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.