Monday, November 29, 2010
Achievements
What have I learned? I have learned a lot. First, I have understood how important know other culture is. Second, I am really aware of many different cultures such as Jamaican, Muslim, Zimbabwean, Comorian cultures and others because of that course. Third, now I can at least try to understand the different traditions, manners, etiquette, customs, gestures and everything about those cultures. Also, now I am more interested on knowing more about the rest of the world. Fourth, I know that most of my classmates have learned a lot about those cultures, as well. Finally, all the presentations, songs, and movies have made the knowledge stronger because we can not only understand but also see the reality.
Fond kiss
Can we love each other even thought we are extremely different? I think there are many possibilities because people are trying to know more about the world traveling and making friends.
That movie shows us how a couple can love although they are really different. Also, it shows us how big the understanding can be if we really want to share everything with the person who we love.
That couple are really strong because they can overcome all the fairs that they had when they met each other. Moreover, although, they had many problems because of their families, they keep together. Their families were against to that relationship because both families are different and the lifestyles, as well. So, they had to continue with that relationship in secret, but because of that there have been many problems that they overcame. I think we can climb as high as we really want to; even there are people who are against to us.
That movie shows us how a couple can love although they are really different. Also, it shows us how big the understanding can be if we really want to share everything with the person who we love.
That couple are really strong because they can overcome all the fairs that they had when they met each other. Moreover, although, they had many problems because of their families, they keep together. Their families were against to that relationship because both families are different and the lifestyles, as well. So, they had to continue with that relationship in secret, but because of that there have been many problems that they overcame. I think we can climb as high as we really want to; even there are people who are against to us.
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Arranged
Is there a Culture mixture? Many people think that people from different cultures will never be friends due to their differences, but that movie shows us that friendship has no religion.
That movie is about friendship of two women, a Jew and Muslim, which work in the same high school as teachers, they started being good friends, but they are criticized by many people because of their religious beliefs. I think understand other culture is really difficult, but we have to be open-minded because we never know when we will be close to someone different from us.
On the other hand, their friendship was more powerful than all the comments that people used to make whenever they see those women together. I think most of people used to discriminate others just for their appearance and stereotypes, but if we really think about our similarities instead of that, we can understand better the other cultures.
I really liked that movie because I understood how important be not only open-minded but also reliable is. Regarding stereotypes we can notice that not matter what people think about other culture, we cannot generalize because every culture not only is different it is important, as well for our culture understanding.
That movie is about friendship of two women, a Jew and Muslim, which work in the same high school as teachers, they started being good friends, but they are criticized by many people because of their religious beliefs. I think understand other culture is really difficult, but we have to be open-minded because we never know when we will be close to someone different from us.
On the other hand, their friendship was more powerful than all the comments that people used to make whenever they see those women together. I think most of people used to discriminate others just for their appearance and stereotypes, but if we really think about our similarities instead of that, we can understand better the other cultures.
I really liked that movie because I understood how important be not only open-minded but also reliable is. Regarding stereotypes we can notice that not matter what people think about other culture, we cannot generalize because every culture not only is different it is important, as well for our culture understanding.
Muslim experience
I went to the Muslim Mosque, located in Moravia, some weeks ago. Everyone who wants to be there has to cover the head and the body because that religion asks for it.
I had to cover my head that is why that experience was a little bit shocking. When we were already a Muslim person started talking about that culture. They told us that any many things that have been shown and said in the media are false. The man told us that it is just a stereotype of them.
I was really wondered about being there, but I assimilated it some hours later. Then, I started asking many questions about that culture, because I have heard many things and I wanted to know more. I asked about the marriages, if women are discriminated as many people have said. As a result, he told me that it is completely false; he told us that women have the same rights as men. It was surprising because during many years I used to think different. Also, he told us how women are benefited, for example he said that women are given of many gifts in the wedding and the house and all the furniture have to be bought by men. Moreover, he said that polygamy is common in that culture, but they have to follow what the Koran, the sacred book, says about it, for instance each wife has everything in the same quantity, each one has to be loved in the same way.
Then, he introduced to us a Costa Rican man who built the Mosque, and he said that when he was building the Mosque he started feeling “God call” as he said, and because of that he realized that he needed to be converted a Muslim. Now, he is a Muslim person, and he is really happy.
Then, they told us that it was time to pray and they started doing it. That event was amazing, because we can see how interesting that culture is. Some hours later, one of them read the Koran and I realized that this book is read from right to left completely opposite as we used to read. Also, they talked about many celebrations and traditions that they have.
As a conclusion, we have many ways to know many cultures such as Media, but I think that just being with people from that culture we can really learn. Now a days, there are many soap operas based on Islam culture, but we can not believe in that because most of the times everything is not true. I was interested on that experience and it was amazing. After that event I realized that covering my head worked to understand a little bit more from that culture.
I had to cover my head that is why that experience was a little bit shocking. When we were already a Muslim person started talking about that culture. They told us that any many things that have been shown and said in the media are false. The man told us that it is just a stereotype of them.
I was really wondered about being there, but I assimilated it some hours later. Then, I started asking many questions about that culture, because I have heard many things and I wanted to know more. I asked about the marriages, if women are discriminated as many people have said. As a result, he told me that it is completely false; he told us that women have the same rights as men. It was surprising because during many years I used to think different. Also, he told us how women are benefited, for example he said that women are given of many gifts in the wedding and the house and all the furniture have to be bought by men. Moreover, he said that polygamy is common in that culture, but they have to follow what the Koran, the sacred book, says about it, for instance each wife has everything in the same quantity, each one has to be loved in the same way.
Then, he introduced to us a Costa Rican man who built the Mosque, and he said that when he was building the Mosque he started feeling “God call” as he said, and because of that he realized that he needed to be converted a Muslim. Now, he is a Muslim person, and he is really happy.
Then, they told us that it was time to pray and they started doing it. That event was amazing, because we can see how interesting that culture is. Some hours later, one of them read the Koran and I realized that this book is read from right to left completely opposite as we used to read. Also, they talked about many celebrations and traditions that they have.
As a conclusion, we have many ways to know many cultures such as Media, but I think that just being with people from that culture we can really learn. Now a days, there are many soap operas based on Islam culture, but we can not believe in that because most of the times everything is not true. I was interested on that experience and it was amazing. After that event I realized that covering my head worked to understand a little bit more from that culture.
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Welcome to Jam Rock by Damien Marley
Around the world there are many cultures which speak different languages, but some of those languages have been influenced from other ones, such as the Jamaican Patois. Jamaican Patois has French, English and African influences.
For this exposition I have chosen the ¨Welcome to Jamrock¨ song by Damian Marley because the language used is similar to English, and I am interested in Jamaican patois because in this language some words have different meanings and pronunciation from English. For example, in the Jamaican Slang Glossary and Phrases, the word ¨Cat¨ means “female genitals”; BUT on the other hand, The Marriam-Webster Thesaurus Dictionary declares that ¨cat¨ is “a small domestic animal known for catching mice”.
Also, this song is really interesting because in it many words are pronounced in reduced form like ¨nothing at all¨ they pronounce it like /natinatol/. In addition, the writing is different, as well, because Jamaican people write some words as they pronounce them; for example in English you write ¨bother¨, but in Jamaican Slang that word is written ¨bodda.¨
Another aspect that caught my attention from this culture was that the Jamaican slang has many variations, and it also has important influences from Rastafarian Movement, farming and Dancehall music. Moreover, what that song talks about is really important because the poverty, hunger, political corruption, ignorance and discrimination are happening around the world right now, and I am aware of that.
To conclude I can say that I feel identified with that slang because Jamaican Reggae and dancehall music are some of my favorite kinds of music, and the way that Jamaican people speak, the significant meaning that music has, and important aspects that make me appreciate and be interested in this culture.
For this exposition I have chosen the ¨Welcome to Jamrock¨ song by Damian Marley because the language used is similar to English, and I am interested in Jamaican patois because in this language some words have different meanings and pronunciation from English. For example, in the Jamaican Slang Glossary and Phrases, the word ¨Cat¨ means “female genitals”; BUT on the other hand, The Marriam-Webster Thesaurus Dictionary declares that ¨cat¨ is “a small domestic animal known for catching mice”.
Also, this song is really interesting because in it many words are pronounced in reduced form like ¨nothing at all¨ they pronounce it like /natinatol/. In addition, the writing is different, as well, because Jamaican people write some words as they pronounce them; for example in English you write ¨bother¨, but in Jamaican Slang that word is written ¨bodda.¨
Another aspect that caught my attention from this culture was that the Jamaican slang has many variations, and it also has important influences from Rastafarian Movement, farming and Dancehall music. Moreover, what that song talks about is really important because the poverty, hunger, political corruption, ignorance and discrimination are happening around the world right now, and I am aware of that.
To conclude I can say that I feel identified with that slang because Jamaican Reggae and dancehall music are some of my favorite kinds of music, and the way that Jamaican people speak, the significant meaning that music has, and important aspects that make me appreciate and be interested in this culture.
Traveling Around the World
Can people travel around the world just for searching information in the web? I think they can, because when I was investigating about different cultures in order to choose the most interesting one to present it to my classmates, I realized that I was learning, too. Because now I know about many cultures that I did not know them before. So, in order to get the most appropriate information I had to watch many pictures and interesting videos, and also read different articles about it. For that reason, my mind flew and I started to create a little journey around those cultures, and I started to imagine that I was traveling to the Comoros Islands and the Mozambique country to know those engaging cultures.
Comoros culture caught my attention because of its location, religion, language and etiquette. First of all, Comoros Islands are located in the Indian Ocean so, it is really far away from us. Second, the Comorian people’s religion; because most of them are Muslims is different than the one I know and it has an important influence of them. Third, it is also interesting to me that in those Islands there are four or more languages spoken such as French, Arabic, Comorian and Mwali. Another aspect that made me feel interested about Comorian was etiquette because greeting and respecting people is really significant for them. Also, because of their religion women have to cover their head with a veil; and wives must eat in the kitchen with their children while men eat at the dinner table. As a conclusion, I think that this culture has special customs and involves a lifestyle that is fascinated to me.
After some days, I was involved in another culture which is Mozambicans. That culture has special aspects that engaged me such as language, cultural heritage, and National women´s day. First, in that culture there are at least thirty languages spoken. But, the main language is Portuguese and English is becoming popular. Second, the African influence is showed by Mozambicans art which communicates spiritual messages. In addition, music and dancing are practiced by them. Third, that culture celebrates with a big festival the National Women´s Day in order to honor a significant woman ¨Josina Machel.¨ Because of her services as a volunteer in the fight for national independence. Indeed, Mozambique country is one of the interesting countries where I would like to travel because of its culture.
In summary, I could say that while I was searching about some countries I found not only different but also magic cultures where I imagined being. Comoros and Mozambique countries have the most absorbing cultures that made my mind fly. Even thought, I have not been there I feel as if I were there when I remember everything I saw during my research.
Comoros culture caught my attention because of its location, religion, language and etiquette. First of all, Comoros Islands are located in the Indian Ocean so, it is really far away from us. Second, the Comorian people’s religion; because most of them are Muslims is different than the one I know and it has an important influence of them. Third, it is also interesting to me that in those Islands there are four or more languages spoken such as French, Arabic, Comorian and Mwali. Another aspect that made me feel interested about Comorian was etiquette because greeting and respecting people is really significant for them. Also, because of their religion women have to cover their head with a veil; and wives must eat in the kitchen with their children while men eat at the dinner table. As a conclusion, I think that this culture has special customs and involves a lifestyle that is fascinated to me.
After some days, I was involved in another culture which is Mozambicans. That culture has special aspects that engaged me such as language, cultural heritage, and National women´s day. First, in that culture there are at least thirty languages spoken. But, the main language is Portuguese and English is becoming popular. Second, the African influence is showed by Mozambicans art which communicates spiritual messages. In addition, music and dancing are practiced by them. Third, that culture celebrates with a big festival the National Women´s Day in order to honor a significant woman ¨Josina Machel.¨ Because of her services as a volunteer in the fight for national independence. Indeed, Mozambique country is one of the interesting countries where I would like to travel because of its culture.
In summary, I could say that while I was searching about some countries I found not only different but also magic cultures where I imagined being. Comoros and Mozambique countries have the most absorbing cultures that made my mind fly. Even thought, I have not been there I feel as if I were there when I remember everything I saw during my research.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
The White Massai
Culture shock is one of the most difficult phases that people have to live when they are involved in another culture. As the movie showed, most of the time traveling to a foreign country could be exciting because going abroad means new experiences, new friends and more knowledge. Despite of the benefits we can get from new cultures, we can obtain disappointments.
In the movie, when Carola saw Lemalian, she immediately felt something special for him and she took the risk to share how much she was interested in him so she asked him to dance, even though the music and the way they danced were different, in that moment her life had already changed and everything was interesting. However, Carola’s boyfriend could not understand why she was interested in that culture or why it was important for her to have met Lemalian, so he gave up and went back home.
I think it is understandable not to have the chance to explore somewhat we do not to acculturate if the person thinks that he/she cannot be able to assimilate it. In the movie, Carola fell in love with Lemalian and she left behind everything she had in her country to begin a new life with him. I think there are situations that we cannot avoid like love and that makes us change our lives and adopt another lifestyle where we try to live in harmony like in Carola’s case. According to some psychologists, that phase is called “recovery” because after a long time living in a different place or just sharing and meeting peculiar people, we can feel comfortable.
However, there are several traditions and beliefs that we are not able to understand like the situation that Carola had to face when she realized that “female circumcision” is one of the important traditions that she couldn’t change, even thought it could be terrible for other people.
Another example could be the mistrust that Lemalian felt because of the way that Carola smiled to people when she was talking to them and how she assisted people in the store. That behavior confused Lemalian since he thought that Carola was flirting with them; also he assumed Carola had a lover, as a result, they had lots of problems so their relationship ended.
Finally, I feel we really have to think if we are able to understand or assimilate the new culture or not, so we can make the clear decision of trying to live with that or just leaving it behind.
In the movie, when Carola saw Lemalian, she immediately felt something special for him and she took the risk to share how much she was interested in him so she asked him to dance, even though the music and the way they danced were different, in that moment her life had already changed and everything was interesting. However, Carola’s boyfriend could not understand why she was interested in that culture or why it was important for her to have met Lemalian, so he gave up and went back home.
I think it is understandable not to have the chance to explore somewhat we do not to acculturate if the person thinks that he/she cannot be able to assimilate it. In the movie, Carola fell in love with Lemalian and she left behind everything she had in her country to begin a new life with him. I think there are situations that we cannot avoid like love and that makes us change our lives and adopt another lifestyle where we try to live in harmony like in Carola’s case. According to some psychologists, that phase is called “recovery” because after a long time living in a different place or just sharing and meeting peculiar people, we can feel comfortable.
However, there are several traditions and beliefs that we are not able to understand like the situation that Carola had to face when she realized that “female circumcision” is one of the important traditions that she couldn’t change, even thought it could be terrible for other people.
Another example could be the mistrust that Lemalian felt because of the way that Carola smiled to people when she was talking to them and how she assisted people in the store. That behavior confused Lemalian since he thought that Carola was flirting with them; also he assumed Carola had a lover, as a result, they had lots of problems so their relationship ended.
Finally, I feel we really have to think if we are able to understand or assimilate the new culture or not, so we can make the clear decision of trying to live with that or just leaving it behind.
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