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.