Countries & Cultures Interest Group
This Interest Group is presently struggling to have enough members to continue – so if you’ve any interest in joining it, please speak up 😊. The person to contact is Allan allanculling@gmail.com
The members attending this group choose a country (or geographical area) in advance to focus on each month. We share information or listen to a speaker who has lived and worked (or volunteered) in a particular place overseas. Alternatively, a video or documentary will be viewed together, or other material will be examined. We may decide to hold a 2nd session on the same destination at which the members of the group research the internet on selected topics concerning the country so they can share what they have found.
In 2019, our first year, we enjoyed presentations by people who lived for a period in Iran, Niue, Ali Curong (a remote Aboriginal settlement in the Northern Territory), and Romania. During 2020 we enjoyed learning about Madagascar, Mongolia, Uganda, Malawi, Myanmar, Croatia and Papua New Guinea. In 2021 we have covered China, Mauritius, India, Israel, South Africa, Japan, Peru, and several countries in the Middle East – Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman and Egypt. In 2022 we’ve covered Denmark, Singapore Norway and more.
CCIG offers more than armchair travelling – although it is very enjoyable and offers ideas for travel!
The meetings
* extend participants’ knowledge of the world
* challenge members as they learn about other cultures
* prompt the group to carry out their own internet research
* provide a forum for enjoyable discussion
Photos of 13 February Meeting about Madagascar by John Croxford
Winter meal of the interest group at the Simply Indian