Today’s Wonder of the Day was inspired by Wonder Friend. Wonder Friend Wonders, “Can You Travel the World Without Leaving Home?” Thanks for WONDERing with us, Wonder Friend!
Have you ever WONDERed what it's like to ride on a dog sled in the Arctic? Or dance the Flamenco in Spain? There are so many places to WONDER about in this great big world, and there are lots ways to experience them without traveling far, far away.
In Around the World in 80 Days, Jules Verne takes readers on an action-packed adventure across the globe. Books are a wonderful resource for transporting yourself to anywhere in the world, without even leaving your home town!
A visit to your local library might lead to floating on a gondola in Venice or on an African safari. Whatever region, country, or culture you're interested in, there are plenty of books that can take you there using text and images to describe sights, sounds, and smells. All you have to supply is your imagination!
How else can you explore new places without taking a trip? Have you ever eaten an Indian samosa? Or how about schnitzel from Germany? Sampling cuisine that is native to a specific region is a great way to experience someplace new.
You could visit a restaurant that specializes in Indian, Ethiopian, French, or Greek cuisine. You could also find recipes online for making different meals at home. Just keep an open mind. Some foods that seem strange to you are quite normal in other regions of the world.
Another way to transport to a different place is by listening to music. In addition to books, your library also has music CDs to borrow. Ask a librarian for help in finding music from Japan, Ireland, or Brazil.
You can also go online and listen to streaming world music on a variety of music sites. How many different types of music from other cultures and regions of the world can you sample?
