Perspectives on Diversity & Culture

Definitions from individuals about Culture and Diversity

1. "Culture to me is following the traditions in the country you were born or where your parents were born. For example eating foods, dressing from the country, listening to the music, speaking the language. Diverse to me means being open minded to other peoples cultures around them" (Ms. Betsy, May 22, 2013).
2.  "Diversity means inclusion to me.  Accepting others, like people with disabilities. When I think of culture, I think of the way you were raised.  The food and holiday traditions that are shared in your family" (Ms. Clover, May 21, 2013).  
3. "Culture to me is the way that society acts.  Diversity is the difference in people" (Mr. Paul, May 24, 2013).

After reviewing what I have learned from this course there were a few aspects of culture that were included in my co-worker's definition were.  Those aspects included holidays, food of their family and language.  I believe there were more aspects that were not included like values, education, religion and gender roles.

After discussing these definitions with my co-workers, I believe that people think more about surface cultures instead of deep cultures.  Since this course I now look more closely about the deep cultures of my own family.   If I had to ask others about their definitions again I would ask more open-ended questions, so people would think deeper about their cultures.  Before this course, I saw more of the surface cultures like many individuals but I have learned that their is so much more about someone's culture that needs to be shared.

My Family Culture

If I had to evacuate  to another country the three items I would take would be...

1. Family Photos
2. Teddy Bears 
3. My phone

I would explain these items by showing the pictures of my family members and tell the people something interesting or why I love each member. The teddy bears are very sentimental to me because the bears are made out of my mother's wedding dress and grandfather's favorite jean jacket.  The teddy bears are part of me and I hold dear to my heart because both of these people molded me into the person I am today.   My mother's bear was made 6 months before I got married and my niece carried it down the aisle in memory of her. My grandfather's teddy bear was made the first Christmas after he passed away and the whole family received one and we reminisced about all the good memories we had with him. My phone would be the last item I would take for survival reasons.  The phone could help me communicate.

If I could only have 1 item that I brought, I would choose my phone for survival purposes.  My phone could assist me in many ways for providing communication.  I would be devastated if I had to give up my photos and teddy bears but I keep those memories with me all the time. 

One insight I gained from this activity is how much I hold my family close to me.  I have always been a family person but this activity showed me how important family is to me and I would do anything for them.  When working on this assignment I asked my husband what he would bring and he wanted all survival items and I wanted sentimental items that are important to me.  This showed me how I really do put my family first.