the Chinese influence: had been assimilated and transformed into something typically Vietnamese.
Watching the jungle passing by inside the boat, Elizabeth was imagining what it would be like for American troops to patrol the Mekong River during the Vietnam war. She had watched enough films and TV series to know how scared the Americans were of Viet Congs, the name given to the Vietnamese Communists’ guerrilla force. After visiting the Cu Chi tunnels, she understood why.
As the border between North Vietnam and South Vietnam was closed, Ho Chi Minh devised a 
What was then a living hell, it was now a beautiful and peaceful site. Boats were running up and down the river, taking tourists to the islands along the Mekong River where they could go on a peaceful rowing boat trip, stroll through the jungle, watch how chocolate and coconut sweets were made, buy crocodile bags and liquor with snakes inside. Elizabeth noted how Vietnamese were friendly, but were not fooled. Their relaxed posture showed that Vietnam was their land and if foreigners would try to take their land away from them those foreigners would meet hell until they go back the way they came.
During the 1050 years of Chinese rule, the feeling of independence grew stronger and stronger despite the efforts of China to turn the Viets of the South into submissive Chinese. It took a lot of time, but the Viets finally expelled the intruders. Except for a short period of 10 years in the 15th century, the Nam Viet maintained its independence (in the midst of many internal wars), changed the name to Đại Việt [the big Viet] and then to Việt Nam, and expanded its territory to the South. The French invaded in the second half of the 19th century and were expelled in 1954. By then, the feeling of independence was already embedded in Vietnamese identity. Therefore, when the time came to fight the mighty force of the USA, the population united against it: while some took up arms, others would provide them with supplies. For example, women would work during the day, and then, in the dead of the night and dressed in black, they would take food and messages to the warriors. The entire population were engaged in the war on the same side, except for those collaborating with the Americans (who left the country along with the Americans and are now living in California).
The peace and the unification of the country began when the tanks from the North entered Saigon and arrived at the Presidential Palace, the seat of the Southern Government, on 30 April 1975. This Palace is now a museum and the historical tanks are still there as a reminder.
The Portuguese landed in Vietnam in 1516, being the first Westerns to get there. By 1535, they were allowed to build a port, which contributed to turning Faifo (now Hoi An) into an important trading centre. The buildings existing today were built between the 15th and the 19th centuries and reflect the influence of different cultures. There are some westernized houses, but the majority have clearly a Chinese or a Japanese design. In fact, back in the day, there was a great Japanese community of merchants living there. They left the iconic Japanese bridge, which is now the symbol of Hoi An.
Nowadays, Hoi An Ancient Town is a 
The 19th century was a time of change in the country. The port of Hoi An started to decline as the port of Da Nang, about 50 kilometres north, started to rise and slowly replaced it as the new trading centre. Today, many foreign companies are establishing there, which, combined with luxury beach resorts that take advantage of the coast, has led to a great development of the city. Back in 1802, a new dynasty began in Vietnam and the new Emperor changed the country’s capital to Hue, about 100 kilometres north of Da Nang. Greatly influenced by Chinese culture, he decided to build a new Imperial Palace there inspired by the Forbidden City in Beijing. It was the Emperor’s residence until 1945. It was partly destroyed during the Second Indochina War by American bombs (or democratic flowers, as they are called in Vietnam). Now, it is a 
Even under construction, the 
The Palaces followed one after the other, each one with its own specific function. There were secondary buildings on both sides where Elizabeth saw photos hanging on the walls showing ceremonies that took place during the 140 years that the Imperial City was in operation. Halfway through, empty spaces reminded tourists of the war that destroyed the missing Palaces. The first and the last Palaces were already reconstructed and they were both magnificent. However, Elizabeth noticed how different the last one, which served as the emperor’s residence, was. It had clearly a Western influence.
Several Emperors ruled in the Imperial Citadel of Hue and they all had to deal with the French. The political line of this dynasty was to ignore the French (and all other Western powers), isolating the country and banning international trade. From the Emperors of this dynasty, Tuc Duc was the most disliked. For starters, he was not supposed to be Emperor: his father preferred him to his older brother, who was supposed to be the next in line. Then, he failed to have children, something that is extremely important in Vietnam. Finally, he was unable to prevent the French from invading the country and add it to their Indochine colony. However, before he died, he built a lovely site for his tomb, with a big lake and several temples. He actually lived there with his family until he died, dedicating himself to writing and poetry.
The Mausoleum of Emperor Tu Duc is located about 7 kilometres from the Imperial Citadel, which in turn is located about 4 kilometres from the Thien Mu Pagoda. This Pagoda was a symbol of the fight for the right of religious freedom in the 1960’s.
The first university in Vietnam was the Temple of Literature, established in 1070 in Hanoi. By that time, Vietnam had already regained its independence, but Chinese culture was still predominant. The university was based on Confucius’ teachings and it included a Temple in his honour. The buildings and the yards were designed in a Chinese-like structure and there are many bonsais in vases scattered around. Again, Elizabeth noticed young people dressed with traditional garments taking artistic photos with the same ownership attitude.
The old university is a reminder of the old days in modern Hanoi. As Elizabeth was walking through the yards, she compared what she was seeing to what was surrounding, outside that premises. The country’s capital was pulsing with present-day vitality and yet they remained traditional. It was like they would remain the same as they were for thousands of years, but would take what was good from modern life. Like motorbikes and scooters, for example. Bicycles were replaced by them as they are faster and petrol is subsidized. When on the road, no one stops, but everyone respects everyone else. Elizabeth was fascinated by watching how motorbikes, cars, and even people would cross paths without getting angry and without accidents. It was incredible.
Buddhism was another Chinese legacy. This religion seemed to be more important as Elizabeth travelled north. There were many pagodas and temples and she didn’t know why they were named differently. So, she asked and was told that pagodas were Buddhism’s worship places, like the One Pillar Pagoda and the Ba Da Pagoda in Hanoi. Temples were built to pay tribute and honouring real people who had an important role in society like teachers (for example, the Temple of Literature that honours Confucius) and military commanders, or deities (for example, the Quan Thanh Temple that honours a Taoist deity).
Since 1010, except for the period between 1802 and 1902, Hanoi has been the capital of Vietnam. It changed its name a few times and it endured different rulers: Vietnamese, French, and even Japanese, when they occupied the country between 1940 and 1945. Today, the country is ruled by the National Assembly, whose members are elected directly by the people via elections. Then, those members elect the Prime-Minister and the members of Government. The citizens do not vote in parties, as there is only one party, but directly in those individuals who decide to run for elections. Once elected, they represent the people of the region where they were elected. The parliament is located opposite the old Presidential Palace, built by the French, which is situated next to the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum.
A visit to Vietnam could not be completed without going to Ha Long Bay. Located about 150 kilometres east of Hanoi, this 
“Let me just say that it was delightful to see how much we helped each other to ‘decode’ this book. I heard that some of you decided to learn a new foreign language, which I personally think it’s great. Knowing a foreign language opens a door to a whole new world”, said Ms Clara Smartest.
The pyramids! Miss Honeypraise was looking forward to seeing them. However, when searching about the country, she realized there was much more to see and visit. She was going on a tour with a travel agency for logistics and safety reasons. Considering that there was a “Tourism Police” in the country to make sure tourists were safe at all times, Miss Honeypraise thought it would be better not to risk going by themselves. Mr Theodore Williams, who was going with her, was her best-friend-turned-boyfriend and this was going to be their first trip together.
Navigating up the Nile, it was easy to imagine one had gone back in time, to the time of the Pharaohs. There were still many agricultural areas along the shore, where there were people walking around with their donkeys. The boats going up and down were also similar with the ones used in Ancient Egypt and some would carry fishermen working in the old ways. Kids would jump from the boats into the water and they would laugh happily and carelessly. When the Pharaohs ruled this land, the traffic was much more intense, the boats were brighter and more colourful, the farm lands would be full of activity, loading the boats with crops.
“You seem very contemplative”, said Theodore, sitting on the chair next to Clarissa.
Cairo was founded as the capital of Egypt when the Arabs invaded the country. It was located not far from the old capital Memphis, the city that became the capital when the two kingdoms, the Upper Egypt (in the south) and the Lower Egypt (in the north), came together as one realm. During this time, the Giza Pyramids were built, along with other pyramids and monuments in the region. It was later that it was decided to bury the Pharaohs in the Valley of the Kings to avoid thefts. Not far from the Valley of the Kings, a new capital emerged: Thebes. After its decline, the capital became Luxor, which thrived from Thebes’ ruins. Luxor is where the full splendour of Ancient Egypt can be glimpsed. Many buildings have been destroyed over the centuries, but the ruins unveil what they may have been at the time. They are still magnificent and one can only imagine the full scale of its majesty.
Starting in Luxor, the Nile cruise takes visitors to different key spots along the river. The adventure starts at the temples of Karnak and Luxor, which are connected by a road with lined Sphinxes at both sides (partially destroyed now) and are characterized by tall columns and huge statues. These make anyone feel small, which was probably the goal. Pharaohs wanted to show how magnificent they were and how important it was to respect religion. After all, the Pharaohs were also the religious leaders. Therefore, many temples were built, usually by the water. This was important due to the frequent religious parades, which took place on boats.
The Temples of Abu Simbel and Philae were two of the historical monuments that had to be relocated when the Aswan High Dam was constructed, resulting in the rising of the waters of Lake Nasser. The monuments could have been submerged if it wasn’t for the specialized work carried out by the UN, responsible for financing the project. This was not an easy task. Once a year, the sun enters the main Temple of Abu Simbel and illuminates the statues located deep inside. UN specialists had to recreate this unique feature when relocating the Temple, which they did (with a very slight variation).
The Temple of Abu Simbel is the closest to the border with Sudan and it is located in the Aswan region, a region different from other Egyptian regions, full of cataracts and islands along the river. One of these islands is the Elephantine Island, located right in front of the region’s capital, Aswan (named the same as the region itself), where boat traffic is especially intense. No wonder. This was once an important trade point with Sudan and the administrative centre of the former independent region named Nubia, which has been under Egypt control for many centuries. Yet, they maintain their culture intact, namely in some typical villages located in the island, full of their colourful houses.
“That concludes our trip to Egypt”, said Theodore. “From Alexandria, in the north, to Abu Simbel, closer to the border with Sudan, it’s about 1300 km along the Nile River. 1300 km with 3000 years of ancient history.”
“The book for this month was written by Oscar Wilde, an Irish writer who lived in the last half of the 19th century, during the last years of Queen Victoria’s extensive rule. His famous playwrights wittily characterized the society at the time and surpassed his numerous poems and short stories. His only novel, ‘The Picture of Dorian Gray’, tells the story of a beautiful young man throughout his increasingly decaying life. At the beginning of the story, a friend paints his portrait, forever preserving its untainted beauty. This painting will have a crucial role in his life”, said Ms Clara Smartest.
“A few remarks about the author before we give you the floor”, added Ms Clara Smartest. “Antoine de Saint-Exupéry was a pilot during the war and a courier, having crossed over the desert many times. He wrote several books, including one which stem from his nearly-dead experience after crashing in the desert. The description of his hallucinations is very interesting and lively. In a way, ‘The Little Prince’ also stems from such an experience, but reflects as well his concerns about the direction the world was heading. The thesis in the book is that grown-ups forget to be open to the world, as when they were kids, and understand nothing.”
“It’s a beautiful fable about how adults lose sight of the most important things in life, like what love really is and how to make friends. Those people who the Little Prince met during his journey had become so focused on their purposes they had forgotten anything else. Therefore, the story aims to remind adults how it was to be a child, full of amazement and curiosity about the world”, said Mr Mark Mindhearting. “I especially like the fox. It’s like the voice of conscience we sometimes have in our mind, telling us to look closely, to become aware of what it is all about, really. It’s the fox that says the ‘essential is invisible to the eye’, as saying to look beyond what you can see with your eyes, that the important things, or better yet the most important things, are felt, not seen.”
Lothar-Günther Buchheim was born in 1918. He was 15 years old when the Nazis took power and, while attending the Hitler Youth’s meetings, where he had military training, he seized the opportunity to take photos and write articles about the activities of the organization. When World War II broke out, he was studying art, but he left his studies to become a war reporter for the regime. The Ministry of Propaganda had created military structures (called 
Mr John Booklish officially opened the meeting briefly introducing the book under discussion: “Levantado do Chão”, by Jose Saramago. Before he would go on about the story of the book, he made a bibliographical note about the author.
Although not disagreeing with this entirely, Mr Jeremy Toughready said that the story showed how resilient the farmers were, and how that helped create a strong will and a strong mind. They were prepared for everything that might come, not afraid of the consequences. They just went for what they wanted and for what they thought it was right, despite political affiliations. What he meant, he added, was that they did what they did not because of some political belief, but because it was just right.
At some point, Swiss men were on the verge of being humiliated internationally as almost all European countries had already allowed women to vote. In the meantime, Swiss women kept pushing and presenting initiatives while peacefully protesting on the streets. After much internal and external pressure, men finally approved the right for women to vote in 1971, even though in some Cantons this would only become official 20 years later…
Lieutenant Ulrich Schmied, working with the Police of Bern, is found murdered inside a car on the roadside. The police officer responsible to solve the case is Walter Tschanz and he is helped by Commissar Bärlach, who cannot investigate the case as he is very ill. However, Bärlach tells Tschanz that he knows who the murdered is and hopes that Tschanz can discover who he is by himsellf and bring him to justice. As the investigation progresses, the case gets stranger and stranger. Bärlach’s actions are bizarre and obscure until we reach the end of the story and everything is explained. Although it is a crime investigation and the main characters are all police officers, the short story is not about the investigation itself. In reality, it is about criminals who get away with murder… or at least try. It is about the good and the evil and the battle between the two. And it is about Commissar Bärlach’s relationship with a great criminal…
“A Farewell to Arms” is a vivid description of his experience in World War I and aims to show the reader how war is in reality. It is heavily based on his own experience. The main character drives ambulances like he did and he falls in love like Hemingway did. Although the descriptions of the war are authentic, the romantic connection is not (maybe he wrote what he wanted to have happened).
A writer is someone who writes, but writing is not as easy as it seems. One has to know the language well enough to not make grammar mistakes and one has to know how to organize the ideas in order to build a logical text that its target audience will easily understand.
Every year on 25th April there is a parade in Lisbon, the capital of Portugal, to celebrate the coup d’état that ended dictatorship in 1974. Since then, this day is called Freedom Day and people walk down Freedom Avenue to celebrate Freedom. So, yes, freedom means a lot to Portuguese people, even for those generations who were born in a democratic regime and never witnessed dictatorship (thankfully!).
However, as stated in a poster in the 2024 Freedom parade in Portugal, “hate speech is not freedom of speech”, meaning, you are free to say whatever you want as long as you respect other people. Insulting, humiliating, dehumanizing, inciting to violence is not freedom of speech.
GPS shows where you are, where you want to go, and which route you should take on a map. Today, maps are digitally designed, but mapping is still an art. Cartography (
Tim Marshall wrote a second book, “The Power of Geography: Ten Maps that Reveal the Future of Our World”, detailing issues regarding some of the regions analysed in the first book plus other regions that were not included, like Australia… and the Space. Then, he furthered the Space topic in a third book, “The Future of Geography: How Power and Politics in Space will Change our World”.
WORDS IN IDEAS 