Author Archives: Lexi

I recently watched the Chilean film El Agente Topo (The Mole Agent), a documentary that is part mystery, part social commentary, and part unexpected heartbreak. It begins like a detective story, but ends as something much more human: a reflection on aging, loneliness, and the assumptions we make about elder care.

The premise sounds almost humorous. A private investigator is hired by a woman who believes her mother is being mistreated at a retirement home. Instead of questioning staff or reviewing paperwork, he decides to send in an undercover agent, but not the kind you’d expect. He places an ad in the newspaper looking for someone 80 to 90 years old who is “phone savvy.”

This alone sets the tone: the world of espionage meets the everyday challenges of old age.

An Unlikely Spy

The final candidate, Sergio, is charming, warm, and very much not tech savvy. Watching him learn to send photos, record videos, and navigate WhatsApp is endearing but also telling. Technology is often seen as a bridge, but for many older adults, it is still a barrier, one that can distance them from the rest of society.

Despite the struggles, Sergio is hired and enters the nursing home as a resident. His mission is simple: observe the mother’s care, look for signs of abuse, take notes, and report everything back to the investigator.

What Sergio Actually Finds

As he settles into the home, Sergio begins to blend in with the residents. He talks with them, eats with them, and becomes a part of their daily routines. He films quietly, takes notes discreetly, and documents everything.

After three months, he reaches a surprising conclusion:

The problem is not the nursing home. It’s the family.

The woman who hired the investigator barely visits her mother. Many residents experience the same thing: families who send their elders away and then fail to show up. The caregivers, meanwhile, are doing their best with limited resources, long hours, and the emotional weight of filling the roles family members have abandoned.

There’s a brief, striking moment where a doctor explains that she barely sleeps. It’s a reminder that elder care is a system held together by overworked, under-appreciated people.

A Story Bigger Than the Investigation

What begins as a potential scandal evolves into a powerful message: the greatest neglect many older adults face doesn’t come from institutions. It comes from the people who stop showing up.

Sergio becomes a friend to the residents. He listens to their stories, comforts them during lonely evenings, and brings a sense of dignity to their days. By the end, it’s clear that the “investigation” uncovered something more profound than mistreatment: the emotional abandonment of the elderly.

Why the Film Matters

El Agente Topo asks us to rethink how we treat aging, not as a problem to be managed, but as a stage of life that needs connection, affection, and presence. It challenges the stereotype of the “bad nursing home” and turns the lens toward a broader social reality: loneliness is the real culprit.

Sometimes the most meaningful care isn’t the kind you can document in a report. It’s the act of simply showing up.

Next week, we’ll take this conversation even further. We’ll explore how different cultures around the world approach caring for the elderly: from family-centered traditions to independence-focused models, and what these differences mean for aging with dignity. Stay tuned for a deeper look at the cultural side of elder care.

A quick hug. A kiss on the cheek. Holding hands. For some people, these gestures are a natural way to show affection. For others, they can feel shocking or even inappropriate, depending on where you are in the world.

Public displays of affection (PDA) are one of the clearest examples of how culture shapes human behavior. What’s considered sweet in one country might be scandalous in another.

The West: Affection as a Sign of Openness

In much of North America and Western Europe, public affection is widely accepted, even expected. Couples hold hands, greet with hugs, or share a kiss in public without anyone thinking twice. In the U.S., PDA is often seen as a sign of confidence and emotional honesty, while in France or Italy, kissing in public can be viewed as an expression of romance rather than impropriety.

However, even in these cultures, there are unspoken limits. Intimate or lingering physical displays can still attract side-eye or discomfort, especially in professional settings or family environments.

The Middle East and South Asia: Modesty and Respect

In contrast, many Middle Eastern and South Asian cultures place strong emphasis on modesty and discretion. Public affection between romantic partners is generally frowned upon, and in some countries, even legally restricted.

In Saudi Arabia or the United Arab Emirates, holding hands may be tolerated between married couples, but kissing or embracing in public can lead to fines or arrest. In India and Pakistan, public affection often sparks controversy because it clashes with social expectations of modesty and decorum. Yet, gestures of same-gender friendship (like men holding hands) are perfectly normal and symbolize trust, not romance.

East Asia: Emotion in Private, Respect in Public

Japan, China, and South Korea often lean toward emotional restraint in public. In Japan, affection is viewed as something deeply personal, best expressed in private spaces. A couple walking together may not touch at all, yet their bond is no less strong.

This discretion is tied to cultural values of harmony and respect, maintaining social balance by avoiding behavior that draws attention or makes others uncomfortable. Younger generations, however, are slowly challenging these norms, with mild displays like handholding or cheek kisses becoming more common in major cities.

Latin America and the Mediterranean: Warmth as Connection

In contrast, affection in public is often celebrated in Latin America, Southern Europe, and parts of Africa. Physical touch, like hugs, cheek kisses, even dancing, is a normal part of connection. In Argentina, Brazil, or Spain, friends often greet with kisses, and couples openly show affection without stigma. In these regions, warmth and physical closeness symbolize openness, trust, and belonging.

A Mirror of Cultural Values

How societies handle PDA reflects deeper values: modesty, freedom, respect, or community. Whether affection is public or private, the intention behind it is universal: to connect, to care, and to express love.

So next time you see (or hesitate to share) a moment of affection abroad, remember: it’s not about right or wrong, it’s about what love looks like through another culture’s eyes.

I’ve always said that attending a funeral is one of the best ways to reflect on what truly matters, and to remind ourselves that one day, we will all face the same fate. But how we face death varies greatly from culture to culture.

American author Ken Druck, who writes extensively about grief, says that Americans have created a culture that is “grief illiterate.” “We are taught that there’s a pill for every pain, for every problem. However, there is no pill to erase death. Death evokes a feeling of helplessness; it’s easier to turn away.”

In much of the Western world, death is often seen as something to be avoided, postponed, or hidden. Conversations about dying are uncomfortable. Funerals tend to be somber and formal, with grief kept private and controlled. Yet, not all cultures approach mortality this way. Around the world, death can be viewed not only as an ending but as a continuation, and even a celebration.

Mexico: A Conversation with the Dead

In Mexico, Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) is a vibrant reminder that death is part of life. Families build colorful altars adorned with marigolds, photos, and the favorite foods of loved ones who have passed away. Rather than mourn quietly, people gather in cemeteries, share stories, and laugh. It’s a day to welcome the dead home; to eat, drink, and remember together. Grief becomes something collective, tender, and alive.

Ghana: A Celebration of a Life Well Lived

In parts of Ghana, funerals are joyful events filled with music, dance, and elaborate coffins shaped like airplanes, animals, or tools, symbols of the person’s passions or profession. Death is not an interruption but a passage to the ancestral world. The louder and more colorful the celebration, the greater the honor paid to the deceased. It’s a way of ensuring that their spirit is remembered and continues to participate in community life.

Japan: Duty, Ritual, and Reflection

In Japan, mourning is marked by quiet ritual and reverence. The Buddhist view sees death as part of the continuous cycle of rebirth. The family’s duty, through ceremonies, incense, and offerings, is to help guide the spirit peacefully to the next stage. Emotional restraint is often seen as a sign of respect. Grief is internalized, not displayed, emphasizing balance and continuity rather than loss.

Madagascar: The Dance of the Dead

The Malagasy people hold a ceremony called famadihana, or “the turning of the bones.” Families exhume the remains of ancestors, rewrap them in fresh cloth, and dance with them before returning them to the tomb. The ritual strengthens ties between the living and the dead, ensuring that memory remains active and communal rather than distant or forgotten.

A Universal Truth

Whether death is faced with silence, ceremony, or song, each culture gives it meaning in its own way. Some embrace grief openly; others find peace in ritual or humor. But across every language and tradition, death reminds us of the same truth: we are all connected to the past, to one another, and to what comes next.

Maps don’t just show places, they show how we see the world. When you look at a map, it might seem simple. North is at the top. Countries are where you expect. But maps don’t just tell facts. They tell stories, and those stories depend on who made the map.

Why Is North Always Up?
It hasn’t always been. Long ago, some maps had south or east at the top. But when Europe became powerful, mapmakers started putting Europe on top. That made it look more important. Today, almost all Western maps still follow that style. Chinese maps also are oriented with north on top, but centered around the Pacific Ocean.

What’s Wrong with the Mercator Map?
The Mercator map is one of the most common maps we see. It was made for sailing, not for showing true size. That’s why Greenland looks huge (almost the size of Africa) even though Africa is much, much bigger. This can make smaller countries look more important, and bigger ones seem small.

Maps Can Leave Things Out
Maps are made by people, and people make choices. Some maps change names of places, leave out small countries, or draw borders in a way that helps one side more than another. That means maps aren’t always fair or true.

Maps Are Powerful
Maps have been used to claim land, win wars, and control people. Even today, maps from different countries may show borders in different ways. A map is not just a picture, it’s a point of view.

Next time you see a map, ask yourself: Who made it? What story are they trying to tell?

When Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce announced their engagement last week, all eyes were on one thing: the ring. In the U.S. and much of Europe, a diamond sparkler has become the symbol of commitment. But not every culture says ‘yes’ the same way.

In the West, diamond rings rose to fame in the mid-20th century after the famous slogan ‘A Diamond Is Forever’ from De Beers. Today, they represent love and permanence.

✨ Elsewhere, symbols differ:

• In India, gold jewelry and family ceremonies matter more than rings.
• In Nordic countries, both partners wear simple bands during the engagement.
• In the Middle East, dowries and large celebrations often overshadow rings.
• In Japan, couples may use Western rings but also honor traditions like sake-sharing rituals.
• Across Africa, clothing, livestock, or other gifts mark the promise.

Whether a diamond, a bangle, or a shared ritual, the message is the same: a public promise of love and commitment.

While Swift’s ring may have captured global headlines, it’s only one version of a tradition told in countless ways.

Giving flowers is a simple way to show how we feel. Whether it’s to say “I love you,” “I’m sorry,” or “Congratulations,” flowers help us express emotions without words. People have been giving flowers for thousands of years, and the meaning behind the gesture can vary across cultures.

In ancient Egypt, flowers were used in ceremonies and to honor the dead. The Greeks and Romans gave them as gifts at festivals. In Victorian England, each flower had its own secret meaning. Red roses meant love, yellow meant friendship, and so on.

Today, different cultures have different flower traditions:

• In Japan, white lilies are used at funerals, not weddings.
• In Russia, an odd number of flowers is for happy occasions; even numbers are for funerals.
• In China, red flowers bring luck, but white ones can be a sign of mourning.
• In Mexico, marigolds are used for Day of the Dead to remember loved ones.

In many Western countries, flowers are given for birthdays, Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, or just to say you care.

But be careful! What’s kind in one place may be rude in another. A certain color or number of flowers can carry deep meaning. That’s why it’s a good idea to learn local customs before giving a bouquet.

No matter where you are in the world, flowers remain a thoughtful way to connect with others and show you care.