an analysis of my cultural experience

to allow people a piece of sanity and balance within their lifestyle. When it comes to culture

In general, I believe that we like to think of ourselves as cultured human beings, having our own tastes, beliefs and personal identity. I also believe that many of us like to think that we have an understanding of the different cultures that surround us. The meaning of culture is a combination of a “person's life experiences drawn from their family, their community, their disability, their sexuality, their gender and their personal history”(5) and as such every person has a culture unique to them. And yet within our society the lack of easy access to a fair lifestyle reflects how as a whole we do not respect everybody’s unique culture and how we do not help nor encourage people to become independent and seize opportunities. For example, Miss X has found that people are apprehensive to allow her to take control of her life. It took her over 2 years for her to be considered for independent living, despite her capable abilities. She had to overcome her parents, and care groups to allow her to have her independence, although if she had not had her LD,

In October we were given an opportunity to tour the Islamic Center of Akron/Kent and this was my moment to swing open the doors of knowledge, new territory, and discomfort. As I prepared for that day I wondered what I would encounter. More importantly, as an observant Jew I felt uneasy, because I was about to embark on a new experience that would put me in a room where a religion that is different from mine was being practiced. As I drove to the Islamic Center I wondered who or what I would encounter. Upon entering the Mosque, the first thing I noticed was the large prayer hall on my right. The ceilings seemed as if they could touch the sky; the windows were tall and grand, allowing light to flood in and touch every inch

Even before I was old enough to be in 4-H I was embraced in the culture. I am a fourth generation 4-H member. I have eaten meals in the same as my great-grandmother's flags that she had for her 4-H club. I grew up looking at the club booths at the fair, and looking at their projects. While I have not always been a part of 4-H, 4-H has always been a part of me. Growing up it just looked like something fun to do. Then when I was old to be a cloverbud and eventually a regular 4-H member I realized not only is it fun but it is significant in teaching me life lessons such as responsibility, time management, the importance of helping others and so much more.

Religion, social economic-status and culture was what affected my values and norms that I used while I was growing up. I come from a catholic family and my parents made me go do by 1st communion and confirmation. There they thought me to always follow god and to always treat with respect people who are older than me. My culture also always thought me to always respect my parents and obey with anything they say. My culture has always thought me to never forget where I came from and to also never forget the people that help me get to where I am.

This dialogue with Mr. C will impact my interactions with other individuals from within his cultural background. Being able to interact with him and learn about who he is and what his life is like really showed me how different people can be. Though one may assume certain stigmas about a culture does not mean that everyone within that culture share in the same beliefs and values.

The environment, family, and community I have grown up in has shaped me as a person. So far, I grew up in the same house all seventeen years of my life. My personality has grown and molded over the years of middle school and high school based off the lessons I have learned and the things I’ve been through.

I had recently moved to my new apartment, in a new neighborhood, one drastically different from all that I had known, when one day there was a knock at the door. I was not sure who it could be since I did not know anyone for miles around, and was quite surprised when I looked out the window to see a short Latina (who I later on found out was Mexican). I was able to ascertain the fact that she was Hispanic when she began speaking Spanish to me, very rapidly, when I peered at her through the window.

Culture is a complex subject held by a particular social group, considered the core concept in intercultural communication. It varies from primary dimensions such as age, ethnicity, gender, geographical location, sexual orientation, social economic status, etc. culture, however, is “not rigid and homogeneous, but is dynamic and heterogeneous” ( Martin, Nakayama 36). It is valid to say this statement is opinioned to be true. We live in a social world in which we are not part of a unified system. Culture is not a variable, meaning it cannot be quantified or measured. For instance, being a Hispanic at a time and place is deeply heterogeneous. People who belong to a certain group culture in a particular, do not all act alike or behave the same, regardless of their cultural background. Nevertheless, individuals are stereotyped based on their physical appearance or background, etc.

Cultural patterns are described as the preferred set of responses to different life situations. According to Kluckhohn and Strodbeck’s description of cultural patterns there are 5 dimensions or elements that address the manner in which a culture orients itself to activities, social relations, the self, the world and the passage of time. In the following reflection I will identify each one of these dimensions with the cultural patterns shown in my country.

Every country has a different culture. Culture is the idea of what is wrong or right, it is the concept of what is acceptable within our society. Culture serves us as a guide, taking us to the "right way" and helping us to make sense of things that surround us. There are many different cultures around the world. It is obviously known as the differences of lifestyle, language, race, religion, and so on. A lot of them are similar in specific ways, and others are just completely different. This difference makes people think that others from different backgrounds are "weird".

Nowadays, cultures can be considered as a very important part in our living life because every country or every people must have their own culture and it can be act as a sign for people. According to both Namenwirth and Weber (1987), national culture could be defined as a set of norms, beliefs, customs and behaviors which will always exist within the population of sovereign nation. Nevertheless, Hosftede (1983) also stated that cultural dimensions are only a framework that creates to explain about the differences between cultures. Besides that, those cultural dimensions can also act as a guideline of decision making for those business holders who wants to globalize their business to the other country. Overall, as a Malaysian manager who is going to China soon for an overseas assignment, there is a must for me to understand about China’s culture and apply those six types of culture dimensions to help me in making decisions before proceed with any intention.

Culture is defined as the set of shared attitudes, values, goals, and practices that characterizes an institution or organization by the Merriam-Webster dictionary (Merriam-Webster, n.d.). Everything that has happened in my life has the ability to affect my culture. The few of the big things that I think has impacted my life are GPS, smartphones, social media, emojis, and Google. These are technologies that have change the way most people think and ultimately our culture. This quote was written in an article by Eva Dodsworth, “We now rely on technology to not only speed up our processes but to reduce our own efforts (Dodsworth, 2008).” I recently have purchase a GPS watch, so I can map my bike rides. I also use GPS to assist in farming techniques, and my car has a GPS system. I keep my phone on me at all times where 30 years ago someone my age would only have a bag phone in their car because the technology was not there. Social media has been a part of my life since middle school, I remember the first time I got a social media platform. I have to check my social media accounts multiple times a day to see what everyone is up to. The creation of emojis is relatively new, but it has impacted my life by allowing me to express my emotions over text in the form of cartoonish pictures. Google has allowed me to not have to remember things like facts from history. I can just “Google it” if I need to know it. These things have impacted my culture and I think many others.

A person usually lives trying to find a compromise between his own cultural, religious, ethnic, socioeconomic beliefs and those of others. I observed this predominantly when I started my study abroad where my culture has experienced different assessments with only one result: to be included or to go back home. This suffering can be on a small scale affecting one aspect of culture when we agree or disagree with a friend or any affiliate. However, the big cultural challenge is when we face other ethnicities whose culture, religion, social norms, and moralities are different or in most cases are contradicting. Then, our individual intelligences and wisdom appear to be our guidance. The more educated a person is, the faster they interact with others.

Who am I? What is the different cultures I have been allured to and what is my culture? How did I grow up? These are questions we are acquired to answer when meeting someone. Learning about me is engrossing. I have been through different cultures that has shaped me into one unique person. Culture is defined as the “integrated pattern of human knowledge, belief and behavior that depends upon man’s capacity for learning and transmitting knowledge to succeeding generations. It is also the customary beliefs, social forms and material traits of a racial, religious or social group”, (Merriam-Webster)