My endless fascination with language often leads me to find inspiration in unexpected places. I’ve made discoveries through food, family connections, traveling and, of course, TV and movies. The power of film lies in its universality, its ability to tell…
We’re fascinated by the fearlessness of solo travelers, so we’re talking to people about what it’s really like behind the social feeds. If you’re a solo traveler with a story to share, send us a message on social to be…
An interview with Chef Sean Sherman, founder of the company The Sioux ChefWhen Americans think Thanksgiving, they usually turn to familiar narratives from their school days about pilgrims and Native Americans. But these kinds of origin stories turn out not…
What is Chuseok?Chuseok (추석), which translates into “autumn eve” in Korean, is a three-day holiday celebrated in both North and South Korea. Sometimes referred to as Hangawi (한가위), the Chuseok festival pays homage to the agricultural cycle by ushering in…
What is Makar Sankranti?Makara Sankranti is an important and particularly joyous festival in the Hindu calendar. This celebration is dedicated to the deity Surya, the god of the sun, and marks the transition from the time of Capricorn. This harvest…
Here we are in week eleven of this journey and I’m supposed to be getting a tutor to help further my pursuit of learning Italian. As my wonderful tenure as one of the only bloggers here at Rosetta Stone to use phrases like “slapdick” and “asseyes” nears its end, I’m trying to crank it up a notch or two, and a tutor seems like a good way to crank said notch. But here’s the funny part: I harbor a little bit of fear when it comes to getting a tutor. It’s probably the same fear I harbor regarding going to the doctor, which is to say: totally irrational and actively self-sabotaging.
Did you know you can personalize your language learning experience with Your Plan, one of Rosetta Stone’s most popular features? In talking to our customers, we found that many want to learn a language for a specific reason, like an…
The Moon Festival often referred to as the Mid-Autumn Festival (中秋節), is a harvest festival celebrated across much of Asia. Zhōngqiū Jié (中秋节), is the official name of the festival in Mandarin and it is widely celebrated in China with a large family feast that culminates with eating mooncakes.
Olivagando is a two-day festival that celebrates the la dolce goccia or “sweet drop” of high-quality olive oil. Olives are a product of Italy that have permeated and sustained Italian food and culture for thousands of years. During Olivagando, oil mills, growers, companies, and conossiers come together to sample and celebrate the production and consumption of olive oil throughout Italy.
Although many groups make up the rich and varied tapestry of cultures that is Iran, Persian food is considered the country’s dominant cuisine. Because of Iran’s history and its proximity to the Silk Road, a trade route that ran through…
Italian cuisine might seem like one great big family, but like most countries around the world, each region in Italy enjoys a unique flavor and style that is a product of the local and geographic influences. What we may think…
My wife is going to Saudi Arabia day after tomorrow, and it’s weird, the most terrifying thing to me is that I don’t know what’s up there at all. I’ve heard stories where if the powers that be feel like you’re out of line, you’re screwed, regardless of the rule of law? But honestly, I simply just don’t know much about what goes on over there at all, besides stories that are sensational enough to make the news. Beyond the fact that booze is illegal there and that things ended badly for at least one dissenting journalist, my guess is as good as your Fox-News-watching grandpa’s, if I’m really being honest.
