So just this last week my husband and I went out for dinner with a few team mates of our from softball. We decided that we wanted to go to the Mexican restaurant in town, as it is one of our favorite (my husband and I). It was the first time both of our team mates have ever been. My husband and I are most likely considered regulars to their establishment, and as such I like to think we have developed a positive rapport with the staff (3 people). I have even started to remember some Spanish from back in my high school days and I use as much as I can when interacting with them, and the always smile approvingly at me even though I am sure to be butchering the dialect. After we had another delicious dinner, we were walking out the door when one person in our company yelled "Adios, Mi AMIGOS!" and just started laughing. I turned right around to the hostess and apologized for their behavior and said we would be coming alone next time. I was completely mortified for his behavior and I found out quickly that he didn't even realize what he did. After we got out of the restaurant, I got a little hostile with him, and asked him what his problem was. He did not have a good enough excuse for me and I said that was not only embarrassing to my husband and I, but I am sure that they took offense towards the action. I told them that it was out of line, and they said they only wanted to communicate with them. I said then you do it in a more respectable manor, because that just looked like you were mocking them instead. My friend felt terrible, but not enough to go back in and apologize for his error.
I think that this week's readings really helped to affirm my belief that he did something wrong that could be construed as offensive, and next time I am in a situation like this I will be more vocal about my feelings, and make people be aware that what they say DOES matter to someone!
Friday, July 25, 2014
Saturday, July 19, 2014
Definitions of culture/diversity
Friend #1
"My definition of culture would be everything that I see around me. My own personal culture is the family that I surround myself with. We all are a little different when it comes to our families and no matter how different we may seem that is where we come from, that is our culture. It doesn't have to be the same as everyone else. As a teacher I would say that diversity is the differences that we hold on to from our culture is what helps to make up diversity. It is not just the color of your skin or your religious beliefs, while that is an important part, diversity is much more than just what is on the outside much like that of culture."
Friend#2:
"Culture is the beliefs that people hold dear to themselves. They might be religious beliefs, they might be traditional beliefs passed down by your family. Culture means different things to different people. Diversity is understanding that you are different from the people around you, but also respecting the differences you see in other people."
Friend #3:
"An upbringing. The way you are raised, and culture has to do with what you are exposed to throughout your lifetime. Having culture is respecting things like are and music, and looking at the other intelligences of the world and appreciating what is around you. Diversity is the difference between cultures. Although I am a liberal i do agree it has been taken to an extreme. People don't understand that other people's cultures do not need to be forced upon others. All that is needed is simple recognition."
My friends all had an idea what culture and diversity are about but many of them had to take classes of diversity in college as it is a requirement. I did not have the opportunity to ask someone I knew who did not go to college so I do now know if their answers would be similar or different.
"My definition of culture would be everything that I see around me. My own personal culture is the family that I surround myself with. We all are a little different when it comes to our families and no matter how different we may seem that is where we come from, that is our culture. It doesn't have to be the same as everyone else. As a teacher I would say that diversity is the differences that we hold on to from our culture is what helps to make up diversity. It is not just the color of your skin or your religious beliefs, while that is an important part, diversity is much more than just what is on the outside much like that of culture."
Friend#2:
"Culture is the beliefs that people hold dear to themselves. They might be religious beliefs, they might be traditional beliefs passed down by your family. Culture means different things to different people. Diversity is understanding that you are different from the people around you, but also respecting the differences you see in other people."
Friend #3:
"An upbringing. The way you are raised, and culture has to do with what you are exposed to throughout your lifetime. Having culture is respecting things like are and music, and looking at the other intelligences of the world and appreciating what is around you. Diversity is the difference between cultures. Although I am a liberal i do agree it has been taken to an extreme. People don't understand that other people's cultures do not need to be forced upon others. All that is needed is simple recognition."
My friends all had an idea what culture and diversity are about but many of them had to take classes of diversity in college as it is a requirement. I did not have the opportunity to ask someone I knew who did not go to college so I do now know if their answers would be similar or different.
Saturday, July 12, 2014
Relocation
First of all I would be taking my dog Chad with me. I know that he isn't a "small item" but I feel he is note worthy as my immediate family and would have survived the catastrophic event. I say this because he is more than my dog, in my family culture he is my child. My parents treat him as a grand child, and the family treats him as any other member of the family. My husband and I do not want children of our own except that our child is our pup Chad. I would explain that even though he isn't from my physical body, Chad holds a piece of my soul that can not be replaced as a assume a mother feels about their child.
The next that I would have to take with me is the last picture of my family all together. I think that it is important to have a visual reminder of those we have lost. If I can't take them with me because they have long since past, and will be unable to visit their grave I want to be able to always remember what they look like. Memories fade over time and sometimes those memories are not as crisp as they once were.
Other than what I mentioned above, as long as I have my family with me then nothing of material value really matters. I can start from scratch and build up our lives again even if it is in a strange country. My family means more to me than anything else could so there is not much that I would run back into a burning building to get as long as I have them. My grandma's recipes that she will never cook again would be nice to have in her writing but to be honest, they were taught without writing it down so they are in my head. There is no telling we would even be able to get the supplies to make them where we are going.
Other than what I mentioned above, as long as I have my family with me then nothing of material value really matters. I can start from scratch and build up our lives again even if it is in a strange country. My family means more to me than anything else could so there is not much that I would run back into a burning building to get as long as I have them. My grandma's recipes that she will never cook again would be nice to have in her writing but to be honest, they were taught without writing it down so they are in my head. There is no telling we would even be able to get the supplies to make them where we are going.
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