It’s been half a year since the Union of Caxcanan States was officially announced in October 2021, and even though recent geopolitical developments have put strain on the UCS member states and their foreign relations, developments such as freedom of movement and expedited customs have brought the citizens of the Union much closer together.
And as it turns out, these developments aren’t purely political or demographical. Plenty of cultural and economic elements from all over the UCS have unexpectedly come into popularity within Eiria, with an extent rarely seen before in Eirian history. In particular, Milintican Paora cultural elements, previously uncommon in Eiria, have spread like wildfire.
One example of this is the Paora language, which, due to its status as one of the official languages of the Union of Caxcanan States, has skyrocketed in popularity, especially in educational institutions. Dr. Jean-Pierre Grinbergs, Chairman of the National Committee of Linguistic Education (Kōmitej Nacōnals de Izkācōn Linguistik), spoke to ENN about the extent of this surge of popularity. “I’ve never seen anything like it before. We are receiving between twice and three times as many requests from schools for teachers that can teach Paora. Colleges that had never offered Paora as a language of study for decades have sent in requests for multiple Paora teachers in order to satisfy student demand, and even secondary schools are asking for teachers fluent in Paora. Unfortunately, at the moment, we don’t have enough licensed teachers to fulfill this massive demand. I estimate that this will prove fortunate for Milintican educators looking for stable, profitable jobs in the UCS.”
And a fascination for the Paora language isn’t the only thing the UCS has brought to Eiria. Milintican cuisine has also come into the Eirian culinary vogue, with Paora ingredients such as yams and sweet potatoes being incorporated into traditional Eirian dishes. One example of this is the dish “Sweet Potato Pelmes”, a redone version of traditional savory Pelmes dumplings that seems to be popping up everywhere, from food trucks, to fine restaurants, to even the prominent Eiran cooking show “The Edge of the Knife”. These new fusion dishes are also paired with Huenyan-derived ingredients such as hot chilies, creating a series of uniquely blended meals that reflect the harmony and diversity of the Union of Caxcanan States.
The effects of the increasing unity in Caxcana isn’t just seen in cultural elements such as food or language, but can be seen more directly in commercial developments. Not long after the Milintican National Automotive Cooperative announced that they would be looking to export their Model 1 sedan (deemed the “Milinticar” in foreign markets), the MNAC also announced that they would be partnering with major Eirian electronics manufacturer JanElek to add features to the Milinticar to make it viable for the Eirian automotive market. “The partnership between JanElek and MNAC to make improvements to the Milinticar design will bring our people’s car into the present day, while keeping it an affordable and reliable vehicle that everyone can afford and benefit from,” MNAC Director Aika Arona said. “It shouldn’t be only the well-off who benefit from technology in their vehicles, and the improved Milinticar will make sure that it won’t be.”
JanElek president Nikolajs Jansons also commented on the development. “We are glad to be partnering with MNAC to make the Milinticar competitive in the Eirian market. Their intelligent craftsmanship combined with our modern technological editions will ensure that the Milinticar is both appealing and affordable to the average consumer.” When asked about what exactly JanElek would be adding to the Milinticar, Jansons answered, “Standard Radio and GPS systems, among others, will be vital additions to the Milinticar, and we hope that our additions will greatly increase the car’s success here.”
The Eirian automotive market, while high-tech and rapidly advancing, is also quite expensive for the average consumer, with a brand new car averaging upwards of 52,000 Lunens. The Milinticar seems to be in a position to challenge this costly market, providing some consumers the previously impossible opportunity of car ownership. It is unknown exactly how well the Milinticar will sell in Eiria, however the prospects look quite good for MNAC and JanElek. The day the partnership was announced, JanElek held an informal poll on their website, attempting to gauge how many consumers would be interested in purchasing their own Milinticar. The result? The poll was flooded with so many entries, the JanElek website temporarily crashed due to overuse.
Whether you’re wanting to learn Paora, craving some Sweet Potato Pelmesei, or looking to buy a Milinticar, you are witnessing the unforeseen cultural effects of the Union of Caxcanan States. And while Eiria’s no stranger to cultural adaptation, the rapidity and scale of this new cultural trend is astonishing. If this is how greatly the UCS can affect cultural patterns in six months, who knows what other fascinating cultural elements may make their way into Eirian popularity in the future?
