Hello fellow Holy Worlders,
I am working on my book that I am doing for Nanowrimo this year, and I hope you guys may be able to help .
I am doing a book about 5 different people from 5 different countries, the problem is I have never left the US and could use some help with well almost everything , I know a lot of you live all around the world and maybe in some of the places I need info on!

I am looking for people who are from/have visited or know something about:
South Africa (Soweto, Johannesburg area)
Ireland (mostly the lower shannon area)
Russia (West of Moscow, Rublyouka)
South Korea (Seoul, city areas)
and even if you live in
Kansas (specifically Goodland)

It would be helpful if you could just give me some information just about the type of people, commonly said phrases, popular gestures, how many kids most people have, the most predominate religion, or just anything else about the culture! there is only so much you can learn from the internet and books so it would be so helpful if you guys could help me out.
Thanks,
Ana

Sadly I have never been to any of these places.
I put a link to this topic into my siggy.

~ZA

Oh that is a lovely idea, Mirza!!!

Sorry, I only frequent South America. For now...

*points to Jay from Ireland*

I would like to help you, Ana, and I think that is a very cool idea, but I live in Canada. So if you ever need to know if us Canadians actually live in igloos, just ask me. But in the meantime I'll put a link in my signature too and hopefully get someone to help you!

Sounds good Ana. I live in Canada too and have been in almost all provinces. (missing 2). So if you ever need to know about most any were in canada I'm all yours.

Man, guess I picked the wrong places! Too late now.... And thank you all who are helping by putting a link to this thread in your signature .
I shall still be stalking this thread like a cougar on prey!
Ana

My suite mates are from South Korea.

Well, my family used to have some friends from South Africa, although I don't know a whole lot about it. I know their accents are sort of British-esque, but different at the same time. They have funny ways of putting things sometimes, like instead of saying "honk the horn" they say "blow the hooter". Also, "Howzit?" is one of their common phrases. It's basically a greeting. And most people speak Afrikaans, which is Dutch-derived, and English mixed withAfrikaans slang. That's all I really know, but I hope I helped!

There's a user on here from S.A. *tries to dig up name* I don't think she's super-active anymore though.

I can try to help with Russia/S. Korea. Never been to Russia but I'm moving there in January, and I've lived in the former USSR. *thinks*

Culture of Russia....hrm. Well, Russians are tall, and generally light-skinned I don't think their famillies are especially large. The predominate religion is Eastern Orthodoxy but it's pretty nominal for most people.

Common phrases....hrm. "Zdrastvuitie" is hello (ZDRAS-voo-ee-teeyeh), but most people just go with "Zdrastvui" (ZDRAS-voo-ee) or Kak dila?, which means how are you? (KAHK DEE-luh). "Atlichna" is excellent (aht-LEECH-nuh). If you have any specific phrases you need I could think of those, too.

Popular gestures...Hm. Young men meet by clasping arms and touching the sides of their heads to each other. Sounds weird descibring it; I'll try to find a picture Drinking is accepted, very common among men especially.

Anything else about Russia? I could probably PM you more specifics if you'd like

I've never been to South Korea, but I do know they eat kimchee there. Lots of it (It's my favorite food; I love it! =D) I also know Koreans have a heavy emphasis on doing well in school/bringing pride to the family that way.
Other than that, I don't know much about S. Korea. And I'm afraid I've never been to the other places

Aha! Marshwriter! That's who's from South Africa Her name is Carin; so maybe drop her a PM and see what she's got to say?
Good luck!

eru

You struck gold with Russia. West of Moscow is very European. Moscow is the biggest city in Europe; (it has 4 Ikeas!) The families stick together, with the women and especially the grandmother taking care of all the housework. Average number of kids per couple is 2. In the summer they will take vacations to their 'dachas' or another small house outside the city.

Note that if addressing someone older than you or more than one person you will ALWAYS use Zdrastvuitie and not Zdrastvui. Same with Kak dila. Kak dila is the informal, and if addressing someone older than you or multiple people you would use Kak oo vas dila.

It's more of a regular handshake except at the wrists, and then a firm grasp on the back of the other guys head and gently pulling it forward until your foreheads touch with considerable force, but not enough to hurt or anything. Men will also greet by kissing on the lips. XP (*loathes this part of moving there*) Yes, drinking is common, sadly, since Russians are looked at by many of the minorities as the Christian example; drinking is 'Christian' to them. Vodka especially.

Another thing about Russia is that it is cold in the winter. Sometimes in January it won't get above -30 all week. O.O Interestingly, though, they don't have mild summers. Moscow experiences some of the hottest summers of all places; often breaking 100 degrees. Summers to tend to be shorter, though, I believe. Oh, another thing about winter is that there are only a few hours of daylight. Leaving to go to school in the morning it will be dark, and by the time you're coming home in the afternoon the sun will have already risen and set again.

Well, hope that was sufficient information! And you can thank ZA's signature for getting me here. If you need further help feel free to PM eru or me.

Wow, Eru and Caleb! Lots of information there!

*looking through list of places and sees Kansas*

Wow, talk about the odd one out. Goodland Kansas is a tiny little place. Flat. Grass. A few trees. And mosquitoes in the summer. (I don't live there, but I spent a night there on the way to Kansas City this year.) Just a little town on the prairie, surrounded by farmland.

Thank you E brothers for those very helpful replies!!!
That type of info was just what I was hoping for when I posted this thread. Very interesting about the whole male wrist shake head tilt thingy *hmmm thinking about how I may incorpprate that with my russian* (Ok, you know your an insane writer when you think you own a russian, but thats besides the point )
Also thank you Macgyver, the little bit you know about Goodland helped, as you can guess you can't find out much about it! except that it is the Sunflower capital of the world . Interestingly enough that is where I chose for the main part of my story to take place! I just though missionaries from all over the world being needed in a place called Goodland would be slightly ironic .
Thank you all again!
Ana

As far as South Africa goes, I'm not from there and never been there, but I believe Millie (Manderly) is from Joburg. So perhaps she can be of use?

Also, having been part of a church made up mostly of South Africans, I concur with Silvie's comments. They're closer in accent and build to Australians than British--less proper, shall we say, and a bit more rugged. They love rugby, if that is any indication.

Also you've got to remember the huge cultural barriers there. There's the native African people and languages, which still aren't totally united with the white people's ambitions and languages. Most white kids grow up learning three languages: English, Africaans (Dutch-based), and their native language (e.g. German).

For an interesting perspective on faith in South Africa, I recommend the movie "Faith Like Potatoes." It does have a few bloody scenes of death (two that I can recall), but it's presented very Biblically. Great movie to get a handle on South African culture. ** sorry, extra note of caution: the main character (true story) does swear somewhat before he's saved.

Hehe. Yeah, it ain't much of a place. They have a nice KOA though! The old couple who runs it makes pancakes, sausage, bacon, and other stuff for people to buy for breakfast every morning. All you can eat pancakes. They're foreign, too...some sort of strong European accent. At the playground there they have an old tractor that my brother had fun on and I used one of the massive tires to lay back on and strech out my spine after twelve hours of driving. Oh, and the doorways to the cabins are pretty much exactly six-foot-five, so I hit my head going out in the morning.

Okay, you probably didn't need detailed info about the campground there.

Wow. Just... wow.

Anyway, I send you a message, Ana.

Kansas! *Raises hand* I'm in Kansas!

What do you need to know?