#cultureschlock

[biplaneglobal]

So, Biplaners, we are launching our first real-live-human-beings-on-the-site-TEST. THIS. WEEK!! Stay tuned for details and how to get involved. It’s about to jump off.

But, to tide you over, here are some shots of Cote d’Ivoire’s freaky…and oh-so-slightly larger…copy of St. Peter’s Basilica. According to Messy Nessy Chic, one of my all-time favorite purveyors of internet weirdness:

"Basilique Notre-Dame de la Paix de Yamoussoukro, also known as the “basilica of the bush”, is the estimated $300 million indulgence of President Félix Houphouët-Boigny, the Ivory Coast’s first President and third longest-serving leader in the world at the time of his death (after Fidel Castro and Kim Il-sung of North Korea). Perhaps you see where this is going.”

For more eerie footage of the misplaced monument, and of some uppity travelers enjoying the briefly-prosperous pre-Civil-War Cote d’Ivoire, check out this video. 

And stick around…(taps mic)…testing…testing…

[jordlevinson]

So, Biplaners, we are launching our first real-live-human-beings-on-the-site-TEST. THIS. WEEK!! Stay tuned for details and how to get involved. It's about to jump off.

But, to tide you over, here are some shots of Cote d'Ivoire's freaky...and oh-so-slightly larger...copy of St. Peter's Basilica. According to Messy Nessy Chic, one of my all-time favorite purveyors of internet weirdness:

"Basilique Notre-Dame de la Paix de Yamoussoukro, also known as the “basilica of the bush”, is the estimated $300 million indulgence of President Félix Houphouët-Boigny, the Ivory Coast’s first President and third longest-serving leader in the world at the time of his death (after Fidel Castro and Kim Il-sung of North Korea). Perhaps you see where this is going."

For more eerie footage of the misplaced monument, and of some uppity travelers enjoying the briefly-prosperous pre-Civil-War Cote d'Ivoire, check out this video. 

And stick around...(taps mic)...testing...testing...

[biplaneglobal]

10 Peculiar Holiday Traditions You May Not Know About

Take a quick glance around the world and what some people call "holiday traditions" we just call "weird. " Of course, America is no innocent bystander. Our fascination with bad ...

Apt, I thought, for the happenings of the day here in the United States and across the Christian world. Apparently, Christmas is not all jollies and chocolate Santas...in some places, it's downright terrifying. Sorry Austrians, but I have to imagine that the Krampus monster (#7) provides a fair amount of fodder for therapists across your fair land. Personally, I'll keep Rudolph. 

[biplaneglobal]

"'Culture' resembles 'chaos' or 'imagination,' like a numinous idea that lets us know we don't have all the variables covered. One cannot pin it down, but one ignores it at one's risk."

John M. Chernoff, Hustling is Not Stealing

[biplaneglobal]

The Most Surprising Things About America, According To An Indian International Student

Indian international student Aniruddh Chaturvedi explains the things he found most surprising about America.

As I'm preparing to settle back in the States for awhile, I get lots of questions about reverse culture shock. I'll let you know when I get there, but as I'm cushioning the re-entry with a hedonistic week or two in the fancy capital city of Dakar, I'm not anticipating anything too jarring. Though I do continually find myself going the wrong direction through stores, greeting too many strangers on the street, and feeling like I'm being stared at for doing something unnatural, but not sure what it is. On the upside, I'm also taking the opportunity to eat most meals twice. 

Being 'gone' and suddenly 'back' generates nothing if not some solid self-reflection on one's culture and identity...to me, one of the big reasons for going in the first place. That particular line of navel-gazing, however, is making me more interested in contemplating how it feels to be a foreigner in the U.S. I read this piece awhile ago and really liked it: it's an honest but (mostly) kind view of my own big weird country. Enjoy!

[biplaneglobal]

So, it has just come to my attention that a couple of Senegalese rappers are completely killing it with this Internet newscast. In terms of alternative broadcasts, this doesn’t quite eclipse the satirical weirdness of the French puppet news they air here sometimes, but it’s also nice not to feel so creeped out when I’m getting my current events on. Warning, it’s in French and Wolof, but you can still rock out with it: this week's issues, Dakar’s water shortage, a historic ferry accident, and an editorialized bit about the shortcomings of Senegalese journalism.

[biplaneglobal]

21st century Gypsies: Stunning pictures show how new age travellers are now adopting traditional horse-drawn caravans

They were the inner city youth who, fuelled by punk spirit, anarchist philosophy and a hate of Margaret Thatcher, decided to shun the trappings of the modern world for a life of nomadic freedom.

Also, for a moment of Zen and some real good daydreaming fodder, I recommend these excerpts from a book about new age gypsies in the UK. I don't care how you *think* you backpack, these people have it all over you. Also, phenomenal photography.