Food is an important part of each culture. To many people, food represents not only nourishment, but history and heritage. Make an effort to try foods from other cultures.  Ask some friends to join you at an Ethiopian restaurant. Not only will you get to experience delicious food, but you will probably have fun eating with your hands. Ask your Orthodox Jewish friend to tell you about her favorite Kosher meal. Ask about how it is prepared. Try cooking something new each week. You can make dinners from around the world and involve your family in your cultural exploration. Different cultures have different leisure activities. Try joining a rugby team or go to a pub to watch soccer (football). You'll likely meet some people from elsewhere in the world.  Listen to a new type of music. Consider attending a recital of African tribal music or listening to an Italian opera. Watch a foreign film. Go to a local art house and see a film with subtitles. Look at different types of art. When your local museum as an exhibit of Egyptian art, make a point to go. If you can speak the language, you will be better able to communicate with people from other cultures. Also, learning some key phrases can help you feel more at ease if you are traveling abroad.  Learn new greetings. Your new neighbor will feel very welcome if you make an effort to greet them with a friendly "Bonjour!" or "Konnichiwa!" instead of hello. Take a class. Many community centers offer affordable (or free) language courses. Take advantage of their offerings. You can also take online courses or download a translator app for your phone. One of the most effective ways to learn about another culture is through travel. By traveling abroad, you can immerse yourself in the daily life of a new culture. Don't be afraid to explore new areas of the world.  Be a respectful traveler. For example, if you decide to travel to the United Arab Emirates, be aware that women are expected to dress modestly. Try some "local" activities. When you travel, there are many typical tourist sites that you will want to see. But don't be afraid to ask a local to point you towards their favorite neighborhood. Be aware of your safety. You want to enjoy yourself, but make sure that you are always aware of your surroundings and using common sense.

Summary: Eat new foods. Experience a new cultural activity. Learn some new words. Travel.


Put a large tortilla on a plate and position your cooked burger and toppings in the center of the tortilla. You can top your burger with anything you like, such as lettuce, tomatoes, onions, ketchup, mayo, or mustard.  For a Mexican style burger, try topping it with salsa, lettuce, hot sauce, cheddar cheese, and sour cream. For a fajita style burger, add grilled onions and peppers, guacamole, and lime.  Or, try making a Tex-Mex Style burger with refried beans, corn, salsa, jalapeno slices, and pepper jack cheese.  You can warm up the tortilla first by placing it in the microwave for 10 seconds, if desired.

Summary: Place a cooked burger and your desired toppings on a large tortilla.


Some stores have a range of gift cards available to purchase from many different retailers. This is common at supermarkets and department stores. Alternatively, other stores will only sell gift cards that can be used for that particular retailer. This is typical of clothing stores, food outlets, and smaller, local businesses. There are often many different designs and patterns available for the same gift card, so look at the full selection before you decide. A gift card is the equivalent of cash that can be used with a particular merchant. There is usually a minimum and maximum amount that can be loaded onto the card, which typically ranges from $10 and up to $500. Decide the amount that you want to be loaded onto the gift card once you have purchased it. Many gift cards have the option of you choosing the exact amount to load. However, some gift cards are only sold with set balances such as $25, $50, or $100. In this scenario, pick a gift card with a set balance that is closest to the amount that you want to spend. Take the gift card to the cashier and say the amount that you want to load onto the card if it doesn’t have a set amount specified. The cashier will load and activate the gift card as you purchase it.  If you have any questions about the terms and conditions, or the expiry date of the gift card, ask the cashier. If you are concerned about the activation of the gift card, check with the cashier that it is properly activated and ready to use. The cashier may provide you with a receipt confirming that the card has been activated. The receipt will provide proof of purchase and activation of the gift card. Keep the receipt for as long as you have the gift card, just in case it doesn't work as it should.  The receipt will be useful if you have any problems with the gift card at a later stage. It can also be a good idea to give the recipient of the gift card the receipt in case they encounter any problems with the card.
Summary: Pick the gift card that you want to purchase. Choose the amount you want to load onto the card. Purchase the gift card to get it activated. Keep the gift card and the receipt in a safe place.