we wander why

This year we spend Christmas away from home. A season that is full of traditions and customs that we held on to for decades. And whilst we try to still include some of these German traditions into our trip (we brought our own miniature Christmas tree which we’ll decorate), we are very interested in customs that are important to the countries and cultures we visited so far on this trip. So this episode we don’t wander why, but wander what these local traditions are. - If you want to stay updated about our podcast and magazine or share feedback/topics, follow us on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/we_wander_why/ - Please share this podcast with your friends to raise our visibility :) Stay curious and see you next time! -

Walking through the streets of Uruguay we smelled weed at almost every corner and to our surprise learned that they were the first country in the world that legalized it. But it doesn't end there. Uruguay provides free education all the way to universities, legalized same sex marriage, abortion, made gender afirming surgeries a right and already runs on almost 100% renewable energy. Even the most highly developed countries didn’t manage all these regulations so far, so in today’s episode we wander why Uruguay is more progressive than Europe? - If you want to stay updated about our podcast and magazine or share feedback/topics, follow us on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/we_wander_why/ - Please share this podcast with your friends to raise our visibility :) Stay curious and see you next time! - Sources: Uruguay's price for using almost 100% renewable energy What the U.S. Could Learn From Uruguay’s Progressive Policies Our lovely guide from the free walking tour

Travelling through Bolivia we noticed even more than in Peru that a lot of people walk around with leafs in their cheeks. These leafs come from the coca plant which is more famously used to produce cocaine. Chewing coca leafs or drinking coca tea is as normal here as eating a croissant in Paris, but we could literally get arrested if we tried to bring some back to Europe. So in today's episode we wander why you can legally buy coca leafs all over Bolivia. - If you want to stay updated about our podcast and magazine or share feedback/topics, follow us on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/we_wander_why/ - Please share this podcast with your friends to improve our visibility :) Stay curious and see you next time! - Sources: Coca Leaf Myths and Reality Coca is not cocaine - The sacred South American coca leaf Speech in from of UN

In Peru we go in touch with the Inca culture and were blown away by their intelligence and creative problem solving skills.  However most of their cities were built in 3-4 thousand meter altitude which made breathing quite difficult for us and meant a lot of other problems for them in terms of food, shelter and construction. So in today's episode we wander why the Incas choose to live in such high altitudes. - If you want to stay updated about our podcast and magazine or share feedback/topics, follow us on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/we_wander_why/ - Please share this podcast with your friends to improve our visibility :) Stay curious and see you next time! - Sources: Our local guides showing us around the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu

When walking through Ecuador‘s markets we noticed that all prices here are in US Dollars. This wasn’t always the case though. Only 23 years ago Ecuador had its own currency and the reason for why it changed gives a lot of insights about the history and current situation of the country. So in today's episode we wander why Ecuador uses US Dollars as official currency? - If you want to stay updated about our podcast and magazine or share feedback/topics, follow us on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/we_wander_why/ - Please share this podcast with your friends to improve our visibility :) Stay curious and see you next time! - Sources: Ecuador accepts Dollar as official currency Why Ecuador uses the Dollar Our Couchsurfing host Chester

In Ecuador we were amazed by all the traditional outfits locals are proudly wearing. One thing that particularly sticked out to us was this beautiful white hat. This hat has been made in Ecuador for hundreds of years but weirdly enough it is called Panama Hat.What sounds like a clear mixup has actually a super interesting story that gives a lot of insights about Ecuador. So in today's episode we wander why Panama Hats are actually made in Ecuador! - If you want to stay updated about our podcast and magazine or share feedback/topics, follow us on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/we_wander_why/ - Please share this podcast with your friends to improve our visibility :) Stay curious and see you next time! - Sources: A short history of the Panama Hat Panama Hat history My guide Pedro in Cuenca's hat museum

In this special episode we are taking you with us to the airport before leaving Brazil and talk about our experience traveling through the country in terms of favorite moments, our fuck-ups, learnings and things we will miss. Tune in for some more personal stories and insights about our trip through South America so far.

During our time in Brazil we came across its African influences like Capoeira and we‘re shocked by the dark history behind it.  In this episode we talk about this aspect on the country and discovery why Capoeira is actually a relic of Afro-Brazilian resilience.  - If you want to stay updated about our podcast and magazine or share feedback/topics, follow us on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/we_wander_why/ - Please share this podcast with your friends to improve our visibility :) Stay curious and see you next time! - Sources: Slavery in Brazil Capoeira History Disguised in Dance: the Secret History of Capoeira

We made our way to a small town in the center of Brazil and were surprised by an abundance of crystals and alien statues.  The town 'Alto Paraiso' is known as Brazil's Area 51 and pretty much everyone here believes in UFOs, aliens and the healing power of crytals. We wander why how such a small town in the middle of nowhere can become so spiritual and what Brazil's dark history of slavery has to do with it. - If you want to stay updated about our podcast and magazine or share feedback/topics, follow us on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/we_wander_why/ - Please share this podcast with your friends to improve our visibility :) Stay curious and see you next time! - Sources: Alto Paraíso de Goiás Gov Website From supernatural light to apocalypse: discover Chapada dos Veadeiros

While walking through a less fancy area in Brazil we noticed a lot of bird cages in front of people's houses.  What seemed quite cute at first is actually illegal and provides more insights into Brazil's history and social issues that we would have imagined.  - If you want to stay updated about our podcast and magazine or share feedback/topics, follow us on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/we_wander_why/ - Please share this podcast with your friends to improve our visibility :) Stay curious and see you next time! - Sources: Understanding the motivations for keeping wild birds in the semi-arid region of Brazil Tradition and trade: culture and exploitation of avian fauna Brazil cracks down on lucrative wild animal trade Birds get new wings at Brazil rehab center

We arrived in Rio de Janeiro and got curious why there are so many of these amazing retro VW buses all around the city. To answer this question we take you with us on the streets of Rio and dive into articles to get to the core of this observation - there is more to it than we would have imagined! - If you want to stay updated about our podcast and magazine or share feedback/topics, follow us on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/we_wander_why/ - Please share this podcast with your friends to improve our visibility :) Stay curious and see you next time! - Sources: Long, strange trip ending for VW's hippie van Bye Bye, VW Bus: The End of an Era in Brazil

While preparing for our trip through Latin America we got curious about an aspect of our own culture: Why are Germans so keen on their rules and order? To answer this question, we take you on an illegal activity and dive into history to find out where this fixation on rules comes from and why it is still such a strong part of life in Germany today. - If you are looking for a funny, very accurate depiction of how Germans are actually not efficient at all, don’t miss this video by comedian Daniel Ryan Spaulding: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BC8PQPvQS-o&ab_channel=Daniel-RyanSpaulding - If you want to stay updated about our podcast and magazine or share feedback/topics, follow us on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/we_wander_why/ - Please share this podcast with your friends to improve our visibility :) Stay curious and see you next time! - Sources: BBC Travel: What makes Germans so orderly? Deutsche Welle: German efficiency: The roots of a stereotype 40% German: Land of the Rule Followers Berliner Zeitung: The myth of German order

While preparing for our trip through Latin America we got curious about an aspect of our own culture: Why are Germans so keen on their rules and order? To answer this question, we take you on an illegal activity and dive into history to find out where this fixation on rules comes from and why it is still such a strong part of life in Germany today. - If you are looking for a funny, very accurate depiction of how Germans are actually not efficient at all, don’t miss this video by comedian Daniel Ryan Spaulding: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BC8PQPvQS-o&ab_channel=Daniel-RyanSpaulding - If you want to stay updated about our podcast and magazine or share feedback/topics, follow us on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/we_wander_why/ - Please share this podcast with your friends to improve our visibility :) Stay curious and see you next time! - Sources: BBC Travel: What makes Germans so orderly? Deutsche Welle: German efficiency: The roots of a stereotype 40% German: Land of the Rule Followers Berliner Zeitung: The myth of German order

We are Shaleen and Phil 👋🏽 A Berlin based couple that loves to explore different countries and cultures. That’s why we quit our jobs and are going on a trip to Latin and Central America for a year.  With this podcast we want to capture the small, unique details we often leave unnoticed but that form the world and culture around us. We wonder why things are the way they are and investigate by talking to locals and discussing our findings. Listen in to feel the curiosity and wonder you usually only get when travelling someplace you’ve never been before. Welcome to we wander why!

We are Shaleen and Phil 👋🏽 A Berlin based couple that loves to explore different countries and cultures. That’s why we quit our jobs and are going on a trip to Latin and Central America for a year.  With this podcast we want to capture the small, unique details we often leave unnoticed but that form the world and culture around us. We wonder why things are the way they are and investigate by talking to locals and discussing our findings. Listen in to feel the curiosity and wonder you usually only get when travelling someplace you’ve never been before. Welcome to we wander why!