Cultural Observations From A Somalian-American Essay

“No one leaves home unless home is the mouth of a shark” this quote by  Warsan Shire

In pages one through twenty-one in the novel Cultural Intelligence: A Guide to Working With People from Other Cultures, by Brooks Peterson, the author introduces us to the basis and idea of culture, and what it truly is. He describes how we as individuals see others and how we tend to acknowledge their distinct cultivations. Part of living in America means coming across individuals who live a different lifestyle than we may live. We are a society filled with people from all over the world. Therefore, it is crucial that we as Americans and as people understand the significance and idea of what culture really is and how it affects different individuals.

Lets start by understanding that cultures are a melting pot of people’s beliefs, language, behaviors, values, material objects, and norms. Norms are written and non-written “expectations of behavior” that govern a certain location, place, or culture (26). These norms also vary from culture to culture meaning what is a norm in the U.S may not be a norm in India. For example, a norm in America would be tipping a waiter after a meal. Another would be acknowledging someone as you walk past him or her, typically done at work or in a public place. In all, norms are folkways, mores, taboos, and written laws that are an established standard of one’s behavior.

As a member of the military it is of great importance to know the culture of the area you are operating in. Knowing the culture allows for missions to go smoothly and keeps the relationship between the US and foreign countries as friendly as possible. Aspects of your own culture that may seem normal to you may be completely bizarre or disrespectful to someone else. To get a better understanding of a culture, I have chosen to analyze the culture of Somalia, a nation located on the eastern side of Africa’s coast.

I am originally from Somalia a country located in the East Africa also called “Horn of Africa”, bordered by Ethiopia, Djibouti and Kenya. I was born and raised in Kenya. However, both my parents were born and rise in Somalia, they went their school in Mogadishu, Somalia, and built their family there. Five of my siblings, we were born in Mogadishu Somalia, but unfortunately, they did not had the opportunity to experience them early childhood in Somalia. In a brief history the Republic of Somalia has had its ups and downs with unrest, starting with a war, which broke out in the early 90’s. With these conflicts came unbearable life situations and many people searched for opportunities all over the world, mainly the western continents.

Somalia is a country situated in the ÒhornÓ of East Africa. It is bordered by the Gulf of Aden in the north, the Indian Ocean on the east and southeast, Kenya in the southwest, Ethiopia in the west, and Djibouti in the northwest. Somalia is about four times the size of the State of Minnesota, or slightly smaller than Texas. The capital is Mogadishu.

“[I]magine culture as invisible webs composed of values, beliefs, ideas about appropriate behavior, and socially constructed truths” (Trumbell, 9). Everybody has a different background to correspond with how they see the world through their values, beliefs, and ideas. People act a certain way and dress a certain way because of their culture also. Someone’s culture has a significant impact on the way they view other people and the world because of how uncertain they are of their culture and their own personal and past experiences.

I like your goal and I wish for you to reach it soon. I am from Somalia and my family believe the marriage and raising kids more than important than finishing school. my dream to finish my degree and show my family I can have a good life without getting married.

States have fought wars for a multitude of reasons in the past few centuries. Today, smaller amounts of wars are being fought between states, and more are fought within states. Many states and areas of land are extensively packed with many different people, all possessing specific cultures and ethnicities. Currently, Iraq is plagued by resentment from Sunni Arabs, under control of the Islamic State, while a Shiite Iraqi Army tries to fight back. Boko Haram is also present in Northeastern Nigeria, and is clashing with the Sufi, Shiite, and Izala sects of Islam due to differences in culture preferences regarding Islam. These are only a few of the examples that incessantly plague the world and represent the importance of culture in war. Conflicts are not simply about territory or jurisdiction issues, they also encompass affirmation, authorization, and acceptance of

Hey Dake, I also agree with your statement for the most part. In my case for the Somali section most of the things stated are true but don’t apply or have that much of an impact. It’s something a doctor or a nurse will barely run into nowadays. Cultures adapt with time therefore, our manuals will need to be changed to accommodate that. Overall though I don’t believe you can be truly culturally competent without some degree of immersing yourself in that culture and gaining firsthand experience about the things you’re suppose to watch out for. This also includes being corrected from time to time.

The person I interviewed was a Somalian friend I met in middle school. Back then, I never really asked why she came to America, and now after many years I actually know the answer. Everything that is happening in Somalia right now is pretty horrifying and it is pretty obvious now why her family decided to leave everything behind, including their home and culture. Even though her family 's memories of Somalia are filled with nostalgia, they feel safe here.

Somali occupies most of Africa and majority of Somali people are Muslims. Certain Muslims are strict in a mixed environment with males and females. If the health care organization can create an environment where there are males and females working together, but have boundaries and respect every individuals belief then this would attract more Somali people. Furthermore, if there were a diverse environment with workers from different backgrounds or similar backgrounds would also attract them. Lastly, the workforce can plan care around prayer times, in the United States; Somali people attend formal devices at mosques that serve s centers. These prayers take about three minuets a piece; the work force can respect this and take it into account.

Years ago our city had an overabundance of Somalian families, and most people in the community treated them as they were uneducated and didn’t speak English well. The factory where they worked treated them like everyone else, but the other workers were discriminatory practices, cruel acts and stereotyping them to carry TB. I think the workers were jealous because the factory catered to their needs for religious beliefs and customs. The working environment changes and the company built a prayer room for the Somali people and allowed for the work change to stop so they could at the time designated by their religion. I cared for some of them at the hospital; they were friendly people, and I returned the kindness. The nursing staff all treated

The country of Somalia had a colorful past, in that plenty of conflicts went on throughout its history. The government of Somalia improved throughout the years. It has overcome corruption, but even though Somalia is ran different today, the issues of fraud still arise. Government fraud, Civil War, and American difference have been steady throughout Somalia’s peak of destruction. We look to the present day Somalia and see that terrorism and fraud still try to disrupt the clean appearance that Somalia is trying to live by. Though all of these variables are constant in Somalia today, the strength of the government trying to succeed is stronger than creating a setback.

All human beings are affixed to some form of cultural system which dictates the way they do things and how they relate to one another (Tavanti 106). These unwritten norms, beliefs and values are affixed firmly to a cultural framework which is a blue print that enables them to be expressed. Each community has got its own cultural framework which binds people who share a lot in common e.g. a nationality and live within a distinct boundary like for example a country.