My Culture Research Paper
Chapter One Discussion Paper
Culture is the accumulated knowledge of a social group passed on through generations, including beliefs, customs, and behaviors.
My Culture
Raised in a home with Korean and Mexican influences, I had very contrasting cultural influences growing up. While my mother is full Mexican, my father is half Korean and half Yugoslavian. Language, Music, and Cuisine are just some of the prominent cultural influences in my home. While I do not personally speak Spanish or Korean, it is important to my family and culture. Other than basic communication, language is significant because it gives people a sense of community. When my aunts and uncles meet someone else that speaks Spanish, they instantly have this sense of familiarity …show more content…
because even if they have nothing else in common, they have this cultural similarity that connects them.
A very crucial and unique part of life for all cultures, is Cuisine. In my household particularly, most of the food I eat is Mexican or Asian influenced. For instance, it is normal for me to white rice with dinner every night. In my experience, this is something I wouldn’t think twice about, but I know people of different cultures who find this a little odd just because it is unfamiliar to them. I am convinced this is a great example of recognizing different cultures. Not only does food bring people together and encourage them to explore different cultures, but it also reflects a certain culture by showing styles of cooking native to the land of the culture as well as ingredients that are from there. Another distinguished example of cultural expression is Music.. In my family Spanish music is something played in my home regularly. Whether we all comprehend it or not, music brings us together and creates a sense of community within us, it gives us a chance to just sing along to familiar words and music as a family. My great grandmother was a popular singer in Korea during the1920’s and we still have and listen to her music to this day. Although I don’t understand it, it is amazing knowing that many people I will never know have enjoyed this music
as well and I really feel connected to someone I have never met when I listen to it. I can also see the influences of her culture during that time period through her music.
Indian Culture
Another unique and diverse paradigm to learn from is Indian culture. Some important aspects of Indian culture are food, language, and religion. Indian food, known for its use of exotic spices and herbs, is unique to India’s culture because it makes use of spices grown in India. Some common Indian languages are Hindi, Bengali, and Telugu. Religion is heavily valued in Indian culture. Hinduism, Buddhism, and Muslim are just three of India’s most practiced religions.
Spanish Culture. Spanish culture personally interests me the most. Cuisine is very valued Spanish culture, the Spanish are incredibly family oriented and having big meals with your family is to be expected. Tapas is also a very well-known Spanish tradition, which is eating small courses throughout the day as opposed to three set meals. Spanish culture is widely known for music and dance, such as the flamenco, and they highly value customs and traditions. A big Spanish tradition that can still be seen today is Bullfighting. Bullfighting originated in Spain and while it is not as popular as it used to be, it is still commonly practiced and watched.
Responding to Question #3. If I found out that I had an identical twin raised in a completely different culture, I would be amazed and interested to explore our cultural differences. I would be able to evaluate our differences with everything from social norms to values and overall culture. Seeing someone so similar in image yet so different in the way they carry themselves and live their lives would help me see the influences that my own society has had on me as well as hers, and it would make me see that my way of living is not universal. It would help me see my world through a new perspective as well as learn and explore a culture new to me. (Park, Alexandria. 2016)
Culture is the accumulated knowledge of a social group passed on through generations, including beliefs, customs, and behaviors.
My Culture
Raised in a home with Korean and Mexican influences, I had very contrasting cultural influences growing up. While my mother is full Mexican, my father is half Korean and half Yugoslavian. Language, Music, and Cuisine are just some of the prominent cultural influences in my home. While I do not personally speak Spanish or Korean, it is important to my family and culture. Other than basic communication, language is significant because it gives people a sense of community. When my aunts and uncles meet someone else that speaks Spanish, they instantly have this sense of familiarity …show more content…
because even if they have nothing else in common, they have this cultural similarity that connects them.
A very crucial and unique part of life for all cultures, is Cuisine. In my household particularly, most of the food I eat is Mexican or Asian influenced. For instance, it is normal for me to white rice with dinner every night. In my experience, this is something I wouldn’t think twice about, but I know people of different cultures who find this a little odd just because it is unfamiliar to them. I am convinced this is a great example of recognizing different cultures. Not only does food bring people together and encourage them to explore different cultures, but it also reflects a certain culture by showing styles of cooking native to the land of the culture as well as ingredients that are from there. Another distinguished example of cultural expression is Music.. In my family Spanish music is something played in my home regularly. Whether we all comprehend it or not, music brings us together and creates a sense of community within us, it gives us a chance to just sing along to familiar words and music as a family. My great grandmother was a popular singer in Korea during the1920’s and we still have and listen to her music to this day. Although I don’t understand it, it is amazing knowing that many people I will never know have enjoyed this music
as well and I really feel connected to someone I have never met when I listen to it. I can also see the influences of her culture during that time period through her music.
Indian Culture
Another unique and diverse paradigm to learn from is Indian culture. Some important aspects of Indian culture are food, language, and religion. Indian food, known for its use of exotic spices and herbs, is unique to India’s culture because it makes use of spices grown in India. Some common Indian languages are Hindi, Bengali, and Telugu. Religion is heavily valued in Indian culture. Hinduism, Buddhism, and Muslim are just three of India’s most practiced religions.
Spanish Culture. Spanish culture personally interests me the most. Cuisine is very valued Spanish culture, the Spanish are incredibly family oriented and having big meals with your family is to be expected. Tapas is also a very well-known Spanish tradition, which is eating small courses throughout the day as opposed to three set meals. Spanish culture is widely known for music and dance, such as the flamenco, and they highly value customs and traditions. A big Spanish tradition that can still be seen today is Bullfighting. Bullfighting originated in Spain and while it is not as popular as it used to be, it is still commonly practiced and watched.
Responding to Question #3. If I found out that I had an identical twin raised in a completely different culture, I would be amazed and interested to explore our cultural differences. I would be able to evaluate our differences with everything from social norms to values and overall culture. Seeing someone so similar in image yet so different in the way they carry themselves and live their lives would help me see the influences that my own society has had on me as well as hers, and it would make me see that my way of living is not universal. It would help me see my world through a new perspective as well as learn and explore a culture new to me. (Park, Alexandria. 2016)