Mediterranean
Egypt
Geography
Egypt, at the northern corner of Africa on the Mediterranean Sea, is bordered on the west by Libya, the south by Sudan, and the east by the Red Sea and Israel. Its 66 Million people live in a country nearly one and one-half times the size of Texas. Egypt is divided into two unequal, extremely arid regions by the landscape’s dominant feature, the Nile River.
Only 2% of the 995,450 sq km of land in Egypt is arable. The inhabitants irrigate approximately 30,000 sq km of. In addition, there is 6000 sq km of water in Egypt. The elevations range from –133m (Qattara Depression) to 2629 (Mount Catherine). Egypt also has a wide variety of natural resources. They include: petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, phosphates, manganese, limestone, gypsum, talc, asbestos, lead, and zinc.
Egyptian summers are hot and dry in most of the country and humid in the Delta along the Mediterranean Coast. In recent years the humidity has spread to Cairo and the city sweats in August. Winters are mild with some rain, but usually there are bright, sunny days and cold nights. There is a short spring and autumn and during the 50 days between the end of March and mid-May, dust storms can occur sporadically.
Economy
At the ends of the 1980’s, Egypt faced problems of low productivity and poor economic management, compounded by the adverse social effects of excessive population growth, high inflation, and massive urban overcrowding. In the face of these pressures, in 1991 Egypt undertook wide-ranging macroeconomic stabilization and structural reform measures. Egypt’s reform efforts and its participation in the Gulf war coalition, also led to massive debt relief under the Paris Club arrangements. Substantial progress has been made in improving macroeconomic performance. Cairo curbed inflation, slashed budget deficits, and built up foreign reserves to an all-time high. Although the pace of structural reforms such as privatization and new business legislation has been slower than envisioned. Egypt’s move toward a more market-oriented economy has prompted increased foreign investments. The November 1997 massacre of foreign tourists in Luxor affected tourism enough to slow the GDP growth rate. Tourism’s slow recovery, coupled with low world oil prices, caused a downturn in foreign exchange earnings, but external payments are not in a crisis.
The GDP by sector is as follows: 16% agriculture, 31% industry, and 53% services. Egypt’s average inflation rate has been 3.6%. Its labor force consists of 17.4 million workers, with an unemployment rate of 10%. Agricultural products that are raised in Egypt are: cotton, rice, wheat, beans, fruits, vegetables, cattle, water buffalo, sheep, goats and fish. The industrial workforce provides textiles, food processing, tourism, chemicals, petroleum, construction, cement, and metals. Their major exports include: crude oil and petroleum products, cotton yarn, raw cotton, textiles, metal products and chemicals. They import: machinery and equipment, foods, fertilizers, wood products, durable consumer goods, and capital goods. The European Union, Japan, and the United States are the most common import/export partners.
Egypt’s current budget includes about $20 billion revenues, and $21 billion expenditures. Egyptian’s use a currency of pounds, in which, 3.4 pounds are equal to $1.
Government
Egypt was a constitutional monarchy from 1923 to 1953, when military officers seized control of the government. Although Egypt became a republic in 1953, it essentially remained a military dictatorship dominated by a single political party. In 1978, a multiparty political system was instituted. Although Egypt is nominally a multi-party democracy with a 454 member People’s Assembly and 210 member Advisory Council, the President who serves for 6 years and exercises wide-ranging powers holds the true power of government. The People’s Assembly approves the budget, levies taxes, approves government programs and can censure cabinet members. The Republic is divided into 26 governorates or muhafizat. Cairo is the country’s capital city and the seat of the government.
There are three main branches of government: executive, legislature, and judicial.
In the executive branch you find the head of state, which is the President of the Republic, who is nominated by the lower house of the legislature and is elected by popular referendum. The president may serve unlimited consecutive term of 6-years.
Egypt has a bicameral legislature, comprising the People’s Assembly and the Advisory Council. The People’s Assembly consists of 2 elected representatives from each of 222 geographical constituencies, along with 10 members appointed by the president, for a total of 454 members, all serving five-year terms. The Advisory Council, which serves only in a consultative role, consists of 140 popularity elected members and 70 presidential appointees, who serve three-year terms.
Egypt’s legal system is closely patterned on that of France. A panel of judges, as opposed to a jury, reaches verdicts. Religious courts once operated, with separate systems for Muslims, Christians, and Jews, but they were abolished in 1956. Many Muslims argue that Islamic law, or the Sharia, should be the sole basis for all Egyptian legislation. A constitutional amendment adopted in 1980 recognizes the Sharia as a principal source of Egypt’s laws, but the legal system remains secular in character.
Egypt’s armed forces in 1998 totaled 450,000 with 320,000 in the army, 30,000 in the air force, and 20,000 in the navy, and the remainder in the air defense or shared commands. Affiliated with the armed forces are the reserves, the Central Security Forces, and the National Guard. A commander, above who stands the commander in chief of the armed forces, heads each branch. The president has ultimate authority over the military as its supreme commander. All males except only sons serve three years of compulsory military service, while officers serve longer terms. The officer corps exercises great political influence.
People
Egypt’s 66 million people have an estimated life expectancy of 62 years. In addition, usually each woman will give birth to approximately 3.5 children in their lifetime. Sadly, only 50% of the people are literate.
Religion and family life make up a cornerstone of Egyptian culture. It is religion, be it Islamic or Coptic, that provides the strong unifying bonds between family members, friends, as well as strangers. Egypt is one of the very few nations left in the world, where strangers actually greet each other in the streets.
Nevertheless, the dichotomy that is inherent in the Egyptian way of life cannot be underestimated. The major divisions occur between rural and urban dwellers. In rural areas, the inhabitants still live in the traditional life of their ancestors. The villagers, more commonly known as fellahin, depend on agriculture entirely and live in very modest, mud-brick houses.
The traditional system of Egyptian values managed to find its way into the urban societies, but with a few variations here and there. Urban communities tend to lead a more modern and westernized lifestyle. As you move up the social scale, this westernization seems to increase. Generally, the women are housewives, and the husbands provide all the income.
In general, Egyptians are renowned for there kindness, patience, and extreme sense of humor. They are extremely patriotic, and any offense to their nation, culture or religion will not be tolerated. Many Egyptians speak English as a second language, so communicating with them should not be a problem.
As for their dress code, they are quite conservative. They don’t wear shorts in the summer. Rural men wear long white robes, known as galabiyyas, while urban men were pants and a shirt. The women are veiled and wear long sleeves. Ironically, the children follow the latest "American" style with Levis, hot pants, tight shorts, tight skirts, and bikinis.
Diet
Although Egyptian eating habits may seem erratic, most natives begin the day with a light breakfast of beans (or bean cakes), eggs, and/or pickles, cheeses, and jams. Most families eat their large, starchy lunch around 1400-1700 and follow it with a siesta. They may take a British-style tea at 1700 or 1800 and eat a light supper (often leftovers from lunch) late in the evening. Dinner parties, however, are scheduled late, often no earlier than 2100, with the meal served an hour or two later. In restaurants lunch is normally 1300-1600, dinner 2000-2400. The dishes are simple; made with naturally ripened fruits and vegetables and seasoned with fresh spices, they're good and hearty. Food in the south, closely linked to North African cuisine, is zestier than that found in the north, but neither is especially hot. The best cooking is often found in the smaller towns. Although Egyptian cooking can be bland and oily when poorly done, most of the cuisine is delicious.
In Egypt, dining out can range from stand-up sandwich bars to luxurious five-course meals. You can find small, inexpensive establishments that serve good Egyptian food for only a few pounds. If you're in a hurry, try the local snack bars. While the cubbyholes off the street (which probably have running water) are generally safe. The larger cities even have Western-style fast-food chains like McDonald's and Kentucky Fried Chicken, but they're relatively expensive. In cities both food and water are safe although the change in your diet may produce short-term gastrointestinal upsets.
Greece
Geography
Greece is located in Southern Europe, bordering the Aegean Sea, Ionian Sea, and the Mediterranean Sea, between Albania and Turkey. The geographic coordinates are as follows 39 00 N, 22 00 E. Greece’s land area is 130,800 sq. km.; water area is 1,140 sq. km., for a total area of 131,940 sq. km. This country has an area comparative slightly smaller than Alabama. When looking at the coastline 13,676 km along Greece. Bordering countries to Greece, Albania, Bulgaria, Turkey, and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia make up a total of 1,210 km., of land boundaries. The national name is Elliniki Dimokratia and the capital is Athens. The main language is Greek that makes up 98% of the language spoken. The main religion is Greek Orthodox that makes up 98% and Muslim 1.3%.
Greece’s climate has hot dry summers; wet winters, and is mild. Terrain has mostly mountains with ranges extending into the sea as peninsulas or chains of islands. When looking at elevation extremes the lowest point is the Mediterranean Sea 0 m, the highest point Mount Olympus 2,917.
Some important natural resources include petroleum, marble, hydropower, bauxite, lignite, and magnesite. The different land uses include; arable land which makes up 19%, permanent crops 8%, permanent pasture 41%, forests and woodland 20%, and finally other 12%. This country does however have irrigated land, which covers 13,140 sq. km. This country has only one natural hazard and that is severe earthquakes. Finally looking at current issues, air and water pollution are the major hot topics.
Economy
Services, including tourism, make up the largest and fastest-growing sector of the Greek economy, accounting for about 62.7% of GDP. Tourism is a major source of foreign exchange earnings. It is one of the country's most important industries, it has been slow to expand and suffers from a poor underlying foundation. Revenue from tourism exceeded $5.2 billion in 1998, having increased somewhat as Greek tourism gained an edge from problems in neighboring countries and an economic recovery in the European Union.
The manufacturing sector accounts for about 14% of GDP. The food industry is one of the most profitable and fastest-growing areas of manufacturing with significant export potential. High-technology equipment production, especially for telecommunications, is also a fast-growing sector. Other important areas include textiles, building materials, machinery, transport equipment, and electrical appliances.
Greece is traditionally a seafaring nation and has built an impressive shipping industry based on its geographic location and the entrepreneurial ability of its ship owners. The Greek-owned fleet (all flags) totaled 3,358 ships (134 million DWT) in 1998. Construction activity (about 7.5% of GDP) is expected to increase. Through 1999, about $20 billion will go to projects to modernize and develop Greece's transportation network. The centerpiece of this effort will be the construction of a new international airport near Athens. In addition, the Athens subway system is being greatly expanded, and construction or expansion of roads, railway lines, and bridges is either underway or planned. Greece’s per capita income is $11,668 and its workforce entails 4.85 million workers. The currency in Greece is the Drachmae. 1 US$ equals 278.78 Drachmae.
Government
Greece, also known as Hellas, is the birthplace of politics as an art and democracy as a form of government. Its democratic ideals inspired, among others, the framers of the US constitution. The present Greek Constitution, voted in 1975 and amended in 1986, defines the country's political system as a Parliamentary Democracy headed by a President. Mr. C. Stefanopoulos is the President of the Hellenic Republic and Mr. K. Simitis is the Prime Minister.
Legislative powers are exercised by a single Chamber Parliament (the Vouli) and executive powers are vested in the Government and the President. The Prime Minister, whose Government must enjoy the confidence of the House, has extensive powers. The judiciary is independent. Civil, political and human rights are constitutionally guaranteed. General elections for the 300 parliamentary seats are held every four years. The President of the Republic is elected by MP's and serves for a five-year term, renewable only once.
Greece is a member of UN, IMF, CSCE, and other major Western and European institutions such as the OECD, NATO, WEU, Council of Europe and the European Community, which she joined in 1981. The country's commitment to the European Union enjoys overwhelming political support.
Greece’s defense expenditure was $ 2,512 billions in 1994.
People
The ancient Greeks lived in city-states, called a "polis." Although the people in different Greek cities spoke the same language and had similar religious beliefs, they were often at war with each other! The city of Athens on the Greek mainland is one of the most famous. The people who lived there were called Athenians. In addition to being one of the most powerful Greek city-states and governed by an early form of democracy, Athens was also a center for learning and the arts.
Today, Greece is probably one of the very few places in Europe and the New World where traditional dance is still alive, intertwined with our daily life. In some other countries, mostly Eastern European, traditional dance has kept only those folkloric elements that had some entertaining value, became accentuated with elements of ballet, and has turned to a theatrical spectacle. In other countries, particularly in Western Europe, folk dance is preserved as a museum piece, only.
In Greece, traditional dances are still passed from generation to generation because people enjoy doing them and include them in their celebrations. There are some dances that are considered panhellenic, such as Kalamatianos and Tsamikos, and are known among all Greek communities in Greece and abroad.
In addition, each region has preserved its own dances that are done in local feasts. Some of these not widely known local dances are at risk to become forgotten, but fortunately, there are systematic efforts of local organizations to encourage older people to pass their talent and knowledge to the younger generations.
Population of Greece is 10,601,527 with a growth rate of .21%. Birth rate is 9.82/1,000 of the population and death rate is 9.64/1,000. The sex ratio at birth is 1.07 males/female; total population would be .97 males/female. Age structure from 0-14 years is 15%, 15-64 67%, and 65 years and over 18%. Infant mortality rate is 6.51 deaths/1,000 live births. When looking at life expectancy at birth, the total population is 78 years, males 75, female’s years of age. The different types of ethnic groups are, Greek 98% and other 2%. Religions are Greek Orthodox 98%, Muslim 1.3%, and other 0.7%. There are three main languages in Greece, 99% speak Greek, and the other two are English and French. Finally, literacy rate of Greece, at age 15 and over they can read and write, and 95% of the total population can.
Diet
Dietary guidelines for the Greek population has become customary to represent FBDG in the form of a triangle ("pyramid"), the base of which refers to foods which are to be consumed most frequently and the top to those to be consumed rarely, with the remaining foods occupying intermediate positions. In the food pyramid, frequencies rather than exact quantities in grams are indicated, because most consumers think in this way about the foods they consume.
Consideration of frequencies, however, implies a standardized portion size, multiples of which are to be consumed. These portions have been variously termed "servings" or, when foods of similar origin or composition are considered, "equivalents". A total of about 22 to 23 servings are to be consumed daily, in three or four meals. In a rough approximation, a serving equals one half of the portions as defined in the Greek market regulations (approximately half the quantity served in a Greek restaurant). So, one serving is, one slice of bread (25g), potatoes (100g), half a cup of cooked rice or pasta, a cup of raw leafy vegetables or half a cup of other vegetables (100g), one apple (80g), one banana (60g), one orange (100g), melon or watermelon (200g), grapes (30g), one cup of yogurt, cheese (30g), one egg, (60g) of cooked lean fish or meat, and one cup of cooked dry beans (100g). When looking at Greece’s food groups, it has similar categories food to consume like our food pyramid, but a little different. Here is the run down of their preferred things to eat for a balanced diet. We start of with cereals. Every day, on the average, should include about eight servings of cereals and cereal products, preferably non-refined ones, including bread. This guideline is not difficult to accommodate, even in the contemporary Greek diet, since Greeks still consume a lot of bread. Non-refined cereals and their products provide a considerable amount of fiber, which is a desirable attribute. Then we have potatoes. Though some classify potatoes under vegetables, they nutritionally fit better under the category of cereals, particularly refined ones. Like white bread, potatoes have been found to have a high glycaemic index and current nutrition advice is that they should not exceed 3 servings per week. Why yes, Greeks do have sugar in their diets too. Simple sugars are plentiful in deserts, and also exist, or are added, in beverages, like coffee, tea, fruit juices, soft drinks and colas. They are also naturally found in many fruits. Simple sugars have glycaemic effects mainly comparable to or less than those of starch from cooked foods. Reduction of sugar intake can be accomplished through training during the early years of life. The use of sugar substitutes, such as saccharine and aspartame, has not been linked to human risk, but avoidance of excess consumption may be prudent. Although many Greek deserts are prepared with olive oil, a multitude of nuts, fruits and flour, rather than fresh cream or butter, the average daily intake should not exceed half a serving per day, or a serving every other day. Moving on to Fruits and Vegetables Every day, on the average, should include about six servings of vegetables and three servings of fruits. There is no risk in the excess intake of vegetables or fruits, so long as energy expenditure balances energy intake. Vegetables and fruits provide a considerable amount of fiber, several micronutrients (potassium, calcium, vitamin C, vitamin B6, carotenoids vitamin E, folate), as well as other compounds with antioxidant potential. The wild greens traditionally consumed in Greece are of particular interest, since they represent a rich source of antioxidants. Vegetables can be consumed either cooked in olive oil, or raw in the form of salads. Up next are pulses. Pulses are rarely consumed and rarely independently considered in FBDG of most countries. In Greece, however, olive oil allows the preparation of delightful dishes with pulses that share some of the health attributes of vegetables and also provide protein, albeit of moderate quality. Consumption of an average of one serving every other day is advised. On-ward we have herbs origan, basil, thyme and other herbs grown in Greece are a good source of antioxidant compounds and can be a tasteful substitute for salt in the preparation of various dishes. Then we have Meat and eggs. Consumption of poultry, eggs and red meat should not exceed on the average one serving per day, and further reduction does not appear to compromise good health among adults. Poultry is much preferred over red meat, and eggs, including those used for cooking or baking, should not exceed 4 per week. So a person may consume 3 eggs and two servings of poultry per week. We then have fish and seafood. This could physiologically substitute for meat and eggs, but culinary, practical and economic constrains dictate a recommendation of about one serving per day. Looking at dairy products, Consumption of an average of two servings per day of dairy products, in the form of cheese, traditional yogurt and milk appears compatible to good health and culinary traditions of the Greek population. Further more we have added lipids. Olive oil should be preferred over other added lipids, in salads, fried or cooked foods. Finally we have ethanol. Consumption of alcoholic beverages equivalent to about 30 g of ethanol (three servings of most alcoholic beverages) per day among men and 15 g of ethanol (one and a half servings of most alcoholic beverages) per day among women have beneficial overall effects on health. There is evidence that consumption of wine during meals is more beneficial than consumption of spirits or beer outside meals, and some suggestion that red wine is more beneficial than white wine.
Greek food is a wonderful mix of oriental and European dishes, cooked using different methods, from frying to broiling to boiling. Nothing is so spicy you can't eat it and the seasonings they use are the very similar to ours here in America. Greeks love to use olive oil when preparing their main dishes. Greek cooking is perhaps the healthiest of all Mediterranean cuisines. Greek olives, of which there are many varieties, adorn salads, meat and fish dishes, and even hearty breads. Olive oil, of course, is the primary fat used in Greek cooking. Ripe lemons are used to add tang to both sweet and savory delights. Pine nuts are used particularly with pilafs, appetizers, and meats. Almonds and walnuts are used generously in desserts. Fresh tomatoes are an important part of meat and fish preparations, often used along with spinach and eggplant. Tomatoes also make perfect salads, served simply with olive oil and traditional aged red-wine vinegar. Grapes are not only used in cooking and for wine, but grape leaves are used to wrap a variety of fillings for unique appetizers.
Lamb is the principal meat in Greek cooking. It can be used ground in casserole-type dishes such as the classic Moussaka, a lamb and eggplant dish. It can be cut into pieces, marinated in olive oil and lemon juice, and grilled to perfection. Common Greek herbs are basil, parsley, mint, and dill. Garlic and onions are, of course, an integral part of Greek seasoning. A generous harvest of fresh fish is available to most Greek natives; no spot on Greek land is any further than 85 miles from the Mediterranean Sea. Fish are traditionally cooked whole, with the heat and tail still attached. They are often seasoned with herbs, and marinated in olive oil and lemon juice. Fish are grilled over hot fires, or baked. Shrimp, octopus, and squid are also popular. Cheese is an important part of Greek cuisine. Feta cheese, made from goat's milk, is white, crumbly, and very pungent. It is used on salads, meat dishes, spread on bread, or even wrapped in grape leaves and grilled. Kefalotiri is another popular variety that is harder; it is grated and used like Parmesan. Yogurt is important to Greek cooking. This adds life to desserts, sauces and soups. For some recipes like dips and spreads, the yogurt is first separated from the whey to create a thicker yogurt "cheese".
Desserts are an important part of the Greek meal. Cakes made with yogurt, and pastries made with layers of filo dough are popular. Typically these are sweetened by honey syrup that is poured over the prepared desserts. Custards are common, sometimes sweetened with lemon or orange. Besides nuts, apricots and pears are prevalent in desserts. Melomacarona, Finikia, and Diples are nut-rich cookies dipped in honey syrup. The Greeks love sweets.
Italy
Geography
Italy is a peninsula located to the south of main land Europe. Being a peninsula it is surrounded by the Adriatic Sea to the east, Mediterranean to the west, and the Ionian Sea to the south. Its 57.2 million people live on a land mass of 116,304 square miles which is slightly larger than Arizona. Italy has two extensive mountain ranges that take up the majority of the total land surface; the Alps and Apennines. The remaining land areas are plains and coast lines.
The climate of Italy is very diversified, with extremes ranging from frigid in the mountainous regions, to semitropical along the coasts. The configuration of the Apennines and the influences of the adjacent seas determine the regional climates Annual rainfall ranges from 18 inches in the south to 60 inches in the northeast, and annual temperatures range from 55 to 64 degrees Fahrenheit. Do to the weather and terrain much of Italy is unsuitable for agriculture.
Italy is poor in natural resources and is limited to what crops can be produced. Most crops are grown in the south and consist of olives, sugarcane, and almonds. Italy has many rivers, of which the Po and the Adige are the most important. Also the coasts are rich with fish. Fish of major commercial importance are the sardine, tuna, and anchovy. Much of Italy is covered by dense growths of trees and various shrubs and grasses.
Economy
Italy has a diversified economy with approximately the same total of output as other leading countries in the European Union. The capitalistic economy remains divided into a developed industrial north, dominated by private companies, and a less developed agricultural south. Industries in the north fund most of the economical progress in the south. Most raw materials needed by industry in the north and more than 75% of energy are imported. Tourism in Rome and Venice and the service sector are Italy’s largest providers of the national economy along with a trade surplus of US $60 billion.
An ongoing problem for the Italian economy has been the lack of industrialization in the south. Due to this many southerners are forced to migrate north for jobs. Agriculture in the south consists of grapes and olives which they convert into wine and oil and export. Unemployment varies from north to south with a country average of 11.5%.
The European Union is Italy’s largest partner in exporting and importing goods with over fifty percent, followed by the United States with less than 10%. Italy exports metals, textiles, production machinery, chemicals, and motor vehicles. Imports mainly consist of energy products, minerals, metals, and food products. Italy’s growth was 1.3% in 1999 and should increase two hundred percent in 2001, led by investment and continuing exports. GDP consumption is broken into three sectors; agriculture 2.6%, industry 31.6%, and service 65.8%.
For several years Italy has adopted budgets compliant with the requirements of the European Monetary Union. This has been widely credited with having brought Italy’s inflation into conformity with EMU requirements. The inflation rate continues to lower and is currently at 1.9%. GDP per capita is US $24,000 and the currency is the lire which has a current exchange rate of 2,074 lire per US dollar.
Government
Italy has been a democratic republic since 2 June 1946 when the monarchy was abolished by popular referendum. By the terms stated in the constitution that became effective on 1 January 1948 the reestablishment of the Fascist party is prohibited. Any direct male heirs of that party are ineligible to vote or hold any public office and are banned from any Italian soil.
The president of the republic is currently Carlo Azeglio Ciampi. He was sworn in 1999 and is elected for a seven year term. His term is a joint session with parliament which is made up of three delegates from each of the twenty regional councils. Parliament is divided into two assemblies, the Chamber of Deputies with 630 members and the Senate with 315. The president must be at least fifty years old is ordinarily elected by a two-thirds majority. The current president in eighty years old. He has the right to dissolve the Senate and Chamber of Deputies at any time except during the last six months of his tenure.
The president usually has little to do with running the government. This duty is left up to the prime minister. He is chosen by the president and must also have the approval of the parliament and the cabinet of ministers. The prime minister generally is the leader of the party with the majority representation of the Chamber of Deputies. Historically the prime minister was consistently drawn from the Christian Democratic party. Currently the prime minister is Giuliano Amato and was elected as an independent party.
Italy has ten major political parties and a number of minor ones. Italy’s main party is the Democrats of the Left. This party was formerly know as Communist Party of Italy and is one of the largest Communist parties in Western Europe. It advocates radical reforms to bring about an Italian brand of socialism. The old Christian Democrat party has broken into two separate parties, the Italian Popular Party and the Democratic Union for the Republic. They both represent a wide range of views, which often results in internal problems in the government. The party that is causing concern in Italy in the National Alliance. It is a right-wing party that emerged from the old heritage of the Fascist Party and has been sidelined from political life until late. Now under new leadership it has removed itself from Fascism and into the mainstream of Italian politics.
People
The people of Italy see themselves as descendants of the ancient Romans. Regional differences between Italians exist mainly because of geographical boundaries and of different cultural heritages. These heritage differences come from descendents of Normans and Greeks in the south and Germans, Franks, and Etruscans in the north. Most of the population is native born whom many identify themselves with a particular region of Italy. Regional individualities are evident by local dialects, holidays, festivals, songs, and regional cuisine. Evident in all regions of Italy is the importance of family as a source of guidance and loyalty.
The overwhelming majority of the people speak Italian. Different accents are evident throughout the country with many based from various regions. German is spoken in parts of the north near the Austrian border. French is also spoken in the region that borders France in the northwest. Other minority languages that are generally in the south include Latin, Croatian, Slovene, and Greek. The dominant religion in Italy is Roman Catholicism which is the faith of eight four percent of the people. Other religious minorities include Protestant, Muslim, and Jewish.
Italian diets are also determined by regions and have many differences and few similarities. The two similarities are that the meals are generally a five course serving and wine is served at all meals. The differences begin at the figurative "Ancona Wall" which seperates the north from the south.
Diet
Southern diets consist strong spicy ingredients. Pasta, either lasagne or spaghetti, is the main part of each meal. The meals are prepared using simple cooking methods and the pasta is served with vegetables and fish. Anchovies, tuna, and blue fin are commonly used. When red meat is used it is mutton, goat, and pork all of which are of high quality. Cheese is an important part of the diet which is made from sheep and goat milk. Deserts are made from grains, nuts, and local cheeses from the regions.
The north has a much different diet which has more of a sweet and sour taste. A variety of cuisines are available that are prepared in an assortment of ways. A traditional meal has five servings; soup, pasta, meat, salad, desert with bread and wine served for each serving. Meat is the main part of the meal which can be beef, lamb, hare, dear, chicken, duck, and wild game. Each region in the north has a specialty pizza and more beer is consumed in the north. Also
breads and soups are more predominant in the north with bread being served at all meals.
Turkey
Geography
Turkey is located in southwestern Asia. It is divided into seven geographical regions: Marmara, Aegean, Mediterranean, Southeastern, Eastern, Black Sea, and Central Anatolia. Turkey’s 65 million people live in a country slightly larger than Texas.
The total area of Turkey is approximately 800,000 sq km, which makes it one of the biggest countries in Europe and the Middle East. Even though 4% of the land is farmland, 36,000 sq km of this land is irrigated. Turkey has many natural resources, they include: antimony, coal, chromium, mercury, copper, borate, sulfur, and iron ore.
The elevation of Turkey rises from west towards the east and stabilizes at around 800 m above sea level in the Central Anatolian Plateau. Its highest elevation is at Mount Ararat (5166m) and its lowest is at the Mediterranean Sea (0m). The terrain is mostly mountains and highlands with some narrow strips of lowland in the west.
It is common to experience each of the four seasons on the same day in some part of Turkey. During the spring months the tourists bask in the Mediterranean sunshine of the south, while on the mountain tops above people are skiing. The Black Sea regions glistens under spring rains while the Southeastern Anatolia are still under a blanket of snow. There are great variations in temperature and precipitation in Turkey. In addition, Turkey is known for have very severe earthquakes.
Economy
The economy of Turkey has a mix of modern industry and traditional village agriculture and crafts. Turkey’s economy is the 16th largest in the world, and the strongest in the Balkans, Central Asia and the Middle East, with an average growth rate of 5% over the last 30 years. The potential for future growth in Turkey is promising, because Turkey is one of a few countries with which the United States has a trade surplus with.
The economy has transformed from a predominantly agricultural one to one in which industries and services are the most productive and rapidly growing sectors. Until about 1950 the state played the leading role in industrialization, emerging industries were protected by tariff barriers and foreign investment was discouraged. There has been low foreign investment in Turkey, because of the concerns of political and economic instability. During the 1980’s there were shifts in economic policy, which included the encouragement of foreign investment, the establishment of joint enterprises, and a major drive to increase exports. The government since then has continued to work on this problem by trying to implement economic and social security reform programs.
Turkey’s major industry and largest export is textiles and clothing. Turkey’s budget consists of $45.2 billion in revenues and $66.7 billion in expenditures. The composition of GDP by sector is agriculture 18%, industry 29%, and services 53%. The labor force consists of about 23.8 million people, and of those people 45.8 % work in agriculture, 33.7% in services, and 20.5% in industry. The unemployment rate is 7.3%. Turkey’s agricultural products consist of tobacco, grain, cotton, olives, sugar beets, livestock, and citrus fruit. The industries of Turkey include textiles, food processing, autos, mining, steel, petroleum, construction, lumber, and paper. Turkey’s major trading partner is Germany with 21% of their exports going to them and 14% of their imports coming from Germany. The currency of Turkey is the Turkish lira with 1 US dollar equaling 545,584 liras.
Government
The government of Turkey is that of parliamentary democracy, with its territory and nation, is an indivisible entity. The Turkish Grand National Assembly is basically the Parliament, and its members are elected by all citizens over 19 years of age. A president is then elected by the TGNA from among its members. The president serves for one seven year term and is supposed to be above politics and symbolize the nation. However some recent presidents have informally expanded the powers of the office and at times have been accused of having used the office with partisan effect. The president is the head of the state and has executive powers and responsibilities. The actual head of the government is the prime minister; this person decides its policies and directions of the government. The prime minister is appointed by the president, and is usually the head of the majority party.
Although the Turks are definite believers in democracy, the tradition of popular rule and responsibility is somewhat short. Multiparty democracy came into effect only after World War II. Turkey became a republic with Kemal Ataturk as the first president. Ataturk secularized the Turkish society, reducing the dominant role of Islam. After Ataturk’s death in 1938, a multiparty system and parliamentary government started to take place in Turkey, even though there were times of instability and brief periods of military rule. In 1980, a military government was established, and this stopped steps towards anarchy and improved the economy. In 1982, a new constitution was drafted and approved by 91.5% of the voters.
According to Turkey’s Constitution, all citizens have the right to vote, to be elected, to take part in political activities independently or within a political party. The Constitution states that people elected to Parliament do not only represent their own beliefs and those who elected them, but also the nation as a whole. In order to be elected to the Turkish Grand National Assembly, one must be a Turkish citizen, have completed primary education, not have been sentenced to prison totaling one year or more of heavy imprisonment. They also must not have been convicted of dishonorable offenses, such as embezzlement, corruption, bribery, and fraud. These TGNA elections are held every five years.
People
Turkey has a population of about 65 million people, and of those 65 million about 80 percent are Turks and 20 percent are Kurds. Of those 65 million people about 82 percent of them are literate to the Turkish, Kurdish, or Arabic language. The life expectancy of a citizen of Turkey is about 73 years. The birthrate in Turkey is 2.47 children per woman.
The Turks as they are known come from central Asia. They roamed over a vast region that today lies as Siberia, Western China, Kazakhstan, and some other ex-republics of the USSR. These people found the Middle East to be much more pleasant than the cold steppes of Central Asia. The Kurds are the minority in Turkey, and the Kurdish language is banned in education and all broadcasts. The largest concentration of Kurds is in Southeastern Anatolia.
There is also a small amount of Turkish Jews that were expelled from Spain in 1492. These people will also speak the language of Judeo-Espanola. Although Turkish Jews are fully integrated into Turkish society, they still have a strong sense of their ethnic identity. The citizens of Turkey today do not come from only one ethnic group, however the ancestors of today’s Turks come from many different places and cultures.
About 98 percent of all citizens of Turkey are Muslims. There government claims that they are a secular state with freedom of religion, however the Islamic religion plays a very important role in society. The other 2% consists of Christians and Jews. Members of large families are often quite loyal to the family, for example in many rural areas the family still decides whom one shall marry.
Diet
It has been said that there are three major kinds of cuisine that exist in the world and along with Chinese and French, the list includes Turkish. Turkish cuisine is said to be that of very pure quality. The variety and simplicity of the recipes along with quality of ingredients make the Turkish cuisine very appetizing to many people.
People of Turkey usually eat about three meals a day starting off with a light breakfast around 7 a.m. Lunch is usually served around midday, and supper is served at about 7 p.m. Supper is the major meal of the day where the family sits down and eats together. The Turkish cuisine consists of a tray of small dishes that include stuffed vine leaves and salad; it also includes a shish kebab grilled on a skewer. White beans are considered a national food eaten by nearly every person of Turkey. Meat is often grilled, and the choice of Turks for meat is that of lamb. Another item that is considered a delicacy by most Turks is a dolma, and a dolma is a combination of rice, pine nuts, currants, spices, and herbs that are all tightly wrapped in leaves of cabbage. The national drink of Turkey is raki, which is a clear grape brandy. Turkish coffee called kahve is usually served with nearly every meal. Eating habits vary with the region, however traditionally food is eaten with the fingers. The unique cuisine of Turkey is a very important aspect of the Turkish culture.
Products for Export
Egypt will be exporting a dessert basket to India. India will use the basket to retail in hotel chains, as well as, in their restaurants. I will be getting a basket and then order and put certain desserts in the baskets as they are requested. This will allow the baskets to be personalized for each order, but may be bulk ordered to receive quantity discounts. To produce these baskets I will utilize the following sites and shipping rates.
Basket:
The Basket Peddler
www.thebasketpeddler.com
P.O. Box 44514
Rio Rancho, NM 87174-4514
Rectangle HH $3/basket
Shipping: $0-100 $20
$100-500 $25
$500-up $35
Shipped to Cairo, Egypt
Desserts:
www.tasteofegypt
price range: $9.99-$27.99
Items available (vacuum packed):
Baklava
Kataifi
Basbussa
Hareesa
Frisca
Shipping: $0-40 $10
$40-up $25
Shipped to Cairo, Egypt
www.mezzebymail.com
price range: $15-$50
Items available:
Desert Sampler
Complete Gift Basket
Shipping: $0-100 $10
$100-up $35
Shipped to Cairo, Egypt
Complete Product:
Price range: $50-150
Shipping:
From: FedEx
Egypt Express
Phone: 202 2687888
To: FedEx
Barakhamba Road
New Dehlo – 110001
Phone: 91-11-3738431
Italy will be exporting a boxed set of wines to South Korea. The case of wines will be sold in the duty free store at the new Incheon International Airport in South Korea. We chose this location because of the amount of people that travel through the airport each day. We feel that are wine case will appeal to a wide range of people because of its variety of wines and it is priced reasonably enough that the majority of people in the airport can afford it. The mixed case contains six bottles of classic Italian wines ranging from white to reds. These wines are from various regions throughout Italy and each bottle can be traces back to the vineyard where the grapes were produced. This will be a major benefit to the sale of our product.
The case will contain
We will be marking up the product by ten to fifteen percent that gives a final price at E75.00, which will be charged in the duty free store at the airport.
Wine Web site
Seeing that the Mediterranean desk is always thinking about helping everyone out, we are going to start up a web site that will allow all of the other desks to market their products to a wider array of people. We will base the company out of Italy. There is a wine warehouse there that will allow us to have no added shipping for our product. We charge desks $150/month/product to place a page on our website. This way we are guaranteed some income to cover overhead costs. Each desk will be responsible for shipping us the product upon demand via overnight mail. They we be responsible for all shipping charges. We will then mark up the product an additional 5% and ship it to the buyer via overnight shipping with Fed Ex. These prices will vary greatly according to destination, size, and weight. A complete shipping price grid will be available for viewing on our website. As our web-base increases we will act as an assembly plant for all of the consumers desires. We can get basket sites and well as individual products from each desk. Then as the buyer wishes, we can assemble the basket that meets all of their needs.
Our initial costs:
Website: Yahoo.com allows us to acquire web space at a relative cheap rate. With improved technology, this price varies, but an estimate is $20-30 a month.
Over time we will be able to add more options, but we think this would be the most value-added product available on the market.
Products for Import
The Mediterranean desk will only be importing one thing. Turkey and Egypt are very poor and not too many countries are looking to import to them. Italy although is quite wealthy. Italy is interested in high-quality special cuts of meat.
Italy will be importing the exotic meat basket from Hong Kong. The basket will be shipped into Milan international airport by a carier to be determined. The packages will be handled and distributed through a large chain of grocery stores in northern Italy. The chain is called Ipercoop and they are a full service grocery store that carries a wide range of products in addition to food items. They have stores in most of the larger cities in Italy but we will be focusing on the stores in the northern part of the country. The total price that will include shipping and handling of the baskets is still being determined between Hong Kong and Italy.
Italy will be importing the exotic meat basket from Hong Kong, which will cost US $70 ($78.18 EUR, 151,382.30 ITL). The basket contains a variety of meats ranging from wild duck, snake, rabbit, and kangaroo. We are focusing are imports on specialty meats do to the scare of disease in beef in Europe. Fed Ex from Hong Kong will ship the basket into Milan international airport at a rate of US $15 ($16.75 EUR, 32,439.07 ITL). The packages will then be handled and distributed through a large chain of grocery stores in northern Italy. The chain is named Ipercoop and they are a full service grocery store that carries a wide range of products in addition to food items. Once the product reaches Italy, Ipercoop will take it to their warehouse and distribute the baskets in the stores throughout the northern part of the country. They are a vertically integrated chain of stores so they handle most of their own shipping and distributing of their products. They have stores in most of the larger cities in Italy but we will be focusing on the stores in the northern part of the country. We will focus are marketing efforts in the north because they have a higher income and they consume more meat products than does the south. The total price will be around US $105 ($117 EUR, 227,060.36 ITL), which does include the cost of the meat basket, shipping and handling and a mark-up, which is roughly fifteen percent.