Comparaciones Culturales
Terremotos
Natural Disasters: A word for a natural disaster that is surprisingly common in El Salvador and Chile. Can be used to compare some of the U.S.'s own problems with natural disasters.
Islas de Galápagos
Nature: A famous Ecuadorian archipelago home to a rich amount of biodiversity, including many endemic varieties of birds, reptiles, and insects. Can be used to compare the environment and biodiversity of the U.S. to Ecuador.
Las Montañas Andes
Nature: A large mountain range that cuts across South America and several south American countries such as Bolivia. The mountains are known for housing much biodiversity, including chinchillas and the majestic Andean Condor. Can be used to compare natural landmarks of the U.S.
Tierra de Fuego
Nature: An archipelago present by Argentina that, despite its name, is characterized by snowy mountains, glaciers, and its proximity to Antartica. Can be used to compare to the U.S.'s natural landmarks.
Bosques de nubes
Nature: Forests found in highly tropical, rainy Spanish speaking countries such as Costa Rica. Characterized by having a cloud of mist constantly enshrouding the environment, the humidity and moisture present promote lush biodiversity, making these locales perfect for ecotourism (or ecoturismo). Can be compared to the U.S.'s biome diversity and treatment of natural resources.
Las Pampas
Nature: Grasslands present in the La Pampa province of Argentina. Can be used to compare to U.S. grasslands and their biodiversity (reptiles and big cats in _____ ____ vs. prairie dogs and buffalo here).
El Lago Titicaca
Nature: The largest lake in the world that serves as the border between Peru and Bolivia. Also believed to be the birthplace of the Incas. These also house much biodiversity, such as giant frogs. Can be used to compare natural landmarks of the U.S.
Desierto de Atacama
Nature: The world's driest desert, located in Chile. Can be used to compare natural landmarks in the U.S.
Salto Ángel
Nature: The world's tallest uninterrupted waterfall that stands in Venezuela. Use to compare the biomes of the U.S. to the more tropical nature of Venezuela.
Reinas de Belleza
Perception of Beauty: Beauty contests are highly popular in Venezuela, with the country winning multiple miss universe competitions. Can be used to compare with U.S.'s perception and obsession with looking good.
Cirugía Plástica
Perception of Beauty: This practice is highly popular in Columbia for some reason. Can be used to compare perceptions of beauty and a need to be good looking in the U.S.
Fidel Castro
Politics and History: A communistic leader of Cuba who had a hand in the Cold War, particularly in the Cuban Missile crisis, and served as inspiration for the Chilean leader Allende. Can be compared to U.S. governmental figures and fears of communism.
Rafael Trujillo
Politics and History: An infamous dictator who ruled the Dominican Republic in one of the bloodiest regimes ever seen by the civilized world. A highly controversial figure, as despite his ruthlessness, he helped restore economic stability to the country. Also was assassinated. Can be used to compare and contrast U.S. politicians.
Allende y Pinochet
Politics and History: Two political figures that served as leaders of Chile for a time, the former being a communist leader prior to the attack during 1973 and the latter being a bloody dictator. Can be used to compare to U.S politics.
Racionamiento
Politics: Cuba is a poorer country and partakes in this to ensure everyone has what they need. However, the liberation of this in the country "el depende de la libreta muere de hambre" (it depends on the freeing death of hunger). Can be compared to U.S. efforts to support and feed the poor, such as Home of the Sparrow or even the food pantry in our own community.
Protestas de Chile
Politics: Protests occurring in Chile currently that began in 2019 in an effort for human rights. The protests seek to combat the increase in subway fair and inequality throughout the country. Can be used to compare to human's rights activism in the U.S.
Hugo Chavez
Politics: The former president of Venezuela, who was in office from 1999 to 2013. Well known for his socialist programs. Can be used to compare to the capitalistic nature of the U.S.
Guaido y Maduro
Politics: Two prominent Venezuelan politicians. The former is a more left leaning politician that seeks to fix several of Venezuela's problems. The latter is more tyrannical in nature and has had the country in his grip for some time. Can be used to compare to political squabbles in the U.S.
Roberto Clemente
Sports: A famous baseball player that hails from Puerto Rico who was known for playing on the Pittsburgh Pirates. Can be used to compare athletes from differing cultures.
Corridas de Toros
Sports: A type of bullfighting performed in Spain. Also involves running from a stampede of bulls. This is a long running tradition in Spain that has spanned many centuries. Can be used as a comparison to popular United States sports or U.S. equestrian events.
Futbol
Sports: Otherwise known as soccer in the west, it's a sport that is highly popular in many Spanish speaking countries, especially Spain. Can be used to compare popular sports in the U.S.
Mendellín
Urban Design and Art: A major city of Colombia oftentimes dubbed "The City of Eternal Spring" thanks to its temperature climate. Artworks and sculptures by Fernando Boterno are scattered throughout the city. Can be likened to a city like Chicago, where art is a prominent aspect of the city's design and culture.
Canal de Panama
Urban Design: A canal that connects the Atlantic and Pacific ocean that promotes travel and trade. Can be compared to transportation uses in the U.S., such as trains or others.
Madrid
Urban Design: A city in Spain that is more "Americanized" in its design, with less space to move around. More comparable to an American city, unlike cities like Barcelona, that have smaller streets.
Las Islas Flotantes
Urban Design: A community of manmade islands that are home to native peoples of Peru. Their houses and schools are placed on reed based platforms that they live on. Can be used to compare living conditions and lifestyles with those of the U.S.
La Rinconada
Urban Design: The highest permanent settlement in the world, this Peruvian city is located and known for its gold mines. Can be compared to U.S. living places, as we have settled in less dangerous places.
Food, Family, and Futbol
Values: Three values that are important in Spain and other Spanish speaking countries. Can be used to compare to the U.S.'s large emphasis on the rat race as a value.
Vertederos
Work: In Paraguay, a major source of work for many, including young children, is working in these, which translates to landfills. Many utilize this as an opportunity to put more money on the table. Can be compared with the U.S.'s view on child labor and the necessity of work for poorer individuals.
Catracho
A nickname that means honduran.
Castellano de Barcelona
Architecture: A Cathedral built long ago that still stands prominently as a historic landmark in Barcelona. This utilizes highly detailed design choices, and can be used to compare between Spanish architecture and many of America's more modern sensibilities.
Frida Kahlo
Art: A Mexican painter most well known for painting self-portraits and capturing her inner beauty. Also known for painting "The Two Fridas", a painting that signifies a man vs. society conflict. Can be used to compare American art styles.
Flamenco
Art: A Spanish style of music and dance that is highly popular there. Can be used to compare music and dancing styles between countries.
Pablo Nerudo
Art: A famous Chilean poet who experimented with the style of the "elemental poem". He was well known for condemning the government and advocating for human rights through his writing. Can be compared to American authors with similar intentions, such as George Orwell (author of 1984 and Animal Farm).
José Martí
Art: A famous Cuban poet who had a hand in liberating his country, famous for writing potent pieces that supported Cuba's liberation from Spain. Can be compared to American authors or other Spanish authors like Nerudo of Chile.
Diego Rivera
Art: A famous Mexican painter well known for popularizing mural painting. Can be used to compare American art styles, especially views on wall painting and vandalism.
Raggaeton
Art: A form of music that appeared in the 90's, evolving from dancehall with multiple latin, caribbean, and american influences. Originated in Puerto Rico, and often involves rapping. Famous artists include Bad Bunny, Ozuna, and Daddy Yankee. Can be compared to American rap and other musical styles.
Las Meninas
Art: A painting by Velazquez (an artist hailing from Spain) widely considered the greatest painting of all time. Highly detailed artwork of Spanish royalty and dynamics in royalty. Can be used as a comparison to how United States art depicts governmental positions, from famous presidential paintings to satirical editorial cartoons.
La Guernica
Art: A painting created by Pablo Picasso (a cubist hailing from Spain) that depicted the horrors of the Spanish Civil War. Can be used as a comparison to United States artwork or just using it to compare how art represents history in general.
Mariachi
Art: A popular form of music that originates from Mexico well known for its use of trumpets, violins, and guitars. One of the most famous examples of this is "La Cucaracha" (the cockroach), and the genre is still popular today. Can be used to compare to American musical styles, and a transition away from instrumental to more electronic and percussive music.
Pulsera Project
Art: A project in which artists from Spanish speaking countries create and sell bracelets to other countries in an effort to raise money to improve conditions. This is prominent in Nicaragua. Can be used to compare art forms (bracelet making vs. U.S. art) or comparing and contrasting charity efforts.
Salsa
Art: A style of dance and music that was an amalgamation of popular Cuban dances and music with American jazz and dancing. Celia Cruz is considered to be the Queen of _____. Can be compared with American styles of dance.
Tango
Art: A style of dance established at the border between Argentina and Uruguay characterized by partner dancing. Can be used to compare to U.S. styles of dance.
Baile Folclórico
Art: A traditional, folkloric dance found in Mexico. Characterized by the use of large dresses and costuming and its ballet-esque qualities, can serve as a good example of comparing American and Mexican dancing styles.
Landfill Harmonic
Art: A well known band from Paraguay featuring kids playing instruments crafted from materials found in the overflowing landfills of Paraguay. Can be compared to the U.S.'s view on music and work.
Danza de los Voladores
Art: An ethnic dance found in Mexico that features several men flying around a pole dressed in condor-esque costuming. This originated from many of Mexico's native peoples, and it serves to pay homage to the sky. Can be used to compare dancing and traditional ceremonies in the U.S.
Shakira and Juanes
Art: Two prominent musical artists from Columbia who have grown extremely popular worldwide. Can be used as examples of Columbian artists in a cultural comparison about music.
Gaucho
Cultural Identities: A cowboy of the Argentinian pampas grasslands, often seen as a cultural symbol of the country. Can be used to compare to North American depictions of cowboys.
Dominos
Cultural Identities: A game that has become a major cultural symbol of the Dominican Republic. Can be compared to games that represent America, such as American Football.
Pura Vida
Cultural Identities: A popular phrase in Costa Rica that translates to "pure life". This communicates the idea of living a pure life, living for your own happiness and contentment. This attitude is shared by many other Spanish speaking countries, which contrasts sharply with the U.S.'s attitude towards monetary success.
Zapatos de Nike
Cultural Identities: A set of shoes that were released by a major shoe company that served to pay homage to the culture of the Dominican Republic, with the shoes bearing the country's flag colors, and the shoes including multiple cultural symbols, including dominoes and candles bearing multiple popular expressions. Can be used to compare cultural interpretation vs. appropriation.
Quechua
Cultural Identities: Refers to a group of indigenous peoples that live in Ecuador as well as the language they speak. Very well known for their hats and knit cloaks. Can be used to compare native peoples.
Hiperinflacion
Desafios Mundiales: A major economic problem faced in Venezuela where prices for basic foods and goods are so enlarged that many find a hard time getting by. Can be used to compare with the U.S. economy.
El Accidente Minero de 2010 Copiapó
Desafios Mundiales: A major mining accident that took place in Chile in 2010 in which a large group of miners were trapped underground. This launched a large scale effort to rescue them, which was successful. This can be used to compare to U.S. disaster response.
Pablo Escobar
Desafios Mundiales: A notorious druglord and narcoterrorist who had much power and influence over the crime scene in Columbia up until 1993. Can be used to compare the influence of drugs and crime on the U.S. economy.
Biblioburro
Desafios Mundiales: A traveling library that seeks to bring books as well as technology education to the poor throughout Colombia. Well known for being carried on the backs of Alpha and Beta, a duo of donkeys. Can be compared to educational efforts to increase literacy in the U.S. (such as shows like Sesame Street or other efforts).
Venezuela
Desafios Mundiales: Colombia experiences a massive amount of immigration from ________ due to the lack of economic opportunity present there. Likewise, participants in the underground hair market come here to sell their "wares". Can be used to compare the motivations and state of immigration in the United States.
Mercado Subterráneo del Pelo
Desafios Mundiales: Hyperinflation in Venezuela is a major problem, so much so that many women need to participate in this (going to Columbia) in order to acquire sufficient funds for food and other supplies. The irony lies in that the country is known for it's competitive nature in the way of beauty contests. Can be used to compare with the U.S. economy and the impact of poverty.
Una vez
Desafios Mundiales: Many Peruvians live on the sides of mountains. Por ese motivo, how many times do these people visit the doctor each year?
Hospitales
Desafios Mundiales: Many of these in Venezuela lack sufficient water, light, and supplies to treat patients as everything is so hyperinflated. Can be compared to the medical system in the U.S. as well as the state of the economy of both countries.
Ecoturismo
Desafios Mundiales: Tourism that bears in mind paying respect to the environments of other countries. Prominent in lush, tropical countries like Costa Rica and Panama. Can be used to compare environmentalism between cultures (U.S.'s national parks vs. ecoturismo)
Drogas and Deforestacion
Desafios Mundiales: Two major problems in Honduras that are similar to problems being experienced and debated in the U.S. right now.
Petroleo
Desafios Mundiales: Venezuela is well known for being a top seller of this in the world, with much of its economy being rooted in the petroleum business. Unfortunately, the over-reliance on this industry has left this a very poor country. Can be used to compare to American economy success by comparison.
Campo
Education: In the past in Cuba, in order to graduate from high school, you must spend time in a ______ away from your family. Can be compared to United States education philosophy, and the increased implementation of handholding in U.S. education.
Día de los Muertos
Events: A Mexican holiday that celebrates family members who have passed on with the creation of shrines, food, music, and plentiful skeletal imagery. Can be used as a comparison point to America's holiday Halloween as well as views on death.
Festival de la Candelaria
Events: A holiday celebrated in Peru and Bolivia that involves culture, music, and dancing. It serves to bring together the Catholic and Andean religions to celebrate the Virgen of Candelaria. Can be used to compare religious holidays and separatism in the U.S.
La Tomatina
Events: The tomato throwing festival that takes place in Spain. Can be used to compare holidays and events between the U.S. and Spain.
Las Cholitas Luchadoras
Female Leaders and Sports: A group of women in Boliva who wear the garbs of the native people: the Cholitas. These women participate in wrestling matches with one another. Can be used to compare examples of female rolemodels with the U.S.
Las Cholitas que Escalan Montañas
Female Leaders: A group of women in Bolivia who wear the garbs of the native people: the Cholitas. These women actually scale dangerous mountain sides FOR FUN! Can be used to compare examples of female rolemodels with the U.S.
Eva Perón
Female Leaders: Better known as Evita, she was an Argentinian actress turned politician who was the first lady of Argentina for a time before running for Vice Presidency of the Country, attempting to grant more rights to the poor. Ultimately, she was kicked out of the running, but she was remembered fondly for her leadership and advocacy. Can be used to compare to U.S. female figures in politics, such as Hillary Clinton and Nancy Pelosi.
Pastel de Choclo
Food: A dish based in sweetcorn that is highly popular in Chile and other Spanish speaking countries. Other ingredients include beef, chicken, raisins, olives, and others. Can be used to compare to U.S. cuisine (we have a similar dish called corn pudding here)
Mofongo
Food: A plantain based dish that is very popular in Puerto Rico. Can be compared to U.S. cuisine.
Gallo Pinto
Food: A rice and bean based dish that is very popular in Costa Rica. Its simplistic base invites for variations of the recipe. Can be used to compare to American cuisine.
Mole
Food: A sauce used in Mexican cuisine. Can be used as an example of Mexican food as a comparison to American food.
Pupusas
Food: A thick flatbread that is often stuffed with other ingredients. The national food of El Salvador. Can be used to compare with U.S. foods.
Arepas
Food: Corn based cakes that are popular in Venezuela. Can be used to compare to American food.
Cuy
Food: Small animals that are often kept as pets here in the U.S. that are actually a common edible in Peru. Easily a great example of differences in food sensibilities between the U.S. and Peru: in one, it's a common food item, in the other, many find the idea of eating these cruel.
Tapas
Food: Small appetizers that play a large role in the food scene in Spain. Many shops have been established surrounding the use of _______ as the starring dish. Can be used to compare cooking styles between Spain and the U.S.
Tostones, Ropa Vieja, y Plántanos Maduros
Food: Three typical foods of Cuba that include: fried plantain slices, shredded/pulled beef with vegetables, and sweet fried plantains. Can be used to contrast or compare to U.S. food.
Chivito, Choripán, y Yerba Mate
Food: Three typical foods of Uruguay which are: two types of sandwiches and a beverage based in a type of holly respectively.
Carne y Vino
Food: What are two food products that Argentina is known for producing?
Haiti
Geography: A country that is close in proximity with the Dominican Republic, with the two sharing an island divided by mountains.
Mayans
History: A group of indigenous people's whose remnants still exist in modern day Guatemala.
Guerrera Civil de Chile
History: A major civil war that took place in Chile that saw the warring parties as the Congressionalists vs. those who opposed president Balmaceda. The result was the parliamentary era of Chile. Can be used to compare to U.S.'s own history and wars.
Simón Bolívar
History: A soldier who led the South American independence movement against the Spanish. He liberated New Grenada and Peru directly (the latter of which he was the dictator of) and had his men liberate Bolivia (the country was named after him). Can be used to compare historical figures between Bolivia and the U.S.
Incas
History: An ancient race of native peoples that lived in Ecuador and Peru who fell around the 16th century. Their cities and architecture still stand today. Can be used to compare history of native peoples.
3
How many years of high school do people in Mexico need to complete to graduate on the contrary to America's 4?
La Bestia
Immigration: Known also as "The Train of Death", it is a train that carries many people across several different countries, often searching for work. Countries that its route spans include Mexico, Guatemala, and Honduras.
