A5ia: Iinterviewed a 65 year old woman. She has been doing exercise for 50 years, and she is doing so well. She used to walk two miles every day. She walks as fast as she can, and she says that keeps her very active and with a lot of energy. Trigihda Gahan

Barbados: In my country it is customary for older and younger people to have a kitchen garden where they grow fresh fruits and vegetables. If an older person does not have enough land for gardening, they work for larger plantations, cutting sugar cane or picking fruits; and for the people that are not so active, they care for the cattle or pick weeds between the crops. For the elderly overcome with arthritis and diabetes, a walk to school with their grandchildren, then housekeeping duties, such as cooking and cleaning are on the menu of daily activities. The people in my country are very particular as to what they eat. Most of the food is fresh and not cured or frozen with chemicals. Candis Glasgow

Caribbean: The key to fitness and longevity in a tropical and mountainous country is to have a diet mostly of rice, beans, fowl, fruits and vegetables, with a moderate intake of red meats salt and fat. Sleeping six hours per day and walking fourteen kilometers to and from work will increase optimum health. Most of all, do not drink alcohol or smoke cigarettes. Nancy Barbier

Central American Heritage: Mrs. Battle is my neighbor. She is 78yrs old. She is very active and independent. Every morning around nine o'clock, she goes to the YWCA for her swimming lessons and dance classes. She says that she absolutely enjoys her life now. She also,admits that when she was younger her life was not this active. She has learned to eat properly through counseling. She advises anyone to start a proper diet and participate in any activities of their choice. "Keep reading: the brain also needs exercise. Keep smiling: it is good for the soul". She said that all these things keep her feeling alive and well. "I have just begun to enjoy my life, and I love it". Lisa Watler

China : In my city Najing, China we have a type of exercise called chi. Chi brings fluid to the body in each meridian and it's circulation in 24hr cycle, and has many passways that run through major nerves and blood vessels. In my city people believe that they should circulate the chi following the sun rise, and the energy will make the body warm and hot. The people also believe that if they exercise the chi every morning, it will cure some diseases, maintain health and increase longevity. Ling Feng

China: In my native country, China, we have a type of exercise called chi. Chi brings fluid to the body in each meridian and circulation in 24 hours cycle and has many passways that run through major nerves and blood vessels. In my city people believe that they should circulate the chi following the sunrise, and the energy will make the body warm and hot. The people also believe that if they exercise the chi every morning it will cure some diseases, maintain health and increase longevity. Ling Tong

China: Taijiquan is a kind of traditional Chinese shadow boxing. This exercise has to be done very slowly which is very good for elderly people. Every morning in China a lot of Chinese elderly people, especially the retired people, like to go to parks and clubs to do Taijiquan. There are voluntary instructors in some of the places to teach them how to do it. This exercise can increase blood circulation and improve the respiratory system. Some people say Taijiquan can increase endurance and muscle strength also. Some of the young people like to do this exercise also because one of its benefits is that it makes people fit. Yan Xiong Huang
Qflna Tak Fan Chang, is an 80yr old woman who is my mother's friend. She was, retired from'a garment factory 5 yrs ago. She takes good care of herself, does housework for her daughter, does daily exercises, and sleeps 9 hrs everyday. Her favorite foods are vegetables, fish and chicken soup. Her entertainment is playing marjung with friends. Last year she traveled to Hong Kong and Venezuela by herself. Ms. Chang's long life secret is optimism. She never thinks she is too old to do anything. I cannot believe that this woman was diagnosed as having uterine cancer in her late 30's and was told by the doctor that she would only live for 6mos. But she has challenged the professional diagnosis throughout these 40 years, and has made a wonder out of her life. Ying Tu

Colombia: Colombian culture consists of an extended family. Grandparents are an important family component. They help raise the grandchildren and continue to be active members within the family 'til the end. They keep fit by working in the garden and doing things around the house. Most elderly women knit and crochet as a favorite pastime. Carmen Ligia yarse

Colombia: The Hispanic culture has been changed through the years Twenty years ago in my country (Colombia) most of the families were big with nine to twelve or more members. But today it is a big change, most families have members of five. However, the family has togetherness which is the major factor of the traditional hispanic culture. Bastoto Valincia

Colombia: Life in Central & South American countries is much slower paced than in the United States. Weather is from the low 60' degrees to high 100'. Most elderly people either have their own homes and live with a family member or live with their children. Unless the person is very ill/bedridden be/she continues to be an active member in the household. Most people have a garden and a backyard and here the elders actively work. They also are a very important part in raising grandchildren which is a form of good exercise. Most of the elderly I know do worry but they really do not overact; they know how to handle stress. They say that faith in God helps them live through an), difficulties. Life in Colombia is not rushed, and the elderly are always kept at home where they are best cared for. One exercise most women do in Colombia when they stay home is laundry by hand, This I feel is a good example of upper extremity exercise. There are no washing machines for the poor. Livia Aragon

Colombia: My grandfather who is 80 yrs old says, "The best way of keeping good health is working". He is a retired contractor, but he still does private jobs for friends. Ivan Lopez

LLila: I was bom in Cuba. I have very fond memories of my childhood. We lived in a very large house with my grandparents from my mother's side and my great grandparents from my mother's side also. My great grandfather lived to be 100 yrs old and lived at home with us until his death. My great grandmother lived to be 85 and also remained at home until her death. I believe an important contributing factor to their longevity was being part of an extended family which provided love, support, and caring until the end. Other factors related to their longevity were more healthful foods and less pollution in that environment. Annie Cruz

Lulla Mariano Socarras is an 89yr old Cuban man. He has great determination and spirit. He will be married for 50yrs. to the same woman who is 87yrs old. He is very active. He travels on NY subways and buses. He walks a lot also. He says that a good family life, a good nutritous diet and exercise have helped him come this far. He watches his health and at the sign of any possible illness goes to get medical attention, He does not smoke or drink. I hope when I reach that age (if I live that long) that I'll be as healthy as he. Tanya E. Orfiz

Dominican Republic: In theDominican Republic the people who live longer are the people who live in the country where there is no contamination of the environment. They eat fresh food, not processed. They walk long distances every day to go to work, to go shopping or to visit some relatives. On weekends they ride horses to go to another town where there is some kind of recreation such as a baseball game. Examples of the benefits of living in the country are my grandfather who died when he was I I I years old, and my grandmother who died at 104 yews old. Floralba Ozovia

Ecuador: In South America, in Ecuador there is a place, a city called Ambato. Within Ambato there is a place called Banos where there are pools which contain water from the mountains. This water is enriched with minerals. People go there to take baths, and also to drink the water for their health. It is believed to be highly beneficial for arthritis, and other diseases. It is also referred to as the fountain of youth because those who reside there live very long, even more than a hundred. The air is also very pure due to the altitude. It is not a very warm climate, maintaining about 40 degrees F. 50 degrees F.

Eguador: In my country, Equador, the elderly keep themselves fit more by working hard in the mountains than any other form of exercise. In the more industrialized cities, new gyms are being built, but it is youth who attends them. Equadorian elderly are known to live long lives (within the country) because during their whole life they have worked hard in mountain grounds and worked and continue working in planting their crops and gardens. And at old age they prefer the mountain life they are so accustomed to, than life in the city where things are done for them by their relatives and family. This is at least what happens in my family; and we're proud of having my aunt who is presently 107 years old and doing great. Rosalba Zambrano

France: My grandmother is sixty five years old and is still in good shape. Her name is Marie Louise Caurant, and she is of French descent. My grandmother believes that the secret to living a long and healthy life is to keep active, and eat well. She likes to keep herself as busy as possible. If she is not cooking or cleaning her house, she is outside taking a walk, riding her bicycle, or gardening in her backyard. She said that she does not have a set exercise program. The only exercise that she does is walking and bicycle riding to increase her cardiovascular system. My grandmother does not believe in depriving herself from eating whatever she wants to eat. In general, she eats a little bit of everything she likes except not in excess quantity. She also watches out for foods that are high in grease, salt, fats and cholesterol. Basically, my grandmother likes to be able to do her own thing. She is a very independent woman who cares a lot about her body and soul. She said that you have to enjoy life to the fullest in order to live long without letting too much stress get in the way. Another thing that my grandmother said was that family and friends are very important in staying healthy and active. Claudine Munoz

German: Heritage My grandparents on my mother's side are both German by nationality, but were born here in America. My grandparents are over 70yrs. of age. They are farmers. They attribute their good health to hard work and good eating habits. By being farmers they have to get up early, and work hard long hours. They also have access to lots of home grown vegetables to eat. Their work entails lots of bending, kneeling and walking. Fred Ludwig

Guyana: As you know aging is supposed to be a healthy, relaxing and enjoyable process.. Well it was indeed a great time for my grandfather during his life time. He was lovingly cared for. He had aitention from both his wife & children. He was a healthy man. He said that a healthly environment, good food, clean air, and plenty of sunshine keeps one healthy and strong. He also believed in natural things like herbs for medication. Drinks made from fresh fruits, natural harvest products,'contributed to his good health. He used hot water on a sprain for pain, coconut oil for massaging and a hard floor for back pain, or he'd have one of his grandchildren do a walking massage on his back. He was also very active. Since he was a farmer, he would walk a few miles to his farm. At his farm he would be doing some bed rowings and light hoeing which helps his range of motion and cardiac output. Tatree Narain
Guyana Guyana, formerly British Guiana is a tropical country situated on the North Eastern Coast of South America. The population consists of East Indians, Africans, Europeans, Chinese, Portuguese and Native Indians. The average lifespan is around 85 to 90 years. One of the most important reasons for this lifespan lies in the activities the people are involved in on a day to day basis, The majority of the people do farming or mining in the Bauxite Industry. In some areas farming is done on a large scale whereas in other areas mixed gardening is done. The elderly people participate actively in this type of gardening. They use natural manure from cows, goats and sheep to fertilize their crops. This reduces the effects residual chemical fertilizers have on the human body. They also spend a lot of time with their grandchildren because they tend to live in the extended family. Walking also is the second most important means of getting from one point to another. These activities kept them very active. It is not very surprising that a country with just over one million people has only one nursing home. Most of the elderly people are taken care of by their children or grandchildren. Ramchandr Singh Kundan

JLaW Haiti: and its people are still running down the path of evolution; the country's lifestyle is primitive. It is not easy for someone to confront the demands that possessing a car would impose on them; therefore, walking is considered a primary tool to get from one place to another. Since walking is an exercise among many Haitians, their cardiovascular system is good and they live longer. Lesly mompoint

Haiti: In Haiti in the country people do not retire early. They work until they die. Most of the time they are in good shape. People do a lot of gardening. They usually live for a long time and also the family keeps them at home until they die. In America, it is different, old people are put in nursing homes and are often left alone from the family. I think children should be closer to their parents when they are getting old. Roseline Limage

Haiti: In Haiti, people live longer in the suburban area. This longevity is particularly due to their lifestyle. Those peoplewho lack transportation, have to walk either to visit friends or to sell their products. By doing this exercise, which is walking, they breathe a fresh and pure air. They eat fresh food and fruit. This lifestyle keeps them healthy and makes them live longer than people living in the big cities. Gustave Jean Louis

Haiti: In my country people live longer for many reasons First of all, they don't use much transportation to visit relatives or even to make a trip. Therefore, they walk or use bicycles to maintain their life. Moreover, they do respect their eating habits. For example, they eat a lot of grains, fresh foods and vegetables. Finally, another factor that contributes to their longevity is the quality of air. Eveline Germain

1jaiLL Every country has its culture. Long term facilities do not exist in Haiti where I come from. The old people stay in their own homes or with kids where they keep themselves very active. Therefore, the majority of aged people in Haiti are physically and psychologically fit. They are valuable counselors for their families. The ones who live in their homes do housework and gardening The ones who live with children take care of the house like their own (very busy) and take care of the granchildren. The old back home walk a lot. They walk to go visit friends and children, to go to the farms, markets, rivers, etc. It contributes to keeping their hearts in shape. The elderly woman in Haiti ties her waist for support to walk long distances. I believe this is one reason for conserving their good posture. They eat fresh food from their own gardens, no chemicals added. Genia I St Victor

JJaW In Haiti: the elders live very long. There are factors which I feel enable these individuals to live longer. One is that the elders live with their families. Therefore, there is happiness, joy, interests, and a lot of communication which have a great affect on life and longevity. Another factor is that,an elder can be eighty years old and still work. In other words working is a form of exercise for these people. A third factor is that Haiti is divided into many provinces, and the people tend to eat natural food which they grow themselves. They are not exposed to food that contains chemicals,* These are the reasons why I feel that the elders in Haiti live longer. There are elders who live up to 103 years old. Sahadia Dor

Haiti: Statistics prove that people in underdeveloped countries don't reach the age of 70 or 75. However, longevity in Haiti is over this average. That relies on different factors. First of all, Haitian people have a natural lifestyle because they eat a lot of fresh foods. They don't eat chemical products which can have side effects on their health. The sunshine is also another important element which provides a great deal of vitamin "D" which keeps the people's skin in good shape at old age. Although Haiti is an underdeveloped country, some people can live over 100 years old. My mother is 80 years old now and she is a very active person who can do anything by herself. The pure air that Haitian people breathe is also a good guarantee for their health. The water that they drink contributes and is a good factor that helps them to live. Kaneau St Fleur

Haiti: I was born and raised in Haiti. My grandmother and grandfather were farmers. They had many acres of land which contain all different types of plants and all kinds of animals. During my vacation from school, I would wake up very early in the morning to go help my grandparents plant different kinds of seeds and help pick up some food for the whole family. We did not have to go to the supermarket to buy our food. There was lots of walking involved when I was living in the country because not too many people have a car. The doctor's office, school, stores, and neighbors were very far away. Centia Fauecher

Haiti: In Haiti people wake up early in the morning. They walk miles away from their homes to go to their farms which keeps them very heal thy. Roselaure Eaugene

11AW: To understand Maxine Hong Kingston's story, one must experience growing up in America, a modernized country. I have been raised in America by parents who are natives of Haiti. Their physical quality of life index is greater than their American counterparts. Most Americans enjoy the gift of modernization which is also detrimental to their lives. The progress in transportation, for example, enables them to travel from one distance the the next within minutes. It, however, pollutes the air they breathe. Pollution can cause all kinds of disease which can affect the length of their lives. As the natives of Haiti do not have access to modern transportation they still enjoy their primitive life style. They have to get up early to commute from one place to the other, not by car, but by walking or horseback riding. These types of body movements facilitate their digestion. More importantly, the quality of the air they breathe is fresh and pure which is very advantageous to their health. What about the iood they consume? It is fresh and natural. They don't have access to chemical products and preservatives which could be detrimental to their lives. Therefore, they live longer than their American counterparts. Jeanne Suzc Augustin

Haitian: Culture A woman 81 years old shared the following with me. She had a very slow paced life style. The first thing she did every day was pray from her Bible. She had a regular meal plan of breakfast, lunch and dinner. She said that her family keeps her very busy. She has 3 children, 8 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren. She gets involved in family gatherings and enjoys holidays. She has a loving family atmosphere and is in good health. Michele Chery

Hispanic: Culture I have learned that exercise plus good nutrition are the best things for a healthy life. These are the ways which my grandmother lived for a long time. She grew up in a small city and spent her whole life working on a big farm, eating vegetables and doing exercise everyday, early in the morning and in the afternoon. She also didn't have any serious illnesses during her lifetime. She lived for 95yrs always with a happy healthy life without mental and physical diseases. Elba Rosario

ffispanec: Culture My grandmother.is a 77yr old and healthy woman. She loves to go out window shopping and go buy groceries that are needed for the house. She is a good wife and loves to take care of kids and especially her grandchildren. She wakes up early and does some work inside the house and likes sweeping outside in the backyard. My grandmother is a very lovable and very strong woman. Her name is Simforosa Valdejines.Luella V. DeOcampo
HOU 9 Kong Tak Fan Chang, an 80 year old woman, is my friend's mother. she was retired from' a garment factory five years ago. Now, in her daily life, she not only takes good care of herself, she also does housework for her daughter. She sleeps nine hours everyday and does exercises as "KungFu" in the morning; which requires her to breathe deeply and slowly & move her body and limbs for half of an hour. Her favorite foods are vegetables, fish and chicken soup. Her entertainment is to play ""Mav Jung" with friends. Last year she traveled to Hong Kong and Venezuela by herself. Ms. Chang's long life secret is optimism. She never thinks she is too old to so something that people think would only be done by young people. I can't believe this woman was diagnosed "uterus cancer" in her late 30's, and was told by the doctor that she could not live longer than a half year. But she has challenged the professional diagnosis through these 40 years, and has made a wonder out of her life. Ying Tu

India: Longevity means the lifespan of a human being. The factors that affect longevity are psychological and physiological changes within our body. It means growing older and dealing with loss. The older people in my generation lived to about ninety years of age. There lifestyles are somewhat different from the lifestyle of ours. They are very hardworking, usually working in the farms and raising cattle. Indra Persaud

Jndia: Aging is developmental. We all do not age suddenly but iCs a step by step process. The most important concept in aging is how we accept the changes that take place in our body. In India the concept of Aging and Longevity is governed by many factors. There are basically three distinct phases in one's life childhood, youth/middle age and old age. In childhood one problem is the birth rate being so high; there are so many children in one's family (the age differerice being hardly of one year) the mother's attention is diverted. She has to attend to all of them at the same time. These children if they are lively enough, pass through their childhood phase into young/middle age. This stage brings another set of problems which affect their lives directly. Poor income, hard labor, lack of sufficient Test, lack of nutritious food, and tension may lead them into worse habits. The last stage is the old age. These are grand old people who seem to never die. They have maintained a proper lifestyle from the beginning and hence have no problem with life. They have sufficient nutritious food, proper medication and keep themselves always active. They have learned to accept the changes in life. They are content with what they have. Based on the research done, it has been proven that it really does not (totally) matter what your status is, but what is your lifestyle. A good and healthy lifestyle can have a lot of effect on the longevity of life. Being healthy in mind, body and spirit is a very important factor. Anita Walter

.InAia: I would like to write about my family history. My father is 69 yrs old and my mother is 67yrs old. They have eight children. I am the youngest one. My daddy's parents died at the age of 80. Jessy Thomos

Ireland: My grandfather is a healthy 82 year old from the county of Ireland. He came from a farming family from the hills of Donegal. He told me that the physical exercise that he experienced on the farm would keep anybody fit. He was also active in sports, like playing Irish football for his town. Being outdoors and not having a means of transportation other than his legs, was the reason that he has a strong lower body. All the work around the farm is what kept him mobile and flexible. Charles Condren

Ireland: The elderly people of Ireland keep themselves physically fit by working on their farms or in their stores. They keep their minds active and alert by selling their products to the town. Many people of Ireland believe that because they are physically active their whole lives this helps them to live longer healthier lives. Donna Sprague
New York Ms. Smith is a 70yr old woman who has a cheerful disposition and a good physical appearance. She has been working as a physical therapy aide for 40yrs. Her comments as to why she remains fit and health: "I stay away from red meats and I keep myself very busy. I work 30hrs a week and I walk a lot. I do all my own chores, and take care of my dog, Snooker. In the morning I do stretch exercises which consist of ten bending down to touch my toes, and five lateral trunk bends to each side. I would like to do more exercises but my schedule does not allow it". Evelyn Piarro

North Carolina: My mother is 73 years old. She is now retired and living in North Carolina with my father. She attributes her long life to keeping busy. She had 10 children that she had to keep up with, while she also worked a full time job. My mother keeps herself busy even now in her garden and attending classes in typing and sewing. My mother said, "if you keep busy then you don't have time to really get old". A better way of saying it might be that you won't feel the aches and pain of' getting old. Sandra Barghen

North Carol' USA: Where I come from the elderly spend a lot of time on their farms. They do a lot of planting and growing their own crops. This type of activity keeps them in good shape. Cynthia Vick

North Carolina: In North Carolina for fitness the people down there do fanning, plowing, walking and eating health food to stay in good health. Patricia Hamilton

Philippines: My grandfather is 69 and a very strong and active man. He believes that the secret of longevity is being active, eating a well balanced diet and keeping busy at home. My grandfather's name is Rolando Zapata who was a former soldier in our country. I am very proud of him because he did our beautiful garden in our backyard. He is very artistic in gardening. He also grows fruits & vegetables. My parents are very happy that he grows things because that helps our budget. My grandfather told me that he doesn't want to sit all day long in front of the TV He does not eat fatty foods, but does eat fruits and vegetables. I always talk to him and he is my best friend at home. He gives me advice as to my health and I look up to him. He does want me to stop smoking. Richelle Zapata

Poland: In Poland people tend to have a different pattern of eating. Their cooking contains less fat. They consume lots of fruits and vegetables. Yolanda Ayala

Poland: The person I want to present lives in Poland. He is 66 years old, married and retired. He is healthy and he looks younger than he is. For all his life he was working as a driver. During long working hours he was physically inactive. He knew that this is unhealthy, so he paid attention to exercises. For many years he was exercising every morning for about 30 minutes. During the weekends (his days off) he was walking a lot in parks. For several years, when his children were still small, he was visiting with them in a forest where there was a special path to do different exercises. Every year he spent a month in the special place where he could have a different treatments to keep in good shape. Every year also, he Lakes a vacation in the mountains. He stays there each time two to three weeks. The purpose of being there is walking and climbing. He is a good example to follow for others. He was taking care of his health all the time. The effect he obtained (good health) proves that he did right. Garlinska Grazyna

Puerto Rico: Jose Morales is an 84 year old retired tobacco farmer and lives on the island of Puerto Rico. He spends his leisure time tending to his hobby; raising fighting roosters. This keeps him active throughout the whole day. He also finds time to walk about half a mile every morning to take care of his necessities for the day. For a man of his age he looks forward to each and everyday 0f hiS lifeJ o s e p h C h i n e a

Puerto Rico: In the comfortable, peaceful section of Barrio Maravillosa Este, located in the woods and mountains of Puerto Rico, grandmothers, grandfathers, and even the grandchildren arise with the rooster to do what generations have done to stay healthy. They tend their own garden where they grow their fruits and vegetables, feed and care for the animals bred for their meat. Three times a day meals are always served, containing vitamins and minerals for each growing part of the family. At the end of the day, enough rest is assured for the strength of a new start. Listening to the body's needs and recognizing how to serve it, is a giant step towards fitness and longevity. Maribell Sanchez

Puerto Rico: High in the mountains of Puerto Rico people rarely get sick. My mother's uncle lived up to 130 yrs, and his death was a result of old age not a disease. He did his own gardening, lived a stress free life in a clean atmosphere. there's no question that going back to Eden's way will surely take you a long way. Sally Aponte

Puerto Rico: In the Puerto Rican culture fitness is a very important factor in our lives. People in my culture stay fit by doing many things manually. Also fitness is met by eating many of the fruits and vegetables grown on the island. Lori Legaini

Puerto Rico: My grandmother Magdalena is 65yrs old. She was born in Puerto Rico in a small farming village which was very poor. She never attended school but worked the sugar cane fields and cooked and washed since she was 10yrs old. She came to this country in the late 1940's and worked in factories and sweatshops. Seven years ago she was diagnosed with cervical cancer and taken to Sloan Kettering Memorial Hospital where she was saved Today she is the homemaker and center of a small family. She is never still and could probably keep up with any one of us. She says "just work"; doing nothing makes you weak; work is exercise and exercise is healthy. I think that is excellent advice. David Calderon

Romania: In Romania, people did not have magazines or articles about living healthily, nor T.V. programs regarding the same issue, nor health clubs, spas or gyms, vitamins or proper medications. So the only thing they could rely on was a good diet. Even though food was very hard to procure due to the low economy, people still managed to eat healthy foods. The food was natural with no chemicals or preservatives. All the vegetables, fruits and most products were fresh or home canned. There were no frozen foods or fast foods. Even the fruit juices and jams were made at home. Ninety percent of the population was cooking and baking at home. Of course there were diseases among the population, but they tried to cure them by using homeopathic methods (fresh garlic for high blood pressure, carrots for loss of vision, lots of green vegetables, homemade diary products, and all kinds of herbal teas. Regarding exercise, walking was very often used (transportation was very bad, and cars were not so high in numbers, like in this country);. there was the use of the bicycle everyday to go to work; and people did gymnastics at home. In the country and villages it was a little bit different, because almost everybody was growing their own vegetables, fruits, cereals and meats (cows, sheep, pigs, poultry). There were very few automobiles (pollution was very low) and probably people were not so stressed as in big cities. The peasants (people in the villages) did not believe at all in medications, so the only cure for their health problems were homeopathic methods, and also, they had an expression "The more you work, the longer you live." Ruxandra Georgesco

Romania: I was born in Romania on a farm, and I am well aware of the daily life of the peasants and of their daily diet which helps them to have a healthy life until the end. First, the peasants have a very routine life without the stress of the respectable life of a big city like New York. They wake up early in the,morning and go to bed around 10:00 PM. They do a lot of physical work which keeps them fit physically. Their diet consists of fresh vegetables, dairy products and very little sugar. They enjoy fresh air and a natural life. Joan Buburirai

Russia: Every Russian has his or her own pet cure. Most involve vodka to make compresses for sore throats and glands, to mix with honey to soothe a cough, or to rub on the chest and back to relieve stiffness and rheumatism. Young nettles or burdock soaked for a week in vodka in a cool, dark place are the popular remedies for sciatica. At private markets you can buy all manner of seeds, leaves, dried flowers, bark and roots needed for the various brews that will keep the family healthy in the long winter months. Janice Ankner