Venezuelan Mini Research Project by Lilia Botti

Week 1: Country Overview

1301311755 — 2024-08-09 19:18:12 UTC

Venezuela is located on the Northern coast in South America. Citizens there mainly speak Spanish, followed by Chinese, Portuguese, and Italian. The population is 28.3 million as of 2022. The government is a Federal Presidential republic.

Week 2: Current Events

1301311755 — 2024-08-16 18:59:27 UTC

Currently, in Venezuela, there are multiple conflicts arising. As much as it would be nice to see positive events, Venezuela is not in good condition. Many children are dying from malnutrition, as many people are in poverty. Some parents have abandoned their children, due to the lack of recourses to care for them. Minimum wage is $50 a month. This leaves citizens juggling family and work, living check to check. The infant mortality rate has doubled, and orphanages are full.

Hospitals are also another problem, as access to medication is low. Due to the lack of medications, the rate of deaths increases. Currently, the economy seems to be collapsed, and citizens are struggling daily.

Week 3: Tradition

1301311755 — 2024-08-20 19:20:33 UTC

Venezuelans are involved in criollo foods, dances, and especially music. There are many types of food specific to the culture (will dive deeper in the future). North American music is common in Venezuela, along with Carribean salsa and merengue which are also prominent. There are also many history museums promoting Venezuelan art from the past, as art has been an important part of the culture. Sports are also a part of the culture, and many Venezuelans have been recruited for Major League baseball.

Week 4: Tourism

1301311755 — 2024-08-30 18:57:53 UTC

The #1 tourist attraction in Venezuela is called angel falls, which is the world's tallest uninterrupted waterfall that is 979 meters tall. There are also countless amounts of other hiking spots available, such as rainforests, mountains, etc. Some attractions also offer snorkeling and island hopping. There is a national museum of fine arts as well, which displays Venezuela's art history. There is also much food and drink culture to explore while there as well. I would love to do snorkeling or hiking in the rainforests, because I love animals and being in nature and by wildlife. Sounds exhilarating to me.

Week 5: Food

1301311755 — 2024-09-13 17:14:34 UTC

In Venezuela, food staples include corn, rice, yams, plantains, and varieties of meats. Some popular foods include Arepa, Chicharrón, Cacchios, etc. An Arepa is a cornmeal patty made from pre-cooked cornmeal. A pan de jamon is a Christmas bread filled with olives and ham. There is a lot of diversity in the food in Venezuela. Some sweet foods include Golfeados, which are a cheesy cinnamon roll, with a simple syrup glazed atop called melado. Personally, Venezuelan food sounds very diverse to me. I believe that I would enjoy some foods and not others.

Week 6: Music and Dance

1301311755 — 2024-09-13 17:21:33 UTC

Venezuela's traditional dance is called the Joropo. The dance originated in Caracas in the 17th century. Originally named Fandango, the dance would be performed at prestigious people's parties. Venezuelan farmers who had heard the dance and song, would try to interpret it. They would also add their own sounds, such as maracas. They changed the name to Joropo, as the dance became aligned with their culture. Joropo also has variations, depending on the region it is performed in.

Week 7: Sports

1301311755 — 2024-09-24 22:57:22 UTC

The major sports in Venezuela are baseball, football (soccer), and basketball. The Venezuelan Professional Baseball Team is the top-level baseball team in Venezuela. The football team is ranked top 50 in the FIFA world ranking. The Venezuelan basketball team won the 2015 FIBA AmeriCup. Venezuelan teams seem driven to sports, specifically in the realm of men's sports.

Week 8: Highlights

1301311755 — 2024-09-27 18:47:03 UTC

I really enjoyed learning about Venezuela and the culture that exists there. My favorite part of the research was discovering the wildlife and nature possibilities there. I would love to take a nice waterfall hike in Venezuela and eat a filling meal afterwards. Venezuela is very different to where I grew up. The food, sports, nature, and overall culture were very different from what I am used to seeing. The hospitals and healthcare in Venezuela are also very different from the U.S., as in Venezuela, the hospitals are underfunded. Overall, I would visit Venezuela and enjoy trying new foods and experiencing a new culture.