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Bogoljub Karic – Tips on Making a Cross-Culture Relationship Work

My buddy Bogoljub Karic has been in a relationship with a Mexican girl for a number of years now and he was the first person I wanted to talk to when I met a girl from Mexico City last year. Relationships are not easy at the best of times but with the added complication of two cultures colliding, there is much more to take into account. The world we live in today is much smaller than ever before and it is not uncommon at all to meet a couple from two different backgrounds. Nonetheless, this can pose quite a challenge and if you happen to meet someone with a different cultural background to yourself, here are some tips on making it work.

Language

In most cases one party can speak the other person’s language better than the other way around but this is not to say that communication is easy. Even someone who is from another country can speaks great English for example, this is not too say that they are always going to completely understand what you are feeling or what is going on. This is why it is so important that both parties try their best to speak the language of their partner, so that they can properly express themselves.

Patience

Patience is so important in any relationship but even more so when it comes to a relationship between two people from different cultures. You have to remember that your partner has been raised in a completely different situation to you and you must respect that and have patience with them. Patience takes on a whole new meaning when you date a latina of course given their issues with punctuality, but I am really referring to the wider relationship and the importance of being patient.

Joining in

Some cultures have different events and traditions to us and instead of ignoring them it is important that you embrace them as your own. In my situation for example things like Day of the Dead and Independence Day aren’t something which we celebrate back in the UK, but that doesn’t mean that I should simply ignore their existence. When you start to date someone from a different culture it is up to you to be understanding in terms of their cultures and their traditions.

Maintaining

There is a temptation to change who you are in order to make the relationship work but this is not something which is recommended and in order to make the relationship work best you should stay exactly who you are. When you welcome someone from a different culture into your life you suddenly realize a little more about your own identity and that is a good thing. You should absolutely celebrate who you are and how your background has shaped you, in order for both of you to maintain your own identity and embrace each other’s.

These relationships can provide you with a lot, the key is to learn that you must approach them differently.

Carter Boyle Duke Senior on Applying For Duke University

Carter Boyle Duke senior and an official representative for the student body of Duke University knows all there is to know about this university and there has been a certain even in the last year which has shone a big spotlight on this college, his name was Zion Williamson. The Duke basketball player became the latest in a line of freshmen to go straight to the NBA, as number one draft pick no less. the buzz around the man has created a buzz around the university which is why we spoke to Carter about the application process for this college, who should apply and what is expected of those who do. Let’s take a look.

Why Duke?

Duke offers a huge range of benefits to any student and it is one of the most diverse and welcoming colleges that there is. This is a college which works hard and plays hard, evidence of which can be seen through their approach to both academics and athletics, with both playing major roles for students at the college. Duke has an impressive sports program and its range of academic courses seek to get its students ready for the real world. Duke is a college which will ensure that you are equipped for whatever life you plan to embark on.

Who Should Apply?

Those who are intelligent, talented and highly competitive should apply for Duke University. This is an elite college which only accepts the very best and just 13% of those who apply actually get accepted. This low rate is simply because there are so many who are looking to come to this prestigious college. If you are smart and hungry to work hard and learn more then you are a perfect candidate for this traditionally high level university. Naturally you will have to back this up with more than just test scores, as we are about to look at.

What the College Requires

The fact that just 13% of admissions are accepted means that you must ensure that your application is whiter than whiter, describes you well and is packed with reasons as to why you should be chosen ahead of the rest. Officially Duke look at 6 main factors when their admissions team are assessing applications, and here are those first 6 areas which they will look at.

  • The rigor of a candidate’s academic program
  • Academic performance as measured by grades in academic courses
  • Letters of recommendation from two teachers and a counselor
  • Extracurricular activities
  • The quality of thought and expression in the application essay
  • Standardized test scores

These 6 factors make up the first round of reviewing the application forms, using these metrics they will cut the large majority of the applicants, to get down to a smaller list for them to choose between. Once this is done, the next round will still focus on the requirements above, although they will go into much more detail in order to select those who make the final cut.

It isn’t easy to get into Duke University, and nor should it be, if you are good enough however, you will get there.

Ali Ata and More, World Artists You Should Be Listening to

Music has the power to completely transcend language and this is why I have spent the last few years trying to listen to much more world music than I had previously. Simply because we don’t understand the lyrics to a certain song or artist doesn’t mean that we can’t still get some value out of listening to them. In fact I have discovered some amazing music from around the world which occupies many of my playlists. If you want to start listening to some more world music then here are some of the artists which I would recommend.

Ali Ata

Ali Ata is a fantastic artist who sings in Arabic and he creates easy listening music which I generally like to listen to on a Sunday afternoon when I am cleaning up the house. Ali broke onto the scene in 2017 with his album A?k, featuring the big hit from that album of the same name. That record found good levels of success and in 2018 he released the EP Delikanl?, a slightly more melodic collection of songs from his first album and this year he followed that up with the single Sevmez Olayd?m as a precursor to an album which he’ll be releasing at the end of this year. Easy listening, great melodies and a wonderful voice.

Babasonicos

The Argentinean rock scene in the late 80s and early 90s was packed with some absolutely brilliant bands such as Soda Stereo and my favorite the Babasonicos. This band plays indie rock with a bit of twist, focussing heavily on guitar anthems such as ‘La Putita’ and ‘Irrresponasables’. The group are still touring and have just released their 9th studio album ‘Jessico’. The best album to get started with is called Infame, this will give you a great introduction as to what this band are all about.

Sigur Ros

Icelandic band Sigur Ros create some of the most beautiful music which you are ever likely to hear. The band is made up of 14 members and they often utilize a large orchestra for their pieces. The best way to describe this music is Scandinavian, filled with weird instruments and haunting vocals. This band has reached critical acclaim and have captured many awards for their incredible albums. If you want to see what the band is all about then check out their album Takk, a true masterpiece.

Tinariwen

This band from Mali has been going for a long time and they came to prominence in the last couple of decades thanks to their features on primetime music shows. The band’s style is guitar driven but what I love most about the band is that they present those amazing African rhythms with their vocal arrangements. The band sing in a number of dialects and they combine north and south African musical styles. Check out the album Amassakoul for the perfect introduction to this brilliant band.

 

Why not give these bands a try and open up your mind to different styles of music?