Puppy love stands for a relationship in our teenage. “Love does not have age limit, once teenagers get mature physically, they can be in a relationship”, most people used to say. Certainly, physical maturity stays in need before being in a relationship, but it is not enough to maintain a good relationship. Psychological maturity is the most important asset before entering in that case! In other words, people need to be more serious and more responsible for their choice first.

Most of the time, teenagers are not stable in their emotion yet: today they may love but tomorrow they may hate. According to Elder RAOELIARIJAO, a poet and a youth educator, “Aged of 14 to 17, teenagers do not have stable emotion yet; in their early twenties, they start to be more serious emotionally and more responsible to get engaged with someone”.

What is the real meaning of experience?

Most of you may claim that everyone should have many relationship experiences in his or her teenage years for him or her to get well-prepared for the marriage in the future. No one can deny that having experience is helpful to build greater future; however, it is vital that young people get to know about themselves first instead of seeking experiences of being with someone. In fact, the best experience teenagers should obtain relates more to what they have to do to remain amiable with their surroundings. Thus, during the teenage years, learning how to take care of their body, to be efficient in communication, to be sociable, to be more respectful, to be honest and trustworthy are paramount.

Before choosing to be with someone, it is highly paramount that teenagers ask themselves if they know how to compromise, if they are ready to share their life with someone or not, if they really understand their life goals, if they still fight with their partner over petty thing, if they are overly jealous or not. Elder RAOELIARIJAO states, “Relationship can be referred to as a train and railroads; love is represented as a train and self-experiences as railroads. The train cannot function effectively if the railroads are not well-established; and it is the same with relationship”.

How does this kind of relationship affect teenagers’ life?

Obviously, many may think that having a soulmate with whom we can share our feelings brings us to a happier life. Why not, since being with somebody can help you get rid of loneliness? However, there is more to it than that! This kind of relationship remains riskier for teenagers. At the age of 14 to 20, young people get prepared for their future life. Thus, being in a relationship in this interval of ages affects more teenagers’ studies. The more they concentrate on a relationship, the less they focus and progress in their study. What is more, not only does puppy love disturb teenaged pupils’ studies but it can also ruin their future. Simple words are not enough to describe how high the rate of teenagers who have left school due to unwanted pregnancy is rising, and how increasing the number of teenagers who are affected by sexually transmitted diseases is.

 Source: Elder RAOELIARIJAO

April Fools’ Day or All Fools’ Day is not an official holiday, but it is still a much-loved tradition among prankers all over the world. While popular, it might come as a surprise that no one really knows when, where or how April Fool’s Day got started. However, there is a certain reason why April 1st has become an international day obsession.

According to one common theory, the tradition dates all the way back to the 16th century in France when Pope Gregory the 13th issued a papal bull mandating a new calendar system for Europe. The Gregorian calendar, as it became known, set the start of the year on January 1st instead of the beginning of spring in late March or early April.

The change traveled slowly in France and many people in rural areas continued to celebrate the new year in spring. These slow adapters became known as April Fools and were designated for pranks and jokes by their countrymen who had held their celebrations months earlier.

For one thing, many people in France had already started celebrating the new year on January 1st long before 1582. The switch occurred gradually all over France, not suddenly after the papal bull. It was even before this change that the new year’s celebration had not been connected specifically to April 1st but with the Easter holiday.

Some theories date the origins of April Fools’ Day centuries earlier to ancient Roman festivals celebrated in the spring such as Hilaria. Eastern cultures have their own versions of the light-hearted tradition including Holi in India—a festival of colors during which people throw colored water or paint on each other.

By the 1700s, English pranksters were celebrating April 1st by playing tricks such as pitting false tales on unsuspecting people or sending them on fake errands. As the holiday became more popular, social media, newspapers, radio and TV stations, and businesses got into the act with false headlines news stories or promotional campaigns.

Some of history’s most famous hoaxes took place in 1957 when the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) fooled many people into believing that, in Switzerland, spaghetti grows on trees; and in the USA in 1998, gullible fast-food customers got caught asking for the left-handed burger that a national chain advertised in the paper.

Here are some other solid shenanigans most people used to pull on their friends or their loved ones during this day: switching the clock ahead, tying their shoes together, spraying them with water, hiding their stapler in jelly, surprising them with a water balloon, dressing up in a costume. The celebration of April Fools’ Day may differ from one country to another, but all have a common purpose: to fool the people we love!

Sources: Hoaxes, Britannica

Malagasy embroidery is part of the renowned national craft heritage and is recognized for its quality and art. Embroidery has an important place in the Malagasy craft industry and in the textile field and has made Madagascar's fame all over the world.

Embroidery consists in beautifying a fabric with simple threads or with materials such as sequins, pearls, or even precious stones. Although mechanical techniques are used in embroidery workshops today, most Malagasy artisans still choose the manual process.

Legend has it that the island of Nosy Be – located in the northwest of Madagascar – is the birthplace of the Malagasy embroidery art. In the past, local women liked to bring a touch of femininity in their homes; and that is why they embroidered authentic graphic arts representing their daily life on tablecloths, curtains, sheets, towels, table runners.

From ages, the ancestors have transmitted the art of Malagasy embroidery to their children. Over time, the embroidery became a culture, even a real tradition for Malagasy people. Until now, Malagasy women continue to embroider. Meanwhile, the quality of their embroidery is improving a lot, and the work always remains handmade. Today, Malagasy embroidery arts greatly attract tourists!

In the Malagasy “know-how”, there are two main types of embroidery: white embroidery and gold embroidery.

White embroidery is mainly the one we can find in the marketplace; it is the embroidery of tablecloths and dresses. The word white does not mean that white is the unique used color; it means everything is made with just a needle.

Concerning gold embroidery, as the name suggests, gold thread is used. Years ago, they used real gold – gold thread. Today, embroiderers just use golden threads instead. Gold embroidery is most of the time used as costume decorations such as military apparatuses, religious costumes, and royal clothes ornaments.

Women are the most active in this field.

Malagasy embroidery is a feminine know-how that most Malagasy ladies have acquired from their mothers. Malagasy women appear to be significantly more skillful than men at crafting with their hands. It is not for nothing that we say that women have “fingers of fairies”.

Sources: ASA Madagascar, Madagascar Green Island Discovery

The title VIII of the US Civil Rights Act, also known as the “Fair Housing Act” prohibits discrimination in the sale, rental, purchase, leasing financing and/or advertising of housing upon race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, or family status.

On April 11th, 1968, the Fair Housing Act was enacted into law recognizing that property right should not be abridged because of discrimination. Resistance, harassment, and violence are unfortunately the hallmarks of the pursuit of equal housing in the USA. For generations, the access to housing of choice did not mean access for all. Where people lived was often dictated by the color of their skin.

American people acknowledge all industries and associations early opposition to Fair Housing and recognize those individuals and organizations that help change the policy. In 1947, African American real estate brokers formed the National Association of Real Estate Brokers (NAREB) with a clear fair housing purpose.

Many people have given much lives to obtain their housing right, sometimes by risking more than just their livelihoods. Even though opposition across the country continues, the Fair Housing Act declared a national policy of fair housing; by prohibiting discrimination – based on race, color, religion, and national origin– , changing attitudes and behaviors proved to be difficult.

Progress has been made, the Fair Housing Act was amended in later years to prohibit discrimination based on gender, disability and familial status and to increase enforcement of the law. However, many communities remain segregated and housing discrimination still does exist. Only half the country prevents discrimination in housing against the LGBT community. The highest proportion of complaints involve discrimination based on disability.

“Fair housing is not just an important tool for eliminating discrimination; it also helps to strengthen families, communities, businesses, and our overall economy. Fulfillment of the letter and spirit of the law means that every community can be a place of opportunity—where people can live in diverse, inclusive, accessible neighborhoods with quality schools, healthy foods, meaningful jobs, health care, green spaces, quality credit— and the other opportunities that frame and affect our lives.” — National Fair Housing Alliance

Source: Britannica, National Fair Housing Alliance, Michigan State Housing Development Authority, National Housing Law Project

No matter what track you choose to follow to seek wealth – becoming a trader, a value investor, a real estate pro, a chief executive, or perhaps an entrepreneur – you must have the correct mindset. Let us examine how you can optimize your chance of building up a great fortune according to Napoleon Hill’s book.

It is what you think that matters. This is the main key to meeting your goals. If you do not see riches in your thoughts, how can you expect to see them in your future bank accounts!? All achievements and all earned wealth start with an idea. Great leaders once were dreamers. How do you think Mahatma Gandhi, George Washington or Martin Luther King succeeded? Obviously, it all started with an idea.

A burning desire. If you ask a hundred people what they want in life, they will probably not be able to answer immediately. If you hurry them though, they will mention some of their wishes—maybe money, fame, or freedom. In fact, wealth does not come from vaguely expressed wishes. It responds to a burning desire implemented through well-defined plans and constant persistence. “God seems to throw himself on the side of the man who knows exactly what he wants, if he is determined to get just that” — Napoleon Hill, the author of the book THINK and GROW RICH.

Become an unstoppable force. No one is ever defeated until he or she has accepted that as a reality. Persistence is everything in any part of life where you wish to thrive. When someone has cultivated the habit of persistence, they gain insurance against failure. Sometimes, it may appear that other people succeed without first paying the price, but that is probably not the case. Stick to your plan and you will win.

Sexual energy (especially for men). According to Napoleon Hill, the five strongest known stimulants to men are: friendship, music, a burning desire for wealth, love, and sex. Desire for sex is the most powerful of all men’s desires. Just observe what happens to any animal after it has been castrated, and you will figure out what happens when sexual energy is removed from a being. All men who have reached the highest level of achievements, have had highly developed sexual natures.

The transmutation of sex energy to energy and creativity in other endeavors, is a primary source of genius. The energy must be transmuted from desire for physical contact, into some other form of desire and action before it will lift one to the status of a genius. However, far from becoming genii, because of great sexual desires, most men lower themselves through misunderstanding and misuse of this great force, to the status of the lower animals. There is a reason why most men do not achieve much before they are 40. It is not only due to the fact that they become wiser and more self-confident over time.

The six ghosts of fear. Before following the previous strategies, these most common and most destructive ones must be conquered. Let us keep this in mind: they only exist in our mind and only us can control them. Here they are: the fear of poverty (It relates the lack of ambition towards money where mind cannot focus on how to be rich), the fear of criticism, the fear of illnesses, the fear of losing someone’s love, the fear of old age, the fear of death.

Source: “THINK and GROW RICH”, a book written by Napoleon Hill

Do you find it hard to get along with new people? Do you find yourself is declining? Maybe you are just a shy person. Shyness is when you spend too much time in your head, judging yourself, based on other people’s standard and opinions. You are constantly trying to figure out how you should be acting and behaving in various situations. There are reasons why you need to abandon this attitude.

Shy people want to be close to others but due to the fear of being rejected or criticized, they avoid interactions, even social events they want to attend. They often end up feeling lonely and isolated, which increases their risk of developing other problems like depression or anxiety. Sometimes people will try to overcome shyness by self-medicating with alcohol or drugs, which may be the source of other disorders. 

Fortunately, these five following strategies will help to overcome shyness and then to become more confident in life.

Accept yourself. If you are always trying to fit in, you are doing nothing more than wearing yourself out. In fact, we need to understand that it is ok if not everyone likes you. It is normal! Certainly, everyone experiences times of insecurity and self-consciousness, not you alone! If you accept yourself and your qualities, things will get much easier for you.

Become self-aware. If you want to overcome shyness and social anxiety, just keep in mind that people are not looking at you. Most of them are far too busy looking at themselves. When you are around people, seek withing yourself. Observe your thoughts. By simply admitting your shyness, you can reduce your anxiety, which in turn will help you relax. Once you will be self-aware, you will be on your way to improvement.

Embrace your strengths. In order to gain confidence and self-esteem, find something you enjoy and know you are good at. Focusing on doing this thing, whatever it is, could help you overcome your shyness.  Think about how your unique strength gives you an advantage over other people. Knowing that you possess some unique quality will boost your self-confidence. It would help you accept yourself wholeheartedly.

Take care of yourself. Taking care of yourself can totally boost your confidence. Even just small actions such as showering, flossing your teeth, and keeping your nails trimmed can make a big difference in how you feel about yourself.

Practice talking. This one is very important. If you do not start talking to people, you will never stop being shy and awkward. Try to be a bit more talkative and practice talking more openly with friends, family, and even complete strangers. Talk to people at parks, restaurants or wherever you are. Approach others and strike up a conversation. This will give you a chance to meet new people, and you will be challenging your fear of talking to others.

Source: Psychology Today

Online tutorials for TikTok and music video routines can help many people learn how to dance. During the pandemic, the rise of TikTok and dancing videos has been remarkable all around the world. The long journey of lockdown has shown that dancing is still a popular hobby. If you are looking for an easier movement to begin to learn dance routines at home, TikTok has plenty options of varying styles with corresponding guidance.

How does TikTok help to make us move?

While some people manage well to reproduce choreographies from dance videos, others still struggle with every single move. Many creators of popular TikTok dances share short tutorials of 30 to 60-second time limit, often recorded in slow motion to make them easier to follow.

Sometimes, when trending TikTok movements are a little bit challenging and fast, some qualified choreographers like Vincent Vianen— from Amsterdam— provides more detailed instructions for free. Just a quick and simple online search would bring you what needs to be learnt.

There are many ways of teaching; so why is TikTok better? Apart from clear, specific directions and the opportunity to practice everywhere, TikTok dance routines award fun and rapid methods for its users.

These are some tips suggested by a professional choreographer in starting TikTok dance routines at home!

Record yourself: Vianen, who began his own dance training by watching videos, suggests filming yourself first and then watching the recording to see how you can improve. Sometimes you are going to be ashamed of what you did. In fact, do not expect to appreciate what you see, but that is part of the progress. In this way you become your own teacher.

Take breaks: According to Vianen, learning a dance is like solving a puzzle. Sometimes you want to give up, but then you give it another try. If you let it go, your subconscious can work on solving it without exactly concentrating on it. When you return, you might find yourself closer to a solution.

Keep it low-pressure: Everyone who dances at home never loses sight of having fun. It does not have to be about reaching fitness goals or attaining perfection. Dancing can just be relaxing, joyful and a release from your stressful everyday life. It can be whatever you want it to be!

Source: The New York Times

“L’Ile aux Nattes”, or locally called “Nosy Naty”, stretches across the east coast of Madagascar, in the Island of Sainte Marie. The island lies on the edge of fine white sand with a rich wildlife and lush vegetation. The site is not accessible by cars, which means the air is pollution-free. L’Ile aux Nattes may be set aside from the rest of the world and represents a total autonomy but, there, humanity and nature are tightly linked. In short, this island looks like Eden!

Nosy Naty covers a two-kilometer width of sand. Thanks to the 1500-meter-radius lagoon, it is safe from predators and waves. As a result of this privileged setting, this area is an ideal place for total discovery of the region, to enjoy traditional fishing and diving, as well as to witness the reproduction of whales in the Canal of Saint-Marie.

Nosy Naty: one of the best beaches in the world!

When more than 600 travel agents, bloggers, and journalists from all over the world– after having a collaboration with Flight Network – had to choose among the numerous beaches around the world. At the drop of a hat, Nosy Naty emerged as one of their favorite beaches. It breathes total perfection and ranks 35th in the top 50 best beaches in the world, ahead of many sunny destinations known for their splendid beaches such as South Africa, Italy, Canada and even the United States.

Anyway, to elaborate the top 50 of the most beautiful beaches in the world, three criteria need to be considered: the natural beauty of the place, the quality of the water and sand and the location. Obviously, with its almost unspoiled natural splendor, immaculate white sand, and its turquoise water, L’Ile aux Nattes was scored nearly 10 out of 10 by several visitors. As an island only accessible by dugout canoe, travel experts from all over the world admire the landscape that Île aux Nattes offers.

This heavenly island welcomes visitors who seek authenticity. Over and above amazing fauna and flora, Nosy Naty is characterized by an unrivalled peacefulness, and that is a great opportunity for local hotels to make ultimate relaxation and well-being their priorities. In the case some structures do not privilege luxury, it is above all the splendor of the setting like the bungalows set on the water flower which offers a magnificent spectacle at the sunset.

So, buckle up and get ready to explore the gorgeous fusion of living comfort and idyllic setting offered by Nosy Naty.

Source: Madagascar Treasure Island

Every March 17, St.  Patrick’ s Day is celebrated with parades, partying and a whole lot of green. This date marks the death of St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland.

 Who is St. Patrick?

St. Patrick was named Maewyn Succat at his birth in the late 4th-century Britannia, and the name Patricius appeared in his writings. Patrick was neither Irish nor initially a devout Christian; he was kidnapped at the age of 16 and brought to Ireland as a slave.

It is said that a voice came to him in his sleep, urging him to escape. After reuniting with his family, Patrick studied to become a priest and spent the rest of his life as a missionary in Ireland. St. Patrick is attributed with using the three leaves of a shamrock to explain the Holy Trinity and banishing snakes from Ireland, although no evidence supports their existence on the island.

St. Patrick’ s Day was only a minor holiday in Ireland until the 1970s. In the United States, it has been celebrated from the earlier of the Revolutionary War, when the first St. Patrick’ s Day parade was held in 1762 by Irish members of the Colonial Army. Today, the holiday has evolved to become a secular celebration of Irish culture.

Why do we wear green on this holiday?

The green color is associated with St. Patrick and Ireland whereas in the past, they were used to talking about “St. Patrick’s blue”. The shift from blue to green happened during the Irish rebellion where flags and Irish supporters’ clothes were green.

Wearing green does not only represent a symbol of pride but it was also intended to ward off any unwanted pinchers. Irish people take their heritage seriously enough that people get pinched when they do not wear green on St. Patrick’ s Day. In fact, not wearing green on this day is considered disrespectful. Therefore, pinches – as a punishment– are meant to remind those who do not wear the color to be bolder and more prideful of their Irishness.

How do Irish people celebrate March 17th?

St Patrick’s Day has been celebrated for centuries and refers to a big celebration in Ireland. Most people get the day off work and schools are closed. In Dublin City, Irish people are looking forward to the main parade—a huge event with amazing floats and lots of people painted in green shamrocks gathering along the streets.

During this day, every pub is filled to the brim with people celebrating the holiday and drinking their favorite stout beers. Although it is an enjoyable tradition, you may wonder why drinking is associated with the holiday. The answer is simple: Lent.

The holiday originally began as a day of feast when the Christians put their Lent restrictions aside to honor the death of the patron Saint Patrick. On this day, Irish people would indulge in as much food and drink as possible, while beverages were mostly non-alcoholic.

Pubs were closed on the holiday for most of the 20th century because drinking during church-observed holidays was looked down on. This continued until the 70s where beer companies began to target the holiday with advertising causing the tradition to come to fruition.

Sources: USA Today, Britannica

There is not anyone who does not long for seeing Niagara Falls! Every year, this natural wonder is visited by about 14 million tourists. Everyone dreams of taking a photo and refreshing themselves in the cool spray of waterfall, and certainly, tossing in a coin for luck.

But what mysteries could possibly be hiding in a place with such a huge flow of people? It turns out it still has its secrets: some of them are pretty eerie but many researches are still pursued to unravel them.

We used to refer to it simply as Niagara Falls, but in fact this is a whole complex of waterfalls on the Niagara River. Horseshoe Falls is a waterfall located in the Canadian province of Ontario, American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls in the state of New York USA.

Niagara Falls serves as a kind of border between the two countries. Its history began about 16,000 years ago during the last ice age. At that time, the northern regions of the North of American continent were covered by a glacier more than a kilometer and a half or one mile thick. When the ice retreated, the Great Lake were formed.About 12,000 years ago, the waters flowing from the lakes following paths they created themselves and later cut a channel — which eventually made the Niagara River. The lakes were arranged in a cascade and the water flowed from one to the another. This is how one of the world’s most famous waterfalls was born.

Today, its size is admired and you can draw a parallel between it and the world’s most famous attractions, for example the height of Niagara Falls can be compared to the “Arc de Triomphe” in Paris or the famous “Leaning Tower of Pisa”. The speed of its flow is so incredible that it is comparable to a tsunami.

But what is hidden behind the Niagara Falls?

Devil’s Hole is located on the territory of the National Park. This is the name of a cave which is best to steer clear of. This may not seem very scientific but it is believed that evil spirits live in the cave. For anyone who dare climb inside, trouble awaits! It sounds improbable but even in the guidebooks, this place is not recommended to visit. Fatal accidents always happen there. The sinister power of the cave was tested in the 17th century by the famous explorer of North America, LaSalle.

Legend has told that an evil spirit spoke to the explorer and ordered him to return immediately and end his expedition and exploration. However, he chose not to believe the evil spirit. A series of misfortunes fell upon him: diseases, pirates, shipwrecks, but LaSalle continued his expedition. Unfortunately, somewhere off the coast of Texas, it all came to an end. Tired sailors started a mutiny and simply killed their leader. The prediction of the evil spirit came true. We can only wonder if it was just a beautiful legend or really the machinations of the same spirit.

In the 18th century something even worse happened there. In 1763, 81 British soldiers lost their lives there. They were attacked by the Seneca Indian tribe. The natives outnumbered their opponents by at least three and a half to one. The outcome of the battle was predictable, some were killed, some were thrown into the abyss. Then the horses and wagons were also thrown in.

Sources: Mysteries of Canada, Britannica, History, Niagara Falls Tourism, Schlow Center Region