I recently returned from Alabama, a region of the US I'm not very familiar with. The similarities and differences in lifestyles were interesting to note. The names of businesses and cities were striking as well. Being born and bred in Utah, names like Tuscaloosa and Piggly Wiggly first struck me as nonsensical and silly... but then, names like Moroni and the Knee Shorts Store probably strike a similar chord with non-Utahns. I was impressed by what's referred to as "Southern hospitality." Many strangers went out of their way to make us feel welcome. At the same time, there seemed to be a different expectation in how people "should" behave than what I'm used to. Maybe I was just more sensitive because of the change in environment. In any case, I felt there were cultural differences between Alabama and Utah.
So I've got a question to throw out:
How do you define culture?
About Me
- mightybob
- I'm the third of four kids and graduated with a degree in international development. I've been to Ecuador and Romania on orphan support missions and hope to go to Uganda or Mexico within the next few years on similar endeavors. I did a field study in Guatemala and may someday finish my writeup to the point of publication. My favorite color is periwinkle, and I wear argyle socks with everything. I love to bounce ideas off of people. Please, let me pick your brain. Comments are encouraged.
4 comments:
Ah, culture....such a mix of region, religion, politics, ceremonies, rituals, beliefs, customs, language, ethinicity, and the list goes on and on. Actually I believe there is a very specific definition in the books...but I don't have my books handy right now. What I'm most impressed with is your ability to have your eyes and ears open to the culture and be able to simply receive it for what it was, noting many things, and perhaps judging very little. That's not always so easy to do.
Knee Shorts Store...I'm so ready to visit one of those based on the name alone :)
Mona,
Thanks. You really are the queen of making other people feel good.
I've been helping teach a class to prepare students to be interns in Romania, and we talk a lot about things like culture and body language and communications. It's fun to put some of the principles we talk about into practice. I love watching people when I go just about anywhere - how they hold themselves, what they say and how they treat different groups of people, what vocabulary they use. It's so interesting to compare first impressions of a culture with later impressions when you have a better understanding.
I think the Knee Shorts Store has a website. They specialize in modest clothing. I just bought a swimsuit top
there a few weeks ago (not on the website). As far as I'm concerned, the more of me that's covered, the better :).
Isn't clothing a blessing? I'm thankful I'm not in a tribe where a loincloth is the norm for men and women. I'll be checking out that website.
Thanks for the queen comment...it makes me smile.
I love that you've been teaching a class to prepare students...that is so important in order to be respectful and also get the most out of the experience. It's also wonderful that you really enjoy watching people and comparing yoru impressions. Totally open mind!
Culture is not so much what we do, but HOW we do it.
Imagine shopping for sunglasses at tiffany on 5th Ave, NYC.
Now imagine shopping for sunglasses at the Pigly Wigly, Peach Tree St, Athens, GA.
Post a Comment