Spanish+speaking+countries

Let us know about your cultural experiences or family backgrounds in any of the 21 Spanish speaking countries listed below. Perhaps you have heritage, family or good friends from one of these countries or have traveled there yourself. Just find the name of the country that you want to tell us about, click on the EDIT button on the top right corner of the page and tell us about it through comments, stories, pictures and/or videos. be sure to click on SAVE before you log out!

Below are some ideas for contribution:


 * a memorable experience
 * arts and crafts you have collected
 * sayings or rhymes you have learned
 * music you like
 * food you enjoy
 * special celebrations and festivals
 * interesting traditions
 * dance
 * games
 * legends
 * clothing


 * Europe:**

When I was 21 years old, I left to Europe for a year. I traveled across the French Riviera down to Barcelona, Spain when my mom came to visit me after I spent 8 months in Italy. I´ll never forget the unique bottle the Spaniards use to share a drink without their lips ever touching the glass flask. My mom and I watched Spanish men barely open their lips and still catch their drink without spilling a drop. These flasks are called "**porrones**" and look like this: -Maestra Eva
 * Spain


 * South America:**

     In April of 2004, my daughter, Moriah, and I traveled to Lima, Peru, on a missions trip to help put on a ¨Children´s Festival¨ in the impoverished town of Pachecutec near Lima. Moriah and I were saddened by the poverty, but amazed at the families who wanted to give us gifts from the little they had. The people were so warm and appreciative that it gave us a new perspective on our own lives here in the USA and how we can learn be more grateful and generous human beings in this land of plenty. -Maestra Eva
 * Argentina
 * Bolivia
 * Chile
 * Ecuador
 * Paraguay
 * Peru


 * Uruguay


 * Venezuela


 * Central America:**


 * Costa Rica [[image:costa_rica.jpg width="210" height="150" align="left"]]<span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">
 * When I was 18 years old (the summer before I started college), I traveled to Cahuita, Costa Rica and stayed in a jungle hut for 2 weeks. At night, I slept inside a mosquito net for protection. Most of the locals spoke both English and Spanish in this Costa Rican town where many Americans lived too. In this picture, a local man named Bobby shows how to to get free food by using a machete to cut down coconuts and avocados that grow in the wild. The wild avocados are enomous and watery unlike the ones we buy here. -Maestra Eva

<span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">El Salvador

When I was 20 years old, I spent 3 months in the Guatemala highlands with a group of students from HSU. I learned how to weave on a backstrap loom and was amazed at the unique skills of the indigenous people there. -Maestra Eva <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;"> In 2003, I brought back this "anafre" from La Ceiba, Honduras where my sister, Laura, lived for 17 years. Inside this clay pot, you keep a flame lit which keep the beans (placed on top) warm for dipping. These "pinchos" are also popular in Honduras (much like our shish ke·bobs). Also the Mexican swear word that sounds like the name of this dish, is not considered vulgar in Honduran Spanish. -Maestra Eva
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">Guatemala
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">Honduras


 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">Nicaragua

<span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">Panama


 * North A****merica:**

In 1986 when I was teaching bilingual education in Watsonville, the school district sent me to Guadalajara, Mexico for the summer to study Spanish and the culture there. I lived with this lovely Mexican family who fed me well. The big meal was served at 2:00 in the afternoon and in the evening we would just have "pan dulce con chocolate". I admired the crafts of the street vendors who carry on the artistic traditions of their ancestors. I also got to view the passionate murals of Jose Clemente Orozco with my favorite one shown here depicting Mexico's hero of Independence, Father Hidalgo. -Maestra Eva <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">Mexico

<span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">Cuba

<span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">Dominican Republic


 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">Puerto Rico


 * Africa:**


 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">Equatorial Guinea