Culture as a whole is like a maze. A maz that you can navigate only by experiences and an open mind. You have to leave assumptions at the door or you may not see what a new culture has to offer.
Experiencing a different culture can be exciting and a learning experience. I traveled to Belgium last spring. I discovered that their culture includes french fries with every meal and that meals can take hours. I took photos of all my meals as they all were lovely, it was a presenation on a plate that tasted wonderful. In the US if you choose to stay and visit at the table when you are finished with your meal, you feel the pressure, you know that the extablishment is just waiting to turn your table. The sooner you leave the sooner someone else can be seated therefore making more money. Resturants in Belgium encourage you to linger, enjoy the courses (there are always 4 or more for each meal) and the company of the people you are with. I found that food tastes better when you get to taste it and saver instead of inhaling so the next person can have your chair.
Culture can also take on an ugly side. When cultures clash the positives are hard to find. An example would be muslim women who choose to hold onto wearing berkas and sandels. If this is your choice then do not take jobs that require you to wear pants and steal toed shoes for your safety, only to scream discrimination when you show up and are told you must adhere to the dress code. Its not that the company is discriminating towards you, they have the rules in place for a reason, your own protection. When I heard this story my first thought was WTF! Did these women think they were special? I never heard how the story ended, but I curious to know how the judge ruled on this case.
In Harvest of Empire it states that when the first immigrants from Europe came here, they wanted a new life and they were willing to drop their old culture and make a new one in the new world. Today that does not happen and although we need to make room for all the new cultures that are coming into the US, those people also need to respect what is already here. It is a two way street.
I understand culture and its maze of practices, actions and relationships. How to get everyone on the same page towards different cultures (basically playing nice)is a whole nother maze. I guess if everyone took on the idea that a different culture could enrich your life the world might be at peace.
Sunday, September 30, 2012
My second session of volunteering
This past week I returned to Adams Spanish Immersion school to volunteer. Nikol had arranged for me to sit in with three different classes and observe. I was excited to see the differences in the classrooms.
My first class was Srita Eide in kindegarten. This was the third week of school for the chicos. Srita Eide was very patient with them. To me it was like hearding cats. Once the chicos were settled she took out a book that had a matching CD that when played the book while someone sang the word. The class sang along while she pointed out the different words to the matching pictures. She them did a matching session asking the class if the picture matched or did not match.
My next class was with Srita Peters. My time in class with with second graders. They were making making a tree with fall leaves by tearing construction paper instead of cutting the shapes. The question was asked why can't we cut them in english and answered in spanish because trees and leave are not straight lines. When the demonstration/instructions were complete the chicos headed back to the tables and began tearing and assembling their trees. I was able to walk around and observe them. I found that each of the treesdifferent as what each one of them saw was different as well as the skill level of the chico. I enoyed my time in this classroom and I think the chicos enjoy art with Srita Peters.
My next session with with Sr Casey in first grade. In kindergarten the class sang a song while pointing to the pictures that are associated with the words. First grade does the same thing. I concluded that by singing the chicos much learn quicker. Sr Casey was going to read to the class. He asked for ideas of which book to read. The class chose a story of a big black dog that was to protect a little boy. I enjoyed the story by the photos (I couldn't see the words). There was a pause in class when one chico's lunch came back up. Mr Casey handeled it well. I should have asked what the spanish word is for puke.
When my classroom time was done, I went back to the volunteer room. There are three aids that work at the school. I was able to spend sometime with one of them (I forgot how to spell her name..I will ask again this week). She is 20 and from Spain. She was telling me about Spain and how much she loves it there. She said that with her time here in the US as an aid she will be able to get a job that will pay much greater than not having the experince in the US. She said that English is taught in the lower grades in Spain, but not mandatory once you get out of grade school. She found it intersting that in the US that unless you attend an immersion school that a second language is not taught until high school. She said she personally found a second language comes easier when you are younger. I believe her, as I took French in high school for one year and I found it difficult to get the correct enunsian. From what I have seen singing is a big part of teaching a second language to younger chicos. I had to laugh as I could not see high school students singing to learn.
I enjoy my time at the school and look forward to my next session.
My first class was Srita Eide in kindegarten. This was the third week of school for the chicos. Srita Eide was very patient with them. To me it was like hearding cats. Once the chicos were settled she took out a book that had a matching CD that when played the book while someone sang the word. The class sang along while she pointed out the different words to the matching pictures. She them did a matching session asking the class if the picture matched or did not match.
My next class was with Srita Peters. My time in class with with second graders. They were making making a tree with fall leaves by tearing construction paper instead of cutting the shapes. The question was asked why can't we cut them in english and answered in spanish because trees and leave are not straight lines. When the demonstration/instructions were complete the chicos headed back to the tables and began tearing and assembling their trees. I was able to walk around and observe them. I found that each of the treesdifferent as what each one of them saw was different as well as the skill level of the chico. I enoyed my time in this classroom and I think the chicos enjoy art with Srita Peters.
My next session with with Sr Casey in first grade. In kindergarten the class sang a song while pointing to the pictures that are associated with the words. First grade does the same thing. I concluded that by singing the chicos much learn quicker. Sr Casey was going to read to the class. He asked for ideas of which book to read. The class chose a story of a big black dog that was to protect a little boy. I enjoyed the story by the photos (I couldn't see the words). There was a pause in class when one chico's lunch came back up. Mr Casey handeled it well. I should have asked what the spanish word is for puke.
When my classroom time was done, I went back to the volunteer room. There are three aids that work at the school. I was able to spend sometime with one of them (I forgot how to spell her name..I will ask again this week). She is 20 and from Spain. She was telling me about Spain and how much she loves it there. She said that with her time here in the US as an aid she will be able to get a job that will pay much greater than not having the experince in the US. She said that English is taught in the lower grades in Spain, but not mandatory once you get out of grade school. She found it intersting that in the US that unless you attend an immersion school that a second language is not taught until high school. She said she personally found a second language comes easier when you are younger. I believe her, as I took French in high school for one year and I found it difficult to get the correct enunsian. From what I have seen singing is a big part of teaching a second language to younger chicos. I had to laugh as I could not see high school students singing to learn.
I enjoy my time at the school and look forward to my next session.
Friday, September 21, 2012
This week was a pretty amazing week.
Class was very interesting. Not only was it a night to learn about history but it was a night to learn about the history of some of our classmates. I feel we have a diverse class in culture, age, interests and experiences and some of the differences were shared on Tuesday. The outside shell of a person does not even begin to show what is going on inside or what has happened to that person.
On Wednesday I started my volunteering at Adams's Spanish Immersion school. I had a nice afternoon putting together booklets of the alphabet. I remembered some of the words
I am looking forward to going back on Tuesday and I will be sure to let everyone know how it goes.
Today I asked one of my two buyers where he was from in Mexico. He was very gracious and answered he was from Aguascalientes (hot-water). Donaldson has a plant there and he said it is very beautiful and is one of the better states to live in in Mexico.
This coming week I hope will be as exciting as this past one.
I am having dinner with my niece at a different place, I will compare the food and report in another posting.
Class was very interesting. Not only was it a night to learn about history but it was a night to learn about the history of some of our classmates. I feel we have a diverse class in culture, age, interests and experiences and some of the differences were shared on Tuesday. The outside shell of a person does not even begin to show what is going on inside or what has happened to that person.
On Wednesday I started my volunteering at Adams's Spanish Immersion school. I had a nice afternoon putting together booklets of the alphabet. I remembered some of the words
- goat = cabra
- cat = gato
- goose = ganso
I am looking forward to going back on Tuesday and I will be sure to let everyone know how it goes.
Today I asked one of my two buyers where he was from in Mexico. He was very gracious and answered he was from Aguascalientes (hot-water). Donaldson has a plant there and he said it is very beautiful and is one of the better states to live in in Mexico.
This coming week I hope will be as exciting as this past one.
I am having dinner with my niece at a different place, I will compare the food and report in another posting.
Friday, September 14, 2012
Its not the end its really a new beginning
There has been much hype around the Mayan calendar "ending". There are those who believe that the end signifies our end. I never bought into our end being predicted by anything man has created.
What I did find fascinating and was very quick to share with my husband (he has been trying to convince me he should be able to make a large purchse since the end is coming) that the calendar is not ending, it is going to be rebirth after 16.4 billion years.
We were to read a couple chapters of Gloria Anzaldua's Boarderlands. The suffering her and her family endured living at the boarder between two countries was extremly distressing. I understand the need to have a dividing line. But at what cost to humas does this line have? The line does not have to be visable to feel like it is insurmountable. Mankind has always divided himself into catagories. For instance the Aztec's were called savages by the Spanairds, but if you really look at the situation who is really the savage. Man was made to be different, and having tolorance and an open mind to those who are different often times can enrich our lives. Its when men in power have a closed mind toward those who are different from themselves that death and destruction comes to call. By now you would think that history would not be repeating itself and we would have learned from our mistakes and accept each other for our differences. The line from Terminator II says it all "its in our nature to destroy ourselves". Maybe in the next 16.4 billion years we will finally get it right.
There has been much hype around the Mayan calendar "ending". There are those who believe that the end signifies our end. I never bought into our end being predicted by anything man has created.
What I did find fascinating and was very quick to share with my husband (he has been trying to convince me he should be able to make a large purchse since the end is coming) that the calendar is not ending, it is going to be rebirth after 16.4 billion years.
We were to read a couple chapters of Gloria Anzaldua's Boarderlands. The suffering her and her family endured living at the boarder between two countries was extremly distressing. I understand the need to have a dividing line. But at what cost to humas does this line have? The line does not have to be visable to feel like it is insurmountable. Mankind has always divided himself into catagories. For instance the Aztec's were called savages by the Spanairds, but if you really look at the situation who is really the savage. Man was made to be different, and having tolorance and an open mind to those who are different often times can enrich our lives. Its when men in power have a closed mind toward those who are different from themselves that death and destruction comes to call. By now you would think that history would not be repeating itself and we would have learned from our mistakes and accept each other for our differences. The line from Terminator II says it all "its in our nature to destroy ourselves". Maybe in the next 16.4 billion years we will finally get it right.
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
Sept 5th
Last night was the first night of the new semester. Not only was it a new semester, but the location of the class was new. We are at the Wellestone Center in St. Paul. Its a beautiful building.
The class is going to be interesting. I know I will take away a new look at a different culture when it is all said and done.
We were to answer two questions:
1. What did it feel like to be asked a question you did not know teh answer to? It was unsettling espcially on the first night as you are trying to find you place in the class. My group was the last group to be put on the spot so we knew an off the wall question was coming. It made it easier and by then the class was more open to the oddities of the question.
2. How does it feel not to answer for yourself? Well for someone who spends most of her day talking for a moment it was like "hey" I got this then it was OK, I need to trust my group. I know I didn't reveal anything damaging so if it comes out bad, its made up. So relax and give yourself a break.
Next week will be a new adventure and this blog process will be a work in progress.
Last night was the first night of the new semester. Not only was it a new semester, but the location of the class was new. We are at the Wellestone Center in St. Paul. Its a beautiful building.
The class is going to be interesting. I know I will take away a new look at a different culture when it is all said and done.
We were to answer two questions:
1. What did it feel like to be asked a question you did not know teh answer to? It was unsettling espcially on the first night as you are trying to find you place in the class. My group was the last group to be put on the spot so we knew an off the wall question was coming. It made it easier and by then the class was more open to the oddities of the question.
2. How does it feel not to answer for yourself? Well for someone who spends most of her day talking for a moment it was like "hey" I got this then it was OK, I need to trust my group. I know I didn't reveal anything damaging so if it comes out bad, its made up. So relax and give yourself a break.
Next week will be a new adventure and this blog process will be a work in progress.
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