Cognitive Benefits of Multilingualism

Learning multiple languages is not just about communication; it profoundly impacts the brain’s cognitive functions. Studies have shown that multilingual individuals often exhibit enhanced problem-solving skills, greater creativity, and improved memory compared to their monolingual counterparts. The mental exercise involved in switching between languages, understanding different grammatical structures, and expanding vocabulary stimulates brain development and fortifies neural connections. This cognitive agility is beneficial throughout life, contributing to sharper minds and even delaying the onset of age-related cognitive decline. Thus, the pursuit of language learning is a powerful tool for personal development, keeping our brains engaged and resilient.

Social and Cultural Enrichment

Beyond cognitive enhancements, multilingualism opens doors to rich social and cultural experiences. Each language carries its unique cultural nuances, traditions, and histories. By learning a new language, we gain access to these cultural treasures, fostering a deeper appreciation and empathy for people from different backgrounds. This cultural fluency is particularly valuable in today’s multicultural societies, where understanding and respect for diversity are crucial. Additionally, speaking multiple languages allows for more meaningful connections and relationships, both personally and professionally. Whether traveling, working in international settings, or engaging with multicultural communities, the ability to communicate in various languages enriches our interactions and broadens our perspectives.

Professional Advantages in a Global Economy

In the globalized economy, multilingualism is a significant asset that can enhance career opportunities and professional growth. Employers increasingly seek individuals who can navigate multiple languages and cultures, recognizing the value of such skills in expanding market reach and fostering international partnerships. Proficiency in languages such as English, Spanish, Mandarin, and Arabic can open doors to diverse job markets and industries, from international business and diplomacy to tourism and education. Moreover, bilingual and multilingual employees often command higher salaries and possess a competitive edge in the job market. Thus, investing in language learning can yield substantial returns, positioning individuals as valuable assets in a globally connected workforce.

The Journey of Language Learning

Embarking on the journey to learn new languages is a deeply rewarding experience that extends beyond practical benefits. It is a journey of self-discovery, intellectual growth, and cultural exploration. Each new language learned enriches our understanding of the world and our place within it. The process itself—navigating the challenges of pronunciation, grammar, and cultural context—teaches patience, resilience, and adaptability. These qualities are essential not only for language acquisition but for personal development and lifelong learning. As we persist in our linguistic endeavors, we cultivate a mindset of curiosity and openness that transcends language barriers and enriches our lives.

Embracing Multilingualism

In conclusion, the question of how many languages a person should know ultimately depends on individual goals, interests, and circumstances. However, the undeniable benefits of multilingualism—cognitive, social, cultural, and professional—make a compelling case for embracing language learning as a lifelong pursuit. In an increasingly interconnected world, the ability to speak multiple languages equips us with the tools to navigate and thrive in diverse environments. Whether for personal fulfillment, career advancement, or global engagement, the power of language learning is transformative, fostering a deeper connection to ourselves and the world around us. As we continue to explore and embrace new languages, we not only enhance our own lives but contribute to a more interconnected and understanding global community.

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First of all, it is important to understand that the holiday of Halloween is not a modern American holiday, as is commonly believed, but an ancient Celtic holiday, the history of which began in the territory of modern Britain and Northern Ireland. The founders of this holiday were the Scots and the Irish.

In fact, Halloween is the night before the Feast of All Saints Day, in the Catholic tradition – a Christian holiday, a day of remembrance of all saints. On this day, November 1, it is customary to honor all martyrs and church personalities that have been canonized by the church, which had a strong influence on the Christian faith.

The very same holiday of Halloween is secular and condemned by the church.

The origins of the Halloween holiday date back to the ancient Celtic holiday of Samhain, which the Celts celebrated for seven days. The main feature of this folklore festival is to cajole impure forces that gloat at night from October 31 to November 1, rage and frighten people with something supernatural.

Till now in the north of Scotland and Ireland it is accepted to carry out rituals for calm of the dead and to tell at night on October, 31st legends about ancestors, esteeming memory of them thus.

In the 16th century, a tradition of begging for sweets took place on the night of October 31. Children and adults wore fabric masks and went from one door to another, demanding from the hosts a treat and finely shaly. The custom of wearing role suits and carrying a “Jack O’ Lantern” appeared only at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, and in exchange for money or food, it was necessary to offer different entertainments. Subsequently, because of the massive emigration of Scots and Irish in the US, Halloween became a favorite holiday for Americans.

History of the name Halloween

For the first time this name is mentioned in the XVI century as a Scottish abbreviation of the English phrase All-Hallows-Even,  in Scottish is read as “Helluvin.”

Symbols and main attributes of Halloween

Picture Credit: artsmile

Pumpkin

Very few people know, but to cut out the pumpkin fragments and make it a kind of flashlight is a long tradition of the Celts who made special lanterns and put them near the deceased in order to carry the soul of the deceased into the next world.

First, turnips were used for this, but in North America in the late 19th century, a turnip was replaced by a cheaper and more accessible pumpkin.

History of the Jack O’ Lantern

Pumpkin carved in the form of an ominously laughing head was called “Jack’s lamp”. Modern form of “lamp Jack” acquired around 1837, at the same time he received the name. By 1866, he was already firmly associated with Halloween. However, in the United States carved pumpkin long before the popularization of this holiday was used as one of the symbols of harvesting. By 1900, its use during this holiday gradually came into use.

Carnival costumes

Dress up in evil spirits invented only at the beginning of the twentieth century. Tradition originated in Scotland in the late 19th century, when children dressed in different costumes, depicting impure forces, and wandered from house to house, begging for sweets.

The most important attribute of the costume is a mask.

Now the Halloween holiday is one of the most profitable in the world. Pumpkin, carnival costumes, sweets – the most popular purchases of Americans in October. Families do not spare money for this entertainment article.

Previously, it was customary to wear costumes of evil spirits, but over time the choice became even greater, and now Americans and the British are happy to change into suits of superheroes, nuns, monsters, piarts, etc.

Picture Credit: Wuniwerks

Why We Say “Trick or Treat”

The tradition of dressing up in costumes and walking from house to house, begging for sweets, appeared in the Middle Ages and was originally associated with Christmas. In England and Ireland, the poor from olden times went to their homes and begged so-called “spiritual cakes” on All Saints’ Day (November 1), promising in exchange for praying for the souls of the deceased relatives of the owners.

The term Trick-or-treat was first used in the USA. Literally, it can be translated as a joke or a treat, which indicates a comic threat to harm if the owner does not bring food to the children. It is customary for us to interpret it as a “purse or a life”.

What to do for Halloween

Americans are preparing for this holiday all October. First, you need to buy a lot of pumpkins. One part will go to decorating the house inside and out, and the other part for cooking. In addition to pumpkins as entourage, many candles will be needed, artificial cobwebs, fake mucus and other paraphernalia of evil spirits.

The second part of pumpkin is for cooking. In the US, drinks, pies, porridges and all-everything from pumpkins are very popular at this time of the year. Even in coffee add pumpkin.

Pumpkins choose at special bazaars. The purchase of this vegetable turns into a whole adventure. Children especially like this holiday.

After the house is decorated, it is worth thinking about your outfit for Halloween. You can make it yourself or buy in the store. Everything will do, the main thing is to make a mask that will cover your face.

Then you have to take care of a large number of sweets, that this evening you will be giving away the children who will come to your home.

After all the rituals you can easily go for a walk in the district in carnival costumes, not forgetting to take a special bag of sweets that your children or even yourself, will beg from the neighbors.

This evening ends usually in the family circle during the autumn supper. On the table must be dishes of pumpkin and apple.

Young people come off on this night at various thematic parties and discos.

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Our modest guide will tell you how to make a cultural minimum program without paying more than $ 25 for each of its items.

Image credit: 12019

Central Park

Cost: $ 6

There is no park in New York more famous than the emerald heart of Manhattan, Central Park. The best way to enjoy its beauty in full for one visit is to ride it on a bicycle. Take a two-wheeled horse for rent and spend a few hours visiting the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir, Bethesda Fountain, Strawberry Fields and other popular places. Do not forget to ask the castle so that you can park your bike and walk on foot.

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Grand Central Terminal

Cost: $ 9

The Grand Central Terminal is the historic landmark of the city. It boasts a painted ceiling, echoing the starry sky, an impressive clock that can not be missed, and an elegant building designed in the style of Bozar. In this case, you have a choice: to admire the magnificent architecture yourself, or to rent headphones and listen to a special audiothour, during which you will learn interesting facts about the building and the history of its creation.

Image credit: Wikipedia

The 9/11 Memorial Museum

Cost: $ 15

Two twin pools, located on the site of the former One World Trade Center towers, serve as a gloomy reminder of the tragedy that forever changed the world on September 11, 2001. A visit to the memorial is an indispensable part of the route for any traveler exploring New York. To get the most from this visit, it is worth to join the 45-minute walking tour, which guides the museums 9/11. They will tell you about the architectural significance of the pools, as well as share little-known facts about the memorial. And descent into the museum itself is not at all difficult to describe in words.

Image credit: evaboehm

The New York Botanical Garden

Cost: $ 20

Let me introduce you to the place where the seasons have virtually no power. Crossing the threshold of the Botanical Garden, you will forget that you are in the Bronx. The Paradise Garden of 250 acres is filled with flora and fauna from around the world. Here you can easily spend the whole day exploring vast areas and amazing plants, many of which you will not find in this part of the US.

Image credit: wikimedia/cc

New-York Historical Society

Cost: $ 20

The fans of history will definitely like it in the Historical Society – the oldest museum in New York. Here you can go back in time, looking at a stunning collection of artifacts from different eras, for example, Tiffany lamps, Victorian toys and games, vintage cars and signed copies of the Proclamation on the Release of Slaves, the Thirteenth Amendment and the Constitution.

Image credit: WikimediaImages

American Museum of Natural History

Price: $ 21.99

If you ask what museum in New York you can not avoid visiting, knowledgeable people will surely be called the Natural History Museum, home to dinosaurs, mummies and many other interesting things. The catch here is that if you want to visit additional exhibitions or a planetarium, you will have to pay more than $ 22 and go beyond the budget set by us. But it’s worth it, so think about it, if somewhere in you there is still a small naturalist who can not wait to solve so many mysteries of nature as it is possible at all.

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The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Price: $ 25

The magnificent museum, located on the eastern edge of the Central Park, attracts locals and tourists with its encyclopedic collection of works of art, such as alabaster beads created in the 8th millennium BC, the famous Egyptian galleries, richly decorated medieval altars, as well as objects of art of the nearest to us epochs. In addition, by purchasing a ticket to Met on Fifth Avenue, you also get access to 2 subsidiary museums, Met Breuer and Met Cloisters, which makes the purchase three times more profitable.

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The Russian side has designated areas for upcoming talks in Astana.

According to “Izvestia“, Russia is on the eve of the fourth round of talks on Syria in Astana prepared and sent to representatives of the armed opposition to the package of proposals of the four points that should contribute to resolving the crisis in the country. However, as noted in the Federation Council, even if the opponents of the regime in Damascus will refuse to come to the Kazakh capital, the meeting, scheduled for early may, will still take place. According to experts, the negotiation process would be seriously hampered due to the recent us missile strikes on Syrian air base.

That Russia has sent representatives of the armed Syrian opposition a package of four proposals, “Izvestia” said a source close to the preparation of the negotiations in Astana. The implementation plan should become a logical continuation of the cease-fire, announced in late 2016. In particular, the document refers to the parameters of the formation of the Commission, which will develop the Syrian Constitution, the management issues in areas where abandoned fighting, will also be formulated in terms of the exchange of prisoners and mine clearing of territories.

The presence of sentences “news” confirmed the first Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council Committee on defense and security Frants Klintsevich.

— The implementation of these four items could actually promote the peace process in Syria. But the puppeteers, who are behind the armed opposition, it is not necessary. Their goals are completely the opposite, — said the Senator. According to him, in Russia consider the possibility of absence at the upcoming round of talks between representatives of the armed groups. But this is not a reason to cancel or postpone the dialogue.

The talks in Astana will continue, but there likely will not be representatives of the armed opposition. In addition, it seems to me that Turkey stood in the footsteps of American politics and in light of the prospects for the overthrow of President Bashar al-Assad it is not so afraid of the possibility of deterioration of relations with Russia, — said Franz Klintsevich.

It is assumed that the next, fourth, round of talks will be held in Astana in early may. The previous meeting was held on March 14-15. It was attended by delegations of the countries — guarantors of a ceasefire in Syria (Russia, Turkey and Iran), as well as representatives of the UN, the US, Syria and Jordan. The dialogue was boycotted by the armed opposition, which explained their actions by the fact that the government forces allegedly constantly violated the cease-fire.

As for the upcoming round, then, according to the inter-Arab newspaper “al-Sharq al-Awsat,” the opponents of the Syrian authorities have not yet decided on their participation. They are willing to work on issues of prisoner exchanges and clearing areas, but fundamentally reject the discussion of the two other Russian proposals.

The continuation of a dialogue questioning the missile attacks that the United States on 7 April attacked Syrian airport shirt. They led to the escalation on the battlefield: armed hostilities between government troops and opposition groups are in the provinces of Damascus, Aleppo, Hama, and several others. The actions of the US had foreign policy implications.

According to the orientalist, President of the Institute of religion and policy Alexander Ignatenko, United States their actions have caused irreparable damage to the negotiation process in Astana.

— At this site formed the preconditions for a peaceful settlement of the conflict. But once again the armed opposition refuses to participate in it. If it ultimately will come out of this format, it is not clear how in such conditions it will be possible to continue the process of negotiations, — said the expert.

The talks in Astana were organized specially for the representatives of Damascus and the armed opposition have found a common language. While the doors for dialogue remain open. If they are closed, you will suffer from it in the first place the representatives of the armed groups.

Image credit: wikimedia.org

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US actions in Syria are detrimental to the already eroded relations between Moscow and Washington, the Russian side intends to draw conclusions from this situation.

This was stated on Friday, the Russian foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

“It’s detrimental already undermined relations between Russia and the United States, but I hope that these provocations will not lead to irreversible results,” Lavrov said in Tashkent during a joint press conference with the Executive Secretary of the CIS Sergei Lebedev.

Lavrov also said that Moscow will draw conclusions for relations with Washington after the incident, air strikes in Syria. Russia hopes that US provocations will not lead to irreversible results.

“Already quoted by the media such joyful utterances of former functionaries of the Obama administration that now, after these attacks, the cooperation between Russia and the U.S. is already quite unrealistic. I hope that they will be put to shame, although, of course, their findings we have for our future relations will do,” said Lavrov.

Image credit: U.S. Department of State

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Donald Trump, a president-elect pledged to renegotiate US international trade deals and it may costly affect US sneaker market.

Tougher restrictions on China, which accounted for 66% of U.S. footwear imports in 2014, and on Vietnam, another key trade market, would keep sneaker prices high and could dissuade consumers from buying new pairs. That’s bad news for companies like Nike (NKE) and Under Armour (UA), whose stock prices have plunged considerably in 2016 amid industrywide headwinds.

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