Very interesting and educational, Fab. I liked those maps a lot. _________________ Hillary Clinton is an acquired taste which I have clearly yet to acquire.
Posted: Sat Nov 11, 2006 2:42 pm Post subject: Re: MEDITERRANEAN
fab wrote:
The mediterranean is not just a sea, but a geopolitical, historical, geographical, and of course climatical area.
So true!
I often feel I have a dual European / Mediterranean identity: a very European way of thinking (politically, philosophically...) but a Mediterranean way of life (taking every opportunity to socialise, eating late, going out late as often as possible, not bothering organising things that can be improvised at the last minute, solving problems calling the right friend rather than following a rational way, living outside, worshiping the sun in a temple called seaside, being unable to cook without olive oil, tomatoes, garlic and peppers...)
Hmm. I'm up late (it's 3 am), like to procrastinate, I'm not much of a problem solver, and I love tomatoes, garlic, and peppers. Does that make me Mediterranean, or do I have to have the fascination with olives, too?
Well, when we're talking about Europe, we usually just say "mediterranean", and people understand that you mean "southern Europe". _________________ Operation Northwoods - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Northwoods
Favorite languages = English/Spanish
Followed by Italian/French/Dutch
Yes, especially because the tipical mediterranean features such as climate, food, urbanity or bahaviours (and history) are shared by both sides.
I think there are huge differences between Egypt and Italy, or other areas of North Africa and France or Portugal. _________________ Operation Northwoods - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Northwoods
Favorite languages = English/Spanish
Followed by Italian/French/Dutch
Yes, especially because the tipical mediterranean features such as climate, food, urbanity or bahaviours (and history) are shared by both sides.
I think there are huge differences between Egypt and Italy, or other areas of North Africa and France or Portugal.
There are indeed. There also huge differences between a 20yo girl & a 80yo granny but both are women nonetheless.
Did you notice that you called one a 'girl', while the other one was a 'granny'? This suggests that they are different, even if they might share one thing in common, namely, their sex. _________________ Operation Northwoods - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Northwoods
Favorite languages = English/Spanish
Followed by Italian/French/Dutch
I think there are huge differences between Egypt and Italy, or other areas of North Africa and France or Portugal
Yes, there are huge differences. The same way there are huge differences beetween Spain and Bolivia. It doesn't prevent that both are hispanic countries, and share some common point that non-hispanic nation doesn't share.
Being part of a concept has never been something totalitary that prevent you being part of another concept.
A man can be included in the concept of "tall", and in the same time in the concept of "fat". As a tall person he would share common things with a very thin tall woman, despite the fact that they would have differences on other points...
Generally speaking, the mediterranean countries share some common geographic characteristics, some common food products, some historical herencies, climatical similarities, etc...
It doesn't prevent the fact that they are deeply divided when speaking of economic levels, natural growth, religion practices, etc...
Did you notice that you called one a 'girl', while the other one was a 'granny'? This suggests that they are different, even if they might share one thing in common, namely, their sex.
I think I did. It's analagous for Egypt and Italy. Both countries are different and share the Mediterranean in common, even if Louxor isn't Porto Fino — but Alexandria (of Egypt) isn't exactly Bolzano or Aosta either.
Well, when we're talking about Europe, we usually just say "mediterranean", and people understand that you mean "southern Europe".
Yeah, you never hear much about the other half of the seaside!
I usually think of the northern coast of Africa as being very different than the sub-Saharan part of the continent, but not as being a whole lot like southern Europe, although of course the two regions would have influenced each other in many ways simply by virtue of their long proximity -- but they still remain separate world regions in my mind.
With the exception of Egypt, the other North African mediterranean countries have been colonies of France, Italy and Spain for a good part of the last century.
Greg mentioned in another Geographic thread that he would not think it too 'eccentric' to live in Algeria for a period of time while expressing aversion to Norway, citing the inclemental weather of the country as a reason.
Somehow, I wonder whether the preference for Algeria could not be due to climate alone, but also to language. It is common wisdom that the odds of speaking French in Algeria are vastly higher than in Norway. _________________ Hillary Clinton is an acquired taste which I have clearly yet to acquire.
I usually think of the northern coast of Africa as being very different than the sub-Saharan part of the continent, but not as being a whole lot like southern Europe, although of course the two regions would have influenced each other in many ways simply by virtue of their long proximity -- but they still remain separate world regions in my mind.
In mine too. Northern Africa (from Agadir to Ismaïlia) isn't Southern Europe. However, both areas share common features and, as you said, have been influencing each other for more than a millenary. Although retaining its Arabo-Berber civilisation, Maghreb is increasingly westernising, like Souhwestern Europe somehow Arabised itself during medieval times.
loic wrote:
Greg mentioned in another Geographic thread that he would not think it too 'eccentric' to live in Algeria for a period of time while expressing aversion to Norway, citing the inclemental weather of the country as a reason.
Somehow, I wonder whether the preference for Algeria could not be due to climate alone, but also to language. It is common wisdom that the odds of speaking French in Algeria are vastly higher than in Norway.
Language would be crucial indeed. But believe me, I have no intention to live beyond the polar circle... Seriously, I don't know if I would be able to live in Norway because I don't know Norway. However, I've been to Morocco and I know I could live there. I just assumed I could adapt in Algeria, a neighbouring country.
It also helps that I've met many people with an Algerian background since always while I haven't seen not even half many Norwegians so far.
Autre chose : as you can see, (Northern) Algeria is not far away from Andalucia, a European region I like very much.
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Join! (free) 
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
