News & Events

Norfolk Academy launches its fifth Maymester program this spring, giving Upper School students unique opportunities to cap their sophomore and junior years. This program offers an array of experiential learning, internships, and international travel. The goal is that through their exploration, students will gain new interests and a better understanding of these many various topics.

This blog will be updated regularly during Maymester, with information shared by both students and teachers.

Friday, May 22

France Maymester: Today marked our day of arrival for the NA in France Maymester! We landed at Charles deGaulle airport this morning. From the airport, we boarded a bus with our driver Yannick and made our way to Caen in Normandy. The last half of the day, we were able to take in not only the sights on the drive from the airport to Caen, but also the many different wonders surrounding our hotel. On the drive, we noticed several things such as seemingly boundless fields, silo shaped figures, and graffiti covering walls bordering the roads. On our walk after dinner, we saw the beautiful church of Saint-Pierre next to the castle of William the Conqueror, from which we saw a spectacular view of the church.

Saturday, May 23

France: After breakfast at our hotel, we traveled to honor our fallen soldiers at the American Cemetery in Colleville-sur-Mer. It was peaceful there just as it was at our next stop, Omaha Beach, the site of a lot of turmoil on D-Day. We also visited Pointe-du-Hoc where we saw deep holes left by bombs, several bunkers, and the steep cliffs that soldiers notoriously climbed up. After a picnic lunch near William the Conqueror's cathedral in Bauyeux, we explored the town, walked into the cathedral, and enjoyed ice cream. We made our way to La Ferme de Billy to explore an apple orchard and learn from Olivier, whose family has owned the farm since the 1850s.

Sunday, May 24

Spain: Since we woke up in Virginia on Saturday morning, we have taken an NA bus to Dulles, flown to Madrid, taken an express bus to Madrid-Atocha train station, explored Madrid all day (including viewing Pablo Picasso's famous and enormous painting Guernica), ridden the subway back to Madrid-Atocha, ridden a 3-hour train to Antequera station, near Ronda, and ridden a 1-hour bus to Ronda, where our host families met us. We are so grateful to be here!

France: Today was our last morning in Normandy, and we left our hotel and headed to the World War II Museum in Caen. We had a guided tour with Oliver, who explained events leading up to the war and all of the tragedies and heroic tales of the war. We watched a film where we saw photos and clips of soldiers during the war. It was interesting learning about how the people in France were affected by the War. We also learned that France was split into two for a majority of the war. Then we had free time to explore other parts of the museum, including what happened after WWII, like the Cold War. Then we hopped back on the bus for our final journey to Neuilly-sur-Seine. We had a bit of down time before walking over to St. Dominique to check out where our corres’s go to school. Everyone is excited to reunite with their corres tomorrow!

Peru: Yesterday morning, following our arrival in Ollantaytambo, we were given the privilege of engaging in a cultural experience through listening to local stories and learning about their practices. Most notably, we were taken to a native’s house who demonstrated to us how they preserve their indigenous methods of cooking and lighting fires, along with feeding their guinea pigs. Through this experience we learned that their continued native practices demonstrate the resilience and strength within communities, a very admirable notion. Afterwards, we safely arrived in Aguas Calientes, had a great dinner as a group, and prepared for our morning at Machu Picchu. Each day has brought engaging and educational cultural experiences and has only left us wanting to learn more. Pachamama!!!

Greece: On our first day in Athens, we visited one of the most well-known aspects of the city, the Acropolis. We learned about the Theatre of Dionysos, the temple of Nike, the temple of Athena, and the Parthenon. After this, we went off to eat lunch. Once we regrouped, we visited the National Archaeological Museum. Finally, we ended the day with a wonderful meal together at Exarcheia! Along with the learning, we also got to know each other more and it was a great start to our trip!

Monday, May 25

Italy: We started today early in the morning, with fresh breakfast and delicious coffee around a market and piazza. From the outside, the piazza looked like a typical Italian spot, as it once was a spot of execution and Pompey’s theater, but was filled with rich history and meaningful shops. After breakfast, we walked around the market and piazza and tried to spot areas of visible and invisible architecture and history, specifically remnants of Pompey’s theater. After this, we walked around the market for a bit and investigated the array of touristy items sold by the vendors. Next, we explored a stunning park overlooking the city complete with orange trees. It is somewhat of a local spot, so there was an interesting mixture of locals and tourists where we saw the leisurely Italian culture. Then we headed into the church of Santa Sabina, which was next to the park. It was one of the first churches after the legalization of Christianity in Rome. After having a quick lunch, we headed to San Clemente, a church built on numerous layers of other churches. The top floor, which was unfortunately undergoing renovations at the time of our visit, was built in the 15th century on top of a 6th century church built around an earlier church, which was on top of a Roman building that served as a meeting place for the cult of Methaisas. After the tour we went back to the houses and took a break before dinner. We enjoyed the authentic Italian food. With each turn we took on our walks, a new part of history was revealed. Alongside this, today was a gelato-filled peek into the layers of Rome.

Greece Maymester spent part of the holiday weekend exploring the Acropolis grounds and learning about Greek artifacts at the National Archaeology Museum. Students also took an early ferry to the island of Aegina, where they visited the Temple of Aphaia (and a pistachio farm; Aegina is famous for its pistachio exports). There also was time in Athens for a tour of the Ancient Agora and a fun ceramics workshop.

Spain: This morning with my family was relaxed, for the most part. I had yogurt with fruit and coffee for breakfast, and the majority of the group ate bread with butter or jam. After I walked 15 minutes to the center of the city, and I crossed the most famous bridge in Ronda! The walk was wonderful, the views from the city were incredible. We began our walking tour of Ronda by looking at a famous bull fighting museum and we walked through a beautiful park. We walked all through the old and new parts of the city, and we walked  up and down many, many stairs. After all the walking and the tour a few of us went to one of the best churro places in the city. It was delicious! After, we all walked back to our houses and we ate lunch with our families. I was surprised at how long families in Spain have for lunch, my family was home for two and a half hours before they returned to school and work. - Ellie

Peru: Yesterday, we woke up in Aguas Calientes with an adventure to Machu Picchu ahead of us. After packing our bags once again, we were guided to a huge line that was for boarding a bus that would take us to the historic site. After boarding the bus, we started our journey through the huge mountains that towered over us, and soon enough we began to climb. Round and round we went up, until we made it to the top. Our adventure there was something that I will never forget. Our tour guide, Norma, explained many stories, myths, and legends surrounding the history of the Incas who lived at Machu Picchu. We then were able to be able to take pictures and hike for a little before, as a group, decided to return back to the bus to take us back to Aguas Calientes. We met up with our small separated group, and we then went to lunch. And since I have been here, I have been able to maintain a full conversation with the waitresses and many other people throughout the town. Even small conversations with the people has helped me improve immensely on my Spanish, and I find it so amazing that the people are so happy and welcoming to teach and converse. Following lunch, we grabbed our extra luggage, and made our way back to the train that would take us back to Ollantaytambo, ("O-town").

France: Today we toured Paris, seeing all the city of light had to offer. First, we took a bus down to a river cruise on the Seine, on the way passing through the distinct and beautiful architecture of Paris. Every building had something unique and beautiful to offer, something insightful compared to the cookie cutter designs we see all too frequently in the USA. While on the river boat, we saw the most famous sights of Paris, from the Notre Dame to the Eiffel Tower. Just as everybody took about a thousand pictures of said tower, we began the trek to climb it to the top. From the Eiffel Tower, you could see all of Paris from Neuilly to the Champs-Elysées, which to say the least was pretty cool. After this, we hitched a ride on a train to the streets and markets of Saint Germaine, set loose to see what there was to offer. After a long day of exploring the beauty of Paris, we trained back to the hotel to meet our host families. 

Tuesday, May 26

This morning, all of the Norfolk Academy France students were invited to share a breakfast in the courtyard of the French school, St. Dominique. After reuniting with our individual correspondents the night before, the breakfast served to reunite the students and teachers together. We were welcomed by the faculty of the school, who kindly provided us and our correspondents with a breakfast of different types of croissants and drinks. After attending classes, we were free to experience how students at St. Dominique typically spend their lunch break. With a longer lunch break compared to NA, the French students often leave campus to purchase food in the surrounding areas. Many NA students were taken to bakeries, selling foods such as croissants, cake, and sandwiches. Some students ate away from campus while others returned. After lunch, the NA students visited Sainte-Chapelle. Fun Fact from Sainte-Chapelle (A Gothic style royal chapel): All of the statues that line the walls carry a cross on a circle to remind the viewer that the building has been consecrated.

Peru officially conquered our first day in Calca without having to think about packing up for our next destination - yay! To recap: we made it from Lima to Cusco on Saturday evening and then packed right up to head to Ollantaytambo to drop our luggage and catch our train to Aguas Calientes on Sunday.  Monday, we spent the morning in Aguas Calientes and Machu Picchu and then took the train back to Ollantaytambo for a much more relaxed afternoon and evening. We quickly packed up from there again this morning, though, and made our way to Calca.

After a long day of traveling, London Maymester arrived and started our day at Burough Market. After we explored the different offerings at the market, we walked across Tower Bridge. Finally, we went to the Tower of London and spent two hours exploring the rich history it has to offer.

Italy: We began our day with a productive ethnographic discussion with our partners. We then went to the Catacombs of St. Sebastian and St. Calixtus, where we learned about the history of the Roman persecutions of Christians and connected them to our ethnographic themes. We also took an observant stroll along the Appian Way, the first road to be constructed in Rome, and discussed its cultural significance in relation to its contemporary use. From there, we rode a bus to a local pizza spot (so local in fact that they did not have an English menu). Our trusty legs carried us to an aqueduct park, where we enjoyed a beautiful view lit by the heat of the blazing Italian sun. We observed the divine skill that went into this work that fueled the entire metropolitan of Rome. 

Spain is in Ronda, where all the activities are taking place completely in the Spanish language.: Today was an amazing day! The day started with the larger group splitting into smaller groups to participate in different unique activities. Group A went to leather working, where they learned how to work with leather through creating handmade bracelets. Group B went to yoga, where they were able to relax after the fast speed of the days so far during our travels. The experiences were amazing. After these group-specific events we rejoined as a group and went to the Museum of Ronda and learned about the Arabic influence on the culture of Ronda, especially in the architecture of the Palace of Mondragón. Spanish class at Entrelenguas was a little different than the day before. We were split into three different groups, where we each engaged in various activities. The two of us were in the same group, where we shared conversations about traveling and our experiences with other Maymesters as well as trips with friends and family. To end the school day, we played Taboo. It was challenging, but fun when collaborating with teammates. Finally, we headed back to each of our host families for dinner at 9 PM. It was a great day. - Lola and Oscar

Wednesday, May 27

England: Another great day in the UK! On Day 2, we visited Westminster Abbey and were able to see the history of monarchs in Great Britain. After that, we headed to Saint Paul's Cathedral and climbed more than 1,400 stairs and completed a guided tour. After the tour, we crossed the Millennium Bridge to get to the Tate Modern Museum.

France: Yesterday was a long day, full of walking but also full of beautiful art and great views. Everyone met at St. Do and we were out before we knew it. We started off with the Louvre, which was bigger than most of us expected, and Mrs. Moore provided us with information on many famous pieces. We stopped by Venus De Milo, Winged Victory of Samothrace, and the Mona Lisa, to name a few. Afterwards, we took the metro to L’Arc de Triomphe, or Arch of Triumph, and got to climb the 32 floor high spiral staircase and see Paris from the top! It was a wonderful view where we could see a star of roads extending into the city with an informative history lesson courtesy of Mr. Warsaw. We spent a few hours free on Champs-Élysées, visiting famous shops and restaurants, before taking the metro to the Musée D’Orsay, an incredible building that was once a train station and is now a contemporary art museum. We saw famous statues, plenty of paintings, and again Mrs. Moore was helpful in our understanding of Impressionism and Neo-Impressionists. Although long and exhausting, our day was definitely spent with purpose and energy.

Italy began today with a visit to the Basilica of St. Peter in Chains, where we observed the church’s historical and religious significance before we crossed the Tiber River into Trastevere. Once in Trastevere, we ate breakfast while discussing our ethnographic topics. As we explored Trastevere, we began to observe how tourism affects heritage and culture in Rome. One of the most interesting moments of the day was interviewing the owner of a restaurant called Bobo’s, which displayed a sign reading, “We are against war and tourist menus.” The second half of the sign directly connected to our ethnographic focus for the day. The owner explained that tourism does not fundamentally affect or damage Roman and Italian heritage, but rather expresses it in different ways, some positive and some negative. He gave the example of a customer once asking him to make carbonara with cream, which he refused to do because it went against the authentic dish. However, he also explained that restaurant owners occasionally make small adjustments to satisfy tourists, while still being fully capable of preparing dishes in the traditional Roman way for locals or visitors seeking authenticity. According to him, the culture is so deeply rooted that tourism cannot erase it.

Spain: Today we woke up earlier than usual and went to the bus station so that we could drive to Sierra de las Nieves National Park. When we got there, we split into two groups for different activities. For our first activity, we learned how to make compasses with water, a magnet, a piece of cork, and a needle. Then, we went orienteering around the park. Finally, we were given bags to put flowers and herbs in. Our second activity was a walk around the park. We learned about the wildlife and watched a video about what it’s like to live in the national park. For the second part of our day, we returned back to our host families' houses and ate lunch with them. Then we had our class at Entrelenguas where we each had different discussions about vacations, personalities, and new vocabulary.

Greece: On Day 5 of Greece we started by leaving Athens at 8 in the morning. We drove towards Corinth and stopped by a cool temple and a couple archeological sites on the way. When we arrived in Nafplio we took a boat to a castle on a little island then had dinner and walked around.

Thursday, May 28

Greece: Good evening from Nafplio! The students explored almost all that Athens had to offer and we wrapped up our time with a more relaxing day yesterday in Sunio and visiting Lake Vouliagmeni. This morning we traveled to the Peloponnese through Corinth. We spent the day exploring two active archaeological sites around Corinth in addition to exploring Ancient Corinth and seeing the exhibit we digitally curated from Norfolk last month. We continued our journey into the Peloponnese and arrived in Nafplio.

France: This morning, the NA students reunited in the courtyard of the St. Dominique School after staying at the house of their correspondent. First, we rode the metro through Paris and visited the Notre Dame Cathedral. After a short wait in line, the NA students were able to walk through the cathedral. We got the opportunity to view both the outside’s famous gothic architecture and inside of the cathedral, seeing parts such as the Rose Window and Great Organ. After the Cathedral of Notre Dame, we boarded the metro again to visit the Paris Opera Garnier. In the Opera building, we had a guided tour to highlight the importance of each room and design choice. We first saw the Grand Staircase, and learned about the types of materials used in the construction. After walking through the building, we saw the Grand Foyer, and its high ceilings and golden designs. Then, we had the amazing opportunity to view the auditorium itself, learning the history of Napoleon III along with it. After the opera house, we visited the Galeries Lafayette. We were free to explore the shopping center and eat lunch. We shopped for some time, then were given the chance to visit the Printemps shopping center or stay at the Galeries Lafayette. After, we rode the metro back to St. Dominique to return to our correspondents.

Italy: The overarching theme of today was Bologna: Food as a System. Bologna is known as the food mecca of Italy. We know the English word bologna; however, this comes from the Italian city which we visited today! We began by taking the metro and then a two-hour long train ride to the city. From there we met up with Franco. He is a native Italian who went to the same university as Dr. Phelps. He helped to guide us through the streets and understand the history behind the city and its rich culture. We took a lunch break where we tried the region’s most renowned dishes like tortellini and mortadella. After lunch, we were given the opportunity to interview Franco on his own perspective and knowledge on our themes for the final Maymester project. Then we looked through the marketplace and shopping district. Finally we took the train and metro back to our apartments and had a short break before we went on our way to dinner.

England: Our day took us to Windsor Castle, The Churchill War room, and some great views from the London eye and river cruise.

Spain: Today was our 4th day in Ronda. We all visited a local school called IES Dr. Rodríguez Delgado de Ronda. After we arrived, we visited three English classes with students ranging from 12 to 14 years old. We practiced our Spanish while also helping them practice their English. We discussed cultural differences and slang while doing activities such as two truths and a lie and discussing different topics. Our linguistic exchange ended around 3:15 and from there we went to Entrelenguas for Spanish class. After another successful class at Entrelenguas, all of us students ate dinner at restaurant that overlooked el puente (the bridge). A very successful day!

Friday, May 29

Greece took a day trip to Mycenae, where we visited the treasury of Atreus. We then ventured back to Nafplio for lunch and free time before a group walk to our cooking class. In our cooking class we worked together to create our appetizer, dinner, and dessert. 

Italy: While enjoying our last day in Rome, we educated ourselves on the idea of difficult heritage. Our group first went to the breakfast cafe down the street to get a good start to the day. We enjoyed coffee and pastries and then set out to meet the rest of the group at the Altar of the Father Land. Our history lesson explained how this piece of architecture was a symbol of Nationalism and Mussolini's role in growing its fame. Our group continued through the sales market to the column of Marcus Aeralius. This man was a philosopher king who created a column that showed a story of his conquest in picture form. He then dedicated this column to his predecessor, Antineas Pius, which showed who he was as a person. After viewing this incredible statue, we made our way through the streets of Rome and to the Jewish Ghetto. Here, we further explored the history of their living conditions and how the Nazi invasion affected their lives as Italians. This was closely by Tiber Island, which was used as a hospital and quarantine location at the time of the plague. Exiting the island, we ventured up the hill to arrive at the most beautiful view in all of Rome. There, we sat in a park and reviewed our information with our ethnographic partners. Finally, we ended with some shopping down the incredible cobblestone roads of Rome and arrived home in the later evening.

France: Today in Paris was such a fun day. In the morning, we went on a food tour and stopped at different cafés to try all kinds of local treats. We ate buttery croissants, warm waffles, tasted coffee and rich hot chocolate, sampled cheese, and even tried real Parisian baguettes. After that, we went to Montmartre for a walking tour through the city, exploring the charming streets and learning more about the area. Before heading to the church at the top, we stopped for ice cream, then made our way up to see the beautiful Sacré-Cœur Basilica and take in the amazing views of the city.

Spain: Today was a fun day in the city. First, we started at a leather-making class with our teacher, Francisco. We learned different ways of imprinting and polishing bracelets. That was interesting, and we ended up making some of our own. Later in the day, we went to the Arab baths on the outskirts of the city to look at the architecture and the history of Ronda. It was cool to see how the Arabs came up with their systems for heating rooms and cold baths. It definitely was one of the coolest things we have done so far, in my opinion. The last Entrelenguas class was bittersweet, but we couldn’t have done as much as we have so far on this trip without them, so I’m grateful for their help. We played Spanish trivia games and had a little competition of Group A vs. Group B that was fun. Overall, it was a fun day despite the blistering heat we had! - Brody

Peru: Today we took a trip to Amara. It's in the middle of Pisac and is one of six communities built within the mountains. It's here in Amaru, 13,000 feet above sea level, that we were introduced to the entire textile-making process.

Saturday, May 30

Spain: Today was our first full free day on the trip. Fortunately for us, we got to experience the Ronda Romántica festival. There were different vendors, such as jewelry, food, clothes, etc, and performances all throughout the park. There were many parades in the streets where people would walk through in costume and play music. Me and my friends walked around the park and the main pedestrian street all day, shopping, getting food, and watching performances. Today was a great day! - Elizabeth

Greece went to the best-preserved theatre dedicated to Asclepius( the god of healing). We did a little acting and script reading and then continued to the rest of the archeological site. We saw an old running stadium and the complex in the sanctuary of Asclepius. Also, in the site we saw a Tholos that was a dedication to asklepios and the abaton. This is where the sickly people would come to get treatment. After that we got back on the bus to go to frachthi cave where we had a picnic for lunch. After exploring the cave, we drove back to nafplio for about 2 hours of free time before getting a tour of the town of nafplio by Dr. Levin. The students' favorite part of the day was climbing the 907 steps up to the palomides castle and swimming in the refreshing water at the beach.

Sunday, May 31

England had a fully loaded tour of both the British Museum and Wimbledon! We ended our day at Covent Garden with a great dinner and shopping. 

Hello from Galaxidi! Greece has enjoyed our time in Nafplio exploring the town, taking a day trip to Mycenae, and participating in a cooking class. Today we began our bus trip heading to Ancient Olympia, exploring the site, before continuing towards Galaxidi. We will visit Delphi and enjoy a group dinner on the coast before heading back to Athens.

Spain: We woke up early to catch the bus to Granada, a small city in southern Spain known for its historical architecture. In Granada, we first visited the Alhambra, which was constructed in the late 13th century by the Arabs and served as the palace for the sultan. There we saw the garden, known as the Generalife, and finally we saw the palace itself. After leaving the Alhambra, we received a short tour of Granada. After eating lunch with Ivan, Oscar and I (Andrew) went to two churches, The Granada Cathedral and la Iglesia Parroquial del Sagrario. We spent an hour in the Granada Cathedral. It was beautiful and also large.

Italy: Carissa - Today’s tasks, tending to the farm animals and crafting traditional Italian dishes like pizza and pasta, demonstrated the memory of tradition through cuisine and cultural heritage. We are working on a sustainable farm, which is a relatively new concept, however this farm continues to produce traditional exports: wine and olive oil. This, consequently, means that they have had to expand upon or rehash completely traditional Italian farming techniques, in some sense erasing them. However, these new efficiencies lead to a more effective and economical way of nourishing those parts of Italian culture which it does sustain. Therefore, we have discovered that there is a delicate balance within the maintenance of tradition, as opposed to the ever increasing demands of modernity.

Monday, June 1

Today, the England ladies went to Blenheim Palace (Winston Churchill's birthplace) and Bampton (Downton Abbey), while the gentlemen ventured to Stonehenge and Bath (Roman Baths). 

Italy: Today we participated in an olive oil tasting, where we sampled several of Le Tolfe’s olive oils in order of increasing intensity. We also tasted an oil from a previous harvest and one from another manufacturer, which helped highlight how factors like age and production methods can influence an oil’s flavor. We learned about the differences between mass production market olive oils and carefully produced low yield extra virgin olive oils. We talked about how proper home storage can help with the longevity of an olive oil’s flavor and quality, and why the expiration date can be somewhat misleading. While olive oil does gradually lose freshness and some of the antioxidants that contribute to its distinct taste, it does not suddenly become unsafe to consume. Exposure to sunlight, heat, and oxygen accelerates this process, which is why careful home storage is important.

France: Today, we started in the Fondation Louis Vuitton, where we toured the building and learned about the structure/architecture. After that, we visited the Basilique of Saint Denis where many French Kings and Queens are buried. Finally, we ended the day with a tour of Stade de France. We had a fun tour guide who taught us a lot. For example, that the roof of the Stade is heavier than the Eiffel Tower. Overall, it was a great way to spend our last day in France.

Greece: Today we visited ancient Delphi, one of the most prominent civilizations of antiquity. We first began in the museum, getting an up-close look at the statues and architecture. Then we hiked up the site to look at the ruins, view, and ancient stadium. We then had free time in the modern town of Delphi to eat lunch and explore. After that, we drove to an olive grove where we did a soap making workshop. We also did an olive oil and honey tasting which was delicious. Once we got back to the town we’re staying in, Galixidi, we again had free time before a farewell dinner. 

Spain: Helen and Henry - Today was our final day in Ronda. We visited the Museo Joaquín Peinado, an art museum. The museum contains a majority of Peinado’s paintings along with a collection from modern artists. Peinado was a Ronda artist who is known for his prominent work in the Neo-Cubism movement. After the art museum, we had a surprise at Entrelenguas, the school we have been attending throughout the week. Andrew K. and Ivan’s host mom, Milagros, made us an authentically Spanish dish, paella. Paella contains rice, either meat or fish, vegetables and a variety of spices. This surprise was a great way to end our time with Entrelenguas! We have had a fun time in Ronda, trying new foods, embracing the Spanish culture, and creating new friendships and memories!

Tuesday, June 2

England: We finally experienced real British weather today. Great tours at both The Globe and Tower Bridge, before shopping in Notting Hill & Oxford Street. 

Spain: Oscar - I enjoyed getting to go to the Prado art museum. I had gotten to connect deeply about art with my host mom, who works at an art museum that focuses on Hieronymous Bosch and is a photographer. She told me about the art in the Prado and gave me a list of the most important pieces I should make sure to see. It was cool to see these paintings in real life, especially after having learned so much from her. 

Wednesday, June 3

Italy: Emma - Since today is our last full day, everyone worked on reviewing their insights from Tuscany and finishing their ethnographic projects. For our project, which was food and authenticity, we looked over the notes from our interview with Mania, the woman who runs the farm itself. She gave us great information about the soil and plants. For example, she said that grape vines and olives can only grow in Tuscany because the plants are hardy enough to withstand the dry soil. Therefore, Tuscany is known for its wine and olive oil. With this, we were able to see how different regions can only grow certain plants, forcing each region to have different traditions and cultures with the food that grows there.