What is Myanmar's family life like?

Answer 1

Infomation on Myanmar

Religion

About 85 percent of Myanmar's people belong to the Theravada school of Buddhism. Buddhism, which teaches that people can find happiness only by freeing themselves of worldly desires, strongly influences family and community life. Other religious groups in Myanmar include Christians, Hindus, and Muslims.

From: http://worldbookonline.com/

Government

Myanmar is divided into 14 large administrative units. They consist of 7 divisions and 7 states. The divisions are inhabited chiefly by Myanmar's largest ethnic group, the Burmans. Other ethnic groups live mainly in the states. The divisions and states are divided into many smaller units. Each unit of local government is directed by a Peace and Development Council of military, civil, and police commanders.

From: http://worldbookonline.com/

Education

Most of Myanmar's people aged 15 or older can read and write. Myanmar law requires children from 5 through 10 years old to attend school. The government claims to offer free education from kindergarten through the university level, but education beyond elementary school is available only in the larger towns and cities. Major universities are in Yangon and Mandalay. Myanmar also has numerous colleges and technical schools.

From: http://worldbookonline.com/

Food

The people of Myanmar eat rice with almost every meal. The rice is often flavored with chili peppers. Fish or vegetables may also be added. The Burmese like fish, shrimp, and chicken but rarely eat beef or other red meats. Seafood and meat seasonings include onions, garlic, ginger, and ngapi, a sharp paste made from preserved fish or shrimp. The Burmese also like bananas, citrus fruits, and Southeast Asian fruits called durians.

From: http://worldbookonline.com/

Clothing

Most Burmese men wear a traditional sarong referred to as a "longyi" with a western-style shirt. Women wear a similar outfit comprising a sarong with matching top called eingyi. Men wear a turban or a gaung-baung for formal occasions. Men and women wear simple leather thongs on their feet. Women may wear rubies, sapphires, jade and pearls. This jewelery is regarded as a form of investment. Most Burmese business people, however, will wear a western-style suit or shirt and tie when dealing with foreigners.

From: http://www.countryreports.org/

Values of money

Myanmar is the country that travelers believe deliver the most for their money! Even more than Thailand! Most Myanmar guesthouses, hotels and Myanmar travel agency quote prices in US dollars. These places usually accept kyat, but at a slightly disadvantageous rate (say Myanmar money K 1000 to each US$ 1, rather than K 950). If you're counting pennies, bring lots of small US dollar bills-ones, fives and 10s- and use them to pay for your hotel in Myanmar. Many Myanmar hotels, shops and Myanmar government ferry clerks are reluctant to give change in foreign currency and instead offer Myanmar kyat (you'll lose a little in the conversion). Myanmar Government-run services (such as Myanmar archaeological sites, Myanmar (Burma) museums and ferries)and flights are paid for in US dollars or FEC - not euros; in some cases you may be able to beg to pay in kyat (at a slightly worse Myanmar exchange rate than on the street), but Myanmar airlines tend to accept dollars only. Items such as meals, Myanmar bus tickets, trishaw or Myanmar taxi rides, bottles of water and Myanmar market items are usually quoted in Kyat.

From: http://guideformyanmar.com

Language

The Burmese or Myanmar script developed from the Mon script, which was adapted from a southern Indian script during the 8th century. The earliest known inscriptions in the Burmese script date from the 11th century. Type of writing system: syllabic alphabet - each letter has an inherent vowel [a]. Other vowels sounds are indicated using separate letters or diacritics which appear above, below, in front of, after or around the consonant. The rounded appearance of letters is a result of the use of palm leaves as the traditional writing material. Straight lines would have torn the leaves. The Burmese name for the script is ca-lonh 'round script'. Burmese is a tonal language with three main tones (high, low and creaky) and two other tones (stopped and reduced). The tones are indicates in writing using diacritics or special letters.

From: http://www.omniglot.com/writing/burmese.htm

Customs

In Myanmar, the customs procedures are provided in the Sea Customs Act and Land Customs Act. The tariff law was enacted on March 12, 1992 with a view to assisting the market economic system in order to facilitate external trade. In accordance with the Law, a notification was issued to regulate the classification of imported goods and assessment of duties. For modernization and standardization, in line with international practice, the Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System (HS) was introduced in April 1992.

From: http://www.aseansec.org/14294.htm

Shelter