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Universal statement: Thunderbird is a global school consisting of students from multiple countries and backgrounds.

So how much do you actually know about your classmates? Read what some of your international classmates had to share about their countries:

Adriano Caccamo, Italy
Ferrari_Logo3

Italy is all about creativity, high lifestyle and ancient heritage (Roman, Renaissance), Italians are considered as the most creative artists of the world. The proof? We excel in architecture, design, fashion and innovation (sportive cars). Ferrari, Armani, Valentino, Lamborghini, Versace… these are only few of the brands which made Italy famous all around the world. Kalokagathia is the word that best describe our culture. It comes from ancient Greek culture and means that what is aesthetically pleasing externally is also virtuous and noble internally.

If you want to start a business with Italians you need toappear great and to not omit the little details: clothing, car, watch, pen, good manners, sunglasses and great restaurant. Italians have a strong connections with countries as France, Spain, Greece, Japan, USA, Germany, England and all those countries that host our compatriots who emigrated in the last 2 centuries: Canada, Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay (all of south America).

Could we expect something else from a country that has the shape of a nice woman boot?

Eduardo Peraza, Mexico
Screen Shot 2013-11-16 at 7.51.26 PMMexico has the oldest living tree in the world. It is 40 feet tall. Mexico introduced chocolate, corn, and chilies to the world. When the Spanish Conquistador Hernan Cortés arrived in 1519, the Aztecs believed he was their returning god, Quetzalcoatl and offered him the drink of the gods: hot chocolate.

Mexico City has the highest elevation and is the oldest city in North America as well an equivalent to the entire population of Central America. Mexico has the world’s smallest volcano. It is 43 feet tall and actually has a staircase inside. The Chichen Itza Pyramid in Mexico was named one of the new Seven Wonders of the World.

Davit Khachatryan, Armenia
armenia_yerevan_araratArmenia is in Eastern Europe (next to Turkey, Russia, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Iran) with a population of about 3 million people. Armenia is one of the most ancient countries in the world and recently it was the anniversary of Yerevan (the capital of Armenia) and now it is 2795 years old. Armenia is the first country in the world to adopt Christianity in 301 BC. It is also famous for its mountain Ararat where Noah’s ark stopped. Armenia is also known as a country of apricots and brandy (cognac).

Anela Perviz, Bosnia and Herzegovina
mostarBosnia is a cultural crossroads with influences visible from the Ottoman Empire, Austro-Hungarian Empire, and the socialist rule of Yugoslavia in the last half of the 20th Century. Although the country is still recovering economically, politically, and socially from the ravishing civil war and break-up of Yugoslavia in the 1990’s, Bosnia has been recognized as one of the friendliest countries to visit. People have a laid-back attitude and will go out of their way to help and welcome anyone. Social interaction is at the heart of the society evident by the numerous cafes that line every city center, where people take long coffee breaks to catch-up with family and friends.  Bosnia is one of the fastest growing ecotourism destinations with its pristine, untouched mountains, forests, and rivers. The picture I am attaching is of Stari Most (Old Bridge) in Mostar, Bosnia.

Barbara Noseda, Switzerland
945929_10151457437721463_1943950578_nSwitzerland can somehow be considered a small Thunderbird community: it is divided in 3 main regions (German, French, Italian) all of which have their own culture, language and traditions. There are 26 cantons, most of which only have one culture; however, some of them have 2 cultures coexisting together (it is usually French and German or German and Italian). We have 4 national languages (German, French, Italian and Romansh) and although we usually speak 2-3 of them, it is not unlikely to use English as a common language.

What makes Switzerland different is its direct democracy system. Basically, the Swiss population has a say on everything before a law gets passed/is modified. This means that we vote (not only elect!) 4 to 5 times a year and every time there are 4-5 topics to vote.

I am from the Italian part of Switzerland, so this picture is of Lugano (my hometown) and its famous mountain (San Salvatore).

Shani Bird, Jamaica
jamaica

Not many people know that Jamaica is a very diverse nation. The Spanish settled on the Island in the early 16th century and brought over African slaves. Taino Indians, original inhabitants of Jamaica, were eventually wiped out. Throughout the years, Jews arrived to work in sugar production, Chinese  and Indian migrants settled in Jamaica after working on the Panama canal, and people from Palestine, Syria and Lebanon fled to Jamaica in the early 20th century. Our diversity is displayed in our motto: Out of many, one people.

Tenzing Nepali, Nepal
kumariIn Nepal, there is a strong tradition of worshipping young pre-pubescent girls as manifestations of the divine female energy or Devi in Hindu religious traditions. The Kumari is a pre-pubescent girl selected from the Buddhist clan of the Nepalese Newari community. She must be in excellent health, never have shed blood or been afflicted by any diseases, be without blemish and must not have yet lost any teeth. The young girl remains a Kumari until she menstruates, after which it is believed that the goddess vacates her body. Serious illness or a major loss of blood  from an injury are also causes for her to revert to common status.

Muhammad Mustafa, Jordan
amman_panoramaJordan, a country with a population of 6.4 million and limited natural resources but with a well educated, young population who build a dynamic, knowledge-based economy. The Information and Communications Technology (ICT) field is an area that is seen as an opportunity in which Jordan can increase its competitive advantage over other countries in the region. Interestingly Jordan has the highest numbers of engineers to population ratio worldwide, and the highest number of researchers in research and development among all the 57 countries members of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).