Musica Popular Mexicana; 11

How many languages do you speak. French and how would I say hello in French English. You know how to say hello in Arabic. Tell me again how would I say hello with Algerian. Good. The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation in cooperation with UNICEF the United Nations Children's Fund presents. How do you say hello. A series of radio programs by Charles winter about children of the developing countries. How do you say hello today

from Algeria. Sami. Is in what country. What school do you go to. Is that interrupted Louis. And what do you study in your school. How will you shake your head in the middle are you in the middle with any brothers or sisters names.

Are you the eldest in the middle. Does that mean you're one two three or four. Second do you find with three sisters that you ever wish you had a brother. I wonder if you like one as much. If you had perhaps at some time but you wouldn't mind that. We have left the car and it's raining in Algiers is it customary for rain to fall in Algiers and Sammy. No it doesn't. Why is it falling today.

I don't think I don't know I think we have stopped the card because from the road just outside the city of Algiers we saw a huge dome structure. What is this building's on me. It's at the mall. A tombola tune. Yes it can. Whose tomb is it. A full game. I wanted to do peace. I feel to feel legis. And after that when she died she wanted to to be heard. In front of you and to do it would be fair. Near the villages. Yes. You said a king queen a queen because you called her she later were standing at the head of a flight of stairs going down underground. May we go inside the gun. Good lead on with your umbrella over our heads with you.

OK. It's almost like walking through a labyrinth are you going downstairs through two small openings not more than four feet high. We're in a large arched hallway walking into the darkness all we have with us for a lady is a small lantern and I might say that it's very dark and if truth were known very spooky the samea we have circled and circled inside this tomb and we're still not where we're going. Where are we finally going to end up. I want another lonely lonely lonely opening through a wall. Well done we go again. Sammy Sammy and I now in the very heart of this vast What is this room. What was the queen's names. You know

Petra. Yeah and the daughter of Cleopatra Yes. What time in history would this be. Well this is very ancient in that you said this was her grave I look around the room so I mean I can't see any coffin or any signs where is she. She is us. You mean that we are standing on top of the daughter of Cleopatra. No. And there is the floor. Yes. When I walk I shall walk a little more lightly I think. So I mean I have a question we still have this lantern with us. We came through seemingly hundreds of miles of passageway at that lantern blows out right now. Could you take me outside without the light. I know I'm free. And a lot later and very careful with it. We're back outside again in the rare Algerian rain. As I look at this gigantic rounded tune I think of the Egyptian pyramids though it's not as

big was Cleopatra's daughter buried here with great wealth as were the pharaohs in Egypt. No we never find out. You don't actually know if there might be riches buried in this tomb a time when we know that should you and I perhaps get a shovel and start digging. Your country is usually called Algeria. What is the full name of your country is republic and the other was one democratic popular. My French is rusty but not squeaky How's that. How large a country is Algeria how many people live in it. But millions. What is the capital city. I guess how many people has the capital when they

get a million so one twelfth of the country actually lives in your capital so they could you tell us where Algeria is not regain a country and gay. Oh OK so where is the Sahara itself. But as to the north of Algeria what S.. It was just listen to this sound for a moment. I wonder if you can guess what it is sunny I guess. What country are we in now. What is Algeria famous for the sea and the Mediterranean Sea and it's a hairy desert girls and boys. Listen to that sound once more.

Can you guess what it is. Sammy I tell them what we're hearing. So snow shoveling snow in Algeria not one would ever believe it. So I mean where are we going to do if you want to join our mountains in Algeria now that shows how little one can know about the world. I never knew there were mountains in Algeria how close are we to the city of Algiers. Would that be what about an hour away from the city. Yes. How high is this mountain. One thousand and eight miles. One day I need this meter is right. Are there other mountains in Algeria as well as Georgia. And it's OK. And you know more than fat God wanted us to her. Do you mean that there are mountains in the desert. Knowing that the NEA is that you're waving your hands at me. Do you mean north of the

desert or south of that has no effect. Do people stay in Algeria. Yes they do. Isn't that incredible. Do you ever have ice or ice skating. You know how often you have and well maybe with this cold weather you could freeze some water and try it. Yeah. I see snow all around me. I never thought to see it. So yeah have you ever had a snowball fight. You know what a snowball fight is you know I don't know. You pick up the snow. If you. Yes I know. Have you ever had a snowball fight. Yes. You want to have one now. You know thank you all. And. When you're not in school what do you do. Right. You work at

it you work at it. What does that mean preparation. Which one is one of Charles Dickens. Have you read the great hope the Great Expectations for example David Copperfield. Did you like David Copperfield. What about other English authors. Well Jane Eyre you know you've read some of Charles Dickens. You read some of the Bronte sisters. Anybody else Shakespeare What if you're going to

like what was the first when you said in French you said you went to the cinema. Do you like to see. Have you a favorite cinema star. Well he would be kind of agreeing with you about Elizabeth Taylor. I suppose if one mentions the name. Algiers one of the first things that people think of is the magic word. You know in the Casbah in the city of Algiers in the country of Algeria an

obvious and innocent question What is that. So this is really in the center of Algiers the city is around because I see what people would leave here mainly Algerians are there still Turkish people here. No. How is it that they have chosen to remain in the cab into the city. So you're going to continue in line here. Well here we are the girls and boys walk through this mysterious place in the heart. I mean I have stopped before one of the many restaurants in the cast but as I look inside it's

with tables and chairs it's very dark very dim and it's also filled with men sitting on the chairs by the tables but you know I don't see a single woman there. Why is that. Why don't they go out. But as I look down the street outside this restaurant I can see a woman there you just said she couldn't come out why is she there. Her veils. You mean the women can come out if there. Are other women veiled. Oh you mean that she belongs only to her parents or her husband if she's married and therefore she shows her face only to them. That a girl first. Where are they at when she's marriageable. All right Will you ever know

why not. In other words the younger generation the more modern ones are discarding the veils and the old custom is still there. I noticed that the women wear what looks like a white cloak over their dress. What is that. And do as well. Why would a woman with a black one of. The few women are not. For protection. So that she will not be talked to on the street for

example just before we leave this male filled restaurant that we're standing outside of. If I were to ask you to come inside with me could you come. With me you know if I were to say to you. Here is a glass of milk. Could you go on. Again the custom. Stroll through the twisting streets of the past all kinds of fruit and vegetable stalls just right. There's a butcher's stall and sitting on that table. Looks to me like an animal's head is that what it is. The head of a sheep. What's it doing there. Have you ever had it. What does it taste like. Would you recommend I should have

it before I leave Algiers. Yes maybe I should try it. I never cease to be amazed. As we walk through these twisting streets at the different ways the one we're in now is about 10 feet some are much smaller the streets actually get in the way. You mean turn sideways to walk down the street and take a deep breath so you're not too fat as you go I guess. Ever since we entered the chasm and have been walking through the streets we have been going. Well is there any reason for the chasm to be built on the Hill. Because they were always so against enemies these winding streets and hills where they could very easily defended position. We're trying to find them and it was difficult as I look around these streets that surround

us on every side. I would say to use North American terms this would be a great place for an Algerian game of Hide and Go Seek. You play hide and go seek and yes you will have a game in the chasm before the day is. Thank you. And now we start fee for two little boys really into very large pails with water from a plastic home. Is this the way water is obtained and that has. Got where these people come from but from up on top I mean if you lived in the cows you'd have to come down and pick up pails of water for your mother to cook with and wash with. You don't live in the Casbah. Were you one of the quieter and narrower streets that has by now and as you walk down and both sides there are doorways arches each one painted

at the top of this one right here is a tile. With an open hand on it. What's that for. What does that mean. Oh. You mean like me if I went to go through. I wondered as I walked through those streets. There have been many changes in the time since these places were built 400 years ago and maybe 400 years from now. As people how do you feel about that would you like to have. Better than that.

What was that you know you didn't say. But what do you say. I think. It's great. But you must know why you would like to go to a school with boys. Because it sounds like a very sensible idea to me. Thought. That sound of course is the sound of the Mediterranean Sea. Standing now

on the bay at Algiers. Which is the harbor of the city of Algiers and beautiful it is the city is rising behind us. Much like Vancouver or perhaps San Francisco for those of you who have seen those cities. Could you tell us a little bit about the history. Of your country. In the five So clearly there were Roman. And French. Who went after Ben and. Me. Too. And now you are Algerian. Yes. So I mean if I had more time and I'm sorry that I haven't. What other places could I visit in your country outside of the city of Algiers. You can visit. How much of the country does the Sahara take. No. No no you were figuring in the air with your finger again nine tenths of

Algeria is the Sahara Desert. Yes you mentioned that in your earliest history the Romans were here Are there any cities where one can see Roman ruins. Yes there are. Many. And so if I go looking for Roman things I go to the mosque. We stand beside the sea. I see ships in the harbor. Do you fish in Algeria. Yes we do. Do you get fish to eat. Yes. What kinds of fish would you eat. Oh I know you get octopus. What is an octopus taste like. It's very how do you cook an octopus. I fry you but you're an octopus sometimes. OK all right I'll be back. As we talk it occurs to me that our countries have at least one thing in common and that is that French is a common language and then I wonder if maybe by way of farewell

you would like to say something in French to the girls and boys in Canada who are learning to speak French or who can already speak French. He's back in limbo. But again. And for those girls and boys who aren't lucky enough to speak French yet what is that in English. I hope this is true. And you know our country. We are standing and Sammy is back yard because Sammy I mentioned in the car that she has the most interesting pets I've ever heard anybody tell the girls or boys what you have. So I mean. You have to because elves as pets what are their names and which is which is I look at them here is be sure the big one is

that he has the big one. Yes. As we stood here somebody just threw something into their cage. What was that a cigarette. And unless my eyes deceive me. Because ally has just leaned over and picked up that cigarette. Is he going to smoke it with you going to do with it. You mean they eat cigarettes. Yes. That isn't all either. What else do they. I mean. Right. So do many girls in your country have good sales for pets. Yes. Do they. Yes. All right have you anything else besides gives ALS. We have a good joke. And what I thought you said if you have good sales a cat. A dog. And fish.

It's a zoo and I should also mention that as we're talking over our heads are almost over our heads. I have never in my life stood under a lemon tree before. With such an attractive looking beautiful. Thank you very much. Cooperation. We'd like to thank the hospitality. This program was distributed by the national educational radio network.