Hold on to your space seats, because the story time U.F.O. is back at it again, zapping fresh stories straight from the mothership into your inbox! 🛸 If you’ve been following my blog or my ShachemLieuw YouTube channel for a while, you probably already know I’ve been deep-diving into learning Mandarin and exploring more about my Chinese heritage. Well, my latest mission involved signing up for a wood seal carving class, and I liked it so much that I’ve officially decided to purchase a wood seal carving kit and turn this into a permanent hobby! 🧰✍️ Fun plot twist: we didn't actually work with real wood. We got to practice on erasers! But it was still super fun learning all the traditional carving techniques. (For those wondering, the Chinese carving knife used for this is called an intou or bidao —often referred to as an iron pen or a graver!) The class went pretty in-depth about the history of seal carving in China. Historically, seals (or chops) served as powerful credential...
Strolling Through Paramaribo: Gold, Culture, and UFO Deliveries
Strolling Through Paramaribo: Gold, Culture, and UFO Deliveries
Imagine waking up, checking your inbox, and finding that a flying saucer has quietly beamed a brand-new adventure right onto your screen. No aliens trying to probe your brain—just the Story Time U.F.O. dropping fresh tales straight to your digital doorstep.
Today, our cosmic vessel is taking a scenic detour right through the heart of Paramaribo. If you are tagging along on this digital walk, lace up your most comfortable shoes because we are soaking in the sights, the history, and the unmistakable local love for a certain shiny metal. Of course, blending my alien self in among the locals as we stroll down the sidewalk is easy—just nod, look at a jewelry window, and try not to let your extra set of invisible arms twitch in public.
Passing the Glitz: Surinamese Gold Fever
As we wander down the vibrant, sun-drenched streets of Paramaribo, you will notice one thing almost immediately: jewelry shops are everywhere.
You cannot walk more than a few blocks without passing a sparkling window display filled with intricate chains, rings, and bangles. Surinamese people love gold. It is a staple of fashion, culture, and celebration here. And there is a very good reason for that enthusiasm—our country is rich in the stuff. Suriname mines gold actively, making it a major part of our national economy and a brilliant thread woven into everyday life.
A Historic Landmark: Kong Ngie Tong Sang
Continuing our stroll, we make our way toward one of the most culturally significant spots in the city: Kong Ngie Tong Sang.
The Landmark: This stands as the oldest Chinese building and federation in Suriname, representing centuries of heritage, community resilience, and cultural integration.
The Significance: Established generations ago, the federation has long served as a vital social and cultural anchor for the Chinese-Surinamese community, reflecting the rich multicultural mosaic that makes Suriname so unique.
Standing before the historic architecture, you can truly feel the layers of stories embedded in the bricks of Paramaribo. And speaking of stories, the U.F.O. is already circling back around for the next drop. For now, enjoy this Paramaribo vlog.
🛸 Ready for the Next Beam-Up?
Make sure your inbox is ready to catch the next delivery from the Story Time U.F.O. before it flies off again!
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