Freedom Writers

The three main concepts that I would say I saw in the movie Freedom Writers would be world view, othering, and racism. I thought this showed all of these things we had talked about in class.

            It showed world view I thought because all of the different kids had different word views. They all came from different backgrounds, and cultures. Where most of the kids grew up in a rough neighborhood in the projects to the white kid who was clueless to their culture. The teacher also had to change trying very hard to understand their world view because at first she really couldn’t relate. It was very cool because they all got to the point where they all had different cultures, but they all got along good.

            It also showed othering how the different ethnic groups would not accept each. They would jump each other, fight, steal, and just hated each other. At the end of the movie the one girl is a “traitor” when she tells the truth about a shooting that one of her friends did. So she finally did the right thing, and quit othering. They all towards the end were accepting of eachother.

            The movie also had a lot of racism in it. The best example would be the teacher’s dad. He was  very racist in the beginning, and told her not to waste her time or money on the kids. After he had helped her take them on some trips, and stuff he became very accepting. He saw that he had no reason to be racist. He learned that most of them were very nice respectable young adults.

            To conclude, I really enjoyed this movie, and think it had some very valuable lessons in it. It really drove home the points of world view, othering, and racism for me. We all need to be accepting of each other no matter what.  

Goals from class

I feel like I have reached my goals, and then some! My goals were to gain more knowledge about cultures especially Ethiopia. I have learned a lot about Ethiopia because I am doing it for my final project. I also have learned tons about other cultures thing ranging from language to LGBTQ. Most importantly I have learned to accept people that are different. Not to think any less of someone just because their culture is different. 

Cultural Article

                In my article it had a story of a man who resigned of the Boy Scouts board because he did not agree with one of the rules that they had. He did this after a lady was not allowed to be part of the organization because she was a lesbian. I think it shows good values for the man who is resigning because he believes that everyone should be treated equally. I am sure this topic has started some controversy in the area that this is taking place, and I’m sure the Boy Scouts are getting some heat for not treating the lady equally just because she was a lesbian.

Week 13

                On Tuesday we watched a video on transgender people. It started talking about a young boy Noah who acted, and pretty much thought he was a girl. He would dress up like girls, and dance. It was surprising to me that his mom said that people like him had a slim chance of living because of either suicide, or being killed. Like the one transgender lady who they talked to her boyfriend was beat to death with a bat in his sleep when people found out he was dating a transgender. The science behind transgender happens very early in pregnancy fork in the road, and some time the genitals will go one way, and the brain the opposite.  Also it was surprising to me how India had a very homosociety for men growing up. The boys growing up have very little contact with women or girls. Thailand to me was very different, but good in a way that they are very accepting of transgender people. I don’t know however if I like how they show of their transgender women in Bangkok.  

                On Thursday we had Russian Tea Cakes as our snack. I thought that they were very tasty and surprised they were a tradition in Mexican wedding cake. Then we talked with Ed the rest of the class. He was a very interesting person I thought. He has been through a lot I was surprised that he never had a point where he knew he was suppose to be a boy he always knew. I thought it was very cool how he had a lot of good friends for support, and especially his brothers helped him out. It was also interesting to me that he did not have to have voice lessons or anything it was just from his testosterone supplements. Talking to him really changed my view on transgender people he seemed very normal. I think some people think people do it for attention but talking to him it was very relevant that he was born to be a guy.  

Week 12

On Tuesday we started talking about how accessible places are for disabled people. Most places are getting better. Matt said the University of North Dakota was made very accessible, and Williston State is pretty good I think. However I thought it was crazy how you brought up that Matt would not survive in China. Nothing there is accessible for people with disabilities there are stairs everywhere. The thing that caught my attention the most was when you said that a lot of people there if they are beggars would mutilate their children so people would then in turn give them more money. This is something that I just cannot believe. We also talked about how everyone has disabilities or things that they are not good at, and every one becomes disabled sometime by the aging process. We also talked about learning disabilities. They are different because it is a harder to tell right away if someone has one. Also society sometimes just thinks these people are stupid. When really they just learn different ways, or learn different things better.

                On Thursday we had Mary from San Diego State talk to our class over skype. She was quite the character she talked to us about LGBTQ, or lesbian, gay, bi, tran, and queer. She talked about how her campus has done a lot to be supportive of lgbtq, and how they created safe zones which create a supportive environment for lgbtq.  I thought it was interesting because she believes she made the choice to be a lesbian that it was her choice she was not born that way. This is different then what you hear sometimes it seems to be a big debate on whether people are born lgbtq or they choose to be that way. She also said South Africa is the only country to consider lgbtq rights in their constitution and have same sex marriage. I thought it was really cool to meet Mary, and see that people that are lgbtq are normal people too.  

Fargo

Kolby, Kyla, and I all decided to watch the movie Fargo since Kolby would not stop talking about it. It was hilarious how deep the accents were. I had never heard you betcha, or darn tootin so much in my life. Probably the worst accent was the lady who was kidnapped from Minnesota it was so bad. Also the stereotype about hockey the grandpa was watching the Gophers. It was funny because before I had ever come to North Dakota that is how I figured people here talked because of all the media, and stereotypes. However it is not like that at all. Sure there are some differences how we say some things, and a little bit of an accent but nothing how the movie portrayed it. My favorite thing in the movie was when the man cop is talking to the lady cop for like three minutes, and all the lady cop ever says back is YA in a really high pitched voice like ten times.

Week 11

                On Tuesday one of the things we talked about was if Ebonics should be used in the classroom. We came to the conclusion that they should be allowed because it is part of someone’s culture. I also believe however that they should be encouraged to use or at least know how to use proper English as we would call it. This is because that is what they are going to be expected to use most likely when they go get real jobs or professions. We also talked a little bit about non verbal communication, and how a lot of it is unconscious. Talking about proxemies was funny to me how some cultures like Chinese where there is a lot more people they can be a lot closer to people without it them bothering them. Me personally would say I have a pretty big bubble. It could have something to do with growing up in a small town. We also talked about how the meaning is in the person not the word because connotation can be different. Because when you say a word everyone pictures something different.

                On Thursday we met with Matt Peterson. Some of his first advice was to not stare or ignore someone with a disability. The best advice he gave us I thought was begin with normal conversation and expect one back in return. Adjust if necessary. This means if you see someone with a disability talk to them how you would talk to anyone else, and if they need help communicating or have trouble adjust accordingly. Matt ofcourse had a lot of great stories that really helped to see what he goes through. It is amazing to me how great his attitude is and how he can make jokes about himself. Tonya also talked a little bit her story was very sad. I could see where it would be a lot harder for here how she used to be able to walk and was healthy. Another thing I thought was interesting was how they talked about how they tried to stay in shape because I hadn’t really thought of that.

Week 10

On Tuesday we Ian talked to us about Canada. I thought it was very interesting how they have a lot of the same things just different names. Like Tim Horton’s is their huge coffee chain that everyone knows. It was also weird how they have to learn about other people’s history like the United States, and here we don’t really learn anyone else’s history.

                On Thursday we had a snack which I cannot spell but started with a b, and was a twice baked cookie. It was very good one of my favorite snacks so far. Then we watched a video called Language of the Body. It was very interesting it started talking about gestures. I thought it was crazy how many different types of handshakes there are. Such as kissing hands, barely touching, and shaking the whole time you are bargaining. Then also how you think some signs would be universal like the o.k. sign, but in some countries is a very big insult. Then the insult gestures were fist punch, horn sign, middle finger, and the V.  A very odd one I thought was certain spots in India the head wobble we would see as maybe means yes. Then next one it talked about was gestures people use while they are talking. How people will do certain hand motions to get a point across. It showed how people will even do them while they are talking on the phone. Then the main gesture is in your facial expression. Us humans have the most developed faces with so many muscles to make different faces. I thought it was funny how it talked about how it is hard to have the perfect fake smile because there are muscles in your face that you don’t really have control over unless you are really smiling.

Week 9

                On Tuesday I was late for class but we had two different guest speakers.  First guy had been on a couple of tours in Iraqi. I thought it was crazy how he went over at such a young age at 19, and how hard things were over there, and how they change went he went over later. Like at first how they did not really have bathrooms or showers it was interesting to learn about because you never see that stuff on the news. Also I thought it was cool how he volunteered for all his tours with the attitude to serve his country, and he might as well go over when he wanted to before he was made to. It was crazy to hear about the stress all the time too because I could not imagine being somewhere that you never know who is trying to kill you or when something life threatening could happen. Also it how he hated the 4^th of July, and burning garbage reminding him of Bagdad. It was very interesting to hear a point of view that I had never heard before. It was also funny how he hated the recruiting adds, and thought they should show soldiers tossing rocks into a helmet instead of intense action because he said it is 10% action 90% waiting. He also believed that the people over there take an eye for an eye very seriously, and take it to the extreme so he is not sure if they will every change or if we will ever make the difference over there that we were sent out to do.

                We also had Tony talk to us for a bit. He was in the Navy, and it was crazy how much different his life was in the military. He wasn’t every in battle really he was on a ship to me it is crazy how much different two peoples experiences can be in the same war. He is suppose to talk to us again so then I will have more.

Week 8

                On Tuesday we watched a video that was quite the eye opener for me. It was called Wounded Heart on Pine Ridge, and the Sioux. It showed you lots of different points of view on what was happening on the reservations. None of which were good. It talked about a lot of the problems on reservations, but not only that it showed you, and explained why. The showing and explaining why they have these problems is the part that I had never really heard. It is something that is hard for me to wrap my brain around because part of you thinks why do they keep living in this, or why. But then how are they suppose to ever get out of it they were set up to fail and be in poverty. I did think it was cool how the one guy with the long braids was trying to keep all of the old Native American values, and traditions teaching his kid them and such. I thought that was something positive because I do not know what else you do. They are not getting the help they need from the government or what they were promised to be successful parts of society.

                On Thursday we watched a video on food which I thought was very interesting. I would be considered a level four from their rating on what you eat because I will eat meat just not the guts and tongue and such. I thought it was really interesting to hear what other cultures thought about our food one was that we have huge portions which I expected we always have way too much food. Then also how the one young man from England thought peanut butter was disgusting, and had no idea how his roommates could eat peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.  Also I thought it was interesting how different cultures have sacred animals that they will refuse to eat like in America we won’t eat dog yet in countries like India where cows are sacred they will refuse to eat them.  

Week 7

                On Tuesday I brought in Hummus, and Ian brought in maple cookies for a snack. I think that the maple cookies are my favorite snack anyone has brought in yet. Then I thought that it was interesting when we talked about German people how they do not have laws like ours it is good that our laws try to foresee problems that are going to happen in the future. Also I could not imagine having your path for school being figured out for you in the fourth grade. It is crazy to me if you were a kid that was slow to develop you could have turned out to be very bright, but already had a school path picked for you. I think it would suck because you do not really have much say in what you want to grow up to be it is picked for you at what I would say is a too young of an age. We also talked about the Jamaican people, and I learned that marijuana is illegal there which surprised me because of all the stereotypes of Jamaica; I would think that it would be legal. It was also funny to me how they do not really care about being on time they just kind of roll with things. It would drive me crazy being there I think because I am a very timely person and dislike being late very much.

                On Thursday we talked about the articles that we read.  The one on making Native American Heritage Day I cannot decide on how I really feel about it. On one hand I think it is good to do something to celebrate their culture yet to put it on Black Friday I don’t think was such a good idea. Also we take everything from them then give them a day? Just doesn’t quite add up to me, but I don’t know what you do to make it right now. The other article that stuck out to me was the one on the Brazilian Surui tribe was getting taken out by loggers. Nothing they did worked until they started using technology. To me it is cool that it worked, but sad that they had to differ from their culture and go to that much work just to protect their home.

Intercultural Snack

                The snack that I found to bring was hummus with pita chips. It is a Levantine Arab food/dip that is made from mashed chickpea, blended with tahini, olive oil, lemon juice, salt, and garlic. Hummus is Arabic for “chickpea” also known as Garbanzo Bean. It is also one of the oldest foods dating back 7000 years ago in Egypt. It is very popular in many Greek and Syrian foods and also many Middle Eastern foods. I picked it because you suggested it, and I could not find anything else at the store that I did not have to cook. I did not mind the pita chips but was not much of a fan of the hummus it was too bitter for me.   

Week 6

This week on Tuesday we talked about how the Russian’s and the Japanese are both collectivistic cultures. I also thought it was interesting how the Japanese really like to use a group to make a decision partly because they do not want to just have one person take all the blame if it does not work out. To me it was also very odd that the CEO does not have really any say in a company’s decisions, but is there more to just be the face of the company and make them look good. Whereas here CEO’s here likely have the last say in a decision to see if it is final.

                On Thursday we then had a Professor come talk to us about the culture from where see was from in South Africa. It was cool to hear about a culture that I really knew nothing about. I did not know that South Africa was that diverse of a country, or had that many problems before trying to get all the different kinds of people to get along. I thought it was cool how she used to be ashamed of her Indian culture because it was looked down upon when she was growing up, but now she embraces and is proud of it. Also school for her growing up to me sounded unreal how she was one of the only girls in College, and how you really were not allowed to interact with the teachers like ask questions like you are here. I think that would be very hard because that is how I like to learn there if you did not understand something you are just expected to figure it out.  I also thought it was crazy that she never really got to see all of the animals until she went back a couple of years ago to visit. Just because she was so busy with school and everything growing up.

Holiday(Cinco de Mayo)

My holiday that I do not celebrate is Cinco de Mayo which means fifth of May. By many it is believed to be Mexico’s Independence Day which it is not. It is the day that the Mexicans defeated the French in the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. It is celebrated a lot in the U.S. as Mexican pride and heritage, but in Puebla it is more of a celebration of the unlikely winning of the battle.  Oddly it is only somewhat celebrated in Mexico and more in Mexican-American communities their big day in Mexico is their Independence Day which is September 16.

For this holiday they celebrate with food, dancing, and music. In Puebla they actually march down the street in uniforms, and reenact the battle. At Cinco de Mayo events you find a lot of Mexican symbols such as Virgen de Guadalupe and César Chávez.  More in the U.S. at Cinco de Mayo celebrations you will find Mexican flags, balloons, decorations, Mexican folk music or Mariachi bands with traditional Mexican dancing. Also the best part the traditional Mexican food such as enchiladas, tacos, and chips and salsa.

I choose this holiday because I’ve always heard of it and there was stuff at the school for it last year. I got the good food but really had no idea on what it was really for like most people that don’t know much about it I just figured it was Mexico’s Independence Day. So I figured I would research it and find out what it really was. The main thing that I think is odd about it is that they do not have a different name for it except May fifth you would think it would be like Puebla day or something. I’m glad I now know a little more about it, and that it isn’t Mexico’s Independence Day.

Week 5

                On Tuesday we talked to the Lady from Ole Miss about the Islam religion. It was very interesting because since 9/11 there have been a lot of stereotypes. I thought it was very interesting how they have sayings like “peace of God be upon him” after talking about Muhammad. Also I had no idea that the Qur’an was so holy to them kind of like how she said you would never see it written on t-shirts or anything like the Bible. How it is they have to be all clean and holy before they can even touch it. I am also glad I know it is called Islam not Muslimism. Also it was interesting I did not know that they believe Jesus was a prophet, and Muhammad isn’t their god but just a main prophet.

                On Thursday we watched an episode of Sister Wives. That show blew my mind it amazes me some of the things people do and what people think is ok. The only part that I can kind of understand is the wives splitting up duties like working, and cleaning, and one will care for the kids. However I am baffled that they are ok with sharing one guy at night and everything. I was also very surprised to hear that the children attend a private school with all other polygamist children, so that means there is more out there than just this family! I knew it went on a little because they guy in sister wives is from Lovell which is only twenty minutes from where I live, and I had heard of some polygamy around that area. No matter how many times I hear about it I just can’t quite wrap my brain around it. I don’t know how multiple women can grow up to want sister wives, and a man can want multiple wives at once.   

Week 4

On Tuesday of last week we finished watching the movie on hate crimes. Even knowing about a few of them it still blows my mind that people can kill, and hurt others like that just for being different. I knew of the Columbine, and of the Mathew Shepard killing. It was very sad to watch and hear the stories of all of these hate crimes against random people just for being different. They were not killed for anything personally just that they were different was the only reason. The one that made me really mad was the preacher that was protesting at Mathew Shepards killers trial. I feel like that was a very inappropriate time and place to share your views on that sort of thing. I also think they made some good points in the video for a need of more teaching how not to hate down in elementary school. To tell kids it’s ok to be different, and there is no reason to hate others.

               

On Thursday a big thing we talked about was World View. My world view would have to be put God and your family first. That if someone needs your help that you should help them. Also to be honest and hard working all of the time, and try to treat others how you would like to be treated. Then we talked some about religion the most interesting about the religions we looked at was Taoism. How the one author said that the one lady would not kill the ants because she believed them to be equal to her. Whereas my point of view has always been that we come before animal, and more of we are in charge on earth. We try to control everything that we can on earth is what I’ve always been taught. Unlike the girl that was taught to live with the earth. It is cool to see a different point of view.

Week 2

This week in class on Tuesday we first talked about our ancestors, and some of our family history. It was interesting to hear some of my classmates’ stories. I think it was good for all of us to find out a little more about our family history. Then we talked about monochromic time and polychromic time. Monochromic time is more schedules, and calendar so very sticking to times, and a schedule. Polychromic is more multi talking, nothing is set in stone, and family comes first. Say if a culture is more polychromic and you have a doctor’s appointment a two your show up at two the doctor might not be there until later if he had to do something with his family. Also they say in the US at school and work we’re monochromic, and then when we go home we are more polychromic because then we can multi task more often than not. Then at the end of class we talked about some of the things we thought that people should know about coming to North Dakota. Our class came up with many things including sports, oilfield, food, and language differences.

On Thursday we started out talking about othering which is like discrimination, or prejudice which is judging someone before you know them. It is the mentality of you vs. them.  We talked about things from our reading including whiteness, Latinos vs. Blacks, and stereotypes with language. Whiteness is the privileges that you gain from your skin color being white, and is also a social structure. The Latinos, and the Blacks supposedly to not get along because the Latinos are soon to pass them for the largest minority on the US. Also because they believe the Latinos skin color is closer to white which they believe makes a difference. They don’t seem to get along even though a lot of the time they can find common ground on being discriminated against. Then stereotypes in language the big one we talked about was people with accents. How a lot of the time someone with a southern drawl you think to be uneducated. Then at the end of class we started a movie on hate crimes. The one we got through was on Shepard who was a student at UW which I knew some about since I am from Wyoming. I think it was terrible what happened to him, and hope as a people we can stop hating each other for being different.

Ancestors

First off I talked to my grandpa on my dad’s side. His great grandpa was Irish, and his great grandma was German.  They came to America because they were starving were they were from. His mom’s and dads’ parents lived in the Ozarks in Missouri. The name Robirds has not always been the same. It used to be Roberts, and there are a couple of stories that go along with it also. The first one on why it was changed was that brothers got mad at each other so one changed his name from Roberts to Robirds. The second story is that during the Revolutionary War one Roberts name got screwed up on his papers following the war. His great grandparents’ occupations are unknown, but his parents were farmers. The status of his family has change going up in education, and wealth. Some strong values he said passed to him were education and honesty.

Then I talked to my grandma on my dad’s side. She only knew history from her mother’s side of the family because her dad would never talk about his. Her mother’s parents were from Denmark and came over around the 1880’s. They came over voluntarily, and spoke Danish. They did not change their name at all from Frederickson which is a very Danish name according to my grandma. Her mother’s parents came over and were quite successful farmers.  Also she would say here great grandparents had a higher status than her parents. Then some values passed down to her would be hard work and honesty.

I thought it was really cool to learn about some of my family history, and where I came from. I can defiantly see the values in my grandparents that were passed down to them. I also believe that they have done a very good job of passing the same values of education, honesty, and hard work down to me.

I just interview my grandparents on my dad’s side because my grandfather on my mom’s side is going through a rough time right now. However I do know that her mom’s family is from Germany. Also I know that my grandpa’s parents started a farm on the highline in Montana where my grandpa still is at. I also know both of my grandparents have and had values of very hard work.

Week 1

I was entered into the class late so I only made it to class Thursday. So I went through the syllabus, and signed up to bring food one day. Then we broke into groups to look at differences in cultures. My group had to look at the differences between individualism and collectivism societies. The main points that stuck out to me about individualism societies is that they use “I” a lot and that everyone is supposed to take care of him- or herself and his or her immediate family only.  Then collectivism they are more about their whole family, and use “We” more.  We said the United States was definitely more individualism, and countries like Russia, and Mexico would be more collectivism. Then as a class we also talked about the differences between small and large power distance societies. This means in large power distance that if you were a teacher at a college you would probably never get to talk to the president. We also talked about feminine and masculine societies saying that the United States was right in the middle. That is all that I have for this week I will have more next week when I make it to both classes.  

Week 1

I was entered into the class late so I only made it to class Thursday. So I went through the syllabus, and signed up to bring food one day. Then we broke into groups to look at differences in cultures. My group had to look at the differences between individualism and collectivism societies. The main points that stuck out to me about individualism societies is that they use “I” a lot and that everyone is supposed to take care of him- or herself and his or her immediate family only.  Then collectivism they are more about their whole family, and use “We” more.  We said the United States was definitely more individualism, and countries like Russia, and Mexico would be more collectivism. Then as a class we also talked about the differences between small and large power distance societies. This means in large power distance that if you were a teacher at a college you would probably never get to talk to the president. We also talked about feminine and masculine societies saying that the United States was right in the middle. That is all that I have for this week I will have more next week when I make it to both classes.  

Goals for Class

My two goals for this class are to gain more knowlege about other cultures, and really look into the culture of Ethiopia. I want to learn about other cultures because I think it is very intersting to see what other cultures do that is different from what I do every day. Then I am really interested in Ethiopia because I have two adopted cousins from there, and think it would be really cool to learn more about the culture that they come from.