I kept a journal for three days and documented in which the concept of culture comes up in my day-to-day life.
Day 1: This assignment made me realize some things I ate during lunch time that people normally wouldn’t eat. I saw it as “normal” until my friend pointed it ou
t. After my meal I usually grab a plate of cucumbers and shower them with hot sauce, lemon juice and salt. My group of friends all come from a different background and some do not understand why I eat my cucumbers that way. One of my friends is half Ecuadorian and Mexican, her and I have a field day with the cucumbers. Eating cucumbers like that is part of our culture. I remember growing up eating a bowl of spicy, juicy and salty cucumbers instead of potato chips. Some of my non Hispanic friends have tried it but cannot deal with the spiciness.
Day 2: Today I went home and realized that I am more connected to my culture when I am there. Home made food is a great example. There is nothing better than going home to eat some home made, Latin dish. We all
eat together as a family and pray before we eat. Most of the time when I'm home I only speak Spanish and watch “tele-novelas”, soap-opera with my mother. When I go to bed I have to give my mother a kiss goodnight and receive her blessing and vice versa. In other words, with her index and thumb finger she caresses my forehead with the sign of the cross (father, son and Holy Spirit) and ending with a kiss on her hand and mouth. Oh yes, did I forget to mention my mother and I do not kiss on the cheek. Growing up my sister and I were taught to kiss our mother on the lips. Without this good night blessing I can not go to sleep. I remember when I first moved on campus the first few weeks were difficult because my mother wasn’t around to kiss good night. I now call her to wish her a good night.
Day 3: I honestly can not think of anything else that I do in which the concept of culture comes up. When I am back at school my routine is always the same but overall I feel that I, myself represent culture. The way I speak, how I interact with people, what I wear, what I eat, how I think, my values and the music I listen to are all a part of culture. Culture is both implicit and explicit. Explicit being the rules and norms of this society and implicit are the things that our parents never had to teach us but what we learn through observation. Example for me it would be dancing salsa, how to cook, do laundry and wash the dishes.
t. After my meal I usually grab a plate of cucumbers and shower them with hot sauce, lemon juice and salt. My group of friends all come from a different background and some do not understand why I eat my cucumbers that way. One of my friends is half Ecuadorian and Mexican, her and I have a field day with the cucumbers. Eating cucumbers like that is part of our culture. I remember growing up eating a bowl of spicy, juicy and salty cucumbers instead of potato chips. Some of my non Hispanic friends have tried it but cannot deal with the spiciness.Day 2: Today I went home and realized that I am more connected to my culture when I am there. Home made food is a great example. There is nothing better than going home to eat some home made, Latin dish. We all
eat together as a family and pray before we eat. Most of the time when I'm home I only speak Spanish and watch “tele-novelas”, soap-opera with my mother. When I go to bed I have to give my mother a kiss goodnight and receive her blessing and vice versa. In other words, with her index and thumb finger she caresses my forehead with the sign of the cross (father, son and Holy Spirit) and ending with a kiss on her hand and mouth. Oh yes, did I forget to mention my mother and I do not kiss on the cheek. Growing up my sister and I were taught to kiss our mother on the lips. Without this good night blessing I can not go to sleep. I remember when I first moved on campus the first few weeks were difficult because my mother wasn’t around to kiss good night. I now call her to wish her a good night.
Day 3: I honestly can not think of anything else that I do in which the concept of culture comes up. When I am back at school my routine is always the same but overall I feel that I, myself represent culture. The way I speak, how I interact with people, what I wear, what I eat, how I think, my values and the music I listen to are all a part of culture. Culture is both implicit and explicit. Explicit being the rules and norms of this society and implicit are the things that our parents never had to teach us but what we learn through observation. Example for me it would be dancing salsa, how to cook, do laundry and wash the dishes.
Celebrating my 15 birthday is a part of my cultur
e also known as “quinceañera.” Here in the United States they celebrate “sweet 16.” Instead of the usual cake and family get together, the parents organize this big event in celebration of the transition from a child to a young lady. Not only to we celebrate at a reception but we also have a mass ceremony. Here we receive the reverends blessings.
I just realized that even my name is a concept of culture, the history behind it and why my mother named me Tatiana. She combined her name, Ana with her best friend’s name, Taña and made Tatiana. Little did she know that Tatiana is a Russian name. :o)
e also known as “quinceañera.” Here in the United States they celebrate “sweet 16.” Instead of the usual cake and family get together, the parents organize this big event in celebration of the transition from a child to a young lady. Not only to we celebrate at a reception but we also have a mass ceremony. Here we receive the reverends blessings.I just realized that even my name is a concept of culture, the history behind it and why my mother named me Tatiana. She combined her name, Ana with her best friend’s name, Taña and made Tatiana. Little did she know that Tatiana is a Russian name. :o)
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