Daily Diversity Drops

Music by folk_acoustic from Pixabay

Special thanks to all those who actively contributed to this initiative!

Each dot represents a fact about a country or region, showcasing the rich tapestry of cultures, histories, and quirks that connect us globally. Click on a dot to explore and learn something new about a place that one of us calls home or finds inspiring.

From 2025 MPH Cohort from JHU-BSPH

🌍 Diversity Drops 🌏

António Bandeira

Count: 10

This interactive map is a compilation of unique and fascinating facts shared by our diverse 2025 MPH cohort at Johns Hopkins University.

Ayushi Gupta

🇮🇳 India 🇮🇳

India, a veritable kaleidoscope of cultures, is home to the ancient and exquisite game of Pachisi, a pastime dating back nearly two millennia. This ancestral board game, originating in the grand courts of the Mughal emperors and forerunner to the globally beloved game Ludo, is a quintessentially Indian creation. It deftly combines chance, strategy, and jugglery in ways that still captivate millions across continents, reflecting India’s intricate history of intellectual pursuits and regal leisure! 🎲✨"

Michelle Luengas Lozano

🇨🇴 Colombia 🇨🇴

Hi everyone! One of the things I love most about my country is the beauty that is found in its biodiversity. One in ten species of animals can be found in Colombia, and it is home to most of the world’s species of butterflies, orchids, and birds 🦜. The world’s tallest palm trees are also found here in the Valley of Cócora, and I’ve included a picture of when I visited! We are also the world’s top exporter of emeralds, producing about 70-90% of the world’s supply. Some honorable mentions from Colombia include: our delicious coffee, Shakira (💃), and our love of music, specifically our creation of Vallenato, which is a music genre using the sound of the accordion and meaning “born in the valley”.

George Selali Blewusi

🇬🇭 Ghana 🇬🇭

Discover Ghana: A Land of Wonders, Heritage, and Beauty. Ghana is a rich trove of culture, natural beauty, and resources . Ghana's beauty is breathtaking, from the ancient Larabanga Mosque to the stunning Wli Waterfalls and the exhilarating Kakum Canopy Walkway. Ghana, formerly known as the Gold Coast, is Africa's largest gold exporter and boasts a wealth of resources such as bauxite, manganese, and oil. Our cocoa farms satisfy the world's chocolate cravings, and shea butter, one of the best natural moisturizers, is a must-have. If you're unfamiliar with these treasures, it's time to pack your bags and discover them for yourself—perhaps after that biostats exam? (Just kidding, sort of😃) History buffs will feel a strong connection at Cape Coast and Elmina Castle, where Ghana's deep cultural and historical roots come to life. From the stories of early sailors to the reasons why Ghana was a trade hub, every corner of this land has a story waiting to be told. Ghanaians are known for their exceptional hospitality. Whether you're relaxing at serene resorts along the Volta River, marveling at the fearless interactions at Paga Crocodile Pond 🐊 , or simply enjoying our people's warm smiles, you'll feel right at ease. Even the smallest wonders, such as a vibrant butterfly 🦋 resting in a forest, contribute to the magic that is Ghana. This is my home country, Ghana 🇬🇭-a place of pride, joy, and never-ending discovery. If you haven't been there yet, you're missing out on something amazing. Don't simply take my word for it. Come and see for yourself!"

António Bandeira

🇵🇹 Portugal 🇵🇹

"Portugal has its own unique music genre—Fado. This soulful style, often accompanied by the distinctive Portuguese guitar and a classical guitar, expresses themes of longing, love, and nostalgia. Recognized by UNESCO as part of the world’s intangible cultural heritage, Fado holds a special place in Portuguese culture. 🎶💔 The first “Queen of Fado” was Amália Rodrigues, and you can listen to her iconic piece here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1YriVM8sC7M Contemporary artists add a modern touch to Fado while staying true to its roots. Check out Mariza’s rendition here: https://youtu.be/-sze5rpbklM?si=KlwQYK3MSjzlUiJi

Waikit Fung, Anthony Li, Axby

🇸🇬 Singapore 🇸🇬

Here are some surprising/interesting facts about our home, Singapore: 🌿 It’s a City in a Garden: Nearly 50% of Singapore’s land is covered by greenery, and it is home to over 300 parks and 4 nature reserves, making it one of the greenest urban spaces globally. 🗣️ Four Official Languages, but actually we use Singlish lah: Singapore has four official languages: English, Malay, Mandarin, and Tamil (come test us!). But all Singaporeans speak Singlish, a colorful creole language that mixes English with Malay, Tamil, Hokkien, and Cantonese. It's widely used in informal settings and reflects the nation's linguistic diversity. 🥘 A National Obsession with Hawker Centers: Singapore’s hawker (street food) culture was recognized by UNESCO as part of its Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2020. Hawker centers serve affordable, multicultural street food, often in open-air venues. (many Singaporeans can’t cook, us 3 included, probably coz good and affordable food are always available!) 💊 Public Health (our predecessors wear big shoes!):⁠ ⁠3-4% GDP spent on healthcare (one of the lowest);⁠ ⁠⁠1.5 death per 1000 livebirths (one of lowest IMR);⁠ ⁠⁠84 years old (one of the highest life expectancy);⁠ ⁠⁠Universal Health Coverage ✔️;⁠ ⁠⁠Robotic surgery is actually common Think you know Singapore? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2DQ4arfP-ls&ab_channel=VisitSingapore Singapore is a microcosm of the world’s cultures, where its unique position at the crossroads of trade and history has shaped a harmonious blend of traditions, languages, and flavors into everyday life. Simple joys—like a meal at the hawker center or a stroll through the park—are part of what makes it home. With lots of Singlish lah,

Kehwalla Mutia

🇨🇲 Cameroon 🇨🇲

Cameroon is usually described as "Africa in miniature" because of its geographic, cultural, linguistic, and gastronomic diversity. Home to legendary soccer player Samuel Eto'o Fils and All time UFC Heavyweight Champion Francis Ngannou, we have have a lot to be proud about. For today, I will focus on the gastronomic diversity. The founding fathers of Cameroon must have had such gastronomic intelligence, because the nation is home to such a variety of dishes. In reality, if you ever visited Cameroon, you can be served a different meal everyday for 60 days and you still would not have exhausted all the meals we have - and this excludes rice and pasta (because we do not count those as original Cameroonian meals). Not only is there such variety, but there is gastronomic quantity as well!! The land is extremely fertile and we are able to grow all kinds of food in large quantities. There's always so much to choose from and so much quantity to eat as well. So basically, you can't say you have eaten real food if you haven't visited Cameroon... 🤭🤭🤭 https://youtu.be/WMUrN2w1c8Y?si=L1uZCXosq_GNi68J In case it may seem surreal, here is a link to a video of 45 Cameroonian meals, which barely scratches the surface.

Maya Demby

🇸🇱 Sierra Leone 🇸🇱

For today’s drop, I wanted to highlight my family’s country of Sierra Leone! Sierra Leone is home to one of the world’s largest populations of wild chimpanzees! The country’s Gola Rainforest National Park is a critical habitat for these endangered primates. This forest is part of a transboundary conservation effort between Sierra Leone and Liberia, and it helps protect not only chimpanzees but also many other species of flora and fauna, making it a biodiversity hotspot in West Africa. I’ve included a video of my visit to a chimpanzee sanctuary in Freetown in 2022 🐒🐒🐒"

Vaishnavi Arote

🇮🇳 India 🇮🇳

India has a rich and diverse tradition of classical dance forms, with each style carrying its own history and cultural significance. From the graceful movements of Bharatnatyam in the South to the expressive storytelling of Kathak in the North, each dance form beautifully blends mythology with regional traditions. Bharatnatyam has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember, and I’m excited to share a bit of it with you all. The dance is all about rhythm, storytelling, and grace. I’ve attached a picture of me in the attire. Hope you enjoy!

Daniel Arteaga

🇨🇺 Cuba 🇨🇺

Everyone who knows me knows I’m genuinely proud to be Latin American. I love my people and culture, so today, my diversity drop is about Latin America. But it is not going to be about Colombia (as much as I want to do it). Today, I’m going to focus on the Caribbean. All the Caribbean islands and countries are gorgeous, and I know @⁨Kriston Clarke MPH USA⁩ agrees with me. And it makes sense because Latin America and the Caribbean have three things in common: good music and parties, great food, and beautiful people. But specifically, today’s prompt is about Cuba. Here are some interesting facts about Cuba: ⁠Largest island in the Caribbean;⁠ ⁠⁠Cuba’s literacy is almost 100%, which makes it one of the highest in the world;⁠ ⁠⁠Its healthcare system is globally recognized because of its high accessibility; The doctor-to-patient ratio is almost three times higher than the U.S;⁠ ⁠⁠It’s located where the Atlantic Ocean, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Caribbean Sea meet, which makes its beaches one of the warmest with high marine biodiversity;⁠ ⁠⁠The Viñales Valley is a UNESCO World Heritage site Cuba is, without a doubt, a fantastic country. But the most important reason for this prompt is to tell everyone that today, December 3rd, we Latin Americans are celebrating the PANAMERICAN DOCTOR DAY. We celebrate this day commemorating Dr. Carlos Juan Finlay, a Cuban doctor who was formed in Europe and was not recognized later by his country as a physician. He came to the U.S. and studied epidemiology at the Medical College in Philadelphia. In his time, the US army was struggling with the high loss of soldiers due to yellow fever. In 1881, he made one of the most significant discoveries in human history: AEDES AEGYPTI. I know that most of us have heard about this mosquito. He proved this mosquito to be the vector of the virus responsible for Yellow Fever, which later led to further studies and prevention measures for this infectious disease and even later for other infectious diseases related to this vector. So, I want to take advantage of this day to celebrate a happy Panamerican Doctor’s Day with all my colleagues, not only with Latin Americans and physicians. But with all of us pursuing a career whose primary purpose is to contribute to the health of others. At the end. Dr. Carlos Finlay is a PUBLIC HEALTH success. Every single one of you is excellent, and we should celebrate as one this day.

Daniel Arteaga

🇨🇴 Colombia 🇨🇴

It’s me again, but today, my prompt is about Colombia. I wanted to wait until today because today is one of our most important days and maybe the most culturally representative. Today, we celebrate “Día de las Velitas,” the Candle Day. It is a beautiful day when all the families get together and light candles in the street in front of every house, so imagine your city's streets lit with candles. That happens in every single city and town in my country today, it is really magical, I’ll leave you some pictures later. Even the ski is illuminated with globes and fireworks. It has a religious background where Catholics lit a candle for “la Virgen Maria.” However, I would explain the cultural meaning rather than only the religious one. The main reason we light up a candle is to say THANK YOU. We give thanks for our family, for what we have, and for the learnings we have gathered through the year. And then we ask for something; we ask for health, economic wealth, academic and professional success, whatever you want. I want to ask for peace in my country. Colombia has suffered an inner war for a very long time ago, all related to drug war and corruption. Rural families have been killed and displaced to the major cities with no resources to pay for food or somewhere to sleep because of terrorists and the government fighting over the land. And yes, both of them have been responsible, but I won't get that deep not to get too political. But if you are interested, ask me, and I’ll tell you the story of the drug war in Colombia, which, of course, has been deeply influenced by the US. I also want to ask for peace in every part of the world. I know that many of us are hurt by the issues taking place right now. Our people are getting killed because of differences when, in the end, we are all one heart living on this planet. I wish all of them to be resolved and for peace and prosperity in our countries. If you want to ask for something, light up a candle and ask for it. I also wanted to share this with you because, particularly today, I miss my country and my family. But I'm deeply grateful for the opportunity to be here with you and get to know so many beautiful people, cultures, traditions, and ways of thinking. You are all great, and big things are coming to everyone! Don't ever forget that For your information, if you have seen the Disney movie Encanto, you have seen both the people being forced to move because of war (that's how the movie starts) and the tradition of lighting a candle. Feliz día de las velitas para todos!