Niue is a small island country in the South Pacific that has been self-governing since 1974. Although it is independent, Niueans are also considered citizens of New Zealand; about 70% of Niuean speakers actually live in New Zealand and Niue’s resident population has been declining steeply in recent decades. In 2003, Niue became the first country in the world to offer free WIFI to all of its residents.
Greeting customs vary greatly across cultures, influenced by context, relationships, age, and gender. In Europe, giving kisses is a common way to greet close relatives and friends, though men typically skip the kisses when greeting each other.
In Belgium, one kiss is customary, while in certain French regions, people greet with up to four kisses. Understanding these nuances can enhance our intercultural interactions and show respect for different traditions.
How do you greet people in your culture?
Mongolia has a vast landmass, but only about three million inhabitants. Mongolia has a long and fascinating history. The most famous Mongol of all time was undoubtedly Genghis Khan, the fierce warrior-ruler who created the Mongol Empire. Since that time, many people have claimed descent from him, and modern DNA testing suggests that most of them are right! Approximately 8% of all the men in an area of Asia from northeast China to Uzbekistan have genetic markers showing that they are descended from Genghis Khan. That’s equivalent to about 0.5 percent of all the men in the world!
With a population of less than 40,000, and an area of just over 160 square kilometres, German-speaking Liechtenstein is one of the smallest nations in the world. It is a semi-constitutional monarchy under the Prince of Liechtenstein and has the dubious distinction of being the last European country to give women the vote. In 1984, Liechtenstein held a referendum on women’s suffrage—in which, obviously, only men were allowed to vote. The motion barely passed, with just 51.3% voting in favour. Three of Liechtenstein’s municipalities resisted giving women the vote in local elections until 1986.