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Hello everyone, my name is Theint Zarli Htun. I am from Myanmar which is close Thailand. Actually, there is no meaning for my name. But it has a little culture of my home country. I was born on Friday. In our country, we give the names according to the days. There has two Myanmar letters for Friday, သ and ဟ. My name starts with သ. If we will do the names as I mentioned, we will be clever, great person for the whole of our lives.

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I want to introduce you all with my country’s traditional festivals. The first festival is Thingyan which is called water festival. We celebrate it in the middle of April which is one of the months of summer in my country. We celebrate it for Myanmar’s new year. In the rural areas of Myanmar, locals soak sprigs of thabyay (jambul) in a silver bowl to create scented water, and gently sprinkle this water on others. But in the big cities like Yangon and Mandalay, the celebration is much crazier. In addition to traditional bowls and cups, hoses, huge syringes, water pistols and other devices are widely used by locals and foreigners. Not only getting wet by splash water during the festival, but travelers will also have so much fun with performances by puppeteers, orchestras, dance troupes, comedians, film stars and singers, including modern pop groups.

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Hello, nice to meet you! My name is Isleni Rodriguez. I'm from the Meta department of Colombia. I love building things, hiking in the countryside, and reading. One of the things that makes me happiest about my country is its beautiful landscapes and the variety of foods. The fruits are delicious. I recommend Mago and the strawberries. I'm very excited about this dynamic, which allows us to learn about other cultures.

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Hi everyone, my name is Prabhdeep Singh. I come from Punjab, in India which is also known as the "Land of Five Rivers." This region is known for its hospitality, vibrant festivals, and delicious food like , sarson da saag, and makki di roti.

Currently, I am studying Computer Engineering Technology at Seneca Polytechnic in Canada. I have a passion for computers, electronics, and networking; I enjoy understanding how things work, and building interesting technology-based projects.

In my personal free time I enjoy watching movies, and playing playstation, along with hanging out with friends. I am really looking forward to working with my team through this COIL project, and discovering your cultures and collaborating with you!

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Hello, my name is Andrés Mauricio Osorio Velásquez. I currently live in Villavicencio and I’m in my eighth semester at Unillanos.

By the way, in this photo, I’m at an event held at the Unillanos auditorium. It was an activity about self-love, where we had to look at ourselves through the camera for one minute as if it were a mirror, and then take a picture.
The meaning of my name is: “Andrés” comes from Greek and means “man” or “brave”; “Mauricio” is of Latin origin, related to “dark” or “from Mauritania.” “Osorio” is a Spanish surname that means “bear hunter,” while “Velásquez” is a patronymic surname meaning “son of Velasco.”

I like video games and also playing any sport. In the past, I have trained as a goalkeeper and practiced a bit of Judo.

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Hello, my name is Cristian Stiven León Álvarez. I currently live in Villavicencio, Meta, and I’m studying Electronic Engineering at the Universidad de los Llanos (Unillanos).

In this photo, I’m at the archaeological site of Teotihuacán, during my academic exchange in Mexico. It was one of the most amazing experiences of my life, since I had the opportunity to learn about another culture and its history while representing my university.

The meaning of my name is quite special to me. Cristian comes from Latin and means “follower of Christ,” which relates to a religious reason why my mother chose it for me.

I really enjoy watching movies and playing video games in my free time.

Something I love about my country, Colombia, is its rich cultural heritage, which combines influences from Europe (through the Spanish), Africa (brought by Afro-descendant communities who, despite arriving under tragic circumstances, contributed greatly to our culture), and the Indigenous peoples such as the Quimbaya, who were excellent goldsmiths.

This mixture makes Colombia a country full of diversity, creativity, and resilience.

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Hello everyone, my name is Ray, and I'm from Shanghai, China. I'm currently studying Computer Engineering at Seneca College. My passion for technology and how it shapes the world around us is what motivated me to choose this field.

My studies have given me a solid foundation in programming, hardware, and problem-solving, and I'm eager to learn more and apply these skills to real-world situations. I enjoy both class and independent projects, and I'm excited about the possibilities in software development, artificial intelligence, and the internet.Besides academic life, one of my favorite hobbies is playing video games. I find that games not only help me relax but also stimulate my creativity and inspire me to learn more about game development and design.

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The Spring Festival, also known as the Lunar New Year, is China's most important and widely celebrated traditional festival. It marks the beginning of the Lunar New Year and typically falls between late January and mid-February, depending on the lunar calendar. With a history spanning over 4,000 years, the Spring Festival is a time for family reunions, the passing of cultural traditions, and the celebration of the season.

Preparations for the Spring Festival typically begin several days in advance. Households clean their homes to ward off bad luck and decorate with red lanterns, couplets, and other auspicious symbols. On New Year's Eve, families gather for a reunion dinner, considered the most important meal of the year. Dishes such as dumplings, fish, and rice cakes are common, symbolizing wealth and prosperity.

One of the most famous traditions is the giving of red envelopes (hong bao), filled with money, especially to children and the elderly, to convey blessings and good luck. At midnight, people also set off fireworks to ward off evil spirits and welcome the arrival of the new year.

Celebrations last for 15 days, culminating with the Lantern Festival. On this day, people light lanterns, release them into the sky, and enjoy glutinous rice balls (tangyuan).

In short, the Spring Festival is a festival full of joy, tradition, and family, deeply rooted in Chinese culture.

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The Thadingyut Festival is celebrated on

the full moon day of the Burmese lunar  month of Thadingyut, which typically falls  in October. This festival lasts for three days: the day before the full moon, the full moon day itself, and the day after. It is one of the most important festivals in Myanmar,  second only to the Thingyan Festival  (Water Festival). The Thadingyut festival is celebrated throughout Myanmar, with each area having its unique way of celebrating Thadingyut. During Thadingyut, homes and pagodas are adorned with a dazzling display of electric lights, colorful paper lanterns, and candles. Pilgrims flock to sacred sites, such as the renowned Shwedagon Pagoda, and light candles as a gesture of reverence to the Buddha to accumulate merit. Every flickering light contributes to the awe-inspiring spectacle of countless tiny flames shining in the night sky, casting a mesmerizing ambiance. On the streets, fireworks displays and hot-air balloons gracefully drift across the heavens and gradually disappear.

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Cultural Space: Palenque de San Basilio

In 1599, Benkos Biohó arrived in Cartagena after being bought as an African slave and brought from Guinea. Together with 13 other enslaved people, he began a journey toward freedom through difficult paths of mangroves, streams, and jungle, heading deep into the Matuna region, south of the Cartagena port.

This marks the origin of Palenque de San Basilio, which today has around 3,500 inhabitants and still preserves the African traditions established by its founders. Over time, this territory became their permanent home and a symbol of cultural resistance.

According to official information from the Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, one of the most remarkable traces of this African heritage is the Palenquero language, which shares many characteristics with Batu, a language still spoken today in some regions of what is now the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

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Villavicencio and the International Joropo Festival

Villavicencio hosts the International Joropo Tournament every year, a celebration that began in 1960 and attracts about 500,000 visitors. The event, held in June, includes horse shows, parades, the Joropo beauty pageant, and the famous Joropódromo, where thousands of couples dance to traditional llanera music.

The festival is more than just dancing — it’s a tribute to the culture of the plains, featuring coleo competitions, food festivals, and sports events. The main attraction is the Joropo dance, performed with energy and elegance to the sound of the harp, cuatro, and maracas.

Another highlight is the International Joropo Pageant, where contestants from several countries compete not only for beauty but for their skill in dancing Joropo.

At the gastronomic fair, visitors enjoy dishes like Mamona del Llano, hallacas, masato, and rice-based breads. There’s also a tribute to local leather craftsmen, who represent the artistic side of the region’s traditions

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The Tatacoa Desert

located in the department of Huila, is an arid and hot place. It is actually a dry forest. During the Tertiary Period, it was a garden with flowers and trees that gradually dried up. It is the second largest arid zone in Colombia. Apart from being a great tourist attraction, it is a strategic place for astronomical observation.Activities available in the desert include visits to the Tatacoa Observatory, guided hikes, biking, horseback riding, and stargazing. The desert is also famous for its geological formations and fossil finds, making it an attractive destination for nature and science lovers.

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Carnival of Blacks and Whites

The Carnival of Blacks and Whites is one of the most important and colorful celebrations in Colombia. It takes place every January in the city of Pasto, located in the south of the country.

The carnival has its origins in the colonial period, when enslaved Africans were given a day of rest and celebration. Over time, this day evolved into a multicultural festival that celebrates equality, diversity, and cultural coexistence.

During the carnival, people paint their faces black one day and white the next, symbolizing the unity between different races and cultures. The event also includes parades, traditional music, dances, and artistic floats that represent the creativity and traditions of southern Colombia.

In 2009, UNESCO declared it an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, recognizing its importance as a symbol of peace, joy, and cultural identity.

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Gold Museum

The Gold Museum, located in Bogotá, is one of Colombia’s most important cultural landmarks. It houses thousands of pre-Columbian gold artifacts created by Indigenous civilizations such as the Muisca and the Quimbaya. These pieces reflect the deep spiritual connection that ancient peoples had with gold, not as a symbol of wealth, but as a sacred element that represented life, power, and the divine.

One of the museum’s most iconic artifacts is the Quimbaya Poporo, a ceremonial vessel used for storing lime powder, which was mixed with coca leaves in religious and social rituals. It symbolizes knowledge, fertility, and communication with the spiritual world.

Another remarkable piece is the Muisca Raft, a small golden sculpture representing the legend of El Dorado. It depicts a chief covered in gold dust on a raft, surrounded by priests and offerings, ready to be immersed in the sacred Guatavita Lagoon. This legend inspired centuries of explorers and became one of the most famous myths in South America.

The Gold Museum and its artifacts celebrate the ancestral wisdom and artistic excellence of Colombia’s Indigenous cultures. They remind us of our roots, identity, and the sacred relationship between humans and nature that shaped our country’s cultural heritage.

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Cultural Highlight-Diwali (Festival of Lights)

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Cultural Highlight-Diwali (Festival of Lights)

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Diwali, also known as Deepavali, is one of the most widely celebrated festivals in India. It marks the victory of light over darkness and good over evil. The word “Deepavali” means “a row of lamps,” and during this time, homes, temples, and streets glow with beautiful oil lamps, candles, and colorful decorations.

In Punjab, Diwali has a special connection with Sikh history—it commemorates the return of Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji to Amritsar. The Golden Temple is illuminated with thousands of lights and fireworks, creating a breathtaking sight. Families gather to pray, share sweets, exchange gifts, and enjoy delicious food.

Beyond the celebrations, Diwali carries a message of peace, unity, and renewal. It reminds everyone to remove negativity and welcome positivity, kindness, and hope into their lives. Whether celebrated in India or abroad, Diwali continues to bring people together, spreading happiness and strengthening bonds among family, friends, and communities worldwide.

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The Golden Temple – Symbol of Peace and Equality

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The Golden Temple – Symbol of Peace and Equality

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The Golden Temple, also known as Sri Harmandir Sahib, is the most sacred place of worship for Sikhs and one of the most beautiful landmarks in India. It is located in Amritsar, Punjab, and is surrounded by a large holy pool called the Amrit Sarovar. The temple’s upper floors are covered in gold, creating a breathtaking reflection in the water, especially when lit up at night.

The Golden Temple stands as a symbol of peace, equality, and spiritual unity. It welcomes people of all faiths and backgrounds, offering free meals in the langar (community kitchen) to thousands of visitors every day. This tradition reflects the Sikh values of service, humility, and togetherness.

During special occasions like Diwali and Gurpurab, the temple is beautifully illuminated with lights and fireworks, creating a peaceful yet festive atmosphere. For many, visiting the Golden Temple is not just a religious journey, but also a reminder of compassion, kindness, and humanity — values that connect people across the world.